ADVICE TIME - Proposal Perfection in 3 Steps

Do you feel ready to take the next step in your relationship? If you do, you’re probably wondering how you can make your proposal the best it can possibly be. In this article, Sarah Buck from pre-owned jewellery and watch retailers Est1897, offers her advice for making it an event to remember.

Did you know there are more proposals in December than any other time of the year? In fact, the majority take place between 24th December and 1st January specifically (chillisauce.com), as cuddling up in cold weather and various festive celebrations bring us all closer together.

Something about this magical season clearly inspires love and commitment. So, if you think you’re ready to take the plunge but you’re not sure how, here’s everything you need to do to pull off the perfect proposal.

Choosing a ring

The ring is arguably the trickiest part of a proposal to get right. It’s a symbol of your love and the relationship you share, but it also has to suit your fiancé’s style perfectly so they can show it off to friends and family. If that wasn’t enough pressure, they will treasure the ring forever, so it needs to be able to stand the test of time, too. That’s one important piece of jewellery!

Depending on how open you’ve been about getting engaged, you may have received somewhere between too much information about what ring they’d like and none whatsoever. Both can be unhelpful, so take a step back and think realistically about your fiancé’s style and how much you can afford.

Look to their jewellery box for inspiration. Do they wear more of a certain metal, colour, or style? Their profession and hobbies can help you settle on a design too. For example, whether they work with their hands or not can determine if they’d prefer a smaller, more practical ring. Always shop from trusted retailers with good reviews and don’t be afraid to ask for help, as jewellery sellers can take your descriptions of your fiancé’s personality into account and give you some options to choose from.

Then, make sure you’re getting good value for money by examining the diamond. Use the four Cs: colour, clarity, carat, and cut. You want to find the clearest and whitest diamond possible for your budget that has a large carat, which refers to weight rather than size. The cut of the diamond affects the brilliance rather than just the shape, and you'll want something that's well-cut to ensure it'll have that fantastic sparkle

If you’re finding the perfect ring for your needs is still out of your price range, don’t forget to look into vintage and pre-owned collections. They’re one of the best ways to get great quality jewellery at a fraction of the cost, so you may find a better diamond than you would have if you bought new.

Involving their family

Remember, a marriage is between two people, but it also brings families together. While the concept of asking a parent’s permission before proposing may seem a bit old-fashioned, it’s actually a great way to show them you’re committed to the relationship — and you may even get a few tips for pulling off your proposal from them, too. So, whether you create a private group chat or go to visit them in person, make sure they’re in on the secret.

Not only will including family members strengthen your bond with them, but your soon-to-be-fiancé will appreciate your decision to bring the people closest to them together on one of the biggest days of their life. If your fiancé has very close friends, you could let them in on it too.

Planning a celebration

Ring bought, families contacted, speech penned, job done — now it’s time to celebrate your engagement! Whether you want there to be lots of people at the proposal itself is up to you, because asking someone to marry you can be scary. If you know you’d rather have an intimate exchange, then you should plan a big party afterwards so you can both celebrate, and your fiancé can show off their ring.

So, by all means go for that quiet meal or stroll together to pop the question. But once they’ve accepted, head to join your party guests at a surprise bash. You’re bound to create unforgettable memories together that night surrounded by your loved ones.

There you have it! With these three tips, you should be well on your way towards pulling off the perfect proposal. Now, focus on what you want to say when you get down on one knee and enjoy your engagement. Good luck!