Like clockwork, as soon as the temperature drops the rings come out! We are entering engagement season boys + girls! This is the most magical time of the year! I remember when Austin and I were soon to be engaged the constant feeling of surprise was always looming over my head! Surprises honestly stress me out (ESPECIALLY ones I know that are coming but I just don’t know when) so this was a … really … fun… time in life ahahaha. He did SUCH a good job though so we wanted to share a few tips we did + have heard of from other couples that made their proposals awesome! As we share these tips, we’ll also tell our story so you can get context + examples for some of these tips.
1. Plan Something
Your proposal is something that you’re going to remember for the rest of your life and a story you tell often. For some couples, spontaneity is their thing, but I think a good majority of people appreciate some thought behind the proposal. Make the day you propose special! Austin called my employer without my knowledge before hand and asked if they would give me a certain day off. He put in the thought before I had any idea he was going to propose! He + his family invited me on a ski trip to McCall during the winter festival and that was about the extent of my knowledge of what was planned for that weekend… little did I know he had planned out our proposal!
2. Make It Meaningful
Proposals are already so romantic, but having little special touches will really put you over the top if done well! Consider incorporating a location that was special to you guys (like where you went on your first date, said I love you, etc.) or decorations that have your favorite pictures and memories together. When we got engaged, Austin had a path of rose petals leading onto the frozen lake ending in a giant heart of roses. I had never had anyone ever even get me flowers (beside Austin when we were dating) so just that small gesture was so nice and made me feel so special!
3. Memorize + Practice What You Are Going To Say
Every person I have ever talked to that has proposed (my husband included!) has said that once you actually start proposing, you kinda go blank on what you were going to say. Before you get on one knee, think about what you want to tell the love of your life and memorize a few easy things to tell them. Austin had a lot planned out of what he was going to say but when he asked it came out more like “Sooo.. we’ve been together for a while and I really love you.. will you marry me?” Still so cute, but he’s told me after that he wishes he remembered a few more things hahahaha! Either way, I think your S/O will just be really excited regardless of what you say!
4. TAKE PICTURES!
I cannot stress this enough, HAVE SOMEONE TAKE PICTURES WHILE IT’S HAPPENING! Even if you’re a really private person, have someone far away, hide and take pictures of the proposal happening! They don’t have to be close enough to hear anything, just make sure you have someone documenting this happy time in your lives! Austin had this alllll thought out and we still look at those pictures all these years later!
5. What Would Your S/O Want?
When planning your proposal, think about how your significant other would want it to happen! If they are a shy person, don’t make it a super public proposal! Austin’s original plan was to take me to a snow mobile race and have the announcer say something about me over the intercom. I am SO glad he didn’t do that plan for multiple reasons! That situation would just stress me out. I wouldn’t like that many people around me when he asked if I would marry him and thats way more attention on me than I would be comfortable with. Also, (this one was just an added bonus) he knows that I HATE being cold so being in an environment where I would have already been standing in the cold for an hour before hand probably wouldn’t have left me in the best mood to get engaged hahaha. (It’s the simple things ????)
Obviously, like most things in life, nothing can be 100% planned and perfect, but we promise that if you follow these tips and make them custom to you and your love story, your proposal will be magical. Happy engagement season + don’t forget to hire us as your photographer and videographer when your time rolls around! 😉
