If you are a girl that is waiting for a sparkly ring from that special guy in your life, resist the urge to read any further! Instead copy and paste the link above into a text box, email, Facebook message to your boyfriend and forget about it. If you want your proposal to be the proposal of your dreams, dropping him this link will ensure that he has the guidance to make it one the biggest highlights of your life!! BUT DON’T READ IT. You will know all my secrets!!

Okay men, you are allowed to scroll down.

Proposing has 2 main goals. The first is asking your sweetheart the most important question she’s ever answered. The other goal is to make her feel special. With every choice you make about popping the question, ask if that will make her feel loved. It’s a good qualifier for all your decisions. Here are some thing to think about with your proposal:

1. Decide whether your girlfriend wants the proposal big or small.

I know girls that wanted the ENTIRE world present at their proposal, and others who desires only her man to be there. Ask questions to her or her friends to see where she stands. A happy medium is a few close family members or friends hiding in the bushes or taking part in some way. If you invite extra people to be there too, make sure they realize your goal is to make HER feel special. I generally think that any friends hiding in the bushes should stay quiet and hidden until she has said yes, gotten the ring and you’ve had enough time to point the supporters out to her. Communicate that to those you invite!

2. Does she want an amazing experience or a sentimental proposal?

Examples of an amazing experience are flying across the world while she is traveling with her family and surprising her, taking her on an aircraft of some kind (hot air balloon, small airplane) or proposing in a sports arena at half time. Examples of sentimental proposals are taking her back to a special spot (first date, first I Love You, first kiss), incorporating pictures or videos of your together or enlisting family members to read parts of your story along a pathway. Ask her closest friends what would make her feel the most loved and resist the urge to do what YOU’d prefer instead.

3. How do you make it a surprise?

If you and your girl rarely go on fancy dates, or dates at all, it will be hard fooling her that you won’t be proposing when you bring up your fancy date idea. Creating a surprise might be hard if you are used to always knowing where each other are. Small fibs are okay the week of the proposal. It’s bound to happen. I’ve had grooms say that they are picking up someone from the airport while they are really asking the dad’s permission. Or say they got a flat tire when they are really picking up the ring. I’m not an advocate of lying but laying a cover story will help sell the surprise.

Another way to surprise her is to plan it during a time she wouldn’t consider, i.e. During her regular work hours, when you should be at an appointment or class, or when she isn’t expecting to see you. You can also enlist help from friends for setting up the scene so you don’t have to be gone from her.

4. Nails and outfit!

Most girls desire to have clean and painted nails at the time of the proposal since they will be showing that ring off. Arrange for her and her friend/sister/mom to head to the nail salon when proposal time is coming up. Also, create a cover story that will cause her to dress nicely the day/night of the proposal (i.e. Going to dinner at a nice restaurant/heading to see family.) She will definitely thank you for the extra effort and love the pictures that much more!

5. Ask her Dad!

Make sure to go the extra mile and ask her Father’s permission. Ask her mother too while you are at it. Including the parents permission for their daughter’s hand is one of the classiest way to enter their family.

6. Include a photographer!

We love when our Kylee Ann Couples contact us before the proposal! We believe this is a special moment and are master at staying hidden in the bushes and catching those magical moments. (Email us at [email protected] for more info!) If you don’t have access to a professional photographer, finding a friend or sibling with a camera or phone that can stay out of the way and capture your moment for you! Remember, the more light the better pictures!

7. Proposal logistics

Just remember she will say yes. She loves you and can’t wait to marry you. When the time comes, take your time, take a deep breath, get on one knee, say everything you want to say to her, ASK HER :” _______, will you marry me?”, and HEAR her say yes. Take time to put the ring on her LEFT hand (Don’t be shy to practice this in your mind). Resist the urge to speed through the proposal, especially if there are people waiting in the bushes. It’s a special moment that will be over quickly so drink it in!

Proposal ideas:

• Propose with a fake ring and spend the rest of the night ring shopping.
• Tie the ring to a puppy.
• Propose in a hot air balloon or airplane.
• Surprise her during a girls night or weekend trip.
• Surprise her at work!
• Have a friend lead her to a location where you are waiting.
• Create a scrapbook of your time together.
• Go on a 4 wheeler ride to a prearranged picnic.
• Invite her to a party which is really her proposal
• Canoeing and having your family hold signs on the shore saying “Will you marry me?”
• Kiss cam at a basketball game!
• At sunset at a pretty view
• Have family members lead her through a scavenger hunt with you at the end
• Go on a tandem bike ride through town
• Create a movie and play it in a movie theatre
• Propose during a “picture” sessions with a photographer friend

Romance Add-Ons:

• Bouquet of flowers or roses
• Rose petals on the floor
• Candles (real or battery powered) path
• Pictures of you in frames or hanging from trees
• Sparking cider or champagne
• Her favorite desert or treat
• Softly playing music
• Christmas lights
• Fireworks