Proposal Season Anyone?

So, you’ve met the love of your life and you’ve decided to propose, great! Now, the question is: how, when, and where?

The first thing you should do is assess the personality of your beloved! Are they big and bold? More introverted? A combination of both? Have they ever expressed to you ways they would not like to be proposed to? For example, do they cringe when they see proposals on a megatron or after a flashmob? Have they groaned at the thought of going on a long hike, being surprised, or having too many people around? Eliminating ways NOT to propose is a great step to figuring out how to actually get it done!

Now that you’ve figured out how not to do it, how do you go about narrowing down your method?

A good starting point is to lead with nostalgia. Is there somewhere special to you both, like the place you had your first date, where you first said ‘I love you’, or maybe the location of your first kiss? If those places aren’t accessible, recreating aspects of those memories can also be a huge win! When choosing a location, it’s also important to consider time of day, weather (if you’re going to be outside), and how many people are going to be in the area. People love to see a proposal but not everyone loves to have people around during such an intimate moment, especially if it’s strangers.

Now, a lot of people expect a proposal to be something of a surprise which can be hard to pull off, especially if you’re living with your partner. Here are some tips to pulling off the surprise:

• Decoy activity – this is probably my favorite method! I’ll often get booked for a family or couple’s session and charged with secrecy about the real intent of the photoshoot!
• Plan a normal day – if you’re suddenly conceding to do something your partner has been begging you to do for weeks or months, they’re going to be suspicious!
• Enlist the help of family and friends – people are much less suspicious of friends and relatives suggesting things to do or places to go than they are of their romantic partners
• Accept that they probably already suspect your intentions – don’t let the fear of not pulling off the perfect surprise keep you from popping the question! Chances are you’ve already talked about the possibility and maybe even been ring shopping, so embrace the way the day unfolds and mark it down as a fun story to tell later!

Truth be told, there is no perfect way to propose, and tips are just that – tips! Ultimately, do what feels right for the situation you’re in with your partner!