Are you ready to propose?
Planning a proposal is stressful with Instagram and TikTok showing the world's greatest proposals on a constant loop for your person to see and daydream about. How can you possibly compete with a hike up Mount Everest where a Sherpa has made a custom picnic with red roses and candlelight and a team of sky divers jumps out to synchronize spell "Marry Me" with their bodies in the sky on a perfectly clear day with the mountains in the background and a world-renown photographer there to capture it all?
Obviously, you can't.
And you shouldn't (unless you are both avid hikers and explorers).
Planning your proposal is personal. So ignore all of the TikToks, ignore your best friend proposing on a beach in Tulum, and think about your relationship.
Make it Personal
Each relationship is unique. You have your own likes, inside jokes, and favorite places. Consider that when you're planning to propose. What does your person absolutely love? Where does he or she like to go most? Where did you meet?
These are all questions I'll ask in my proposal questionnaire as we start to plan your epic proposal together. It's the easiest way to find the answers as to how you should propose.
Have a Plan
This is where it gets fun.
You need a plan. And then, you need a back up plan.
When planning your proposal you'll need to consider five things:
- Where do you want to propose?
- When do you want to propose?
- What do you want the proposal set up to look like?
- Who do you want to be present when you propose?
- How can you get her or him to the proposal location without invoking suspicion?
Let's dive in to these questions
Where do you want to propose?
You'll want to consider those initial questions when choosing your where. Where is a place that's meaningful to you? If you don't have somewhere meaningful, where is somewhere beautiful? (I'm here to help with that second question - I've got a plethora of beautiful locations to suggest!)
When do you want to propose?
Here you'll have to choose a date that works with both of your schedules. But the time of day is going to matter, as well. If you want those beautiful proposal photos where the lighting is perfect, you'll want to plan for a proposal either in the early morning or the evening right before the sun sets. It gets tricky if you want a true sunset, because if you wait too long, you'll miss it (and your photographer will have a difficult time shooting in the dark). If you're proposing somewhere where there is a lot of shade, or even indoors, you'll want to work in the later morning or mid-late afternoon.
*Something I like to do, is go to the spot at the time you would like to propose and take a photo to show you exactly what it will look like.
What do you want it to look like?
Again, this one's personal! What does your person like? What is their aesthetic? Usually you can look around their space to see what they're into. Are they more BoHo or modern? Do they like roses or daisies? Use these favorite things to incorporate into the aesthetic of the proposal so it's more meaningful and shows you're really paying attention.
Who do you want to be present?
Most people want to immediately celebrate the proposal with their favorite H. Including parents, best friends, or siblings is a great way to make the event more memorable (and a nice way to get a gold star from your future in-laws). However, consider whether your person wants this. Some people are more private and will want to have a quiet moment with just the two of you.
How can you get them to the spot without causing suspicion?
This is the money question. I like to suggest making dinner plans. Book a reservation for a nicer restaurant near the location. Depending on your actual plan, you can book a real reservation and go to dinner or you can lie and just say you have a reservation to get them to go with you. This is also a great way to make sure everyone looks photo ready. Another option is to coordinate with one of their friends or family to have them plan an outing or a hang out. There are a few ways to go about it, you just might have to be a little creative and a little flexible.
Have a back up plan
I cannot stress this enough! Especially here in Charleston, the weather changes so quickly and often, it's unpredictable. There won't be a call for rain, but then it'll rain for 8 hours straight. Downtown also floods horrendously. And if you're going downtown, there's a chance that your spot will be in use already, or completely overcrowded with tourists.
So always have a back up plan.
I'm happy to help coordinate a back up. I can call hotels ahead of time if we need to use their lobby space. I know vendors are several beautiful venues in town.
You've got this!
Whatever you decide, just remember that it doesn't matter if it's big or flashy, it doesn't need to be expensive, it's just a moment between you and your favorite person.
Pampas & Picnics
This is a local company that puts together amazing picnics and events. This is an incredible way to surprise your person with minimal effort on your part.
Marquee Letters
Marquee Letters that spell out Marry Me? is and always will be one of the best proposal ideas. It creates a beautiful backdrop and asks the question for you!
