Q&A for How to Propose Marriage

In general, it’s best to avoid doing something that might make your partner feel really uncomfortable or embarrassed. Avoid really public proposals unless you’re sure that your partner would be into it and is interested in marrying you, or they may feel pressured or put on the spot. Another big no-no is proposing in a setting where you’d be taking the spotlight away from someone else, like at a friend’s wedding. If you’re proposing with a ring, don’t try to hide it someplace where it might get lost, overlooked, or even swallowed (like in the bottom of a drink or inside a cake)!

Definitely, but try to get a sense of whether that’s something your partner would like. Some people might enjoy having such an intimate, private moment in the comfort of home, while others might prefer a more exciting or romantic setting.

It totally depends on your personal preferences and the vibe you have as a couple! If you want to keep it simple and casual, wait for an intimate moment, like when you and your partner are sitting together enjoying a quiet drink, then just ask. If you’d rather make it more dramatic, you might arrange a romantic walk in the park and then go down on one knee, or surprise them with a ring or a note tucked into some flowers or a gift box.

[Her name here], you are my best friend and my world, all I want is to spend my life with you. Will you make me the happiest man/woman on the planet and marry me?

Proposing in a public setting puts a lot of pressure on the girl to say yes and could embarrass her. In the worst-case scenario, she might run out in tears, pack up her belongings and be gone by the time you get home. Unless you're 100% sure she'll say yes and would appreciate being the center of attention in this way, then keep it private for the sake your girlfriend.

You should definitely meet the girl's parents first. It's a good idea to get to know them and let them get to know you. Besides, she's much more likely to say yes if she knows her parents approve of you.

In the US, it is illegal to get married if you are under 18 (unless you get parental or judicial consent dependent on state-by-state laws). However, you can still propose to her and be engaged. Plan your wedding like any other couple -- as long it takes place after you both turn eighteen, it is all a matter of the couple's love and commitment to one and another. For other countries, there may be variations on minimum marriage age depending on your national or local laws, so be sure to check at the marriage registrar's office (or equivalent).

Yes, certainly, especially if the two of you have a relationship that isn't based on traditional gender roles.

Don't let your boyfriend pressure you into anything you're not comfortable with, especially something as life-changing as having a baby. It's perfectly reasonable to want to get married and have a stable situation before considering having a child. If you two can't respectfully come to an agreement on this, then maybe you aren't right for each other.

The jeweler I went with had a loaner ring, so to speak. In my case, I picked the diamond they would set in a ring. After the proposal, we went back to my jeweler and she picked out the setting for the diamond.

Try proposing in La Rioja, it's a region in northern Spain that is the birthplace of La Rioja, a wine. You could woo your loved one by going wine-tasting in the Rioja region, indulging in one of its numerous fine-dining bodegas and spend the day at a casa rural in the vineyards. After that, La Rioja’s Old Town is a charming labyrinth of medieval buildings and narrow alleyways, and propose there.

Try proposing on the last night of the camping trip. Find a spot in the woods that isn't dangerous and pop the question. If you know your boyfriend likes the outdoors, this can make it very romantic.

At least a quarter of people that were pressured into marriage by others end up splitting from their spouse. It's hard when you have an unplanned pregnancy, but you should try and work through this without marriage in the picture. You may be loading yourself up with more stress that you could easily have avoided.

Hide the ring in a pocket of the jumpsuit, leap out of the airplane and then halfway into the dive, take the ring out of your pocket and pop the question. She will probably be on a high already, given that you are both skydiving, so she might not answer in the air but will probably once your are both on the ground. Oh, and it might be a good idea to use a substitute ring in case you drop it; give her the real ring after landing.

Sit down and think really hard. How does she feel? Some people dream of being asked this question their entire young lives. If all goes well, it will only happen to her once, so try not to disappoint her hopes and expectations. Make it a romantic moment in itself, not something between two courses of your meal, for example. If you think she'll like being asked on Christmas day - then yes, that's a perfect time to do it.

The engagement ring is for proposing, the wedding ring is for the marriage ceremony where you are asked to exchange rings.

Yes. You can propose wherever you like. There's never one perfect setting to propose.

No, there's no time limit for engagement. The wedding should only take place when you and your soon-to-be-spouse are ready to tie the knot.

Yes, it is. In the USA, you need to be 18 or have a parent's consent. (Except in Nebraska, where you have to be 19.)

Keep it simple. I wouldn't recommend giving a long speech, but say something like, "I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Start simply. Are you already friends? Does she even know who you are? Just start by giving her cute little compliments, like, "You look nice," or take it up a notch and tell her she is beautiful. Then you can tell her you like her and, if she is interested in you, start spending more time together. Don't rush into telling her you love her. Take it one step at a time.

Absolutely. There is never a rush to get married after becoming engaged. Take one, two, or fifty years. Do whatever you want!

It would be a good idea to wait at least two years before deciding if you want to spend your life with your boy/girlfriend. Don't let anyone or anything pressure you into making a decision. When you know you know.

Yes. You display a sense of realism: you have ups and downs. That means you're not living in a fantasy world, but you know your girlfriend rather well. In addition, you also know your own feelings: you want to marry her. Ask yourself (without directly asking her, that would spoil it) if she wants to get married and if yes, if she has dreams and hopes as to how specifically you would propose to her. But in all, as you describe it, now seems like a perfect time to propose.

Depending on how suspecting she is in general, you could pick out a ring for her on an important date like your anniversary. They shouldn’t be Walmart cheap, but not too expensive either. Give her the ring and say something like this, "(Her Name), I know this is random, but I wanted to express my love for you with this ring (show the ring). I wasn’t sure what ring size you were but we can get it sized." Or have her in the jewelry store with you to pick out a ring. Jewelers also have rings that find your ring size. However, the easiest thing to do is if you have access to her rings (especially one that she wears on the ring finger on either hand already) you could trace the inside of her ring on paper and that would give you her size. I would recommend you go a half size to a full size bigger just to be safe and then still get it professionally sized after.

This is traditional for marriage proposals, but it's not necessary at all.

It really isn't that important. It's also a bit objectifying to women, making it seem like they're their father's property to "give away." This is not the case. It's your relationship, your proposal. What role does her father play in it? He doesn't.

No, pick a time when you are both relaxed and ready to listen. If you are having sexual intercourse, though, it is a good sign you are ready to be married.

It's your job to find out what your girlfriend's dreams are when it comes to a proposal. Everyone has their most ideal romantic dreams about this moment in their life. If she likes the thought of being asked at the site of your first date, but hates to have her family and friends present, then do the first, not the latter. If your idea of a good proposal is at halftime at a basketball game, then don't do it if she hates basketball or standing in front of a crowd. Whatever her dreams are, you have to find out and plan to make them come true.

Do not ask her online. These things are too rare in life and too important to not be done face-to-face. Travel to see her, plan beforehand, and ask her in real life. But before you do anything, talk to her, get to know her, find out how she feels about marriage on the whole and marriage to you in particular. Whether you live nearby or far away, there's no point in asking her if she's going to say no, so make sure the answer will be yes before you do anything.