How To Propose for Marriage in 2023

In this guide, we address everything that you need to know about proposing in 2023.

At the end of the article, we will give you some tips and tricks on what to do and what to avoid!

• What Do You Need to Propose?
• Step-by-Step Process for Proposing
• Preparing Proposal Speech
• How to Buy an Engagement Ring?
• Going Down on One Knee?
• Where and How to Propose?
• When to Propose?
• How Long to Date Before Proposing?
• Right Age to Propose
• Dos and Don’ts for Proposing

What Do You Need to Propose?

You don’t really need anything to propose. Just you and her.

But you didn’t come here to hear that. You want to hear about the details that are traditionally part of a wedding proposal in 2023.

Modern proposals have gotten far more technical than they used to be. Here is our list of some of the things that you are going to want to have ready for your wedding proposal:

• A ring. The most popular type of ring is a diamond ring, but it doesn’t have to be that way. See below
• Friends and family (if you want them to be involved) or Zoom if they can’t make it
• A camera or cell phone with a high-quality lens (or perhaps a professional photographer)
• A script for your proposal speech. Keep it short. See below
• The correct clothing
• Any other gifts that you want to give (for example, earrings, roses, chocolates, flowers, or French macaroons)
• A few contingency plans

This list mentions the things that you should think of bringing to your proposal. You may take a look at the list and then decide that you don’t need any of them. That’s fine. The main thing is that you are both there.

If you want to read our entire list of wedding marriage proposal ideas, click here to read 67 ideas for romantic proposals.

Step-by-Step Process for Proposing

Here is the step-by-step guide for the entire process of proposing:

1. Determine if you are ready to propose. Before you take any steps to propose, make sure that you are truly ready for this next step in your relationship. Consider your feelings for your partner and whether you are both ready for marriage.
2. Choose the best moment. Brainstorm the most meaningful and memorable way to propose to your partner. Click here for ideas. This could be during a special vacation, at a significant location, or even at home surrounded by loved ones.
3. Plan the details. Once you have an idea of when and where you want to propose, start thinking about the details. This might include what you will wear, what you will say, and whether you want to involve anyone else in the proposal.
4. Practice what you will say. (See below.) It’s natural to feel nervous when proposing, so take some time to practice what you will say. This will help you feel more confident and prepared when the moment arrives.
5. Get the ring. Choose a ring that reflects your partner’s style and personality.
6. Propose! When the moment arrives, take a deep breath and pop the question. Be yourself and speak from the heart.
7. Celebrate! Once your partner says yes, take a moment to celebrate and enjoy this special moment together.

Preparing Your Proposal Speech

There’s an old adage that still applies today. No speech is too short.

You don’t need to spend hours crafting the perfect sermon about you, her, your future or anything else.

Just prepare a short summary of what she means to you, how she’s improved your life, and how you want to spend the rest of it with her.

Finish it off with the question itself, and that’s all you need. Any more, and it could all get a little anticlimactic. She’ll see what’s coming from early on and will be just dying to answer. It will be much easier for both of you if you let her do that.

The point is not to be glib and self-dismissive, just keep your proposal compact enough to get to the point before it gets lost in the content.

Typically, the speech isn’t read from a paper but comes from the heart. That doesn’t mean that you can’t organize your thoughts in your mind in advance. In fact, it’s probably a good idea.

Buying the Engagement Ring for the Proposal

Society has changed in the last 30 years. It is far more common for couples to live together before getting married nowadays than in times past. This makes shopping for an engagement ring a much more varied process. In some ways, it’s also easier, even if you want the proposal to be a surprise. There are caveats to choosing an engagement ring without your partner’s involvement, it should be said.

Men aren’t always great at paying attention, and women don’t always trust them with big decisions. An engagement ring is, by both definition and financial commitment, a big deal. If you do want to go it alone and make the entire proposal a surprise, then you need to do some work on what type of ring will be suitable. Jewelry is a very personal choice and almost an extension of the personality of the wearer. To make the right choice, you need to carefully look at what your partner’s current jewelry design choices are. For example, does she like small, delicate jewelry, or is she big on the bling end of things? Platinum/white gold, or yellow gold? Solitaire settings or settings with lots of stones? Vintage or Modern?

All this information is important if you are to make the right decision when choosing the ring. Of course, that’s not to say that she will first turn her nose up, and then turn you down, if your choice is slightly off. But why not try to get it right? In fact, we created an article that will help you predict which style ring she will like. Give it a whirl. It may help you out a lot!

Speak to a jeweler who knows about engagement rings, and who can advise you on your choice. They will have forgotten more than you could hope to know, so don’t be afraid to have a discussion with them.

If she likes vintage or one-of-a-kind rings, click here to view our collection of vintage engagement rings.

Is It Still Okay To Go Down on One Knee?

It’s absolutely okay to go down on one knee if that’s how you want to propose. It’s also perfectly okay to stand, sit, or use whatever position you’re in at the time. Although tradition and convention are great, we do live in a much more relaxed time. The rules of any of life’s traditions are far more mellow than they used to be.

Going down on one knee is still a very dramatic and romantic gesture, but that doesn’t mean it will always be appropriate for your situation. If you’re at home, it’s probably going to be okay. If you’re on a Ferris Wheel, probably not so much. The point is that you don’t necessarily need to organize your actual proposal around it.

The issue, if there actually is any problem, with going down on one knee is that it transmits your proposal before you’ve got a word out. That’s okay, of course, but there’s something special about actually asking someone to marry you, rather than doing it via the medium of mime.

Please note that many women may expect the proposal to be on one knee. A casual proposal may come across as unromantic.

Like many elements of the proposal, it will be critical to cater to the needs of the person you want to marry instead of following conventional wisdom!

Where and How to Propose…

This is increasingly the biggest question in any proposal. It is often also one of the trickiest to answer with any certainty. With the internet at your fingertips, organizing a big, dramatic proposal is now very easy. Whether it’s a flash mob, a scripted performance or just with the help of family and friends, nothing is off-limits.

If your fiancée-to-be isn’t the type for big emotional displays, though, then you would be better advised to play it cool. Being proposed to in front of a group of people may sound romantic, but it can also be embarrassing for the recipient.

Click here to read our list of over 67 creative proposal ideas. We also have an article on advice for proposing at home.

Again, that’s not to say don’t organize a big event, just make sure it will be appreciated. Otherwise, think private and low key. At home, in a restaurant, it doesn’t really matter. The priority, as with most of the elements of any proposal, is appropriateness. All proposals are, by definition, romantic. That’s the whole point. But one person’s idea of romance may be different from another. If your idea is different from your partner’s, then her way wins, simple as that.

For the actual location, lots of that depends on the manner of the proposal. But, assuming you’re not engaging the help of a theater group or a 40 piece orchestra, it may be that you have a special place that you both love. You maybe had a weekend trip or a favorite walk. Anything that is personal, and which is reasonably private is just perfect.

We created a list of the best places to propose in New York. You can use the list to try and find places to propose in your city.

When to Propose?

There are several dates in a calendar which automatically lend themselves to being good dates on which to propose. Birthdays, Valentine’s, the day you met, your first real date, anything that is significant. December and New Year are perhaps not quite so ideal as they sound, though, There’s already tons of stuff going on during the December Season, and planning a proposal won’t be easy. These are often times when creating a little space, without a packed schedule to worry about, can make a huge difference.

Of the 4 seasons in the year, spring and fall are both very popular proposal times. In spring, flowers are starting to bloom, leaves are returning to the trees, and the whole idea of new beginnings is everywhere. In fall, the leaves on the trees are a stunning color, the weather is often perfect, and even chilly days can mean a wonderful walk, wrapped up against the cold. All perfect proposal times. But when it’s snowing, a roaring fire is the perfect accompaniment to the question, so what do you do? You choose what works for you.

One thing which should be said is that you can – and should – cancel your planned proposal if something isn’t right. If something has happened, or if things just don’t feel perfect, don’t be afraid to postpone it. Proposing marriage isn’t any kind of dress rehearsal where you get another try if it doesn’t go well the first time. If that means waiting, then so be it.

How Long After Dating should you Propose?

Of all the questions here, this is the one which is most difficult to answer. There have been proposals made after a few days or a few weeks which have led to marriages which have lasted a lifetime.

There have also been proposals several years into a relationship which has seen the marriage itself last just months. If you have reached the point where you know you want to marry someone, it can be difficult to not rush into things.

If the relationship is fairly new, say less than a year old, it is more difficult to know if your partner feels the same way. At the end of the day, though, only you can know if the time is right.

As well as thinking “Will she say yes?”, ask yourself “What are the reasons why she might say no?”. Hopefully, the answer to the second question will be “There aren’t any”, but ask yourself that question anyway and be truthful about the answers.

Marriage is something which, when we start the journey, we hope and intend for it to last forever. The way for that to happen is with the most solid foundation possible. Have that, and the rest is much easier than it will otherwise be.

What Is The Right Age For Proposing?

This is another tricky question to answer. Life has a habit of only teaching us the things we need to know, about 10 seconds after we realize we don’t know something. Naturally, with years, comes experience. Like knowing if the time is right, only you know if you are old enough.

The most important thing to make sure of, however, will be compatibility. If you are 40 and aren’t sure that you want the same things out of your marriage then you aren’t ready to take the plunge. If you are only 22 but already know who you are and what you want, you may be ready to get married.

Dos and Don’ts for Proposing

Although the tradition of asking your partner’s father for her hand in marriage has waned in recent times, it’s still a very nice thing to do. The appreciation will be considerable and can help cement a good relationship with your in-laws. In-person is always best, even if it means making a trip to do so. Fathers are still protective of their little girls, and a little consideration will go a long way. Here’s some advice on how to ask her father.

If she has friends or family with whom you have a good relationship, sound them out first. They will know what answer you’re likely to get and can even help with how and where you actually propose.

Don’t try and push a proposal onto your partner if you are unsure about the method and timing. It’s not something you can just have another go tomorrow. Choose your moment carefully.

Before proposing, think about what happens next. If you decide to wait to buy the ring until after you have proposed, have an appointment lined up with a jeweler. Have a table booked for a nice restaurant where the two of you can celebrate together. Simple things like this will show that you have thought about what you’re doing.

Final Thoughts

Being in a position where you can make a marriage proposal to someone is the most wonderful thing, it truly is. Nerves will be present, however, cool you think you might be. Those nerves are a good thing, as it means your excitement will match hers when you pop the question.

If all the pieces are in place, you will remember the moment for as long as you live. As you are actually proposing, give her a second for the dots to join fully. Our brains work much better with context than with none. There is no context for a marriage proposal.

For most of us, it’s a once in a lifetime thing,  so it is unlikely she’s expecting it at that exact moment.

And when she says yes, be ready for anything!