Did the title have you thinking about a special someone? Is he or she amazing, loving, and someone you want to spend the rest of your life with?

Are you ready to ‘pop the question’?

Getting engaged is an exciting time in a persons life, for both parties. Personally, I’m in that time in my life as well, wanting to settle down and create a life with my partner. Now, am I getting engaged any time soon? Unlikely, but being in a serious relationship has me thinking, “When the time comes, would I want that moment to be private and intimate, or public and out in the open?”

A private proposal, in my opinion, is such an intimate moment between a couple. There’s no one around except you and him, and honestly, I find when you’re alone, you’re able to say exactly what is on your heart with as much passion and love as you’d like. There’s no pressure, and it’ll be your little secret until you decide it’s time to announce the engagement to the rest of the world.

A public proposal is intimate as well, but because of all the excitement of people around you, the words you may want to say will be overpowered by the other excited voices around you. Not only this, but this type of situation adds a certain pressure to your significant other to say the answer that you and everyone else wants to hear. Not that he/she would say no, especially if you both have discussed the possibility of getting married in the past, but I have heard horror stories of couples who have gotten engaged in public to only break off their engagement later on due to the other partner being pressured and not ready for such a commitment.

As per tradition, it’s usually the man that decides these factors, where the engagement will happen and when, but it’s the 21st century for heavens sake! Tradition is certainly not something many people keep to nowadays. You, as an individual, have control over your life and how you want it to go, and this goes hand in hand with how you want to be proposed to.

If you’re in a serious, committed relationship, and you both are open to discussing the future, don’t be afraid to sit your significant other down to discuss how you would like to be proposed to. It may seem a little pushy to some people, but in my opinion, I would rather discuss with my boyfriend how I’d like him to pop the question, whether it’s in private or out in public, than have him pop the question in the most unwanted place.

Now, to the person popping the question, I have some questions for you;

1. Is he/she a private or public person?

2. Do stressful situations usually get the better of them?

3. Is he/she a family person, and would they want their family involved in the process?

4. What do YOU want?

In my opinion, the last question is just as important as the others. Of course, what your partner wants is important, but what you want is a necessary factor as well. Take both of your personalities in consideration when planning your proposal. As long as it’s carried out with love and sincerity, what you do really shouldn’t matter.

And finally, to anyone considering proposing to your significant other, CONGRATULATIONS! Taking that step is huge, and honestly if I knew who you were, I’d probably give you a big hug if I could! From my heart to yours, thank you for loving someone so much to want to spend the rest of your life with them. That love is the reason I wanted to become a wedding planner in the first place, and the fact that it still exists means magic does as well. Unfortunately, it’s not Hogwarts magic, but it’ll have to do.

So, thank you, and good luck!!! FINGERS CROSSED!