How To Feel A Little Less Nervous About A Proposal *

*This is a collaborative post.

Are you sweating bullets over the prospect of popping the question? Well, that happens to just about everyone who plans to do it. Sometimes, the stress can really get so much that it overshadows what should be a joyous occasion of your life. If you’re really nervous about getting the proposal wrong, then here are a few tips to help ease your mind a little.

Stop trying to make it a surprise

Believe it or not, surprise engagements are on their way out. Which is good, they have led to far too many heartbreaks. Nowadays, talking to your partner about the prospect of getting married ahead of time is hardly rare. Sure, it may mean that they expect the question coming up a little more, but that’s not going to make the moment any less special. You can still find ways to make the proposal itself special, even if it’s not entirely unexpected.

Get their family involved

If you’re of the traditional sort, then you may be inclined to ask a parent for the blessing you need to pop the question in the first place. However, they can be a lot more helpful than simply giving you that blessing. They may be inclined to offer tips on good times or places to pop the question, knowing your loved one as they do. Furthermore, you can make the moment all the more special by getting them involved. For instance, you can go with the old trick of making your loved one turn around, only for their family and friends to be popping the question on your behalf with signs or letters.

Go ring shopping after the fact

Some people are very particular about the jewellery they will wear, especially if they’re expected to wear it for the rest of their life. If you’re not certain what style your loved one will love, then you can choose a temporary ring for the engagement, then go shopping for much classier solitaire engagement rings after the fact. They will undoubtedly appreciate the fact that they have some choice in the matter, and going ring shopping together is a fun activity after you’ve just popped the question successfully.

Have a game plan

Sometimes, being too meticulous with the details can make you more nervous because you expect things to go wrong. However, if you’re able to make a general plan for the day leading up the proposal, you can rely on it and, seeing that things are going well, you can feel a little more at ease about setting the stage for the proposal itself. Of course, you don’t have to do it all yourself, as more and more couples are relying on proposal planners to take some of the stress off their shoulders.

There’s no way to completely get rid of the nerves that can come with planning an engagement. It simply goes with the territory of asking someone to share their life with you. However, hopefully, the tips above can at least make them more manageable.