You’ve been dating this amazing, perfect person for a while, and you want to make sure they’re yours for forever. You think you’re ready to seal the deal. Well… you’re probably not. Getting down on one knee is one of the biggest decisions of your life – so make sure you’re ready! A lot goes into a proposal, and you want to make sure it’s perfect. We’ve compiled a list of things (in no particular order) you need to do before asking your future partner to marry you:

Make sure you’re getting the right signals! If both of you have been growing distant the last few weeks, don’t think that proposing will make it better. The only thing you should be lacking from your relationship at this point, is the next step! If you believe that your relationship has never been better, then the only thing that could improve it is to pop the question!

You’ve talked about the future Talking about the future means that they can see themselves with you for a long time (meaning, they probably wants to marry you!). If you are unsure of what “talking about the future” means, try asking questions like: “Where do you think we’ll be living in 10 years?”, “How many kids do you think we’ll have?”, “Where do you see us as a couple in a few years?” – These are all questions that hint to them that YOU have thought about the future, and their responses will confirm/deny her own feelings about the future!

Get permission from their parents. A traditional question that (almost always) has to be asked. Family is very important to most people, and having their parents give permission to you is a big deal – Like, a really big deal! Please don’t skip this.

Save up! Set up a budget for what works for you and determine how much you will allocate to each aspect of your proposal. Here’s a hint though: the ring will be the most expensive. An old rule of thumb is the ring should be about 3 months worth of your income. You don’t have to follow that rule, but it gives you an idea! Remember, you’re not JUST saving for the ring… You’ll need some money for the dinner, or trip, or however you decide to ask. You’ll also need to save for the proposal planner/photographer. I know a good one!

Stalk them on Pinterest. This might sound kind of creepy, but you’ve been dating for a while and you have all the right to go through their Pinterest page for proposal and wedding ideas. This will give you a better idea of where/how to propose to them, or what type of ring they’ve been dreaming about!

Start Thinking about the Location. This could mean scouring the country side for that perfect picnic spot, or going back to where you had your first date and asking the owner if you can reserve the same table for your special night. This is also a great time to introduce a proposal planner who could do all the leg work for you.

Book Erin!!! 100% of the people in a serious relationship we surveyed said that they would hire a photographer for their proposal. It’s a moment that you’re going to want to remember forever, so choose the right person to capture it. Erin not only does the proposal planning (helping you come up with a unique idea and executing it) she can shoot that perfect “YES!” moment with her secret photographer ninja skills! Call today to set up a free consultation!