DOS

Make it a Surprise: "Take your future fiancee completely by surprise in order to make your engagement extra special," Pease said. "She'll instantly suspect something is up if you suggest a getaway weekend or intimate dinner out of the blue. Instead, use a decoy like a work function as your excuse to get her to your proposal location. For more advanced future grooms: get an accomplice involved like her best friend or coworker. If she's out for dinner with her best friend, she won't be expecting a proposal at all and it will be a true surprise."



Get Inspired by Her Favorite Things: "The most important part of proposals is to make it personal for her," Pease said. "Grab a sheet of paper and write down a list of her favorite things: songs, movies, colors, flowers, foods, memories, people -- the list goes on and on. Expand this list by adding in things that she's only dreamt of: where is her dream vacation? What has she always wanted to try? Whether it's skydiving or culinary school, a trip to Tahiti or a day of pampering, use these pieces of inspiration as the foundation for your proposal."

Keep It a Secret: "As the saying goes, 'Loose lips sink ships,' and when it comes to getting engaged it's absolutely true," Pease said. "Don't be tempted to swap ideas with your work buddies or friends, even if they aren't scheduled to see your future fiance anytime soon."

"If you're using an accomplice, make sure it's someone who fully understands the gravity of the situation and is completely reliable. Asking her parents' permission? Hedge your bets and do it as close to the proposal as possible. An excited parent has been known to slip up and unintentionally ruin the surprise for everyone."

Document It: "Proposing is a nerve-racking experience. Chances are, you'll remember very little about what you actually said, how she reacted and what happened in the aftermath," Pease said. "Whether it's hiring a videographer and photographer to capture it paparazzi-style, setting up a Flip cam on a tripod, or bringing a small notebook and pen to record your thoughts, make sure to do something to remember the moment. It'll become a family heirloom that you can share with your grandkids."

Keep Some Traditions Alive: "There are two traditions that all proposals should have: a ring and getting down on one knee. If you don't want to ruin the surprise of your engagement by ring shopping, bring a candy ring pop or a toy ring to propose with and then enjoy shopping for your ring together after you're engaged. And be sure to get down on one knee. It's one tradition that is still critical to this important question."

DON'TS

Don't Propose Without a Plan: "Follow the Boy Scout motto and 'be prepared,'" Pease said. "Take a critical look at your proposal plan and consider all of the possible obstacles to executing it successfully. In other words, think catastrophically and be a worry wart. Weather and traffic are the biggest potential troublemakers, but a clueless limo driver can also ruin your day.


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"If you're planning to propose in your local park and have arranged for a musician to meet you there, do you have a plan if it rains? Popping the question at the top of the Empire State Building? How will you get past security with the ring in your pocket? Make sure that you think through all of the elements of your engagement from the set-up to the actual proposal and to what happens afterwards."

Don't Forget About the Aftermath: "When putting together your engagement plan, consider when you'll be asking her to marry you," Pease said. "Will it be in the morning before she has to go to work? If she's rushed to get to an important meeting, she may not be able to bask in the glow of the moment. If you're camping in the middle of nowhere without a cell signal or in an exotic location around the world, how will you call to share the news with friends and family?"

"Keep in mind that you'll want to be able to ride the wave of being engaged after she says yes, so be sure to take that into consideration when making plans."

Don't Propose on a Jumbotron: Ever.

Source:http://abcnews.go.com

Tags: Dos and Don'ts of Popping the Question