RISING STOCK
Getting a Yes is About How You Ask
Summer love is everywhere and you’re thinking about proposing. You don’t know if you want to just pass her a ring during a conversation on the porch, drop it in a glass at dinner or go all out. Three women at different stages in their relationships, and with different personalities, tell you the Do’s and Don’ts of proposing.
THE HOPELESS ROMANTIC
Jackie Fludd
Silver Spring, MD
Do’s
- Go the extra mile. Have people hand her roses with sentimental messages. Finally appear singing, reading a poem or doing something personal and then propose.
- Propose on vacation. Its almost like having a honeymoon before you're married.
- Propose at a special, sentimental location like the place you first met or first said "I love you." It's simple but it shows that you really care.
- Plan a trip to New York, do all the romantic New York stuff...carriage ride in Central Park, go to the top of the Empire State Building, and take her to Tiffanys, but don't tell her where you're going. Propose on the sidewalk. Give her an empty blue ring box. Tell her the ring is inside waiting for her to pick. It's every girl's fantasy. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.
Don’t
- Propose without a ring.
- Propose while either is drunk.
- Propose during sex or while naked.
- Propose over the phone or in e-mail.
THE JOKER
Sadhana Jackson
Philadelphia, PA
Do:
- Plan a surprise proposal party with her closest family and friends.
- Create a scavenger hunt, where you’re the prize at the end of the hunt with a bouquet of flowers and a ring.
- Place the ring on her finger while she sleeps and ask her to marry you when she awakens and notices the ring.
- Plan an trip to an exotic island and propose as the sun sets.
- Contract a sky writer while you eat on the patio of a fancy restaurant.
Don'ts:
- Propose to her 5 seconds after she says I'm pregnant.
- Wait so long she has to propose to you or it seems forced.
- Propose on Jerry Springer (or any other talk show), especially after a lie detector or paternity test.
- Tell her best friend about it and then expect her girl not to spill the beans.
- Propose over the phone, instant message or text message.
- Propose at the chapel ("We here, we might as well").
- Get the DJ at the club to propose for you over the Loud Speaker ("Check 1-2-1-2, Stacey in the Building?! Paul says will ya’ marry him?! Y’all throw you hands up!!) .
THE WORLD TRAVELER
Lauren Hanson, Lauren
New York, NY
Do’s
- Make it an unexpected time but an expected question - you know? Not after two weeks but still a surprise.
- Get on one knee.
- Propose somewhere you can go back and visit.
- Propose in private.
- Make sure she will say yes.
- Be a little nervous though.
- Ask permission from her parents.
Don'ts:
- Lack confidence, look into her eyes.
- Stutter or stumble over the words.
- Do it where a bunch of people can see and gawk.
- Tell everyone except her about the proposal. It's a private moment - people shouldn't be forced to keep secrets.
- Do it on holidays unless there’s a special reason.
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