Tips for a Perfect Marriage Proposal

September 11, 2025
by Tracey Lyles

Congratulations! You’ve found the person you want to be your partner for life. What a wonderful and exciting time. And yes, it can also be a little nerve wracking to plan the proposal. But it doesn’t have to be! We’ve helped plan so many proposals over the years and we just love love! Below are some of our top tips. Check them out and then stop by your local Robbins Brothers to ask us anything!

1. Make Sure the Timing is Right

The best time to propose is when you are both ready. Have you talked enough about the future to know you’re in the same place? Many couples talk about marriage and how they envision it before the proposal. It might be important to you that the actual proposal be a surprise, but you probably don’t want the idea of spending your lives together to be a surprising and unexpected thought.

2. Make it Matter to You Both (Not Anyone Else)

You might see viral videos of flash mobs and jumbotrons and surprise parties, and that might in fact be the ideal proposal plan for you. But the best proposal is not the flashiest or most viral, it’s the one that reflects the two of you. If you’re proposing to introvert who prefers privacy, an elaborate public plan is the opposite of perfect for you. But if you’re proposing to someone who loves grand gestures, well, maybe start practicing those flash mob dance moves.

Make the proposal show you understand and listen to your partner. Is there a location that’s meaningful to you both? Do you prefer quiet walks by a lake or jumping out of airplanes? Your proposal is a memory that the two of you will have together forever and it should reflect the two of you.

3. Be Cautious About Overshadowing Another Event

Heading to a romantic vacation? Great time to propose! Heading to someone else’s wedding or to watch your partner complete their first marathon? Possibly not a great time to propose. There are definitely exceptions to this (see tip #2) but unless you know it’s an exception, let your proposal have its own moment.

4. Consider Family Traditions

Are the two of your close with your families? If so, it might be a great idea to talk with them beforehand and even have them be involved (maybe they’re waiting at home ready to throw a party!). But if not, don’t just blindly follow what you’ve heard is “tradition”. As always, refer back to tip #2. There are no hard and fast rules, just what is meaningful and unique to the two of you.

5. Consider the Ring

With a traditional proposal, you get down on one knee and present an engagement ring. That’s a classic for a reason! Check out our tips for choosing a ring, determining how much the ring should cost, and figuring out the right size. But you can also wait and pick out a ring together. You can even make an appointment in advance and we can have ideas (and diamonds) ready!

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6. Have a Plan

You don’t need a detailed and elaborate plan. But think about what you want to say. Will your partner want the moment documented? Consider having a friend (or professional photographer) nearby with a camera. And if you are planning pictures, make sure you’ve orchestrated the event so that you’ll both be photo ready.

And be prepared for any response. It’s probably going to be an excited yes! But you might catch your partner by surprise and they may need a minute to compose themselves!

Ideas for a Romantic Proposal

If you’re brainstorming ideas, here are a few to get you started:

make a delicious dinner and then present a box of chocolates (with one of the chocolates swapped out for a ring) and champagne for dessert.

One a romantic beach walk, write “will you marry me” in the sand.

Plan a romantic weekend and work with the hotel to decorate the room with rose petals and flowers.
Make a reservation at the restaurant where you had your first date (and plan for the proposal as part of dessert).

Hoping for a holiday proposal? We’ve got you covered!

And if you’re looking for a proposal spot, browse the list of romantic spots we’ve curated:

Browse our selection of stunning engagement rings and then stop in anytime. We love to help plan proposals!

Author
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Tracey Lyles

A hopeful romantic and enthusiastic UCLA grad, Tracey serves as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Robbins Brothers. For leisure she enjoys shopping, dancing, hosting parties for family & friends and staying abreast of the latest celebrity news.

Tips for a Perfect Marriage Proposal

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