The Perfect Valentines Proposal: 10 do's and dont's if you're thinking about getting down on one knee this February!

February, the month that special day for all potential – I stress POTENTIAL !!  brides and grooms pops its happy head into our calendar.  Yes, you guessed it.  VALENTINES DAY.   Da da!!

Well now then - will it be you this year.  So, for all you budding spotters browsing information on POTENTIALLY !! popping the question (be you a he or a she :-) read on and study!!

Yes, you guessed right.  Women now actually do propose and far more often than you think. 

Every year and especially this year!!  People will be thinking about the meaningful things they want to do.  Getting engaged is right up there with the biggies.  And VALENTINES Day still outshines every other day in the year for proposals.  Wow – start to get yourself ready! It might be your turn.

Men think it’s a great idea to propose on Valentine’s day.  Why?  Well – it’s just so Romantic, isn’t it?  It’s all about being in love.   It is also very traditional.   And remember – for the guys it will be so easy to always remember the date you got engaged! Bingo! – Hey it applies to you ladies too of course. So…. get thinking about asking.

Don’t make a hash of it – that’s the next thing to be aware of.  It is a monumental moment, no matter what the times are and boy are we in unprecedented times.  So, okay - how should, or how could you do it?

Proposing on Valentine’s Day this year will be tricky.  You’re unlikely to be on holiday.  You may not be in that fancy restaurant you both love.  You may not be dressed to the nines!!  Think hard about that special person you are asking.  ASKING them to spend their lives with just you - forever.!!

So, understand a little of what they love and who they are before you ask. Know if these simple steps just wouldn’t work for them.  Give it some thought at least.  Here are our top Do’s & Dont’s to hopefully help you get ready for that BIG Valentine day proposal! Here we go – keep it simple.

1. Do try and SURPRISE them. 

Throw them off guard.  Prepare a beautiful meal, or set lighted candles on your balcony or garden wall, even near your back door.  You can create a romantic corner almost anywhere.  Serenade them – even if you can’t sing.

You can surprise them by sending over a warm and sweet bouquet of roses and some chocolate treats from BloomingBox. Get this delivered straight to their home or office. If you want to make it even more special, have a personalized note delivered with the bouquet and chocolates.

2. Don’t propose at an expected time.

Even if you think they have an incline – delay it a bit.  An hour or two - when it finally comes – wow – the love sparks will fly.

3. Do think about documenting it.

Plan that little photo session together – that you can share later, on social media or with family.  Maybe enlist a friend (social distancing and within the rules of course) who can maybe just snap away for you both. 

4. Don’t hide the ring in a stupid place. 

Keep it away from the champagne glasses – the cake – the chocolate box etc – you don’t want to lose it!

5. Don’t over plan.

It shouldn’t be too complicated.  Avoid heavy detail – do not go overboard – a couple of BIG surprises is ample – maybe even that is not really necessary.

6. Do be emotional

If it moves you to tears – just cry – let it come naturally.  You are telling them how much you love them – you are baring your soul.  Showing your emotion will make it all the more special.

7. Don’t propose in a really creepy way.

You don’t have to say everything or too much, certainly don’t reel off things you would not normally say – less said and all that!  Just make it special and meaningful.

8. Do laugh if something goes wrong. 

Maybe the phone will ring, or the delivery man arrives.  Just deal with the unexpected and chill.  It’s part of your proposal memory and adds momentum to your engagement story!

9. Don’t have any expectations to a reaction.

It may not go as expected.  They may be in shock – so don’t feel bad if you do not get the response you wanted. Just let it flow naturally and keep smiling and be nice.

10. Finally, Think about what makes that good proposal. 

Don’t mess around – get to the point quickly. Avoid grand gestures, don’t beat around the bush – keep it simple – and just spill out the words.  They will love you for it.  Hopefully!!  Good luck!

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Alternative Proposal Ideas That'll Make Things More Romantic

Asking someone to marry you, despite being a simple question, can be one of the most nerve-wracking times of your life. You’ll need to make sure that everything’s right before you do. Some of that will depend on the ring itself.

While engagement rings have always been popular, eternity rings could be as effective, if not more so. Beyond that, there’ll be multiple other aspects to a proposal that you’ll need to worry about.

Though your partner is likely to say ‘yes’ regardless of how much preparation and planning you put in, you’ll still want to make it unique. There are a few alternative proposal ideas that you could try.

Alternative Proposal Ideas You Should Consider

A Magical Forest

What could be more magical than a romantic proposal in a forest? If your partner is a fan of the outdoors, then this could be an appealing option. You’ll need to put some planning into this, however.

Having an area where you’ll pop the question is recommended. You can spruce this place up by adding some lights to make it more romantic. Going for a hike with your partner, provided this isn’t out of the ordinary, and leading the way here will make sure it’s a surprise.

Personalized Jigsaw

Puzzle-solving and jigsaws have been popular pastimes for many couples for quite some time. If you and your partner fit into this category, why not work it into your proposal? You can get a personalized jigsaw made that has the big question emblazoned on it.

There’ll be more and more suspense here as your partner gets closer to finishing the jigsaw. You’ll need to be careful so that it’s not too obvious when your partner is putting it together. It could be worth making sure that there isn’t a picture on the packaging.

If there is, you should ensure that this is of a slightly different jigsaw.

Try A Photo Booth

A photo booth may not be the first place you think of when it comes to proposal ideas. It could be one of the more intimate ways of proposing to your partner, however. Not only will you make it much more intimate, but you’ll have the moment captured on camera.

That could be much more special to you and your partner than you’d expect. Who wouldn’t want to document their partner’s exact reaction to the proposal? There’s also the benefit of getting the moments directly before and after popping the question.

What could be more romantic than that?

Wrapping Up

Coming up with alternative proposal ideas can be quite difficult. You’ll not only need to make sure that it’s something your partner will like, but something you can take advantage of. Seeing what kind of activities or other things you can utilize for your proposal will be the first step in planning it.

Once you’ve created a list of these, you can narrow it down based on your partner’s preferences. The above could be more than recommended. When you’re planning it out, you’ll need to make sure that it’s a surprise, which could be the most difficult aspect.

If you can manage that, you’ll have no problem proposing.

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The Essential Guide to Engagement Ring Diamonds!

The time has finally come! The time to join together in a union of love and devotion. It is time to pick your diamond engagement ring! The beauty and durability of a fine diamond combined with precious metal's strength and purity continue to evoke the perfect promise of an enduring and wonderful marriage for lovers everywhere. But where do you start? It is not like engagement rings are rare and aren't sold anyway. That's a misconception. There are so many different options that it is bound to get confusing and overwhelming. The first thing to think about is the diamond, but how do you choose a certified diamond engagement ring?

Select a Shape:

Round Diamonds: 

If you are unsure about the shape, it may be helpful to know that round diamonds are by far the most popular choice due to their fire, brilliance and light performance!

Princess Diamonds:

Princess diamonds feature an angular, contemporary beauty that looks gorgeous in classic and geometric settings. They offer the brilliance of a brilliant round diamond but with a modern twist. 

Photo by Jasmine Carter on Pexels

Cushion Diamonds:

Cushion diamonds are an ideal choice for anyone who wants a more vintage-inspired look! It is an attractive alternative to a Princess Cut for those preferring a more rectangular shape.

Step Cut Diamonds:

Asscher and emerald diamonds are step cut diamonds that create a sleek, elegant appearance. They are more transparent than round diamonds. 

Pear-shaped Diamonds:

Pear-shaped diamonds are more distinctive in shape. They help make fingers look long and slender due to their elongated appearance. They are also larger than the heart-shaped diamond. 

Heart-shaped diamonds:

For you die-hard romantics, the heart-shaped diamond can express your sentiment with a flourish!

How many stones?

How many stones are too many stones in your engagement ring? The correct answer is there are never too many stones! 

Three stone rings are a popular choice today with their symbolic message of yesterday, today and tomorrow. It usually consists of a centre diamond enhanced by two matching smaller diamonds. It creates an impressive display of brilliance and fire, and the smaller accent diamonds create an even fancier look. 

Colour:

Most people prefer a colourless or white diamond or a colour that is not very detectable to the untrained eye, but why not have a pop colour? Why not branch out of the typical diamond colour and go for something unique? Coloured engagement rings encompass both fancy colour diamond rings and vivid gemstone rings such as rubies and sapphires. Both classic and contemporary designers can bring forth a striking engagement rung with a bit of colour! For example, Aquamarine is an unexpected yet stunning choice for an engagement ring, with its soft hue creating a timeless and unique look. What about morganite for a peachy number, emerald or yellow cut to cement a gorgeous band? Pink tourmaline or London blue topaz for a vivid cerulean hue?

Photo by Marta Branco on Pexels

The most significant element of any engagement ring is the diamonds that go into them. You need fine-cut craftsmanship and something that can symbolise your future relationship in the best way possible!

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