Thinking about proposing? There’s no better time than the present! Here are four things to make sure you know before you propose.

1. What type of proposal she wants. Love is in the air with Valentine’s Day and if you’re thinking now is the time, make sure that’s what she wants. Whether your girl wants an over-the-top proposal or a low-key-thing, you want to make sure you give in to her taste as much as your own. This is your moment, but you don’t want the spotlight to shine too brightly if she isn’t one who wants it. Does she want a flashmob? A friends/family party? A dinner for two? Do some research before you get down on one knee!

2. Ring Love. A woman has to wear that engagement ring for the rest of her life, or at least until there’s the possibility of an upgrade or something of the sort. Make sure you know what type of ring she wants, as well as the size. Does she want color, a halo-style, more than one stone? You want to know these things and get a ring that’s in your budget but is of her taste.

3. On the same page? If you’re proposing, I think this should be something you’ve already discussed. Not necessarily the, “We are both ready to get married RIGHT NOW,” convo, but one that’s along the lines of– you both want to get married, you’re both in love, and you both think this could be it. No, that’s not an easy subject to approach without giving away the game, but if you’re thinking of proposing, something tells me this had to have come up at some point or another.

4. The after-math. You may have talked about both wanting to get married, but have you talked about the other important stuff: location, kids, jobs, etc? You want to go in this together knowing the expectations on both sides, and talk about where you can compromise and where you can’t. It’s so important to know what the other wants out of your relationship, and you don’t want to get married, let along engaged, without knowing those things first.

Don’t let this rain on your parade, but rather prepare you for the weather!

Emily