Ready to pop the question? Looking for that romantic proposal idea and tips to plan that perfect marriage proposal that will blow the mind of your partner? You have come to the right place!
Sometimes you meet a person and you just click.
Last year, I was fortunate enough to bump into that person. I met Prerna online and we clicked right away! Glued into our phones, we kicked off our story in a long-distance relationship as she is from France and I am living in Seattle (USA).
This also meant we had to wait approximately 3 months before we could even see each other. To our luck, she was visiting the states for a “vacation” which was planned before we even stumbled upon each other. Luck or destiny? 😀
After spending a few Sleepless In Seattle nights (and days) with her, I decided to put a ring on it in the most cliched, dreamy way.
However cliched does an Eiffel proposal sound, I can most definitely guarantee that the vibe will stun you and your fiancee (you read it right, she/he has to say ‘yes’). So, don’t think twice to make this moment special with a fairy-tale marriage proposal idea that you both will cherish for the rest of your life and also get people talking!
A few of my friends and family members have asked me questions like: How was this planned? Who took the photos? How come you both were color-coordinated?
Planning a perfect marriage proposal, presumably from thousands of miles away can be a little nerve-racking. From ring shopping, hiring a photographer, picking a location, and memorizing that tear-jerking speech – you’ve got your work cut out for you.
Choose A Location
My girlfriend lives in Toulouse, France which made it much more tangible to plan an Eiffel proposal all the way from Seattle, USA. Don’t get me wrong here, I would have traveled to Mars if it was any better. 😉
City of Love. Paris is huge and there are many beautiful spots with breathtaking views of Eiffel Tower. One can not go wrong with any of them. For me, it was Trocadero which gives you a picture-perfect backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.
Lock Your Travel Plans
Planning my travel itinerary (and Schengen Visa) in advance felt necessary before I could book any non-refundable arrangements, which brings me to my next point.
Hire A Professional Photographer
We both believe in capturing the smallest of the memories. And this my friend is one big moment and must be captured by the best! So, I hired a professional Paris Photographer for our surprise proposal photoshoot. I would recommend anyone to do the same. It’s worth every penny.
There were two ways to go around this surprise proposal. I can either tell my girlfriend about the photoshoot (and keep the marriage proposal a surprise), or I can surprise her all the way. The problem with later is you don’t get these dreamy photos where you both are all decked up and color-coordinated if you so wish.
I was afraid of blowing away my surprise but at the same time knew that she would love to dress up for the photoshoot. As we all know that city of love, Paris is a very popular choice for a couple photoshoot, I used that to gradually implanted the idea of a photoshoot (~ 3 months in advance) to ensure she had no clue of what’s coming along with it. Again, this is very personal and I am sure you will figure out a way too.
Pick A Ring
Buying that perfect ring of her dreams can be tricky and will take time, especially if you are like me who had zero previous knowledge of diamonds and rings in general. So, make sure to start your search early.
Diamonds come in different cuts, clarity, carat and colors (also known as the 4 C’s of diamond). You can toggle these 4 C’s to search for the right diamond as per your budget. Once you have chosen the diamond, you will need to shop for the right style and aesthetic (it helps to know a little about your partner’s choice in advance).
Also, you will want to find out her ring size in discretion. It can be a close approximation and you can always resize it later.
Prepare Your Proposal Speech
I know it comes from the inside of your heart, but you will want to prepare something if you were like me. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this.
Timing and weather
The backdrop of The Iron Lady looks stunning round the year but I wanted to avoid the clouds and fog. Ironically, it had to be the first week of December for me, which means I could only pray for the rain gods to be kind.
Sunrise is usually a great time to avoid the crowds in Paris and also the slanting rays of the rising sun provides excellent lighting.
Add Props
For this special moment, you may want to arrange flowers, balloons, musicians, string lights, etc. My girlfriend admires DIY cards so I drew one for her, visualizing this very special moment.
The Day Of Proposal
In the hours, days, and weeks leading up to the proposal, I believe it’s normal to feel an almost impossible-to-describe excitement, wooziness, and tons of butterflies in your stomach.
This was my first time visiting Paris and France. Was I nervous? Yes, a little. I woke up at the crack of dawn and quickly peeked outside the window. The cold Parisian wind breezed through my face. To my dismay, it with drizzling outside.
All excited for the photoshoot, we quickly dressed up and arrived at the location where we met our photographer, Vio. As we walked up the stairs of the Trocadero, Voila, the sun had come out from behind the clouds. The brilliance of the bright sunshine and the magnificent Eiffel standing tall, merged into a single joyous and spirited impression, creating a dreamy sight to behold.
Vio started setting up his camera to test the lighting, and in no time we were living the celebrity life, throwing candids to Vio’s camera. 😀
Few minutes later, Vio asked “Guys, are you ready for the best shot?”.
She smiled, turned towards Vio and asked, “What’s the best shot”?
She then turned back and saw me holding the card that I drew for her. Excited, she asked “Heyyyyy! What’s this for?!”.
I smiled, looked into her eyes and gave her the card. As she opened it, I went down on my knees and popped the question.
You make me happier than I ever thought I could be, and if you’ll let me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way. Let’s grow old together?
The words froze in her mouth as she hustled down to kiss me. Time had indeed stopped for the two of us.
It took us a while to sink in what just happened and then we were striking poses like one dreamy engaged love birds. It was perfect like I imagined.
Are you planning that perfect marriage proposal or can relate to mine? Let me know about your experience in comments below!
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1 Comment
hari
September 24, 2020 at 1:49 amhey ANKUR,
ripping tips.
love your story.
all the very best!
thanks for sharing this awesome post.