Engagement Guide 2016: Proposal Ideas And Tips For Wedding Planning

While spring and summer months might be popular seasons for weddings, the winter months are known as the high-season for engagements and wedding proposals.

In the U.S., the favored months to pop the big question fall sometime between November (from Thanksgiving) and February (through Valentine’s Day), Vogue Australia reported.

While the annual engagement season can inspire the jitters or anxiety around crafting the perfect proposal, there are more than enough ideas on which to riff — pick up one of the following engagement proposal ideas and retool it to make it your own. Authenticity and genuine effort are really the only prevailing tips. In addition, here are some wedding planning tips to brush up on so you’ll be better prepared when your partner says “yes.”

Brush up on your proposal speech and read up on this guide of proposal ideas and wedding tips just in time for the 2016 engagement season.

Proposal Ideas: Every proposal should feel just as special and unique as the person to whom you’re planning to propose, so knowing your partner is crucial to fleshing out a proposal plan. Try the rule of firsts: Take your boyfriend or girlfriend to the first place you kissed, the first place you went on a date together or any other special location or destination that stands out in memory.

For a more public and memorable engagement, Bridal Guide recommends getting friends and family involved and having them arrive at the location. This idea works if your partner has close friends or family members he or she would be really happy to see moment-of. Otherwise, you’ll have a few people on-hand to capture the candid moments of the proposal. Does your hopeful future spouse enjoy live music? Hire a band or musician they love, The Knot suggests. Does your partner dream of a legendary wedding proposal for the world to see? Have the message written in the clouds by a skywriter or create and take out a big ad in a newspaper, the wedding site also advises.

For something a little more peaceful, take your partner to a picnic at your favorite park, or, for a more holiday-appropriate setting, hide the ring in your Christmas tree or with other holiday decorations.

Wedding planning tips: So what happens once your partner gives you the ultimate answer? It might be time to start planning. Although many couples prefer to have longer engagements, (a study The Knot conducted revealed the average length of an engagement is about 14.5 months) having an idea of what to book and what arrangements to make will keep your expectations realistic. Wedding venues book months in advance and dates should at least be considered so friends and family can book ticket travel ahead of time. Here is a running list of things to consider before you even begin to select a china pattern. This is only a cursory list, so further planning and finite décor decisions should be considered at a later date.

Consider a date: If you do not already have a date, give your prospective guests an idea as to when you might be getting married. This might seem like a no-brainer, but guests need to request time off from work, book reasonable flights and perhaps even save up a little extra for the flight itself.

Plan a budget: Perhaps you want an extravagant wedding with elaborate flower arrangements or would prefer a small get together with a few loved ones. No matter the theme, discuss with your partner what you both would like to do for the wedding and how much money you’re willing to spend. Communication is absolutely key before taking the first step.

Continuously check in: With that in mind, when planning, it’s best to check in with your partner every step of the way on plans and throughout the process. Questions about the wedding will inevitably follow the engagement announcement and once you have announced wedding plans, you’ll become saturated with advice from friends and family. Check in with yourself and your partner to ensure you’re both aiming for the same goals and try not to let a chorus of “words of wisdom” get into your head.

Book a venue (or at least secure one): Even if it’s in a field out in the middle of Carmel, private and public properties might not be available for large crowds and there are payment schedules and hefty deposits to consider and plan for. Wedding sites and forums suggest booking venues 12 to 18 months before the big day. Have an idea of where you would like the venue to be and what might be involved to secure it so there are no surprises.