Getting Nervous? Here's What to Say When You Propose

You and your significant other have a million inside jokes — and you never run out of things to talk about. That’s one of the reasons why you know she’s “The One,” but there’s one problem: You’re putting off the big proposal because you don’t know what to say.

We get it: Pulling off the perfect proposal is enough to terrify even the most cool, calm and collected person. But you already figured out when to propose, so now it's time to take action. Are you destined to fumble through the proposal, just hoping to get those words out? Nope! Here are a few ways to come up with the perfect proposal.

Free-write the reasons you love her — no editing allowed

There’s a reason why she’s the person you want as your wife. Maybe she helped you see it’s OK to have emotions instead of being a tough guy all the time. Or, maybe she inspired you to overcome your fears and pursue your dreams.

Get those feelings out by simply writing out all the reasons you love her. Don’t worry about misspellings or sentences that aren’t grammatically correct — you can correct later. Just put pen to paper and get everything out there.

Tell him about the exact moment you realized he was the one for you

Sometimes there’s a defining moment that took your significant other from your boyfriend to The One. Maybe it was the time he sat by your bedside when you were in the hospital. Or maybe it was some random Sunday over coffee.

Use this moment as the basis for your speech by telling the story of what you were doing and how it helped “flip the switch” in your head.

Say what you love most about her

This one should be pretty easy. Pretend someone asked you what you love about your girlfriend and list out all the reasons why you love her. It can be as simple as loving her smile, to as poignant as how caring she is toward children.

Talk about your future together

By this point, you’ve discussed the possibility of a future together. What does that look like? Maybe you want three kids and a farm. Maybe you want to travel the world. Or maybe you want to pack up and live on a beach in Costa Rica. Whatever the future plans, use the proposal as the opportunity to talk about those plans — and how doing them together is the only option for you.

Simply say those four words they're waiting for

Maybe the best proposal is the simplest one of all. If you’re not sure you want a drawn-out speech, simply do your best to find the right moment and drop to one knee. She might not remember a big speech, but she will remember when you say those magic words: “Will you marry me?”

Most of all, make sure you sound like you

It’s tempting to consult Google or social media for ideas on what you should say when you propose. That’s a mistake. While reading about other speeches can give you ideas, don’t crib those ideas for your own speech. The reason: It won’t sound like you.

Get inspiration, but write your speech in your own words and make sure it’s something you’d actually say.

Is there some way we can help make it special? Reach out!