Brought to you by Bank of Ireland.
The “how to” for getting her to say “I do.”
Choosing who you want to spend the rest of your life with is one of the most important decisions you can make. It’s right up there with picking which football team you’re going to support.
So what do you need to know and what should you avoid? This simple guide will walk you through proposing to your other half and get you started on a journey that hopefully ends up with “I do.”
Do think before you ask
Grand gestures are one thing but this is a major step. It’s not a Band Aid that you can apply to a failing relationship. There’s no back door and you don’t want to spend the rest of your life regretting a drunken moment of spontaneous romance.
Don’t go in blind
Surprises may be romantic but you really should have a rough idea whether your intended is going to say yes or not. You’ve presumably discussed this beforehand but the last thing you want is to see her face crumple when you say the words. You really don’t want to be this guy!
Clip via RTÉ – IRELAND’S NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE MEDIA
Don’t let her be the last to know
There’s nothing wrong with disclosing your plans with friends or family beforehand, as long as they know that loose lips sink ships. Nothing will ruin the moment more than your Mam dropping oh-so-subtle hints two weeks before you plan to propose.
Do consider whether to chat to her father
You may believe that asking her father for her hand in marriage is an old-fashioned hangover from a bygone age. Still, you might find that ignoring her Da casts a shadow over the moment if it’s a tradition that she respects.
Don’t turn up empty-handed
She may want to choose her own ring but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get a token ring. A symbolic prop will add some gravitas to the situation and save you from kneeling there with a theoretical ring and a residual feeling of regret.
Do choose your moment carefully
This moment is a reflection on how you feel about each other and something you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Plan it out and try to make it as magical as possible. Ensure that the time, place and the mood is right and you’re halfway there.
Don’t be afraid to be romantic
This is no time to be nonchalant or to play it cool. Embrace your inner romantic. Don’t slide it across the dinner table with a wink and a smile and expect her to be blown away by your post-modern detachment. This is the one time that you absolutely have to take a knee.
Do plan what to say
Sure, you want to speak from the heart but you might find that your natural eloquence deserts you when the moment comes. It won’t help your cause if you’re a babbling, sweaty mess. Know what you want to say, make eye contact and tell her why you want to spend the rest of your life with her.
Don’t be that guy
“Well, will we just get married then?” As a rule of thumb, a proposal shouldn’t just be thrown out when you’re standing in the kitchen, brushing your teeth together, discussing tax breaks or driving to the shops.
Do splash out on the ring
You may not be loaded but this is one of those beg, borrow or steal moments. If you’re still having doubts, think about it like this. You’ll hopefully be living with your ring selection for the rest of your life so don’t scrimp and get something that you’ll be embarrassed about for the next 50 years.
Everyone has different savings goals, whether it’s buying an engagement ring, moving in to a new house with your partner or going on a holiday. Bank of Ireland is there to help you with all the big and small steps in life and to help you reach your goals.
Whatever your saving goal, make sure you reach ours. Open a Bank of Ireland GoalSaver Account today and you could win a €25,000 savings boost.
Brought to you by Bank of Ireland.
Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Terms and conditions apply.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
