When should I propose to my girlfriend?

Question

My girlfriend and I have been dating for about six months now. We already have plans to get married in December of this year. That's about six months from now (duh).

So, when should I propose to my girlfriend? I am not familiar with all the protocol...where should I propose to her? I understand that I need to have her ring at the time. What is reasonable in terms of cost for her wedding and engagement rings?

Thanks. : )

Answer 1

Professional Advice --- There is no "protocol" as to how or when you should ask her. You only should ask her when you are ready and sure that this is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. The places you should propose to her are places like where you had your 1st date, where you shared your 1st kiss, or a place that is special to her and you. You can also pick up ideas from her without asking. If she has stated things she likes and places she would like to go. Use those ideas.

The traditional thought on the cost of an engagment ring is 2 months wages. For instance if you make 350 a week, then your 2 month wages would be $2,800.00. BUT, you can always find engagements cheaper than that. I suggest not to spending more than 2 months wages. You have a wedding and future to save for. You dont want to spend it all on one ring. And, you dont want to drive yourself into a debt you may not be able to afford 6 months from now.

However, ultimately its up to you what you want to spend on her ring and what you don't. How and where you do it is up to. Each proposal is unique on its own because its based on what the couple has in common and what they have shared in life.

Answer 2

I would suggest waiting if you have only been dating for six months, but that's just my opinion. If you still decide to propose you should do it within at least two months if you are wanting to get married in December. Wedding planning takes time, so I would do it at least 3 months before the wedding. Engagement rings vary in price. Most people I know spend on average around 6 thousand on the ring. The price of a wedding can be whatever you want really, but a large wedding that is nice will cost at least 10 grand.

Answer 3

Propose to her today - tomorrow at the latest.

Look at your finances. Rings can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Only YOU can decide how much is reasonable for YOUR budget.

Call a good jeweler and make an appointment to look at engagement rings - It's ok to ask how much - You won't look "cheap" or "stupid." so do ask questions.

After you've looked at several you think she might like - and that you can afford - make an appointment with the jeweler to come back the next day with your gf to pick one out - provided she says yes.

Then bring gf to the store - let her pick out the ring she likes the most - from those you picked out earlier.

Then get down on your knee and propose to her - right in the store. Purchase the ring and let her wear it out.

Then go to your favorite cozy bistro for a celebration meal/drink.

That way, she gets to have the ring SHE likes best - and how many people do you know propose in a jeweler's? So she gets a great story to tell in the bargain.

Answer 4

Find something that is special between the two of you or special to her. My husband made me my very favorite dinner at home. He had candlelight, wine the whole works. I was completely oblivious the whole time. Then for desert he told me had had pumpkin pie, it was in the oven. I opened up the oven, saw it in there and when I turned around he was on one knee. It was great. Another friend of mine got proposed to by her boyfriend when they had walked down to her favorite tree. She always went there to escape any problems she was having and since it was sacred to her he proposed there. If she isn't shy, you can always go with the fancy dinner at a restaurant and propose in front of all those people. You may want to be positive that she'll say yes though. Also, if you are close with friends and family, have a group of them together and propose in front of everyone. That way they all feel included and you don't have to spend the night calling people on the phone. Another idea, talk to her best friend so long as she isn't a big mouth and see if your girlfriend has ever mentioned an ideal proposal to her. Best of luck to you!

Answer 5

Darling, you have a wedding date set, you are engaged already. However, taking her out to a nice dinner, beach, the place you had your first date, etc and ‘popping the question’ is a very romantic thing to do. You do not have to have a ring with you, even a plastic gumball machine ring and tell her you want her to pick out her ring so she will love what you get is great. After all, you plan on having her wear that ring for ever, she better like it.

Go to a good jewelry store, not a mall one, and pick out your wedding rings together. You do not have to spend a fortune to get a nice engagement ring. Just shop around. Mall jewelry stores are marked up over 300%. My same ring that we paid under $1,000 for would cost $4,000 at a chain jewelry store, yes I had it appraised and it came back at a very high value.

Answer 6

ASAP!!! A girl needs to plan a little first. I think that a very simple proposal is more romantic. Do something thoughtful though at the same time. Put her on a ring hunt! Have little simple hints to certain places and with each hint have a cool little something that she likes like her favorite candy or knick knack. Then at the last hint, have one single flower with a note that says turn around and theres you on one knee with the ring. (sigh) that would be my dream proposal. Mine was romantic too...one knee in front of our X-mas tree. As far as price goes, I think $3500 is reasonable not including the wedding band. But I live in Wisconsin, so that might be pretty cheap where you live. Congrats!

Answer 7

You should only buy the best for the best, you should call her best friend up and tell her to meet you at a jewelry store get some ideas from her bff or get a ring catalog and have her bff show her make circle some rings she might like and choose from them... the way u should propose to her should be public because girls want people to see them being proposed to....unless she private do it when she first wakes up in the morning or when she comes home from some place wait in front of the door with the lights off and when she switches th light on purpose ( you can do that in front of people to, like a party with people she wants to be around

Answer 8

I would say you should propose soon. In terms of the wedding and engagement rings you shouldn't spend more than you can afford right now. My husband proposed to me with a Cladaugh (an Irish wedding band) and we then used it as my wedding band. You can always upgrade her rings and or diamonds later. I now have a very beautiful diamond "engagment" ring and diamond wedding band. As for where to propose to her, that's up to you. My husband proposed at our favorite park in our favorite spot. It was perfect for us. Just be creative. Have a great day. Good luck to you both!!

Answer 9

not every wedding is the result of a proposal. i was with my husband 3 yrs & we decided to get married- there was no proposal & we picked out the ring together- its not like a proposal is the most important thing for a wedding, as long as you both are ready for it. it doesnt make the wedding any less exciting. you never hear "my wedding sucked because my fiance didnt propose to me" it is after all a new century.

Answer 10

Propose now you already have a date and know that she will accept- make it official.

Plan a nice dinner- then ask her at Dinner.

Cost for the ring- what ever you can afford, please don't finance it. Standard etiquitte says the cost of the ring should equal 2 months pay- but I say if you can't afford that, then get what you can afford- you can always upgrade for an anniversary gift.