All you need to know about when to ask your partner to marry them, and if it’s better to propose before or after a meal.
Should I Propose Before or After Dinner?
So you’ve finally found The One – congratulations! - and you’re ready to pop the question. The hard part is over, right? Not quite! The next step is planning when to propose, where and how.
A proposal takes planning, and ideally, should be completely unique to you as a couple. To honour your love and commitment to a future together, it’s important to propose in a way that feels meaningful, special, well thought out and authentic to you both - and that’s all about the little details. The timing of the proposal is one of the details you need to get just right. And if you plan to propose over a meal, you might be wondering, “Should I propose before or after dinner?”
No matter if you’re sitting down to a romantic meal at home, sharing a picnic with champagne in the park or dining at your favourite restaurant, the one item on the menu that will leave you breaking a sweat is when you decide to propose. Is it better to propose before or after dinner? Read on for a few tips that may help you with your decision…
Should I Propose Before Dinner?
So you’ve secured a table at your favourite restaurant, and you’re waiting to pop the question. How soon is too soon to propose once you’ve sat down? For some, it’s better to take the bull by its horns early on rather than sit through an anxiety-filled (for you, anyway) dinner. If you’re that kind of personality type, you may want to propose before dinner. With the proposal done (hoping your partner says “yes”), you can celebrate the happy occasion and enjoy a beautiful meal together. It also allows you time as a couple to talk and connect, and for seating, food and space for other people you might wish to witness the proposal, like close family or friends
On the other hand, if the proposal doesn’t go positively, you’ll have to sit through an awkward dinner as it’s unlikely you’ll still be able to enjoy your meal after that.
Should I Propose After Dinner?
Some may want to sit back, relax and enjoy the moment before getting around to popping the question, making an after-dinner proposal the most attractive option. Also, the roller coaster of emotions after a proposal can be unprecedented. You or your partner may be too excited to genuinely enjoy the meal, the surge of adrenalin too great to want to get stuck in.
This option also gives you time to steady your nerves, prepare your speech and maybe have a drink or two, and you also have the opportunity of going somewhere else – perhaps more private - for the actual ring presentation. The obvious drawback to proposing after dinner is having to spend the whole evening tensed up. If you can’t contain the anxiety, you’re better to propose before dinner.
Before You Propose - Ask For Help
Your partner’s close friends and family are usually very reliable resources for what they love, and definitely come in handy when it’s time to propose. They can advise you everything from ring styles to planning the perfect proposal dinner, and will also be able to help you include any special, unique details that might further elevate the evening. Whether you hire a photographer to capture the moment, involve friends in the setup or ask the waiter to be your accomplice, involving a support crew will take some of the pressure off of you and help you stay present and really enjoy the moment. After all, this is about you too!
To Propose Is All About Personal Preference
As you can see, the answer to the question “Should I propose before or after dinner?” is very individual. Once you know what’s right for you, the rest will fall into place, and before you know it, you’ll be picking out engagement gifts and looking at wedding venues.
What About The Engagement Ring?
Whether you shop for an engagement ring before or after you propose, it’s one of the most important steps in the equation, as well as one of the most daunting. There are so many engagement ring choices, styles, and prices to consider that it’s hard to know where to begin your search.
At Orsini we love the process of helping our clients to create the perfect engagement ring for their style and budget, and the process of building and shaping an idea, then turning that idea into a true masterpiece, is one that we relish at every step.
If you have an idea in mind for an engagement ring for your partner and don’t know where to start, we’d love to meet with you and give you an insight into our process and how it can work for you. The Orsini team consists of unabashedly creative and talented jewellery designers, premium diamond graders, gemmologists and master goldsmiths, all trained to create unique pieces of jewellery through every stage of the process, with great precision and finish. We are proud of our creations and team work, and we would love to work together with you to make your dreams a reality.
Feel free to contact us at any time, or visit us instore at our elegant Parnell atelier, where we invite you to relax while we discuss the seemingly endless possibilities for your bespoke design.
