You want to ask your significant other for their hand in marriage, and you want to make it an experience they’ll remember forever. You want to go beyond a romantic dinner or quiet night at home where you get on bended knee and pop the question. The only thing holding you back from letting your imagination run wild is your budget. Can you pull off the engagement of a lifetime without breaking the bank? The answer is yes! Here’s how:
What Can You Afford?
The first thing you have to ask yourself is what can you afford to spend on an engagement? After you’ve paid for the perfect engagement ring, how much money do you have left? If the number is small, don’t be discouraged, as you still have plenty of options to make this moment magical.
Get The Ring
Needless to say, the ring is one of the essential elements of a proposal. So, before you start spending money on the main event, you should look for an engagement ring first. Online shopping is the best option if you’re looking for a convenient and affordable process.
Online jewelry stores have the means to offer more savings than brick-and-mortar locations. You also have more styles to consider, whether you’re looking for a three-stone or a solitaire engagement ring.
Choose A Destination
Now that you’ve got the ring, it’s time to use the rest of your budget to plan your engagement. Think about where you’d like to propose. You can save a lot of money by opting for a free or affordable place. You can pop the question at home, a friend or relative’s house, a park, an overlook, or outside of a popular tourist attraction like a waterfall, garden, or monument.
There’s also the idea of including the proposal on a date night. Whether you take your partner to the movies, a sporting event, a restaurant, or a weekend getaway, you can incorporate a romantic moment to express your love and ask for their hand in marriage.
Iron Out The Details
What kind of vibe, mood, or experience are you going for when you propose? Consider how you’d like the day to go. Depending on how you imagine the occasion, you may need to make prior arrangements to get things prepared.
For instance, if you’re going to pop the question in front of friends and family at your house, you’ll need to spread the word (while somehow keeping everyone from ruining the surprise). You’ll also want to incorporate things like decorations, food, drinks, and entertainment for your guests.
If you decide to propose in a more intimate space like a park or overlook, you’ll need to find the perfect spot, check the weather, order food or prepare a meal for a nice picnic. Are you thinking about going all out with candles, fireworks, or signs? You’ll need to purchase these things in advance to ensure they’re ready for your big day.
Enlist Help
It doesn’t take long to figure out that planning the perfect engagement is challenging. There are so many working pieces to cover that doing it yourself can be overwhelming. As this is supposed to be a special moment for you and your partner, reduce the stress of planning by enlisting some help.
Friends and family can help you come up with decor ideas, give you a list of their favorite songs, prepare food, and even assist you in getting your loved one to the destination on the day of the engagement. If you plan on proposing at a restaurant, the owners are often very cooperative with helping make your day special, whether it’s making meal recommendations or setting the table. You can always thank them by giving a larger tip at the end of the night.
You only get one shot at asking the love of your life for their hand in marriage (at least in most cases). Of course, you want to make the moment an enjoyable experience reflective of the love you share. While it may seem like you have to spend an arm and a leg to plan an engagement, it’s quite the opposite. By using the suggestions listed above, you can propose to your soulmate the way you want without breaking the bank.
