How far in advance should you plan your proposal? That is a question that we here at The Heart Bandits receive almost daily believe it or not. We especially get this question on many of our proposal packages. If you have marriage on the brain, you might be wondering about the right time to propose yourself. Should you wait a week, a month, or longer? There’s no one answer though because the timeline to plan your proposal varies for everyone.
However, one of the best ways to plan a romantic marriage proposal is to build in ample time for finding vendors. When you work with The Heart Bandits, we’ll help you create a personalized proposal and find venues and vendors that can bring your vision to life.
As you begin the proposal planning process and map out your timeline, consider a few of the most important logistics.
The Jewelry Store
As you shop for the diamond of her dreams, most jewelers will have rings you can take home the day you buy them–but that doesn’t always mean they’ll have the exact style you want. You might want to customize the ring or order your diamond in a special cut or color. You might also want to get your ring sized so it fits her finger properly. In any of these cases, your jeweler will most likely have to place a special order which can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Talk with a jeweler you trust, and ask them specific questions about the timeline. Make sure to stay on them though. We’ve had many clients have to push back their proposal date because the engagement ring wasn’t ready yet. This is one of the first steps in planning your proposal. Once you have an idea of when you’ll have the engagement ring, everything else will fall into place.
The Venue
Whether you want to propose on the rooftop of your favorite restaurant or rent a limousine to drive you around the city, it’s helpful to include some lead time to get the best deals and options. If you share the date you would like to propose with The Heart Bandits, we can take care of checking availability, comparing prices, and finding the perfect venue that can make your proposal special.
If you’re not sure of the perfect venue, then consider looking for ones where from the wedding industry These locations might even give you a special discount since it wouldn’t be an intensive as a wedding All of these venues though typically require advance notice. On the bright side, this gives you plenty of time to come up with the perfect location to truly surprise her!
It’s always good to have a backup date in case your venue is booked. If your backup date is on a weekday that’s even better because most venues will book up fastest on weekends. If your date is a weekday you also may get the added benefit that the venue might be a little more affordable.
Make sure to ask the venue about any insurance requirements as well because that may add some time that you need to plan.
The Photographer
Proposal engagement photographs are becoming more and more popular, mainly because photographers have an eye for capturing your authentic emotions and happiness. If photography is important to you, start by doing some research to find a photographer who matches your style. For instance, if you’re proposing in a natural setting, look for a photographer who has experience taking photos in natural light. If you’re proposing in a more urban setting, see if you can find a photographer who knows the area and is familiar with hidden spots that might make for beautiful photo opportunities.
With these types of photos in high demand, The Heart Bandits can help you book a photographer as soon as possible.
Florist & Other Vendors
Regarding florists, if your partner has a certain favorite flower that you definitely want to incorporate into the proposal, then ask when that flower is in season. There are some flowers that are only in season for a few months. In these cases you should plan out your proposal during this season. There’s a chance that a florist may be able to get these flowers off-season but it’ll likely mean that it’s way more costly. Importing flowers from other country locations is NOT cheap!
Other vendors that you may consider for the timeline of your proposal are musicians, dancers, and actors. Normally these vendors are flexible with timing so they shouldn’t have to put too much emphasis on altering your proposal timeline for them. That is of course unless you have a specific vendor you absolutely HAVE to use.
The Moment
Even if you have your vendors booked and a beautiful plan created in your mind, make sure you take the time to think about how you’re going to express your feelings. If you give it some forethought, your engagement will be even more magical.
HOW CAN THE HEART BANDITS HELP YOU?
Contact The Heart Bandits for creative proposal ideas and experts who take the stress out of proposal planning. Get started today! Here are some reasons you might want to hire a Proposal Planner:
- You are feeling extremely stressed out about having enough time to plan everything and would like to enlist the help of a professional to help ease that stress
- You don’t have the time or the resources to plan the proposal idea you love
- You want the proposal planning and the day of to run smoothly
- You don’t know how to find the vendors you need for the proposal
Don’t forget to consider the box for your engagement ring. These slim engagement ring boxes from Ring Stash are proven to be discreet and protective for your diamond!
Emily Barge