10 Tips For Proposing To Your Partner in Asheville in 2024
10 Tips For Proposing To Your Partner in Asheville in 2024
Are you ready to make 2024 the year you say yes to committing to your partner? Are you excited to propose? Full disclosure: I have never made a formal marriage proposal to someone myself. I sure have witnessed and photographed and even planned a ton of them over the years though. I have come up with a list of things to think about to help you start off this journey in couplehood on the right foot.
1.
Hire a photographer! Yes? No? Haha! Well it goes deeper than that.
The first thing I reccommend is knowing your partner well enough to know if a grand surprise being photographed is something they would actually like. I personally am one of those people who do not like huge surprises. One time my boyfriend threw me a surprise birthday party and it shocked me in a not good way and I didn't feel right until the next day. I would be someone to not surprise with a big gesture and photographer. Someone like that would do better with a small, private romantic moment for the actual proposal. Gift that person with a scheduled engagement session (maybe for the next day) so they can be ready for it and be at their best.
Alternately, photographing a surprise proposal is really really awesome for some other personalities! It is really cool to be able to document all of the emotion of that special moment and it is super romantic. Family and close friends love these photos, especially if they can't be there in person. If your person can take a bit of shock, I say go for it! You will never experience that moment again.
2.
Propose in a place where your partner would actually like to be. Please, please, please, if your girlfriend is not outdoorsy, please to not take her on a hike up a mountain for your proposal. She will end up with blisters on her feet because she wore heels! She might say yes, but she also might slap you across the face. Don't do it! Let's get this off to a better start. Maybe for a non-outdoorsy person, take them to the rooftop of your hotel, a winery/ brewery, or to The Biltmore Estate instead, maybe the Arboretum. Hey, if your partner is outdoorsy, please do take them on that hike. The Asheville area has a lot of gorgeous nature places. Hike up a mountain, hike to a waterfall. If that's what they like, do it!
Even keeping it simple and proposing in the middle of Downtown Asheville while walking around is a wonderful option for pretty much anyone. No one will throw their high heel shoe at you afterwards either.
3.
Think about the time of day you want to do this. Is your person a night owl? Then do not plan a sunrise proposal! Yes, sunrise can be awesome for photos but your partner will be sleepy or even grumpy and will not enjoy the moment. If they are a morning person, then go for it, if not, maybe consider sunset or some other time instead. Think about the time that would be appropriate for the other activities you have planned. Are you proposing at The Biltmore? Then maybe plan to propose an hour before your tour or right after it. Are you meeting friends at a certain time in Downtown? Consider that when planning.
4.
Be prepared! If you are giving your partner a ring or anything else as a gift that day, first of all bring it along. If you are ordering it, definitely make sure you will have it in time for your planned proposal. Another note on rings, I don't know why, but they always come in these giant jewelry boxes. If you will be hiding this in your pocket all day, you may consider getting a slim box for it so it can be more comfortably and easily hidden until you are ready to pop the question.
5.
Take it slow and take in the moment and breathe. I try to tell all of my proposal clients this but it's really impotant. This is a once in a lifetime moment in your life. Stop for a moment and take it all in. Feel where you are. Feel your own heart beating. Look at your partner and feel them. Stop and slow this all down and feel it all. Also take it slow for photography purposes too if you have hired a photographer. It is not ideal for the photographer if you pop the question and then pop back up immediately. Only one pop (the question!). Taking it slow and mindfully and also breathing can also calm the nerves as well.
6.
Let your friends and family help you. If your person is the kind who would go get their nails done, have their friend suggest going with them to do it soon before your planned proposal. Do you need some kind of distraction? A family member may be who to ask here. Have family and friends help all you want, but if you are wanting to keep this a surprise, know who you are working with and make sure they won't ruin it.
7.
Be on time. If you have hired a photographer, try to be on time so that things can go smoothly and as close to according to plan as possible. Also, being on time will remove added stress for you on a day where you will already have a lot on your mind. If your partner is the kind of person who takes forever to get ready, maybe tell them you need to be at the place earlier than you need to.
8.
Make it special! Some people like to bring something to make the moment extra romantic. It could be flowers, a bottle of nice champagne, a song a poem, or bring a picnic. It could even be a bigger surprise like surprising with them with their best friend or their fmaily who they haven't seen in a long time.
9. Enjoy yourself! Planning a special surprise like this can feel nervewracking, but remember it is supposed to be a fun and happy time. Keep self care in mind during the process.
10. Include your pets! Believe me, they will be really supportive and happy for you and would love to be a part of your moment of it is feasible.
Happy Planning!!
Check out some examples of different proposals for inspiration! https://www.jaimehadnagyphotography.com/f344422167
