Proposal Countdown

Here, our New Years gift to you: the six most important things to consider when planning your proposal:

1. Say those four little words. No proposal is officially complete without the phrase "Will you marry me?" Be sure to say it. It's just a little part of that dream she's had since she was a child! 
2. Surprise her. She has probably been dreaming of this day her entire life and most of that dream involves a romantic surprise. Avoid the urge to ask her what she wants and have confidence in yourself (and us) to make that dream become a reality. 
3. Pick the right location. We spend a lot of time thinking about locations at Bespoke and think this is one of the top ways guys go wrong. The wrong location can ruin a proposal even if the words you say are the sweetest things. Do it in a romantic place, one place that is symbolic to you as a couple, or a place that you can go visit afterward to relive the moment (avoid restaurants and sports stadiums, please!!).
4. Come with something to put on her finger. Surveys show that women are almost always disappointed with a proposal if it doesn't involve a ring. Even if you haven't purchased THE ring, have a placeholder to show that you thought this out. 
5. Ask her opinion about the ring. This is the one thing we will let you slide on in advance. While we love a surprise (see #1) and don't love the idea of ring shopping together, we think it is a good idea to get some idea of what she wants when it comes to a ring. Ask her friends, ask her for a few ideas, check our her Pinterest page (we can show you how). Don't go into this part blind. 
6. Ask her Dad (and/or Mom). This one can be tricky as all families are different, but if it is possible we encourage you to go the traditional route and speak with her family beforehand. They will appreciate the respectful heads up and your girl with love that you thought it out so well in advance.

Photo from Etsy

Slow Down

This holiday season, our hope is that you can slow down and appreciate the little moments that matter the most. Happy Holidays!! 

Photo from Pinterest

Magical Thinking

Today, a magical proposal. Sean, an amateur magician living in Nashville, asked his girlfriend to film him while he performed a magic trick. The trick is based on alchemy (turning objects into gold - how appropriate) and after filling his closed hand with leaves and dirt, he opened his fist and abracadabra, a diamond ring! We LOVE how much creativity and effort Sean put into asking his girlfriend to marry him. His plan, his words, the element of surprise, we love it all.

PS - making a video of your proposal is a beautiful spin on the traditional photo route. Think about it.

 

 Photos from The Sun

Mixtape Nostalgia

Take her back to when you fell in love.... 

There aren't many ways to better set the mood than with some tunes. Nostalgia does amazing things to a woman. Yes you could just make a playlist, but that's no fun! Make a new fangled mix tape with Mixtape. Each one comes a blank, clear case and a blank tape for full personalization. Go ahead, tell her why you love her.

Photos from Mixtape

Proposing like a boss

Wow...

Can you keep a secret?

A couple of years ago the Wall Street Journal published an article on how proposals these days have started to resemble sterile business negotiations between two people rather than a moment that should stand out in their memories forever. We think this is a shame and are determined to bring surprise and creativity into the equation.

One of the main things a girl wants out of a marriage proposal is to be surprised. Even if she is expecting you to pop the question, she still wants romance. The more people who know the plan, the more likely it is that your cover will be blown. So, how do you plan a proposal that will surprise her without asking her friends or mother? That's what we are here for! Talk to us about it all you want. In fact, the more we talk, the better. One of our specialties is keeping that secret, and as women, we know how women think. We will coach you through ways to ensure she doesn't suspect a thing. Here is our short list of ways to keep the plan under wraps:

1. Never drop hints that you're keeping a secret. For some reason men feel better when they let out little hints as if doing that will somehow make the news easier to keep. Chances are she is expecting it one of these days, and any hint will clue her in immediately. 
2. In the weeks leading up, go about your normal routine. If you are this close to being engaged, you know each other inside and out. Chances are she can easily pick up on slight changes in your schedule or mood. Try to remain composed, it will pay of in the end.
3. Keep the ring a secret. I know, this is a hard one because so many women want input, but we know plenty of ways to get the ring that she loves without her picking it out herself. 

Not all proposals have to be romantic in the old school sense of the word. We think that the most important thing is that your proposal be well thought out and authentic to your relationship. The man in the proposal here, Jim, enlisted the help of a graphic designer friend to build a website to propose. Proposing on the internet isn't every girls dream, but for these guys, it was perfect. The look on her face when she realizes what's happening (minute 4:22) is the look we are going for! Pure happiness.

Check out Jim's proposal HERE.

Say Yes!...and Cheese...

The advent of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media sites has brought on a new need in people to document almost every moment of their lives. Love it or hate it, those of us living in this modern world either do it or know many who do. Would you hire a photographer to capture your proposal? It's a trend that is slowly but surely becoming popular. To some, having a photo of the moment he asks THE question is precious. It's a moment most of us only live once and to relive it through a photo is priceless. To others, it's a private thing and having someone there, snapping away, wouldn't fit. Many find a middle ground and arrange for a more covert photographer to be there but to be stealthy about it so  they don't ruin the moment.

So, we ask that our clients consider their engagement plan and future fiancee before they make a decision one way or another. If it's a go, we deal with the who, where, when, and how so you can relax and be IN the show, not running it.

Photo from Pinterest

December is proposal month

Move over Valentine's Day, December is by far the most popular month to get engaged. According to theknot.com, the month boasts nearly 1 in 5 proposals, or 18% of all engagements annually. I got engaged in December, as did several of my friends. It makes sense... it's a happy month, one full of celebration and loved ones. Many women say it is important to them to be able to share the time around a proposal with the other ones they love, making the Christmas season an opportune time. It's also arguably the prettiest time of year. Romantic scenes are readily built into city parks, ice skating rinks appear out of nowhere, and even your own living room is something to marvel at when you add all those twinkle lights.

Remember men, consider your timeline for getting married. The average engagement lasts around 14 months and the most popular wedding month is June, so wintertime puts you in the sweet spot for timing. Thinking of details like this when planning your proposal is something, believe us, your to-be fiancee will thank you for.

It's About Time

There is no wrong time of day to propose. What is important is that you consider what time of day might be most appropriate for the proposal you're planning. What time of day do you most enjoy as a couple? Is it making big breakfasts on Sunday mornings? That 6 o'clock hour when you see each other after work? Or do you have your best moments staying up late together?

My husband proposed to me at 7:00 am. Unexpected, maybe, but to me it was perfect for us.

WSJ: Coziest Hotels in America

The Wall Street Journal just published their list of the 10 coziest hotels in America. Any girl would be lucky to be proposed to at one of these..

The Urbanite: The Greenwich Hotel // NYC
The Homey All-Inclusive: Twin Farms // Barnard, VT
The Whimsical Cottage: Winvian // Litchfield Hills, CT
The Ski Bunny: Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley // Park City, UT
The Rancher: Triple Creek Ranch // Darby, MT
The Family Friendly Den: Scarp Ridge Lodge // Crested Butte, CO
The Southern Charmer: Wentworth Mansion // Charleston, SC
The Wine Country Retreat: Farmhouse Inn // Forestville, CA
The Romantic Hideaway: Post Ranch Inn // Big Sur, CA
The Smokey Mountaineer: Swag Inn // Waynesville, NC

Scarp Ridge Lodge // Crested Butte

Get Cozy

As winter sets in and the temperatures drop, the need to bring the warmth indoors becomes of utmost importance. Fires in the fireplace, candlelit dinners, anything to distract you from the brutal cold that is just outside your door. Like most things these days, it is important to think seasonally when you are planning a proposal. Below are some things that are inspiring our proposals this winter season...