For the longest time, traditional proposals have been considered a masculine move. You see it all the time in various forms of media: movies, books, and even in music and songwriting–it is the man who proposes, and the woman who eagerly waits. What you haven’t seen–and don’t see quite often–is a woman taking the reins and popping the question instead. Can it be done? Can a woman propose to a man? Of course! In true post-modern fashion, more and more people dare to challenge gender norms that have existed for centuries, and a woman proposing to a man is nothing short of that. A proposal is a stil an actual proposal regardless of gender and we’re here to help challenge traditional gender roles and give you wedding proposal tips to help you go about your marriage proposal!

You are in a committed relationship and ready to take that next step. What better way than to surprise him by making the first move to propose! Below are some tips on how to propose.

Regardless of whether you’re thinking of going big or keeping it simple, planning ahead for your proposal is always a good idea! You may want some time in between to plan out when and where you’d like to have your proposal, or what accessories or ring might go on sale at a certain time of year that would make for a beautiful engagement ring.

Reading the room and getting a feel of the general atmosphere or mood of things is essential! Make sure that you and your partner are in a comfortable environment. You wouldn’t want to propose when tensions are running high for both you and your partner, and you would always be better off being in a place that offers relaxation and comfort that you both enjoy, like perhaps at a romantic dinner. 

Before even considering proposing to your partner, you have to make sure that both you and your partner are ready to enter this new chapter of life! Marriage is a concept that a lot of people have to ease themselves into, and getting into this mindset will definitely take time and effort! If marriage is something you’re both comfortable with and have discussed many times prior, then by all means, go for it!

It is important to be mindful and considerate to what your partner likes and dislikes. Would he appreciate a public proposal with onlookers and strangers witnessing such a milestone? Or would he prefer somewhere more private proposal, with only the two of you to share this moment? Many proposals have gone wrong precisely because of moments like this, and you wouldn’t want to be in yet another Wedding Proposal Fails video compilation!

Timing. Is. Everything! We can’t exactly tell you when the perfect time to propose is–this is entirely up to you! All we can suggest is that you choose a time and a place that means something to the both of you to make your proposal even more special than what it already is! Having a time and place planned gives you a timeline you can work around, and planning things such as engagement ring sales or booking flight tickets will certainly come easier! You may want to find a place you’ve been to before–such as the nice restaurant you both liked during your anniversary date–or you may want to be more adventurous and visit a place you both have been longing to see! You can even bring him to a beach or a resort you've been to as well. There are many opportunities out there to make new memories that you’ll both be able to look back on fondly!

Tradition dictates that proposals usually involve a ring that symbolizes that a woman is betrothed to her partner. But what happens when its the woman doing the proposing? In fact, there is a bunch of symbolism behind the wedding ring. The beauty of being the one in control of the proposal is that it is entirely up to you! 

While history tells us that men typically don't wear an engagement ring, this trend has been growing increasingly popular nowadays. Men comfortably wear engagement rings on their ring finger of their right hand, so you may definitely choose to propose to a man with an engagement ring for both of you! However, if you’re the type to do things differently, then other accessories that could symbolize you and your partner’s betrothal to each other would be just fine, such as cuff links or even tie clips!