Spending your days scrolling through wedding photos on Pinterest and dreaming about that magical moment when your partner pops the question? You know you’re ready for the next step, but how do you know if your partner is on the same page? Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Here are the best ways to subtly suggest taking your relationship to the next stage without being that pushy, impatient partner.
Leave Clues Around
The strategic placement of bridal magazines or engagement ring advertisements around the house is the perfect ploy to get weddings on their mind. The key is subtlety here; don’t throw weddings into your partner’s face. Remember, we want them to propose to you because THEY want to, not because they think it’s what you want. Instead, dip their toes into the possibility of marriage with exposure to wedding or engagement content.
Watch Romantic Movies Together
Having a chill movie night in with your partner? This is your time to strike – you need to get the most romantic, sentimental, wedding-orientated movie you can find. It might take some convincing to get them to agree to watch it, but trust me, this is the perfect opportunity to put weddings and engagement on their radar. Some of my personal faves are ‘My Big Fat greek Wedding’ (the ultimate feel-good, funny film), ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ (okay, maybe this is the ultimate feel-good film, absolutely hilarious and all about weddings) and ‘Bride Wars’. Pop one of these films on and subtly infiltrate all-things weddings into their mind.
Plan a Romantic Getaway
What better way to get romance into the air than with an intimate couples trip away. This doesn’t have to be a super extravagant, sophisticated event – it’s about spending quality time with your partner and reminding yourselves why you fell in love with each other in the first place (some rose petals and champagne never hurts though)! Think beautiful landscapes, aphrodisiac meals and good company. Whether a remote getaway within nature, such as Sal Salis in Ningaloo, or a city break in Sydney, this will give your partner some inspo for the perfect proposal spot.
Enlist Family and Friends
Alright, you’ve tried the subtle hints and romantic movies and they still don’t have a clue? It’s time to bring in the big guns: family and friends. Let some of your most trusted friends or your mum (who’s probably equally as keen on the idea of you getting engaged as you are!) slip the idea into conversation. Maybe your friends mention to your partner that they haven’t been to a wedding in agesss, or let your mum pull out some old photos from her wedding to get his gears turning. These hints are the perfect way to get your partner thinking about weddings without directly telling him yourself.
Compliment Commitment
Marriage is a huge commitment. Maybe your partner has been putting off proposing as he isn’t sure whether they’re ready to take the next step. Or maybe, they aren’t sure if you‘re ready. So, you need to let them know that you are ready to commit, showing appreciation for your partner’s commitment thus far and expressing how much you value your relationship. Compliment them on the qualities that make them a great life partner and subtly mention how you look forward to a long-term future together.
Be Honest
I know it can be scary, but sometimes the best approach is to be up front; have an open and honest conversation with your partner about your relationship aspirations. Let them know that you see marriage in your future and make sure you are both on the same page. It doesn’t always have to be a top secret mission putting engagement on the cards, it just needs a candid conversation! (this is still a last resort for me…romcoms and romantic getaways it is!)
What better to do while waiting for the big proposal than get a head start on the planning process. If you’re anything like me and have had your wedding planned since you were 12, bringing it to life is a magical process. At Ideal Bride, our comprehensive wedding directory offers everything you need to make your special day perfect, from venues to vendors and everything in between. Visit Ideal Bride to start planning your fairy tale wedding today!