When we speak to couples recently after a proposal, the same theme appears over and over again: they wanted an engagement story that felt personal and significant.

A helpful place to begin is by reflecting on what feels most natural to your partner. Do they feel at ease in quiet, familiar environments, or do they light up with friends and family nearby? Are traditions important to them, and is there something you know, instinctively, that they’d absolutely love?

From spectacular skyline views to the places you return to time and again, the perfect setting is one that reflects your journey together. Meaning lives in the memories you’ve made there.

There’s a careful balance between planning and overplanning. Think about how private the setting feels and where you’ll stand together, and consider what you’ll do immediately afterward. Proposal planners often suggest leaving room for a quiet pause after the question is asked. Those thirty seconds, when it’s just the two of you, can become the part you remember most.

One common regret couples share afterward is not having the moment captured. A discreet photographer can preserve expressions you’re too overwhelmed to remember clearly.

Experienced planners, like the lovely team at Fairy Tale Proposals, know exactly how to position photographers invisibly, so the experience stays intimate. They’ve done this thousands of times before.

When the moment passes and everything settles–pause. Hold hands. Let it sink in.

Then think through who you’d like to share the news with first, how you want to celebrate together and whether you’d like engagement portraits while emotions are fresh. We’re here for resizing, inscriptions, and anything you might need next.