Asking for their blessing is an honourable gesture that adds a touch of ceremony, and above all shows respect for her parents.

• Be sure to tell them in great detail why you love her so much.
• Thank them for all the effort they put into raising her and making her the wonderful person she is today.
• Assure them that your shared future is filled with promise. She is in the best hands; you will always treat her well and protect her from harm.

There is a time and place for everything. A time for humour, for adventure and for romance. This is definitely the time for love and romance!

Hold back on the funny and to the adrenaline junkies, save the skydive for another day. What is it about guy’s engagement rings and food? It’s just messy! Nothing is more awkward than fishing a ring out of a narrow flute - the only thing you’re guaranteed of is your fiancée in a sticky mess.

Chances are she’s been dreaming about this proposal for most of her adult life.

Make her fairytale come true. Apply yourself to weaving in nostalgic touches that reflect your journey together…

• Return to special places you’ve visited as a couple.
• Build up to the moment by using items that hold sentimental value for you both.
• Move her to emotion by ordering her favourite flowers, playing 'your' song or reciting a poem she loves.
• Engage a professional photographer to discreetly capture the moment. Later on, you can relive the magic with friends and family.
• Don't forget that a girl needs to look her best for the biggest event of her romantic life. Subtly and without letting the cat out the bag get the help of a trusted girlfriend to orchestrate hair and nails for the big day!

“And remember to spruce yourself up too!”

In this modern day and age, we’ve come to expect expediency in all things…even romance! But, there is a place for time-honoured tradition. The simple act of getting down on one knee is a wonderful homage to a time when romance and gallantry was the order of the day. She will absolutely love it and the moment will forever be cherished by you both.

One more tip. The proposal is an intimate moment meant just for two. The presence of family or friends will detract from the intimacy of the moment and will only force her into a public display of affection, save that for the wedding day. Take our advice and save mandated PDA [public display of affection] for your wedding day.

98% of girls want to be surprised!

When it comes to engagements, we’ve done the legwork. Research shows it’s the surprise factor that makes a proposal successful, more than getting the exact ring she imagined. If she’s obsessed with a particular design, she will make sure you know about it. If not, this means she trusts you to decide. What we also know for certain is that girls do not want to be dragged off to a dodgy online backyard jeweller or forced into agreeing some compromise under the guise of creating your own ring. This spells cheap compromise and there is nothing romantic about that.

You may be an enlightened couple who share your finances (this is admirable and how things should be) but, the engagement ring purchase is a major exception. This is the one time where not sharing is caring. This will be the most important piece of jewellery you ever buy. Traditionally one should spend 3 months salary on the ring.

Every girl wants a natural diamond in an original setting as a symbol of her true love. Because real love is a rare find.

Natural diamonds are formed billions of years ago, which means they are the genuine article. She may gracefully accept a laboratory-grown, moissanite or fake diamond. Let's face facts, these stones have not been the basis of her dreams, and in her heart will always represent a cheap compromise on the real thing. Counterfeits are just not good karma.

WHEN PROPOSING THE RING SHOULD PROUDLY BE PRESENTED IN THE BOX THAT YOU PURCHASED IT IN.

Don't confuse her by buying from a jeweller that sells laboratory-grown diamonds. She will look at the box without knowing if it is the real deal.

Guys don't always appreciate the significance of where the ring comes from. When she sees the ring box, it evokes many emotions - excitement, pride, joy, gratitude, and love.

The one question people are guaranteed to ask her is, “WHERE DID HE GET THE RING?”.

Help her to hold her head high and let her stand tall. It will improve her posture for life.