How do you ask your girlfriend to become your wife? You probably haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about how you’ll do this. But most women daydream about this moment. You’ll want to get it right. Plus, the story of how you propose will be repeated for years to come.

Make It a Story Worth Telling

Every woman is different. Make your proposal specific to her taste and personality. Some women would love nothing more than to have all their friends and family witness the event, while others would much prefer a private and intimate moment with you alone. First and foremost, make sure the way in which you ask makes her comfortable.

Buy a Ring

Proposing with a ring is very important to most women. You can ask her opinion on the type of ring she wants or even go shopping together. Many get input from friends or family before making a purchase. Ultimately, you’ll want to slip a ring on her finger when you say the words “Will you marry me?” and she’ll want to show off the ring immediately to everyone she knows. (See The Ring for more on what to look for when buying an engagement ring.)

Ask Dad (and Mom)

Since she's a modern woman who makes her own decisions, you might think you can skip asking her father (and mother) for their blessing. But you should not ignore this old-fashioned tradition as it scores points with her parents and shows respect.

Surprise

The surprise factor is huge. You may have talked at length about getting married, or even picked out the ring together, but a woman wants to be surprised when a man asks her to marry him.

Pick the Right Location

The spot you choose for the special moment can make or break the mood. The top three spots women say they prefer are on vacation, at the site of your first date, or at a local landmark. This is the time to be romantic and go to a place that has special meaning to the two of you.

Personalize

Incorporating personal elements tops the experts' list for an impressive proposal. Show that you pay attention to detail. Remember the first time you kissed or the first time you said “I love you." Make the moment feel like no one else has had a proposal like yours.

What to Say

First, sit down to collect your thoughts a day or two before you plan to pop the question. Even though you don't think you'll be nervous, when the moment comes, you will be. You should probably at least write down a rough draft of what you want to say so you can go over it a few times to prepare. But what should you say? Make sure you say the words, "Will you marry me?"

To trigger inspiration for a proposal speech she'll always remember, ask yourself these questions:

    What did you think when you first met her?
    When did you realize that you might want to spend your life with her?
    What do you have now that you didn't before you met?
    What about her inspires you?
    What goals and values do you two share?

It’s Easy

Finally, when it comes right down to it, proposing marriage can be scary. However, kneeling in front of the woman you want to marry with a ring and a rose, whatever the setting may be, is timeless.