How to make your proposal speech both personal & menaingful:

So, you’ve planned the perfect setting. The ring is safely tucked away, and the moment you’ve dreamed of is finally here. But when it comes to what you’re actually going to say, panic sets in. Does this sound familiar?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people get so wrapped up in the planning of the proposal that the speech becomes an afterthought. The truth is, your words are what your partner will remember long after the champagne has been popped and the ring is on their finger.

Here’s how to make your proposal speech deeply personal and unforgettable;

Speak from your story
Start by grounding your words in your relationship. Think about:
The first moment you knew they were “the one”
A funny or tender memory that captures your bond
A challenge you overcame together
A quirk or trait you absolutely adore about them
Example:
“I still remember the first time you laughed at one of my terrible jokes, I thought, wow, someone gets me. I didn’t know then that I was standing in front of the love of my life.”
The more specific, the better. General compliments are sweet, but personal stories are powerful.

Be vulnerable, it’s so romantic
You don’t need to sound like a poet or have a flawless delivery. In fact, letting your guard down is exactly what makes your words touching.
Say what you feel, not what you think you’re supposed to say.

“I’m nervous because this moment means everything to me.”
“I’ve imagined this so many times, but nothing compares to standing here with you now.”
“You make me want to be the best version of myself.”
Let your emotions show. That’s the magic

Focus on the future
Your proposal speech should be more than a reflection, it’s a promise.
Talk about what you’re most excited for in your future together
Mention your shared dreams of travel, family, growing old together
Express commitment: “I want to walk beside you in everything life brings”
This is the part where you show that your love story is just getting started.
4.  Keep it short & sweet
You don’t need to deliver a monologue. Two to three heartfelt phrases or a minute of speaking is plenty. Practice it a few times so as not to memorize every word, but to feel confident in the rhythm and emotion.
5.  Bonus Tip: Use their love language
If your partner’s love language is:
Words of affirmation then emphasize how much they mean to you.
If its quality time then talk about moments you cherish and the plans of the time you want to spend together in the future.
Acts of Service, promise the ways you’ll care for them.
Gifts, mention the thought behind the ring or a symbolic gift.
Physical touch, end with a tender gesture, a hand hold, a kiss on the forehead, a hug, whatever you are comfortable with as a couple.
This makes your proposal feel like home to them.

The perfect proposal isn’t about big words or grand speeches. It’s about honesty, vulnerability, and love. You don’t have to say everything, just say what matters most. Speak to them the way only you can.
And remember, your voice shaking, your eyes tearing up, your words tumbling out, that’s what makes it real. That’s what makes it unforgettable.

Now take a deep breath… and ask the question that will change your life.

For more expert tips, click here. 

XOXO

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On the 22nd of June 2022, this lovely couple got engaged.

To respect their privacy we will keep their names “undercover”. 🙂

He wanted to plan something very special for his future wife-to-be. We love our clients when they know what they want, he chose Jordan Winery from the start. He loved the look and feel of this wine farm. They wanted to explore the Winelands and enjoy a day in the sunshine. They were incredibly lucky as the weather played along and they had a warm winter’s day.

Jordan winery is situated in Stellenbosch, they offer lovely picnic spots for these special moments. From the Jordan hillside vineyards, one has spectacular panoramic views of Table Mountain, False Bay, and Stellenbosch. The venue offers wine tastings, dining experiences, luxury accommodation, and much more. We love this venue as they are very accommodating to our client’s requests. A Winelands picnic proposal is always a great idea.

On the day, the fabulous couple arrived, we led them down to the dam area where we had decorated their picnic spot. We added in a special “marry me” sign which was VIVAHA.

“Vivaha (marriage) is perhaps the most important samskara. Traditionally it was the only rite performed for women, and for men in the fourth varna (shudras). A couple would stay together for life or until the husband took to the path of renunciation. Divorce was not allowed, and those who left their partners were often ostracised from society. Matches were usually arranged by the elders and based on astrological principles. Despite modern attitudes towards this practice, evidence suggests that these marriages worked relatively well.”

*In Indian philosophy and Indian religions, samskaras or sanskaras (Sanskrit: संस्कार) are mental impressions, recollections, or psychological imprints.

**Shudra, also spelled Sudra, Sanskrit Śūdra, fourth and lowest of the traditional varnas, or social classes, of India, traditionally artisans and labourers. The term does not appear in the earliest Vedic literature.

After some celebrations and bubbly, Jodi took over and they enjoyed a couples shoot on the property.

We congratulate them and wish them all the happiness as Mr & Mrs.

To view another picnic proposal, click here.

Photographer: Jodi from Fable of Hearts

XOXO

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We were asked by THE LITTLE PINK BOOK to write an article on Ways to announce you are engaged, here is it: https://pink-book.co.za/wedding-tips-ideas/5-ways-to-announce-you-are-engaged/

You have just been asked the big question…” Will you Marry Me?” and, you’ve said YES! You laughed, cried happy tears, kissed, hugged and admired your exquisite new engagement ring, toasted the occasion with your favourite champagne and then stared at your ring once again. What is the best way to announce this incredible piece of news to the world? Well, this is The Perfect Proposal‘s advice of how to share that happy moment.

1.Family first

There is no doubt that getting engaged is a massive milestone in one’s life and you will certainly want to share this exciting news immediately. Before you rush to do so, we think it’s best to consider your family first. Parents and siblings are your tribe and they will appreciate being told rather than seeing your news on social media. Pick up the phone and video call them to share this special moment. The next to tell are your besties, as their reactions will be remembered for a long time! Placing an image on social media should be the last move as you do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

2.Plan an Engagement party

As a couple, invite your friends and family over for a dinner party and make the announcement by bringing out a cake and on top is a custom-made cake topper saying; “we’re engaged”. Another idea is to announce the engagement by throwing a surprise party, going straight from the proposal to see your friends. Celebrate in style at your favourite place with your loved ones. A surprise for the bride-to-be after your engagement is one of our favourites but ensure they are up for it as you want them to feel fabulous for the announcement.

3.Capture the moment; A picture is worth a thousand words

Our personal favourite would be to hire a professional photographer for your proposal, they capture your initial reactions and romance of the day. You would share these images on social media as a way to announce your engagement, showing beautiful raw emotions of “the moment”. You could get really creative with the photoshoot and add in that personal touch. For instance, if the proposal takes place on the beach you can write in the sand or on a stone. If it happens at home, you can include your pets or kids, the photographer can add in text to any photo to make it unique.

4.Save the date Video

Something for those obsessive diary planners is to announce your engagement by sending out a “save the date”. Share a video and at the end it would announce your wedding date thus it’s a double surprise with an engagement announcement and wedding info. There are wonderful videographers who offer this service, you book a couples photoshoot, they then edit that video to be a save the date for your wedding. We just love this idea but it only works if you know your wedding plans early on.

5.Dare to be creative

Incorporate your favourite item or something you share together; for example using a prop to tell your news. We are going to list the items we love best: chalk boards, ‘I said yes’ signs, writing on your hand, shouting from the rooftops and taking a video, cake toppers, holding big ring balloons, using food to spell “we are engaged”. The options to personalise an engagement photo are endless, we dare you to be creative. Once you make the announcement on social media, remember to include a relevant and personal hashtag that you can use in all future posts leading up to your incredible wedding. If you are against social media posts then our last idea is to buy those sweets which look like a diamond rings, place them in pretty packets and hand them out to friends when visiting. Play a game to see how long it takes for them to guess your news.

Finally, once your announcement is out there, it is wise to go offline for a while as you wait for all the well wishes to come pouring in. Use this time to bask in the excitement of the moment because the whirlwind of wedding planning is next on the agenda!

XOXO

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Photograph your marriage proposal

Have you planned your whole proposal but looking for a photographer to capture that special moment?

We know and book only the BEST photographers! We can arrange them in any city in South Africa.

They can capture your proposal hidden away, then do a small couples shoot to photograph all the details (and the new diamond ring!) It’s very personal and romantic, they are not intrusive in anyway. We all know it is an intimate moment and you have one chance to get it right.

Let The Perfect Proposal assist you on your special day to create the most romantic event for you and your partner! The best moments in life are shared with loved ones – let us help you create those unforgettable memories.

Plan to photograph your marriage proposal today!!! Please email us today for a quote.

“We are photographers. We are not here to show people what they can already see. We are here to give them EXPERIENCES they would otherwise never have experienced. We are here to PRESERVE the moments that otherwise would have been forgotten.”

XOXO

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We received this infographic with some interesting information about rings and traditions. Are our old traditions that have been passed on for generations becoming extinct or is it just older couples who know what they want in life and maybe even their second marriage?

Engagement Traditions

We all know the main traditions that we all “think” should be included in a marriage proposal:

• Ask for her father’s blessing
• Have an engagement ring to give her on the day
• Saying those magical words… “Will you marry me?”
• Bend down on one knee when asking her hand in marriage

At the end of the day, it’s about the couple and what they believe in. Think about your partner and ask yourself what she would like. Remember to think about her family too, as her parents might be upset if they did not know about it. We feel if you do not know the answer then keep the traditions alive.

Engagement rings:

Is she a strong believer in keeping everything a surprise or would she want to choose her own ring? If you do not know the answer to that question then we suggest asking her family or friends what she likes. They might let the secret out, so do bear this in mind. Another idea would be to buy her a loose stone / stones that can be set into a ring after the proposal. So on the day you give her a diamond and you then go together to design the ring. It can be a fun experience to discuss it and decide together. Need more inspiration on engagement rings, look at our Pinterest board of “Friday Rocks”.

We want to know what you think about this topic?

Thank you William May, a vintage jewellery specialists from the UK who did some research on this topic. They did a survey with over 5000 people asking them the question… Engagement traditions are obsolete???

XOXO

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Hi Pippa,

I just wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. You absolutely made our engagement the best day of our lives and I couldn’t have done it without you!

Sam was so taken aback and loved every moment and every surprise:) She won’t stop talking about it, it’s great! We are very proud of our special day.

Roland & Sam

Engaged on Friday 9th October 2015

Franschhoek marriage proposal

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On the day of the proposal we were very excited, the gazebo was to be filled with lilies as these are her favorite. We used lots of petals and candles that lit up the entrance. The gazebo is right next to the lake and has lovely views of the gardens and surrounding mountains. On arrival, their favorite song played while Marc took Candice’s hand and asked her to dance. The song was: Everyone’s got something by Perrin Lamb, oh my what a romantic song! During this he got on one knee and asked for her to marry him… she said YES! Candice is in the diamond industry so she choose the most stunning diamond ring!! We think diamonds are girls best friends.

They popped the bubbly and Nicola took some photo’s of the newly engaged couple!
After it was getting dark, they moved to their room where they stayed up all night talking about their exciting future together. Boschendal has some cottages that are ideal for a romantic getaway. The fire places were lit and we had pre-ordered in some sushi for their dinner.

We wish them all the best for a very happy future together. They deserve all the happiness in the world.

Photo’s by Nicola Bester

XOXO

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The plan was as follows, a romantic horse ride for two along Noordhoek beach at sunset. We when booked a room at Hout bay Manor for them to spend the night in. This lovely hotel has a very small and romantic wine cellar that was perfect spot for an intimate proposal. We used loads of red rose petals going down the stairs, around the room and on the table so it was very colourful. We filled the cellar with fairy lights and a bottle of bubbly to add to the surprise. Jarryd met us a secret after they returned from the horse ride, so we could show him where to go! Tiffany was in the shower and unaware what was being planned downstairs…

Jarryd went to collect Tiffany and blind folded her as he wanted her to be VERY surprised as they entered the cellar. We asked him what his perfect proposal was… “For my girlfriend to say YES and have tears filled with happiness, I want her to be surprised”. He played their favorite song as they entered the cellar… filled with roses!

Jarryd popped the question and Tiffany said YES! (hopefully there were tears of happiness in her eyes)

The rest of the evening was filled with bubbly and a delicious dinner at the restaurant PURE at the hotel. We set a special table for them in the best spot, celebrations were in order! As the horse ride was quite late and we didn’t want them to feel rushed, we suggested a photo shoot the following day on the beach. So the following morning they enjoyed a couples massage, breakfast and then a couples shoot on Hout Bay beach. The beach was amazing and it suited their love for the outdoors (as you can see by the photo’s). These are only some of the lovely engagement shoot photo’s Jilda took for them.

We wish them a lifetime of happiness and the best of luck planning the wedding!

Photo’s by Jilda G Photography

XOXO

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They are from Cape Town and have been together for 5 long years. He wanted to give her a big surprise so he decided it was best to do it on the most romantic day of the year.

They arrived at Beau Constantia wine farm in the afternoon being led to believe they were having a wine tasting in the area for Valentine’s day, little did she know it was all for her!

Shawn led Karin into the tasting room, where the staff gave them a small wine tasting to calm the nerves. After this they were led to their private balcony where the proposal would happen. She saw the orchids, Aero chocolates and bubbly all her favorite things on the table. We hung bunting, hearts and fairy lights so after dark it would look magical. The views from the venue are incredible, they look over the whole Constantia valley. Beau Constantia proposal fit for a queen.

Shawn popped the question and Karin said YES! Our sneaky photographer, Hayley was hiding away and captured the whole thing on film. They popped the bubbly and enjoyed the moment together, while the nerves settled. After this they had a couples shoot around the farm so they can look back on the happy memories forever. A story to tell generations to come…

They enjoyed a cheese platters, canapes, burgers and yummy desserts all evening while watching the sunset over the valley. A very romantic occasion on such a ‘romantic’ night!

We congratulate Shawn and Karin on their engagement and wish them all the best for the future.

Photo’s by Hayley Takes Photos

XOXO

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