It’s holiday time and you’re thinking of popping the big question? Phillipa Stewart  of The Perfect Proposal gives you the heads up on how to plan for your big day. YOU Magazine – “popping the question”

Have the chat

It’s a big moment and the pressure is on – the one thing you don’t want is to hear the dreaded “no”. Having the right conversation about your future and your dreams is perhaps the most important step to popping the big question. Communication in any relationship is key.

Proposal planner

You want everything to be perfect, you want the proposal to be a surprise and you want your partner to love everything about it. Hiring a proposal planner means making sure all elements are taken care of and leaving this up to an expert. The key is to find a planner who understands your vision and works with you to create a day that’s what you as a couple love and not what the planner dictates.

The detail

The detail is what makes your proposal different, unique and especially for your partner. No two love stories are the same so know what she likes and incorporate that into the proposal, for example choosing the correct champagne or flowers for the day. Thinking about the little details can go a long way and make the moment special. Thinking out of the box is also key – that’s why we’re here to tie it all together.

Private vs public

Should it be a grand occasion in front of family, friends or a stadium filled with people or should it be a quiet moment between the two of you? With sixty proposals under our belt we’re going to say that most value privacy. That means you and her – and a beautiful setting. While flash mobs are popular they’re not for everyone. Keep your moment special, well planned, and remember there’s plenty of time afterwards to tell your family and friends but this moment only happens once and should be treasured and enjoyed initially between just the two of you. If your partner is social and you’re not sure what to do, keep the actual proposal private and intimate and then celebrate afterwards with those close to you.

Location, location, location

Where you pop the big question is an important part of the proposal planning process. You need to take the weather into consideration – have a backup plan ‒ and when selecting a setting make sure it means something to the two of you. Either a place that’s sentimental or brings back wonderful memories or somewhere to create new ones. Top tip: your partner needs to feel comfortable. If she hates the outdoors, don’t take her climbing a mountain. The perfect location means taking noise, food, location and privacy into consideration. You focus on your moment together – we do the planning.

Capture the moment

We suggest hiring a photographer to capture your moment. It’s important to do your research – you want someone talented who can capture your love but also someone discreet and noninvasive who doesn’t get in the way.

Happy planning!

-Phillipa Stewart (The Perfect Proposal)

The Perfect Proposal helps conceptualise and set up personalised dates. Contact the company if you need a little inspiration for proposals, anniversaries, engagement parties, renewing of wedding vows or just a special evening out.

XOXO

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We got asked by YOU magazine to write some ideas for Christmas time! YOU magazine – “Christmas Ideas for couples”

http://you.co.za/lifestyle/romantic-ideas-for-christmas/

“With Christmas and the holidays just around the corner we asked date and proposal planning expert Philippa Stewart to share Christmas ideas for couples: 

Christmas time is all about love! And although your finances can either leave you smiling or miserable, spending a lot of money to spoil your partner is really not what the festive season should be about. Going all out can also put pressure on the other partner, therefore rather invest in gift ideas which cost less but create true joyful moments.

• To market!

With the holiday season about to kick off so are the Christmas markets. Men generally hate shopping and steer clear of shopping centres but Christmas markets are less busy, more festive and serve fresh and delicious foods, drinks and often live music. And don’t think the ongoing markets such as the Neighbourgoods market in Cape Town and Joburg don’t get festive too – Christmas shopping is on the cards. We love Irene Village Market on in Pretoria from 3 – 8 December:  https://www.facebook.com/events/320612054731925/

Also try the Charity Christmas Market in Parkview, which runs from 29 November – 1 December, with more than 70 stands to visit and lots of festivity! More here:  https://www.facebook.com/Nicarela 

• Get creative

Decorate the Christmas tree together this year! Make the most of that evening by arranging a special candlelight dinner for two and surprising your partner at dinner with a personal ornament made just for him/her. Get creative and find amazing decorations for Christmas online ( http://www.gingerray.co.za/).

• Breakfast in bed with us!

Holiday time can add extra pressure to your relationship. Christmas is expensive and let’s not forget that it’s that time when families come together – yes, this can be tricky. Enjoy a quiet morning with a good old-fashioned breakfast in bed for just the two of you. Our Breakfast Box is the perfect touch for this romantic occasion ( http://www.theperfectproposal.co.za/the-perfect-box). Our boxes have been created to make life easier and save you time; we create your breakfast box with tips, ideas for the occasion and of course coffee, champers and the perfect recipes plus goodies that make your breakfast box personal and unique.

• Advent calendar

Create a special advent calendar for your partner. Spoil him or her for the 12 days leading up to Christmas with a note and a gift. These love notes tell them what they mean to you. Keep it simple; one sentence of genuine feeling is all it takes. If you want to spoil your partner before Christmas, add a present for each day, from a spa voucher for two to a twig of mistletoe, chocolate or their favourite treat. Place these gifts in boxes and let him or her find them in a different spot each day.

If making and creating isn’t your forte go for an electronic advent and send your partner a special message each day leading up to Christmas.

• Holiday baking

Get in the kitchen, pop a bottle of champers and get baking. Go for holiday recipes that you both love and make sure you get a Christmas cookie cutter. And if baking isn’t your thing – we suggest the best hot chocolate recipe; it’s simple and Spanish style ( http://www.jennamcarthur.com/white-on-trend/ ). Also try Martha Stewart’s Ultimate Hot Chocolate ( http://www.marthastewart.com/335381/ultimate-hot-chocolate?search_key=hot%20chocolate)

XOXO

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We put together some fun “date ideas” for Spring / Summer for the YOU Magazine. Spring / Summer Date Ideas

http://you.co.za/lifestyle/spring-dating-dos/

Here they are below:

The great outdoors
Pack a bottle of bubbly and take a walk (or stroll) somewhere beautiful. Stop at a viewpoint and watch the sunset with a glass of champers in hand. Exercise increases the feelgood factor (it releases endorphins) and raises your energy levels. Happy in love, happy in nature.

Pick your own
We love this: Pick Your Own is a website which helps you find farms and orchards close to where you live to enjoy a day of picking fruit or vegetables together. Find a pumpkin patch, farm market, cherry farm, Christmas Tree farm (the list goes on) and then get picking. If you’re lucky the blossoms will be out, which makes for a beautiful backdrop. Great for an outdoor date, then for the foodies, go home and get cooking together with your produce. For more info go to  http://www.pickyourown.org/southafrica.htm

Craft beer tasting
Plan something you know your date may like. Most men won’t say no to craft beer and November is the month local breweries make their dreams come true. Find out where local breweries may be popping up or which beer festivals are worth visiting. If craft beer is not for you, there’s always something romantic about wine or champagne tasting.

Let’s ride
While the sun is shining enjoy a bike ride for two. With cycling on the up and the growing popularity of retro bikes and cruisers, bike routes are plentiful and the areas that accommodate cycling double as a sightseeing adventure. Take a wine tour on your bike with Winelands Experience ( http://www.winelands.travel/cycling). They offer breakfast tours, a wine tour by bike, and for the daring a hike, bike and picnic tour. If you’re not in the Cape, find a bike hire shop in your area – in Jozi we love Uncle Merve’s or in Durban hire a bike from Retro Bike Hire at the Sundeck at Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World, and hire a Cruisers to ride along Durban’s Golden Mile  (call 078-843-8936).

Safety in numbers
So you like him or her but you’re not ready for a one on one? Group dating is safe and fun! Invite one or two of your closest friends and let your date do the same. Book a table outdoors – a live performance is always a winner as it gets the group in the mood and keeps things festive. Keep an eye on Computicket for what’s on in your area.

Blooms day
Plant a garden together. Soppy we know but it’s actually quite fun, and if gardening is your thing (even if it’s not) you’ll love creating something together and watching it grow then enjoy the fresh produce. Find out what to plant in spring at  http://www.gardenate.com

XOXO

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