With Valentine’s Day 2020 the next big event on the calendar nearly, there’s no better time for brides-to-be to make a declaration of love. Here’s how to pop the question and write your fiancé the best Valentine’s proposal speech …
A Valentine’s Proposal: How to Make a Declaration of Love
In past years, a trip to the Odeon, followed up with some dough balls at Pizza Express might have done the trick, but with the rise of social media and comparison culture, you may be feeling the pressure to up your proposal game.
With 2020 being a Leap Year and the start of the new decade, we’re all in favour of chucking out the old stuffy traditions and calling women to pop the question to their partners.
So how about using Valentine’s Day as the perfect day to propose to him or her? And with any bold declaration of love, you’ll want a romantic speech prepared.
The one tip we would give any wannabe speech giver, is to really make it personal. So here are a few ideas to spark your Valentine’s proposals and declarations of love and get you writing.
With research stating almost 1/3 of woman claim Valentine’s Day would be their preferred day to be proposed to, why not flip that around and make it happen yourself. We’ve compiled a handy little list of romantic proposal ideas for inspiration and to kick off your Valentine’s Day in style.
Propose on Holiday
Pull out all the stops for Valentine’s Day and treat your partner to a romantic break. Pick somewhere that means something to the pair of your, or somewhere your partner has always wanted to go. That way, you’ll have some sweet details and points of reference in your speech and future vows.
Whether you’ve opted for a chic city break or a beach destination, popping the question while on a trip away will not only make the holiday extra special, but also give you a special destination to return to on anniversaries to come.
Read our guide to proposing on holiday.
Unique Proposal Ideas
Using a drone
If you or your partner love a bit of tech, attach (securely!) the engagement ring to your quadcopter or drone and have it flown down to you while out walking with your partner. Appear to be as surprised by the drone as your partner is until it gets within reaching distance. Then, pull the ring off and pop the question.
The treasure hunt
If you love the outdoors, this Valentine’s Day proposal will definitely be a winner. Create a treasure hunt around one of your favourite locations. You could openly plan this with your partner as a fun activity with a load of friends. But, at the end of the trail, surprise them all with your proposal.
Get you pets involved
If you share a pet cat or dog, get home early, pop some Champagne in the fridge and prepare a beautiful meal. Put the ring on your pet’s collar and have them greet your partner as they walk in the door. As soon as they spot the ring, propose and celebrate your engagement with a chilled glass of bubbly and a great meal.
Read more unique Valentine’s Day proposal ideas here.
Valentine’s Proposal Speech Ideas for Every Type of Man
How to Say I Love You to The Football Fan
First things first, get your timing right. Switching off the Arsenal match at 60 minutes to pour him a glass of champagne and declare your undying love would simply demonstrate a lack of true understanding.
So ensure his mind isn’t elsewhere and tell him that you think you understand the way a true football fan feels leaving the stadium, feeling elated after their team has won a fabulous match. There’s a sense of excitement, a feeling of belonging, and a real belief that there are great times to come. And that’s the way you feel about him.
If that’s not enough, you could get really clever and ‘throw-in’ a pun or two to ‘substitute’ pure emotion for a funnier ‘point or three’. Or go for the full three points and head to their teams ground for the backdrop of your proposal.
The Bookworm
You could write a romantic novella in which you and your partner live happily every after. But failing that, why not keep it simple? One option would be to take one of his favourite novels (ideally a love story), and use it to show your true feelings. Perhaps you found it boring the first time you read the book. You didn’t get it. Maybe the romance felt over the top, and the lengths to which the protagonists went to be together were simply hard to believe. Tell him that you were wrong. That you couldn’t relate with Gatsby, or Anna Karenina, or Mr Darcy, Cathy, or Jane Eyre, because you’d never felt what they had. Until now.
Of course, best to make sure you’ve both read the novel in question (if you haven’t, do some research so you can blag it convincingly)! If you can find a quote that captures how you feel, all the better. We recommend swerving Romeo & Juliette, though…
The Techie Way to Say I Love You
Chances are you’re saving the new fancy bit of software you’ve bought him for his next birthday. In which case, let’s stick with words. As with the above examples, the key is to speak in a language he would best understand. In this case, why not Javascript? C++? PERL? If those mean nothing to you, don’t worry: they mean nothing to us either. And if you don’t fancy learning to code before the 14th, there is another viable option: English.
If you want to stick to a card, you might consider saying that your heart has been hacked, the code of love has been cracked (you get the idea), and sign it ‘Anonymous’. Please don’t refer to ‘compatibility issues’ which may scare him despite working perfectly on paper.
For The Film Buff
Short of nicking a romantic monologue from one of his favourite movies , the next best option would be take a classic love story and update it to your lives. Let’s take Casablanca, for example. For Isla, the impossible choice she faces is between the man she loves (Rick), and the cause she believes in (Lazlo).
Why not tell your fiancé how lucky you feel when you watch Casablanca, because to you, he is both Rick and Lazlo. Or that to when you watch Bridget Jones, you realise he is both Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. Both Rhett and Ashley to your Scarlett O’Hara. Both Mrs Robinson and daughter to your Dustin Hoffman. You get the gist. The possibilities are endless!
The Foodie
He might turn his nose up at a suggestion to eat at Pizza Express, but a well-worded, food-centric proposal is a sure-fire way to secure a yes. Depending on what really gets his mouth watering (food-wise, that is), you could prepare their favourite meal and a few words that explain how much you love them. Then season it with a sprinkling of romance. Maybe he is like the perfect steak: tender, rare, well-aged, lean, and, erm, well hung…
Alternatively, you could concoct a recipe for ‘the perfect man’, using a list of his unique qualities as an ingredient list, and his life story as preparation instructions: cook in Northampton for 18 years, before removing and letting sit in Newcastle for 3 years. Place in London for another 7 years, until perfect, contented, and engaged!
What next?
Hopefully this gets Valentine’s Day off to a good start. But there is a more auspicious opportunity to come. Brides’ speeches are growing ever more popular and are another chance for you to let your partner know – in front of all your friends and family – just how much you love them.
READ MORE:
Want more wedding information and inspiration? Just hit ‘Like’ on our Wedding Ideas Facebook page, and ‘Follow’ on our @wimagazine Twitter account. To join in the conversation, share your stories here.