Man sparks fury for ‘stealing girlfriend’s moment’ with proposal -but some notice ‘green flag’ that says ‘he’s a keeper’

Thinking of proposing? Follow this checklist by Fabulous' Deputy Editor Josie Griffiths to ensure a yes...

1. Time it right – the average Brit waits between 18 months and two years to get engaged. But you might feel ready after six months, or decide to wait five plus years to pop the question. Only you truly know when the time’s right, and this isn’t a decision you want to rush. Falling in love might feel amazing but of course most relationships DON’T end in marriage – and this is for good reason...
2. Pay attention – hopefully you haven’t reached the point yet of your frustrated partner leaving their laptop open with ‘hints’ for rings they like. Ideally you’ll want the ring to be a secret, but also something they’d happily wear – and for the rest of their life, so just a TEENY bit of pressure here. You need to be paying attention to any comments your partner makes about other people’s rings, what they do and don’t like, and what’s most important to them – size, clarity, specific details. If you’re really unsure, or if your partner hates surprises, it’s best to propose with a dummy and then buy the real thing together.
3. Family matters – tradition dictates that you ask the dad’s permission for his daughter’s hand in marriage, but it’s not so straightforward nowadays. Maybe your partner’s closer to their step-dad, or wants her mum to walk her down the aisle, in which case you’d be better off chatting to them. Maybe they’d find it weird if you went to their parents first, in which case you could ditch the whole thing. Or perhaps they’re closer to their friends and the best idea would be letting your partner’s best mate pick the ring. These things do matter and could come back to bite you if handled in the wrong way.
4. Plan the setting – does your partner dread being centre of attention, or are they someone who’d be gutted if you proposed at home, berating you forever for a lack of ‘effort’? Plan the place for your perfect proposal – how busy it’ll be, whether you’ll be able to get a good pic there, and other logistics around it. A proposal at the top of a mountain might sound good in theory but your girlfriend might not actually appreciate it when there’s sweat dripping down her forehead and she’s not wearing the cute dress she’d imagined for the pictures. Personally, I can’t think of anything worse than a public proposal where everyone’s waiting to hear your answer – in a group of friends, the middle of a restaurant or with an announcement at an event. So bear all of this in mind and remember, it’s meant to be about what THEY want, not you.