How to make sure the answer is “yes”

With these personal tips you’ll win over even the most demanding partner.

1. Lay the groundwork

The proposal is meant to be a surprise for them – but the answer isn’t meant to be a surprise for you. Start laying the groundwork by watching a wedding show together and, under cover of the programme, ask what your sweetheart thought of a particular proposal, whether they’d wear a certain kind of wedding dress, or what sort of bachelor or bachelorette party they’d like. This is usually when you’ll find out if they never, ever want to get married – not even to someone as lovely as you.

2. Surprise them

Really surprise your partner. Forget the traditional kneeling in a restaurant or hiding the ring box in the main course. Take your future fiancé(e) somewhere special blindfolded to build up the suspense. Or arrange a “work shift” for your beloved as a cover story to get them to a certain place without suspecting a thing. Colleagues and bosses are usually happy to help with this, even if you don’t reveal your proposal plans.

3. The restaurant

There are restaurants, and then there are restaurants whose desserts would make you say “I do” to anything. One of them is Periscope in Tampere. I can also recommend the burrata at BasBas.

4. Your hands

What if you’re so nervous about proposing that your palms are sweating? There are all sorts of powders and gels for that, but the easiest trick is to nip to the loo and rinse your hands in lukewarm water just before you pop the question.

5. Give your reasons

When you ask your beloved to promise themselves to you, you might want to say a few words about why you chose them. Who wouldn’t want to hear about the moment you fell in love with them? And do tell them whether you’ve always dreamt of getting married and they’re finally the one – or whether they changed your mind about the whole thing.

6. Hiding places

Hiding the ring is great fun, and finding it is at least as entertaining. A few less common options are plush toys you can open, bookmarks and even Easter eggs, as they often contain trinket rings anyway.

7. Time off

When you propose, make sure the next day is free. You really don’t want to be getting up at six for work the following morning.

8. Danger

A sense of danger increases physical attraction, if psychology is to be believed. How about proposing on a suspension bridge?