Planning the perfect proposal is nerve-wracking, exciting and maybe even a little overwhelming, all bundled up neatly into one big knot in your stomach. Throw in an unfamiliar destination, and that knot gets a little bigger. But don’t fear, we’ve got the fool-proof guide to making it go as smoothly as possible:
Do your research beforehand
By planning ahead, you’ll take a little pressure off yourself as well as have more peace of mind about how it’s all going to play out. Have a plan of where, how and when you’d like to pop the question, but don’t expect it to work out exactly as you see it in your head. When the moment is right, you’ll know, but also don’t be too stressed about changing it up in case of unforeseenable elements, like the weather.
That said, make sure you’re aware of what’s happeing in the area you’re planning to propose in, especially if you’ve never been there. Do a little internet search beforhand to see if any events are happening, if the area is a sacred place perhaps, or if any of the areas are restricted. It will also be handy to look at popular scenic locations, or romantic spots that other people have popped the question at for some inspiration.
Communicate with your hotel
…or resort, B&B, or wherever you’re planning on staying. Even if you’re not planning to propose at the place you’re staying at, they’ll most likely make some extra effort to make it romantic for you if they know what your plans are. Some places even organise some complimentary champagne, a romantic dinner, or some rose petals in your room for after you’ve popped the question.
Insure the ring
Before you even leave for your getaway, make sure the ring is insured. Things happen, but if you’re planning to propose while away, it’s the last thing you’d want to worry about. Get the ring insured for in case a stone pops out, or heaven forbid, it gets misplaced or stolen. It’s the responsible thing to do anyway, plus it will put your mind at ease.
Hide the ring, safely
Packing is stressful enough as it is, or at least for some. But making sure the ring stays safely hidden from your fiance-to-be’s eyes is extra daunting. If you don’t want to worry about it falling out of your pocket, or your partner accidentally seeing it in your bag, pack it in your check-in luggage. However, if you’re scared of your luggage getting lost or delayed (because yes, these things happen), keep it safely stashed in your carry-on. Rather safe than sorry, right?
Furthermore, if you’re worried about it being discovered at customs, it’s a good idea to place the ring box inside a bigger, nondescript box with a note inside to give the inspector or security guard a quick heads up in case they have to take a closer look.
Don’t wait until the last minute to propose
You want to wait for that perfect moment, but don’t wait until the last day of the trip. Nerves might not be your best friend, so your partner might notice that you’re acting a little differently. A little anticipation is good, especially if your partner is kind of expecting it, but if you propose earlier on, you’ll have more time to celebrate it in a special place.
Don’t overthink it
Sometimes it’s best to just go with your gut. If the moment feels right, go for it, even if it doesn’t go with your plans. Being spontaneous and it being unexpected sometimes makes the moment that much more special.
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When dating someone it’s normal to imagine a future with your partner and marriage may cross your mind. One of the biggest questions is “How long do you wait until you propose?” When is it seen as normal or acceptable. When do you know that someone is that special one.
Well for some celeb couples, time is non-existent in the eyes of love. Have a look at these celebs that just knew they had found the one, maybe a little bit too soon.
1.Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee
There was no engagement, this couple went from meeting each other and marrying four days later. This whirlwind love affair began in 1995 and ended with divorce in 1998.
2.Lyle Lovett and Julia Roberts
They met on the set of The Player (1992). After three weeks of dating, the couple decided to elope and get married in June 1993. Sadly after almost two years of marriage, they decided to divorce.
3.Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande
In early May 2018, Ariana ended things with the late rapper Mac Miller. Later that month she started dating Pete. In June 2018 after about three weeks of dating Pete announced their engagement. The relationship ended in October 2018.
4.Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon
The couple met while filming Mariah’s music video of Bye Bye. The video stars and was co-directed by Nick. There isn’t a lot of information regarding the engagement but they were married a few weeks after filming the music video.
5.Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise
Who can forget the famous couch jumping seen on The Oprah Winfrey Show? For those unfamiliar it entailed Tom Cruise declaring his love for Katie while jumping up and down on the couch. It has been reported that after seven weeks of dating Tom proposed to Katie. They married in November 2006. Almost six years later, Katie filed for divorce.
6.Emily Ratajkowski and Sebastian Bear-McClard
Emily was dating Jeff Magid for almost four years. They broke up early 2018. After a few weeks of dating Sebastian Bear-McClard, Emily hinted on Instagram that she got married.
7.Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger
It was reported that after dating for just over a month, the Nickelback singer proposed to Avril. Three years later and she announced their split over social media.
8.Katy Perry and Russell Brand
They started dating after the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Russel proposed after three months of dating. He popped the question on New Years Eve 2009. They married in October 2010. Sadly the relationship ended when Russel filed for divorce in December 2011.
9.Nikki Reed and Paul McDonald
The couple met at the Red Riding Hood film premiere in March 2011. Almost three months later they were engaged and married in October 2011. A little over two years later and they had announced their separation.
10.Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton
When a marriage happens so fast, it’s kind of hard to know when exactly the engagement was. Angelina and Billy only dated for two months before getting married in May 2000. They stayed together for about two years and finalised their divorce in May 2003.
11.Kevin Federline and Britney Spears
After knowing each other for three months the couple got engaged. They had their wedding two months later. After two years of marriage Britney filed for divorce.
12.Kaley Cuoco and Ryan Sweeting
The couple dated for three months when Ryan popped the question. After another three months the Big Bang Theory actress and Ryan got married. Unfortunately they decided to get divorced in September 2015.
13.Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
J-Lo was engaged to Ben Affleck and called the wedding off the day before. Four months later she started dating Marc Anthony in January 2004. When exactly they got engaged is a bit unclear but the couple got married in June 2004 and split in July 2011.
Picture: Pexels
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First things first, don’t ever wear white to a Christian wedding. Besides this rule, all other colours and styles are fair game. Here are some guidelines from black tie to garden party weddings.
Black Tie
This is the most formal dress code you’ll be asked to comply with, and will most likely take place in the evening. Women have the option of wearing either floor-length gowns with high heels, or shorter cocktail dresses with heels as well. It’s best to keep it as formal as possible, so choose dressier fabrics and prints rather than something more casual side – like daytime florals.
Men absolutely have to wear a tuxedo – which means a classic black bow tie, a black vest, a black or white shirt and well-fitted suit pants and jacket. The option of a white jacket is also suitable, but shoes should always be neat and black.
Formal
This means one step down from black tie, but still fully within the parameters of being formal. Women could still wear either floor-length gowns or shorter cocktail dresses, but your choice of fabric will be a little less limiting. High heels are preferable.
Men still have the option of wearing a classic tuxedo, but could also go for a tie, rather than a bow tie, and lose the vest altogether. You could go with a dark coloured suit like grey or navy, instead of black, which means you have more options in terms of shoe colour as well.
Semi-Formal
What you choose to wear will depend greatly on the time of day the wedding is taking place. Darker colours are better for night, and lighter colours for day, but the rules are slightly more bendable for this one, so use your discretion.
Women have more freedom and can wear long dresses, cocktail dresses or dressy skirts/pants with a top. Men should still wear a proper suit, but quirky ties and bow ties are suitable, along with slightly more casual shoe and sock options.
Smart-Casual
This is where it gets confusing for some. Smart-casual is almost like semi-formal, but just a little more towards the casual side. Think along the lines of going out for a nice dinner, a first date or a launch party. Women can wear anything, as long as it’s still classy and smart, and high heels are optional.
Men don’t have to wear a tie, or a fancy suit for that matter. Keep in mind that it’s a formal event, and ‘smart’ is still the key word, so avoid shorts, t-shirts and anything with big branded prints. Instead, opt for chinos or suit pants, paired with a more casual buttoned shirt, and comfortable shoes. If done right, even a nice pair of (clean) sneakers work well with an otherwise more formal suit.
Garden Party
Instantly, you’ll be able to tell two things for sure – it will be outside on grass and will take place during the day, or late afternoon. This means your shoes will be a major part of the rest of your outfit. Women should opt for wedges or flats and avoid stilettos completely, unless you want to sink into the ground with every step. Men could go for more casual shoes, like brown leather or suede loafers, or dressy sneakers.
In terms of clothing, opt for linen, breathable cotton and lightly-coloured fabrics as it will most likely be hot outside – think light summer dresses for women, and linen pants paired with buttoned-down shirts for men.
Beach Soiree
Almost like a garden party, but without the shoes. Or, just make sure your shoes are suitable for walking on sand. Other than that, shorts are appropriate for men, but as always, keep in mind it’s still a wedding. It’s best to stay away from t-shirts and denim in general, so rather opt for linen or cotton. And although it says ‘beach’, it goes without saying that swimwear is a no-go.
Image: Unsplash
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On July 28, 2019 social media influencers Jake Paul and Tana Mongeau headed to Las Vegas for their grand wedding. Fans were given the opportunity to live stream the wedding for $50 (R745) fee. The influencers gathered an audience of 66 000 people. The first issue popped up with the masses complained that the quality of the stream was terrible, shaky and the video lagged.
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if this plane crashes it’d be legendary… wish us luck… also time to get married ???
Before you start calculating what 50 times 66 000 is, those who requested a refund were reimbursed. The wedding was reported to be 10 minutes long and included a fight that seemed a bit too staged to be true.
Influencers have to constantly come up with fresh and exciting content to maintain their following. Audiences follow them for a good laugh, tips on various things or just because they genuinely enjoy keeping up with they exciting lives.
Jake and Tana took the influencer game to the next level. They sparked rumours about dating in April 2019 when the pair were spending a lot of time together and featured extensively on each others social media accounts. Tana created a lot of hype around her 21st birthday and a YouTube reality series MTV’s No Filter: Tana Turns 21 premiered two weeks after her birthday detailing the event.
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when ur real life engagement raises ur instagram engagement > ? HI FIANCÉE
Jake proposed to Tana at the big birthday bash. Many believed that the proposal was just a publicity stunt but the the influential couple went ahead and then shared their engagement photoshoot snaps.
A recent episode aired and featured Tana admitting it was all a publicity stunt. It was implied that the whole affair was for the content. She took to twitter to defend herself, explaining that those things were said long before the wedding and it was edited out of context.
confessionals for the show A LONG TIME AGO! the “for fun and content” sound bite was from a very long sentence lmao and was a little salty to see it pulled out of context.. i understand though that MTV has their own creative & that these episodes are airing very late, especially
— Tana Paul (@tanamongeau) August 1, 2019
Whether or not it was fake both Jake and Tana have received more followers on their social media platforms since their love ‘affair’.
Picture: Instagram/Tana Mongeau