If you’re here reading this, chances are you’re ready to pop the question – but have you thought about where you’d like your special engagement to be? There are plenty of wonderful places around the world to get down on one knee, but we think an engagement in New York is particularly romantic.
As a city buzzing with energy and wonderfully diverse people, you can bet that any kind of New York City engagement will be memorable. As a team of big-hearted lovebirds, we know firsthand that planning a proposal can be a daunting and stressful thing – the surprises and secrets of sneaking around can be overwhelming. So allow us to lend a helping hand!
Are you ready to take the first step towards your happily ever after? If so, congrats are in order! Here are our 10 best tips for planning the most fabulous New York engagement possible…
If you’ve already got somewhere particular in mind, fantastic! But if you need some extra inspiration, here are some of the most romantic spots and proposal ideas:
No matter where you choose your New York engagement to be, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make it flawlessly perfect. There’s no need to overthink it – sometimes simple is best. It doesn’t need to be an extravagant proposal of rose petal trails and guitar serenading – an intimate and uncomplicated set-up can often be the most romantic way to do it.
After all, this is a moment that’s all about you two as a couple. You don’t need fancy stuff to make it extraordinary.
Whether you want it simple or not, there’s one thing a proposal should always be: sentimental. Think about making it meaningful with the things that matter the most to you as a couple – that could be choosing the very same spot on fifth avenue you first met, or sipping on the bottle of champagne you drank together on your first date. It’s the little things that mean the world.
Have a brainstorm of the things, people, and places that hold the most sentimental value, then incorporate them into your plans.
Just don’t go overboard. There’s a fine line between sweet and schmaltzy.
Next on our list of the best New York City engagement tips is to chew over timings. Not only is the right time of day crucial for good lighting (always choose the soft golden hours of sunrise or sunset) – but New York has peaks and valleys of crowds and tourists, so plan ahead if you want it to be on a quieter moment.
Pro tip: The right time of year can make a big difference too. Each unique season brings something special. Want bright glorious sunshine and good vibes? Summer is the one. Think a snowy wonderland would look great in NYC engagement photos? Wintertime is the way to go.
Sadly, big crowds are something you can’t avoid in NYC – no matter what time of day it is. So only opt for a romantic New York engagement if you’re okay with swarms of people being around you – getting on with their day-to-day business. This is especially something to consider if you choose a busy restaurant or a bustling street. As much you might want it to be intimate, you simply can’t hire out the entire city!
Speaking of crowds, it’s a good idea to think about whether your partner would want the moment to be private or not. Some of us might like the attention of gawking onlookers (with a congratulatory round of applause to go with it), but for others, it’d be their worst embarrassing nightmare.
If you think the proposal will work best away from spectators, see if you can hire somewhere special – whether it’s the private dining room of your favorite restaurant, or a chartered boat sailing down the Hudson River.
Is having the best NYC engagement photos high on your priorities? If the answer’s yes, consider hiring a secret professional photographer to capture every moment of the surprise.
Just remember, if you do hire a photographer, get them to go incognito before getting down on one knee. You wouldn’t want them to be spotted before the big moment.
Tell them everything they need to know about the plan and they’ll figure out where to position themselves – out of the way so they’re not visible, yet still close enough to snap the shots.
Although having a friend or family member on hand to take pictures might save some money, an expert photographer will know how to capture the best lighting – and find the right angles to make New York’s setting look even more wonderful. Plus, capturing the moment of realization on their face when you finally get down on one is absolutely priceless.
With the very nature of a proposal being a surprise, the most important rule of New York engagement planning is keep it on the down low. Word travels fast in NYC, so stick to only telling your closest and most trustworthy confidants – they can also help you with the planning. After all, pulling off the best engagement New York has ever seen is a lot for just one person to take on by themselves.
You might also want your closest friends and family waiting patiently in the wings to celebrate after – because once they say “yes”, it’s time for some champagne popping…
Last on our list of New York engagement tips is to celebrate like you’ve never celebrated before. Adored worldwide as the city that never sleeps, you can always rely on New York to host a wild engagement party. So make sure you’ve booked a venue and pre-planned the night – whether it’s a fancy three course meal at an upscale restaurant or a rooftop cocktail reception overlooking the city skyline at sunset.
Lastly, we’ve one final pro tip: pre-plan your partner’s evening outfit. Don’t be afraid to tell a little white lie to get them to put on their best outfit. You don’t want them feeling red-faced in their sweatpants and sneakers.
We’d love to hear about it. Get in touch if you’ve got any New York City engagement tips of your own – whether it’s a contact for the perfect proposal venue you hold dear to your heart, or a life lesson you learned while planning your own special engagement.
We always love hearing about your romantic endeavors.
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