By Nicolo Antonio Duterte

There comes a point in a man’s life when he can either man up and decide to spend his lifetime with the woman he wants to marry or just continue being single and free.  I chose the former, and so now I will talk about how I pulled off a nail-biting and nerve-racking marriage proposal .

Most men I know don’t bother about staging a full-blown surprise proposal since it entails careful preparation and creativity. Others would choose to be practical and pour all of that effort in the wedding itself.  But being a self-confessed true blue romantic that I am, I decided to give it my best shot and show the woman I love how truly blessed I am to have her in my life.

To those who wish to do the same, here are some tips that just might help you.

1. Start with a plan. No surprise there, I used up a lot of lists and notes to get this done. I had to rack my brain for this. Planning when to propose, where to propose, what to bring, and what to leave out is really necessary. Think about it this way: a simple camping trip needs preparation. A proposal needs one too. If you cannot imagine a cool concept, try to just list two important things you want to recreate or accomplish in the proposal then go ahead and get it done.
2. Gifts? Flowers? Yep! Choose a color she loves. Red, white, blue, violet even. Remember to stick with what she loves. An added touch such as a card or an item (whether a card or little gift) will do. If you have the perfect ring for this, go ahead. For those who don’t, do not worry, you can save up for that, just give her the best that you can give without breaking the bank. The effort behind the proposal is indicative of the effort you will give in planning for the wedding, and for the rest of your marriage. Or so they say.
3. Food. Either you can order food in a fancy restaurant or have a friend who cooks really well (my chef friend made this a no-brainer for me). The plan you have in your mind and the energy to pull it off should include food. Again, just make sure to choose something she really loves and stick with it. Her preferences should be your top priority.
4. Photographs. Who says the “selfie generation” made it important to take pictures? We were doing it before they were even born. A proposal does not happen every day, so better capture the moment that both of you will re-live in the future.  Ask for help from your photographer friends or hire one if you have to. What matters is that you take pictures. And more pictures to capture all the little details. Fifty years down the road, you will be very glad you did.
5. The venue. At this point in your life, you may (or may not) already have an idea where to pull it off. Restaurants are a common and easy choice. Beach proposals are cool too. For the adventurer types, a tour and scenic view on top of a mountain will do. Just pick one that is logistically possible and meaningful for the both of you. For me, I wanted to have it done in a rooftop on a late afternoon, preferably with a great sunset behind us. Primavera Residences was the perfect place for this. Not only do they have willing co- conspirators to help me plan and implement the BIG SURPRISE, they also exerted a lot of effort to make this day truly wonderful for me, my fiancé, and our guests. The view of Cagayan de Oro in the rooftop was a magnificent bonus too. Though the weather did not cooperate to give us the usual amazing Cagayan de Oro sunset for our backdrop, it was awesome nonetheless.

Proposals are not easy to pull off but if you plan it well and put a lot of thought into it, your significant other will definitely appreciate it.  You do not have to spend a lot to propose. We can still be practical since these are practical times, however we must remember that this can happen only once in our lifetime, so better make it count.

Check out the proposal video here:

Planning your own surprise proposal or any event? Call +63 917 7921080 or visit our website at http://primaveraresidences.italpinas.com.