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Most men believe that the love of their life requires a huge romantic gesture when the time to pop the question rolls around. You know, the carriage ride, the hotel room chock full o' rare tropical flowers, the fireworks, the tearful question posed in front of hundreds of total strangers who will inevitably applaud when she says yes...Well, you get the point. The fact is, though, that most women prefer things the old-fashioned way, something that speaks to the two of you and your relationship rather than Hollywood's concept of a romantic proposal. Here are some tips for that shaky (almost) groom-to-be:

Ask her father/mother/important figure
It might seem cliche and overly traditional, but asking for your girlfriend's hand is viewed as a sign of respect. So whether it be a parent or, if she has no relationship with her parents or they're deceased, another central figure in her life, make some time to have a chat with them before popping the question. You will definitely score points both in their eyes and in hers. And sure, it can be nerve-wracking, but unless everyone else except for the two of you has been living under a rock, your conversation will more than likely not take anyone by surprise. So relax, be yourself. You'll get through it just fine.

Memory lane
What was the best date you two ever had? Did you sit by a river, staring out at the water and talking for hours? Was it at an amusement park? A special restaurant? Take her there. Even if that's not where you pop the question (public proposals will be discussed later on), just taking her there will let her know that you remember these things. It will put a special, romantic spin on the situation without necessarily setting off her "something's funny about this" alarm. And trust me, all women have it.

For the world to see?
Sure, the idea of proposing in front of dozens of people (if not more) may seem romantic. I mean, you probably want to shout your love from the rooftops on a daily basis as it is, so why not make sure that the whole world knows how much you love this woman? Here's a female point of view: Don't do it. Because while we want the world to know how much we love you, what we don't want is the whole world watching us bawl our eyes out. A proposal is a very private, beautiful moment. With everyone watching, it's tough to say those special things that you want to say at such a time. Here's a story: My brother proposed to his fiance in front of both of our families on Christmas Eve. While it was a lovely moment and very emotional for everyone, my mother and I agreed afterwards that we felt funny being there as she cried and they hugged. I immediately warned my boyfriend that if he was ever thinking about proposing in public to nix the idea!

Shooting for the stars
One common misconception is that a proposal has to be this overblown Hollywood creation. That's just not so! In fact, planning too many variables around a proposal leaves more room for things to go wrong. A good rule of thumb for anything, be it a proposal, a wedding or life in general is: Keep it simple! Speak from the heart. That's all that really matters anyway.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Morgan.
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