To some, a restaurant wedding proposal may seem a little old fashioned, however it can actually be a really lovely way to pop the big question, and a survey by The Knot found that 31 per cent of women would like to be proposed to in their favourite restaurant, or a restaurant they’d always wanted to visit. So, what are you waiting for? Purchase a beautiful engagement ring, and get planning today!

Consider your partner

Before the thought of a restaurant proposal turns into a plan, make sure you are certain that your partner is the kind of person who would enjoy the attention of fellow diners when you pop the question. If they’re more introverted, a public proposal could be their idea of a public nightmare! If this is the case, you could plan a romantic meal at home instead, or at least choose a quiet weeknight to visit the restaurant.

Make a reservation

Don’t forget to book a table!

This may seem obvious, but many a restaurant wedding proposal has been thwarted at the last minute by an anxious person who forgot to book a table! So, make sure giving your chosen restaurant a call to reserve a table is at the top of your proposal planning list. Choose their favourite restaurant or a restaurant they have mentioned as somewhere they’d love to go one day — it doesn’t matter if it’s a five-star establishment or the budget venue of your first date.

Make sure the answer will be yes

Have you discussed marriage with your partner before now? Asking your partner to marry you in a restaurant creates a very public moment, so make sure you know the answer will be a big “Yes!” before you go ahead, to save you and your partner from embarrassment.

Save the best ‘til last

Don’t pop the question before your starter has arrived

Don’t pop the question until you’ve got to dessert — that way if it does go wrong and they say no, you can make a quick exit without too much embarrassment. Having to leave before the starter has arrived would be very embarrassing indeed, and it would be even more painful to sit the dinner out in awkward silence.

Ditch the cliché

Don’t be tempted to follow trend and have the engagement ring presented in a flute of champagne or nestled inside food. This is very clichéd, not very good for the beautiful new ring you’ve just paid for, and also quite dangerous! Just be yourself — if you want to surprise your partner, there are much less messy and risky ways, such as asking the waiter to bring the ring with the bill.

Get the restaurant involved

Get in touch with the restaurant well ahead of time and see if they can help you with your proposal in any way. They may be able to assist you with your proposal, make your experience more romantic with additional candles and flowers, or even give you some ideas of how to propose.

Ready to buy the ring? You can find out the top engagement ring trends for 2018, here.