Tips for planning your Valentine’s Day proposal

Ah, Valentine’s Day! For some, it’s the most romantic day of the year, filled with grand gestures, sweet treats, fancy dinners and perhaps this year, a special ring. While we specialise in insurance, we’ve still got a soft spot, so here are our tips to help you plan the perfect proposal.

Iris, played by Kate Winslet in The Holiday, said it best: “I like corny. I’m looking for corny in my life”. We all want to feel loved, appreciated and special. So, when you’re planning what to say, say all the sweet things, but make sure they come from the heart. Reflect on your time together, what your partner means to you, and why you’re excited to share your life with them. Or hey, if nerves get the better and all you can muster is a doe-eyed “marry me?!”, say it after; it still counts!

Google, ChatGPT, Reddit and indeed, this article, will all throw up many suggestions on planning the perfect proposal. Scattered rose petals, recreating a first date, a ride in a hot air balloon... these ideas all have their merit, but do they match you and your partner’s interests?

Forget the A.I prompts and follow your gut. What do you both like to do together? Where have your happiest moments been? What has made your time together memorable? Reflect on all of these, and the way to propose will come to you naturally.

Back in the day, fathers would be consulted for ‘permission’ to marry, and even if couples married for love, women had little agency in the decision.

Now, the tradition of asking a parent for permission has evolved. Marriage is a commitment between two people in love, and the gesture of asking a parent or loved one for a blessing is more about inclusion and fostering family ties, than a request to commit to the person you love.

Before proposing, check with your partner about their values, traditions and culture. The gesture may or may not be important to them, but a conversation will help guide you in the right direction.

‘General contents’ cover offers a level of protection for your engagement ring while it’s inside your home. This covers loss or damage to your ring caused by insured events (which will vary from policy to policy) like theft or fire. ‘Accidental damage’ could also be added to account for mishaps at home that may result in a broken claw or cracked stone.

If you want insurance for your engagement ring while you're out and about, you’ll need ‘portable contents’ cover. This would help cover circumstances where a ring slips off your finger and is lost, such as at a beach.

Remember, only certain events are covered by insurance policies, so be sure to check the relevant Product Disclosure Statement for all the ins and outs of what you’re signing up for.