Is it Acceptable For a Woman to Propose to a Man in This Day and Age?

Once upon a time, marriage proposals were strictly the province of men.  However, that has changed.  Today, it is perfectly acceptable (most of the time!) for a woman to propose to a man.  Before we delve into how to do it and tips on the process, let’s look at when it might not be appropriate.

While women are certainly the equal of men, there are some relationships where the woman proposing to the man will not work.  For instance, if you are in a relationship where the man has very strong ‘traditionalist’ views, he will likely take it askance if you propose to him.  However, it’s pretty simple to ferret out his views on this, so do so before you propose.

If you have decided that you do want to propose to your boyfriend, then you need to understand that this can come with some complications.  For instance, if you propose to him, will you then demand that he buy you an engagement ring?  Or are you going to go to the jewelers and pick out your own engagement ring?  Will you give him the ring to put onto your finger if he says yes, or will you break with tradition and buy him a plain engagement ring?  These are important questions to answer. 

One solution is to propose and then for both of you to wear promise rings until your wedding day – this custom actually dates back to medieval times.

You also need to take your boyfriend’s feelings into account.  Is it going to upset him or make him feel less manly if you propose to him?  Is he looking forward to proposing to you in a romantic way?  What will his friends say when they find out you proposed to him, rather than the other way around? 

Alternatively, he might be relieved if you take the pressure off of him.  Take the time to creatively get these answers out of him before you propose.