By Ed Carroll
A marriage proposal is naturally a special moment in a person’s life. It’s a momentous decision to spend the rest of your life with another person that you love. And understandably, many want to make sure the moment is even more memorable.
There’s a lot to consider, even if you already know your partner can’t wait to say “yes,” from choosing a ring to selecting the perfect location and backdrop, to finding a photographer for capturing the memories, to trusting a planner to make sure the logistics are set and you haven’t forgotten anything. Jstyle Weddings spoke with professionals from various industries – a photographer, an event planner, a venue operator and a jeweler – about different aspects to consider as you prepare to pop the question to the love of your life.
Ring shopping
Bruce Botnick, owner of Robert & Gabriel Jewelers in Lyndhurst, says for proposals today, there are typically “very few surprises.”
“In most cases, (the couple visits) our store together and shops options together, and then frequently the purchaser would then excuse himself from the other party and consummate things in the moment or a quick follow-up a day later, without the other person being here to observe,” he says. “So, it’s sort of a strange process. But I think total surprise doesn’t really happen very often anymore.”
Botnick, who estimates that Robert & Gabriel Jewelers has sold in excess of 40,000 engagement rings in its 98-year history, says when it comes to the rings, usually the purchaser has some idea of what the other person wants and they are able to customize jewelry for the occasion.
“Unlike a mall store, as an independent jeweler we offer pretty good services,” he says. “I’d say maybe 30% of the rings we sell are custom made for customers. Fortunately, I have good craftsmen who can easily take an idea and turn it into an image in about a week, and then we turn it into a ring in about 10 days.”
The perfect backdrop
A memorable backdrop and setting can make the moment all the more special when you ask someone for their hand in marriage. Luckily for those in Northeast Ohio, there is no shortage of beautiful space to enjoy and make a memory to last for a lifetime; at least 24,000 acres, to be specific, in the Cleveland Metroparks system throughout the area.
Sam Cario, director of events and experiences at the Cleveland Metroparks, says typically when people propose in the Cleveland Metroparks, it’s because they have a specific connection to that park or district. He says the willow tree at Edgewater Park on Cleveland’s west side and Squire’s Castle in Willoughby Hills are two popular proposal spots.
“For us, it’s all about our backdrops,” he says. “We’ve got fantastic natural backdrops – that’s exactly what couples are looking for.”
He says other than proposals at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which requires an admission fee for entry most of the time, areas of the parks don’t need to be reserved ahead of time.
“It’s finding that intimate location where you have that connection with your significant other,” he says. “But also trying to secure a location. Most of the time, couples want family and friends to participate, so they want to find an area for 10 to 20 people.”
Picture perfect
Once you have the ring and the spot picked out, you’ll undoubtedly want to find someone to help you remember the moment forever. You could ask a friend or family member to be there to record or take pictures of the proposal, but hiring a professional provides many benefits and a sense of security that your moment is beautifully documented.
Beth Glorioso, owner and photographer at Elizabeth Glorioso Photography in Cleveland, says it’s important to consider the venue where the proposal is happening, as it can affect the photos. People often don’t consider the number of bystanders who will be in the area, and potentially in the photo.
“Do they want their proposal to be intimate, or do they want onlookers to be looking on?” she asks. “Then, you’re adding a photographer into the mix to document the special moment, there may be bystanders in the background of your photos, things like that.
“You may or may not consider those to be obvious when you’re looking. Some couples want a very public proposal – they’re very outgoing and want that kind of moment in front of everybody – where other couples might be a little more private and want a private moment between the two people, so that’s a consideration.”
She says there are other logistics important to consider, such as lighting if you’re planning to propose somewhere like a dark restaurant, or ensuring there are unobstructed views of the proposal. She would sort through all those details during a consultation before the proposal, Glorioso says.
Planning for details
It may seem like a lot of spinning plates to keep in the air if you’re planning to propose, but you can find help. Kim Singerman, founder and event director at Noteworthy Events, which operates in Northeast Ohio and the Cincinnati area, says as a planner, one of the first steps she’d take is to sit down with the client and get details.
“I’d want to know an overview of what it is that person wants,” she says. “I like to propose ideas, and then see how they feel about those ideas. And then the next step would be me making calls and putting things into place, to the point where then we arrange everything and are able to execute at that specific location.”
She says often, people don’t consider the smaller details of a proposal, which is why it can be handy to have an event planner with you.
“Let’s say they want to be at the top of the building, it might be loud, or you might need to get permission from whoever owns the building or the company,” she says. “Or if it’s a public space, they may need a permit. It depends on who they are and what they want, and then it’s really making it happen. … I think it’s really thinking through the details, and I think that’s my job, to think through the details so that everything comes off right and everything works.”
Publisher’s Note: Kim Singerman is the spouse of Paul J. Singerman, chairman of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company board of directors.