If it feels like everyone around you is getting engaged right now, relax. That’s probably not true — and you probably only think it is because you’re waiting for your own boyfriend to pop the question. After all, Christmas is just around the corner and it would be super romantic to wake up to a ring under the tree on December 25, right? Hold your horses a sec. Before you start beefing up your Pinterest wedding board, keep an eye out for these signs that he’s actually planning to propose soon.
- He’s suddenly on a serious budget. Rings are expensive — the average engagement ring costs about $6,000 in 2023! — so it makes sense that he would be a little tighter with his money around this time. If you notice that he wants to go out less and stay in more and is much more vocal about being frugal, he might just be planning to get down on one knee soon.
- You’ve had “The Talk.” Many proposals don’t just come out of the blue — there’s a discussion about where you see your future going as a couple. A timeline might even come up regarding when you plan on walking down the aisle. If the talk has covered marriage or even hinted at it, then he could be about to make a move. Of course, if you’ve both just said it’s something you’d like to do “one day,” it might not be immediately forthcoming.
- He’s been disappearing or acting kind of shady. Admittedly, this could be a red flag for bad things (he could be cheating on you), but it also could be a good sign that he’s trying to plan a good surprise. Hopefully, he’s better at hiding things so there’s no drama before the proposal, but sometimes guys find it tough.
- He seems more focused on family than usual. Marriage is usually about blending your families, so it would make sense if he wants to have more outings with your parents. He might want to get them alone to ask for their blessing, while other times it could be to get help on planning the proposal or getting the ring. Either way, this could be a good sign. Even if he’s not planning to propose right away, it’s always heartwarming to see your boyfriend integrating himself more into your life.
- A trip or big anniversary is coming up and he has secret plans. This is a pretty big sign that you might have a fiancé very soon. Trips and big anniversaries are popular times to get down on one knee. Make sure you have a nice manicure for that picture of you showing off the ring! (Of course, if he was super slick, he wouldn’t make his secret plans obvious, but your excitement may be bigger than this oversight.)
- He’s paying closer attention to the jewelry you like. It’s tough to buy an expensive gift like a ring and get it right without the person’s help. If he’s all of a sudden paying attention to what you wear and asking questions about your preferences, then he’s definitely looking.
- He loves talking about your future together. People tend to shy away from talking about the future when they’re feeling unsure. If he’s confident enough to propose, then he isn’t breaking a sweat. It’s likely he’s planning to propose if your recent chats about what you’ll do in the future are extending further and further into it. Deciding where you’ll buy your first house and the trip you’ll take when you turn 40 is a pretty big indicator that he plans on sticking around.
- He’s been much more romantic lately. The proposal is probably not going to be the first romantic gesture a guy will do to get you to say yes. He might be planning more dates, being more intimate, and just seeming more attentive all around. All of these could be signs that he is building up to the big question.
- He actually took you to “just look” at rings. Not everyone would be up for shopping with their partner for their engagement ring, but could you blame him if he just wants to just know what you’d like? This is pretty much a given that it’s coming and all you need to do is wait.
- When seeing a proposal, he asks your opinion on it. He just “happened” to come across a proposal video on YouTube and needed you to weigh in. Would you be up for a proposal at a sports event? What about at dinner? If he seems to be feeling around for a clear answer, then that might be a sign. To be honest, if he’s the right guy, how he asks won’t even matter. You know you’ll be accepting right away!
