Which Knee Should you Propose on? | Everything You Need to Know
The most romantic and universal way that someone can portray their love for someone is getting on one knee and popping the big question. Which knee to propose on seems like a small detail compared to all the other planning necessary for a wedding. However, it is an important detail that you should nonetheless remember.
If you are about to propose to your lady, the thought of it probably makes you feel slightly nervous. We’re here to give you some tips and take away some of that stress!
What Knee Do You Propose On?
A marriage proposal is a big milestone; you’re about to start a new chapter of your life. You’ve got the engagement ring, you’re ready to declare your love for your partner, and now what? Well now you propose, that’s what! When you decide to propose, your left knee should be on the ground, while the right should be up. Meanwhile, the ring box should be in your left hand and must be opened with your right hand. Some men bend both their knees while proposing, but we recommend you stay away from that. It just looks off compared to the traditional method of doing it on one knee. Below you can see a perfect example of how to do it right: do exactly that and you should be good!
Why Do Men Get on One Knee to Propose?
There are many different ways to propose, but what’s always been a rule of thumb is getting on one knee when doing so. The person who does the proposing always gets on one knee when popping the big question. This is considered to be one of the oldest and most romantic traditions out there, which has been around for many decades. It has been observed that kneeling was practiced by knights when being awarded honors from kings and queens. It was seen as a gesture of deep respect, love, and honor. That being said, the origin of this tradition hasn’t been 100% proven by hystorians.
Some other possible origins include:
- Religion: Kneeling when praying is very common among many religions, which is considered to be a position of submission to a deity. It might very much be the case that the tradition of getting on one knee comes from religion.
- The act of surrendering: Bending the knee in front of someone is the universal gesture of defeat & surrender. One could argue that in the same way that you might surrender to your enemy, you can also surrender yourself to a loved one due to the trust and love that you have for them. Of course, they do the same for you and therefore marriage is born
Do
- Make sure you’re both on the same page when it comes to marriage
- Keep the proposal a surprise
- Make sure the engagement ring is acceptable for both of you
- Talk to their parents before proposing
- Choose the perfect place to pop the question (private & romantic)
- Get down on one knee when proposing
Don’t
- Rush into it before thinking it through
- Propose in an extremely public place (unless you know that’s what she’d prefer)
- Hide the engagement ring in food/drinks (things could get complicated)