Wne you're proposing to your girlfriend there are certain protocol to follow, here are 6 you should follow, and a seventh you should consider, if you're fortunate enough to need it.

If you’re both lucky and good, proposing marriage is a once in a lifetime thing. You’ll both carry the memories of it with you forever, so it’s best to follow the proper protocol when proposing. No sense in going out of bounds on this one and causing a commotion or embarrassing yourself for all eternity, even if she does say yes. Remember there are plenty of ways to propose correctly, but you want to avoid any big faux pas just the same.

With that in mind, here are some protocol rules, do’s and dont’s that you’ll want to follow.

Rule Numero Uno – Make it uniquely for her. Your proposal should be designed with her unique qualities and personality in mind. Take into account what makes her really happy, what makes her heart go pitter patter, and brings a huge smile to her face. You know what those things are, so use them to your advantage when planning the perfect proposal.

Proposal Protocol Rule Number Two – Do it in person, or at least be there for her reaction. Do not email her, write her a letter if you’re not going to be there when she opens it, any other such thing. You are the one proposing, and you need to be there to take part in the whole thing.

Proposal Protocol Rule Number Three – Don’t be too casual. In some rare occasions you may be able to avoid this one. On the vast majority of occasions, even if the proposal is a somewhat light hearted affair the way you actually speak the words, and the way you present yourself during the actual proposal needs to done with a certain amount of formality.

Proposal Protocol Rule Number Four – Tell her parents first. Unless you’re (or more correctly she)  pretty young, you don’t need to actually ask the father’s permission. After all, you are not going to let her parents run your lives, are you? You are both adults, and while it would be very nice to have her parent’s blessings, unless he is a union boss or a mob capo, you’re probably safe.

Proposal Protocol Rule Number Five – This is more for after the actual proposal, but you need to lay the groundwork beforehand. If you bring significant assets into the marriage, get a prenuptial agreement. You  certainly don’t have to present her with the document along with the ring, but you should bring up the concept some time before you propose to test the waters. While marriage is meant to be forever, in this day and age that is sadly not always the case.

You need to be prepared for that very unpleasant eventuality, and let her go with just the Mercedes, the condo, and $10K a month. Better to keep the Porsche, the Yacht, and the house in the Hamptons for yourself. It may sound stupid now, when you’re head over heels in love, but hopefully if you had the insight to amass significant assets, you will also be on top of things enough to protect them in case things go sideways in the future.

Proposal Protocol Rule Number Six – This is sort of an extrapolation of rule number one, but make the environment somewhere she is comfortable. For example, if she is uncomfortable with public displays of affection or people focusing all their attention on her, a Yankee Stadium proposal is the wrong choice for you (unless, of course, it is empty). If she is terrified of high places, don’t drag her up do a scenic overlook or high bridge for your proposal, no matter how spectacular the view. Some women may find that setting incredibly romantic, but your girlfriend will just want to get the heck out of there.

Proposal Protocol Rule Number Seven – Select your her engagement ring yourself. After all, if you have her choose it, you’ve pretty much blown the surprise element of the whole  occasion haven’t you? If you’re a bit sly, you can find out what she likes in a ring without having her there when you buy it. It also loses some of it’s romance factor when she picks out her own ring. Discretely find out the kind of ring she likes, then buy it yourself. For some great strategies you can use to save money on the engagement ring for her dreams, see my previous post on how to find affordable engagement rings. Check it out now.

Following these seven protocol rules for proposing can help your proposal and give you both fond memories of it for years.

There is no question that proposing is a time of questions for most men. After all there is a pretty good chance you’ve never done it before. If it is time number two or three, you probably have things all figured out. Here are some of the most common questions guys ask.

What knee do I kneel on when proposing?

As when being knighted, the left knee should be down when you are proposing. Have the right knee up and hold the ring box in your right hand while opening it with the left. If you are left handed, you can make an exception to this rule.

Should I let her pick her own engagement ring?

Yes, you should let her choose her own ring. You should actually find out exactly what she likes first, then buy the ring yourself so that you can make the proposal a surprise. It is a very good idea to discuss marriage before you actually propose to your girlfriend. Part of those discussions can be on the kind of ring she likes. If you are smoother than the guy in the Keystone Light commercials you can find out without letting her know you’ll be buying her the exact same ring anytime soon. See my post on how to save money on engagement rings to find out how you can get her a really nice engagement ring without spending so much money.

Should women propose to men?

Although definitely not the norm, women proposing to men is a growing trend. 63% of Americans in a recent survey agree that women getting down on one knee is more commonplace now than in the past.

Do you need to have a ring to give to her when you propose?

Well, maybe not have to have one, but it is a really good idea. Almost 40% of women surveyed indicated that they though not having a ring to give at proposal time is mistake numero uno a guy can make. I don’t know about you, but avoiding the number one proposal mistake sounds like a good idea to me.

Should I tell anyone before I propose to my girlfriend?

If you are a traditionalist, you should tell her father or parents when you ask for their permission first. Other than that, no, it just adds stress and pressure that you do not really need, and increases the chances that she’ll find out before you actually propose to her, spoiling the surprise. Also, if she thinks you are going to ask her to marry you but for some reason you don’t do it when she thinks you are going to, it can really put a strain on the relationship. If you do ask her father, make sure that he knows not to tell anyone you asked first.

What etiquette rules should you follow when proposing marriage? Check out these 10. Follow them and you'll probably do just fine.

Just what is the proper etiquette for proposing marriage? In the past things were much more formal than they tend to be in this day and age. However, just because we have let marriage traditions slip[ a bit does not mean that you should not be a tad old fashioned and follow some rules of etiquette for marriage today.

They are pretty simple, really. When you are going to propose to your girlfriend, just follow these basic rules and you’ll be fine; from an etiquette, perspective of course. You could still stick your foot in your mouth, but that’s another matter entirely!

Proper Etiquette for Proposing Marriage -

1 – Ask her parents. That is something that isn’t done nearly as much as is was in the past. 50 years ago, few guys would have thought to propose without first asking their future father in law for permission to marry their daughters. Oh, how things change. Just because it isn’t as common doesn’t mean that you should not do it. On the contrary, most parents would still very much appreciate you asking them for permission to marry their little girl (even if she’s now 25).

2 – Get her a real engagement ring, and present it to her when you ask her to marry you. Part of the deal is that you slip a ring on her finger when you ask for her hand in marriage. Sure, she loves you with all her heart, but trust me, she’ll be more than a bit disappointed if you omit the part about the ring from your proposal.Make sure you do enough research to know what kind of ring she wants, and even if she wants to help choose it herself. In most cases you’ll be picking it out, but you should still discretely discover what style of ring and what cut of diamond she wants.

The economy isn’t as strong as it was in years gone by, and you’d probably appreciate how to get more for your dollar, even if you plan on spending quite a bit on her ring, so I did a post on strategies to stretch your engagement ring dollars at how to find an affordable engagement ring.

3 – Plan your proposal out. That’s not exactly proper etiquette, but it will help prevent mistakes, and some of the many disasters that can befall a proposal.

4 – Don’t just “pop” the question. Make sure you have discussed the subject of marriage before you actually propose to your girl. Is it something she is ready for? You don’t want to wait too long, but you don’t want to ask too soon either. It is also a good idea to make sure the two of you want the same basic things out of a life together, such as children. Fundamental differences can make short work of a marriage, so it is best to make sure there are not any before you propose.

5 – Make sure you surprise her when actually proposing. Although you may have discussed the subject of marriage before you propose to her, that doesn’t mean you should discuss it over lunch immediately before you ask her. Talk about it in the months leading up to the time that you actually propose to her, but not that day, or even in the same week.

6 – Make it something she will remember, for all the right reasons. Don’t just ask her while waiting in line at Burger King. There are hundreds of great ways to propose. Do something nice for her, or be adventurous, but make sure you give her a proposal that she’ll love and appreciate for the rest of her life. Put some thought into it.

7 – Get down. Not on the dance floor, although that can be a great evening too. Get down on one knee to propose to her. It is a bit of proposal etiquette that dates to the middle ages, and you should do your part to continue it just a bit longer.

8 – Make it private – Except for a few rare women, most girls would rather it be an intimate occasion, not at Yankee stadium in front of 60,000 people. Don’t get me wrong, the stadium proposal is perfect for some women, just not the majority.

9 – Let me count the ways. When you are delivering your proposal, tell her the reasons you want to marry her. Make sure she knows why you chose her, how much she means to you and why you want to spend the rest of your life with her.

10 – Don’t make it take forever. Yes, there are probably a million reasons you want to marry her, but although you should hit the highlights in your proposal, don’t make it go too long. A minute should be long enough in most cases. Make sure you practice your delivery so that you can get it out under pressure, because have no illusions, you will be under pressure.

If you follow these 10 rules of proper etiquette for proposing marriage, you should do just fine. Remember that there are exceptions for every rule, just use some common sense.