In this part
Before You Plan
The conversations about marriage, money, and the future that come before any of this.
Inside: The proposal should be a surprise. The question never should be.
→ 2.The Budget
Set a number you won't regret, and keep every dollar accounted for.
Inside: The three months of salary rule was invented by a diamond company's ad agency.
→ 3.The Dream Proposal
Decode the proposal they'd want from the clues you've already been given, then choose your five components.
Inside: The 80/20 rule: the structure fits your partner, the heartfelt emotion comes from you.
→What you'll walk away with
You'll have had the honest conversations about marriage, money, and the future, so a yes is never in question. You'll have a number you can spend without regret. And you'll have turned years of small clues into a clear read on the proposal your partner would design for themselves, which is the skeleton the rest of your plan hangs on.
Put it to work
Have the four conversations before you shop for anything. Write your all-in number down before you look at a single ring, and add ten percent for what you'll forget. Then keep a running list of what you notice about your partner's taste in the free app's Ring Studio, where one tap of Decoy Mode hides it if they glance over.