If you’ve found “the one” and are ready to tie the knot, you might be worrying about how you’re going to pop the question. Should you aim for a grand gesture, or a more intimate, sentimental moment? How can you create a special memory to live in both of your hearts forever?

The questions are endless, and so is the pressure that accompanies them. Fortunately, there are many tips and tricks to help ease the stress and allow you to focus on what matters most as you plan this important moment in your life.

1. Personalize the proposal to your partner

You know your future fiance best, which means you already have everything you need to plan a proposal perfect for them. In every decision you make as you prepare for this special moment, make sure you consider their preferences and personality type. Ask yourself if they’d enjoy attention from a large crowd, or if they’d rather experience this moment in private or with friends and family. Consider if there’s a date special to the two of you on which you should propose.

Think about your relationship and history together and decide which location would be most meaningful for you and your partner to make this commitment to one another. It’s easy to get lost in so many different proposal ideas, but remember that no one is more equipped to make these decisions than you. Consider places that hold sentimental value, such as where you went on your first date or a memorable vacation spot that signifies a milestone in your relationship. Unique proposal locations can often reflect shared experiences or dreams you both hold dear, making the moment even more personal and unforgettable. Ultimately, the perfect setting is one where you both feel connected and ready to take the next step in your journey together.

2. Recruit friends and family for help ring shopping

If you’re feeling lost at any step in the process, think about asking for advice from your partner’s family and friends. When confronted with an abundance of engagement ring options, for example, it might be helpful to get another opinion from someone else who knows your partner well.

Maybe they’ve already told their best friend about the type of ring they’d want, so you’d be in luck and able to not only narrow your search but also get your engagement ring customized. But even if your future fiance hasn’t explicitly discussed their proposal preferences with their close friends and family, it’s still useful to run ideas by them and make sure whatever you have in store aligns with their taste and personality.

3. Figure out the logistics

One of the most challenging parts of planning a proposal is figuring out how to execute it perfectly. It’s important to do the logistical legwork before the big day so that when it comes time to propose, you don’t have to think about anything other than creating a special moment with your fiance-to-be.

On the day you plan to propose, make sure your partner is available so that time conflicts don’t get in the way of your big plans. If your plans involve friends or family, make sure they’re available at the times you would need them to be. Make sure to coordinate with everyone who would need to be involved, which differs based on what your proposal is going to look like.

If you’re proposing at a restaurant, for example, it might be worth letting someone on staff know your plans so that everything runs smoothly. If your proposal is outside and requires good weather, make sure to look ahead at the forecast and adjust accordingly.

Figuring out the more technical details of your proposal may not be the most romantic component of the experience, but it’s necessary to make sure you are able to have the special moment you envisioned.

4. Don’t forget to capture the moment

It’s easy to get so caught up in planning the perfect proposal that you might forget how much you’ll both want photos of this special moment. Depending on your budget, the nature of your proposal, and the other people involved, there are so many ways to go about documenting this special moment.

If you’ll have friends or family members present as you pop the question, you might want to assign someone the role of capturing the proposal on camera. If your proposal is especially private, you might want to set up a camera yourself or even hire a photographer. Either way, both of you will want to remember this day and moment forever, so make sure to come up with a plan for a few strong shots without taking away from the intimate nature of the moment.

5. Create a plan for after the moment

Once your fiance accepts your proposal and you’ve had the sweet moment of your dreams, you are both going to be ready to celebrate. What this celebration looks like is entirely up to you. Will you party with friends, go on a romantic walk on the beach, or head out for a celebratory meal?

These plans all depend on the time of day and location of your original proposal, but anything you choose to do together after will be incredibly romantic since it is following such an important moment in both of your lives. Celebrating is the easy part!

No matter how overwhelming it may seem, planning a proposal is an incredibly thoughtful process and the perfect way to show your fiance-to-be how much you love and appreciate them. With these simple tips, your day will run smoothly and be everything you dreamt it would be.