Whether the weather outside is frightful (or your city is facing a pandemic-related shutdown order), there can be many benefits to arranging a marriage proposal at home.

Not only does propose at home give you total control over the details, but it also cuts down on the possibility of mishaps. Nobody is going to get lost, forget the ring, or bring a half-charged phone to an at-home proposal. From the lighting to the layout, you can make your big moment everything you imagine. Here’s how:

Decorate Your Home With Mementos and Photographs

When your partner is out of the house, decorate your home with pictures and mementos. In addition to favorite photographs of you two, this might include the menu from your favorite date night restaurant, tickets from a concert you attended together, and birthday cards you’ve sent one another. You could even dedicate different rooms to different themes or times in the relationship (i.e. college, first apartment, etc). In the last room, set up a table with the ring box, flowers, candles, or anything you like and guide your partner there. They’ll be surprised—and impressed.

Photo Credit // Unsplash

Make a Home Video

If you have any tech skills, consider creating a simple home video with footage from your time as a couple. You can suggest a night of staying in and watching a movie, and then play your proposal video as a surprise. The right video doesn’t have to be complicated or fancy—you can simply narrate the video by explaining how and why you fell in love, the first time you knew you wanted to get married, and other sweet memories. When it’s over, be prepared with the ring, and some heartfelt words. And don’t forget to have a plan for afterward—even if it’s just dinner at home. You want the romance to linger.

Hire Musicians to Serenade You

The home proposal idea doesn’t have to be just the two of you. Through several sites, you can hire a small quartet to come and serenade you and your partner outside your window. Pick a favorite tune or genre of music that you both love, and when your partner hears the strains of live music and asks what’s going on, you can propose marriage. Then, dance the night away to your private band.

Use the Yard

If you have outdoor space, now is the time to use it. You can plan a surprising maze that ends in the discovery of the ring box, or set up a small outdoor dining table scattered with flowers and candles. You can also set up a maze through your home leading to the yard where you’ll have “Will You Marry Me” spelled out dramatically.

Photo Credit // Unsplash

Recreate a Memorable Meal

Food can be an important source of joy for many couples. For a lovely at-home proposal idea, recreate a meal that’s important to you both. Maybe it’s the delicious porcini mushroom risotto from your first trip abroad or the seared steaks one of you taught the other how to cook. Or, maybe it’s the meal you cooked on your first date. The memorable meal can also just be an elaborate, indulgent affair that sets the mood for the big question.

Consider Using Family, Friends, Pets, or Others

A wedding proposal at home can be particularly intimate and romantic, but that doesn’t mean everyone else is cut out of the picture. Consider planning a surprise party that consists of family or friends, or using a beloved pet to stage your special moment. You can hide a ring in the pet’s collar or tie a note around their neck. If you do plan a maze, you can have friends stashed in each room with the clue, making each stage another surprise discovery of someone you both love, as well. Get creative.

Don’t Forget These Three Things

Think seasonally. If it’s going to be sweltering or freezing, skip the outdoors. Nobody wants to wander through an intricate maze of clues in the frigid winds.

Make sure your home is neat and clean. Think about hiring a cleaner to come beforehand to give your home that extra special sparkle. And if the proposal is messy (with confetti, balloons, or anything else) make sure you have a quick plan for cleanup.

• If you want pictures or a video, set up a camera in advance and make sure to test the angles.

No matter how you approach your wedding proposal at home, it's sure to be special for both you and your SO. All you need to do is think of an engagement proposal that will make them feel special and make your big moment unforgettable.