Is Your Boyfriend Going to Propose? 21 Signs & Hints to Get Him to Do It

You have been dating him for a while now, and you are asking yourself, is he going to propose? Here are the signs and how to get him to do it.

is boyfriend going to propose

Most women out there dream about their wedding day from a very young age. We ask, “Is he going to propose?” and, “What are the signs he’s going to propose?” 

We imagine the perfect groom and figure out all the little details we want to include on the big day. As children, we sometimes even act it out.

If you’re in a relationship, it’s a valid thing to wonder. Is he going to propose? We want to know this when we get into a serious relationship with someone, especially because not all guys plan to get married.

This question flits in and out of our minds numerous times when the relationship gets to a point where marriage is a real possibility. [Read: How to propose to your girlfriend in a way she’ll always remember]

Marriage is not something to take lightly

Even if marriage is often romanticized in our society today, it’s not something you should take lightly. 

Marriage is serious business, and once you’re committed to someone, you’re in it for life. With the possible excitement of such a big day, it can be easy to get caught up in whether or not he’ll put a ring on it.

Just remember that you should be worrying about who you’re marrying instead of what the wedding will look like. [Read: 37 sweet, subtle signs he wants to marry you someday]

You should find the person that you want to spend your life with because they will make you happier than anyone else.

So, before you obsess over whether or not he’s going to propose, ask yourself if he’s the kind of man worth marrying.

It’s essential to know if he’s the right man for you before anything else. [Read: Should I marry him? 17 signs that scream a big “YES”!

The truth about marriage

As beautiful as marriage is, it’s not a perfect thing. We all envision that we’ll find genuine happiness and contentment when we find this one person to spend eternity with. 

But marriage takes much more hard work and dedication than anything your relationship has thrown at you so far.

It takes a lot of commitment to make a marriage work, and you’re not just “lucky.” [Read: How to make him want you and think about you more]

Marriages can fail and break, and they can end in divorce and resentment. This is why if you’re constantly asking yourself, “Is he going to propose?” you need first to ask if you’re ready for marriage and if he’s the right man for you. 

Don’t go into marriage expecting your life to be different and to magically get better in every way. Your expectations will differ from reality.

Is he ready for marriage in the first place?

If you don’t want to put any pressure on him but want to understand what he may be thinking, here are a few things to watch out for. [Read: 16 questions to make talking about marriage really easy]

1. Men have to be mentally ready

Your man has to be mentally prepared to propose and move on to the next stage of his life. No one can make up his mind for him, including you. 

It’s a thought that’ll strike him like a bolt of lightning when he least expects it. Just like that, he’ll be ready to get married.

2. Men wait for the right time

Men have a right time for everything in their life. During one of your weekend conversations with him, find out what his goals in life are. [Read: Things to talk about in a perfect relationship]

Once you hear about his dreams, you’ll understand what his priorities are and realize when the right time for him to get married is.

3. He learns from his friends

Men think they can never be manipulated. In reality, they’re constantly manipulated by the people in their lives, discreetly or otherwise. Take a good look at his friends. Are they married? 

Do you know their opinions on marriage? If all of his friends are single, the chances are that he won’t be ready for marriage either. He may love you, but maybe he’s not ready to love you as a wife yet. [Read: Reasons why your boyfriend hasn’t proposed yet]

Signs he is going to propose

If you’re at the point where you think he might pop the question, we’re assuming you’ve already discussed marriage. You know exactly how he feels about it and if he would even want to marry you.

That’s the easy part. The rest is really just a waiting game. 

If you think he’s getting close to popping the question, pay close attention. These are all the signs that he’s about to get down on one knee. [Read: How to get him to propose by reading his mind]

1. He’s been talking about marriage more frequently

Has your man been eager to talk about wedding-related topics lately? Is he actually letting you watch those crazy wedding shows with no arguments? He might be gearing up to pop the question.

When a man is ready to marry you, he won’t shy away from wedding conversations or doing things related to the wedding. If he’s talking about it more lately, that’s one of the signs that he’s going to propose. [Read: 20 questions to ask each other before getting married]

2. He’s been discussing kids with you

This only applies if both of you want kids.  

Why would he even bring up the topic of children if he’s not thinking about proposing, right? If it’s becoming frequent, this is your answer to, “Is he going to propose?” [Read: How to know if you’re both ready to have a baby]

3. He brought up your living situations

If your man is discussing moving in together or anything else about where you’ll be living in the future, it means he sees you two living together. [Read: 15 things to know before moving in with your boyfriend]

4. He’s been AWOL recently

Does he just wander out without a coherent response? If he’s being shady about his whereabouts, he could be scoping out different rings. Don’t jump to negative conclusions and assume he’s cheating!

Maybe he just wants to plan the perfect proposal for you to ensure he gets the perfect “yes” out of you! For all you know, he’s just waiting for the right moment to do it. [Read: 20 veiled signs your boyfriend is cheating on you already]

5. He planned a date night for the two of you as a surprise

Does he have a really special date night planned for the two of you? If so, it could be the night he’s going to propose. Be prepared, and do your nails up really pretty!

It could just be a regular date, but you never know! Especially if he takes you somewhere grand, this could be the proposal you’ve been waiting for. [Read: 33 awesome date ideas every couple should try]

6. He hasn’t been spending as much lately

Let’s be real, rings and weddings are NOT cheap. 

If your boyfriend is planning to propose in the near future, he’ll be frugal. He won’t spend a lot of money going out or buying anything big or expensive. 

After all, an engagement ring is pretty expensive, and he’ll want to wow you with that ring during his proposal! [Read: How much should a guy spend on an engagement ring to make his woman happy?]

7. He’s been meeting with your parents/friends

This is one of the biggest signs he’s about to propose. If your man is meeting with your parents and friends behind your back, it’s for a reason. It might be because he wants to find the perfect ring for you!

If he’s meeting with your parents, he could also be asking for permission to marry you. [Read: How to tell if he’s serious about you]

8. He’s just been acting odd in general

When guys are trying to hide something, they’ll act strangely. You’ll be able to tell that something is off. 

So, if you’re thinking, “Is he going to propose?” and he’s been acting odder than usual, there’s your answer. Of course, this could be due to anything, so just make sure to pair it with these other signs he’s going to propose!

9. He’s been shielding his phone and computer screen from you

I know we ladies tend to think of bad things when our men do this but don’t. If you’re far enough into your relationship that marriage is on the table, this could be a sign that he’s searching for a ring and doesn’t want you to see it. [Read: How men really fall in love]

10. He’s been acting nervous

No matter how many years you’ve been together, he’ll probably act nervous about proposing. That’s completely okay, maybe even adorable! That being said, this nervousness will definitely show.

He might be practicing the words of his grand proposal to you, so let him be nervous! [Read: 27 subtle signs he wants to marry you and spend your lives together]

11. He’s been extra

Obviously, marriage is a confession of your love. If your boyfriend has been extra touchy-feely and giving you a lot more attention than usual, he could be buttering you up for a proposal.

It’s either in his nature to be this affectionate, or he’s working his way toward a proposal. Pay attention to how touchy he is when asking if he’s going to propose. [Read: 20 questions to ask your partner before you get married]

12. He’s been extra kind and generous

Is he just being very kind and sweet in general? This is also a way to get you feeling good before the proposal. 

Maybe he’s more accommodating to your needs lately or giving you special attention and care. It might be his way of getting ready to propose to you!

13. Your friends and family are acting strange, too

The truth is, unless you keep your personal life very private from them, your friends and family will know about the proposal before you do. Therefore, they’ll act weird around you. [Read: 25 relationship rules for successful love]

If you’ve been thinking, “Is he going to propose?” observe your loved ones! They may drop little hints or just turn to each other and giggle.

14. He starts discussing vacation destinations

Is he someone who makes all the travel plans for the two of you? If he’s paying more attention to a vacation spot and all the sights in it, there’s a good chance he’s gearing up for a vacation proposal. 

He wants to get an idea as to how much the trip will be and where you’d like to go. If he’s not the type to want vacations, this definitely might be a sign he’s about to propose! [Read: Undeniable signs he wants to spend forever with you]

15. He starts telling you more about how much he loves you

If he starts professing his love to you and making it very obvious that he loves you a lot, he might be getting ready to propose. It doesn’t get any more evident than this.

16. He’s suddenly interested in your jewelry

If your boyfriend is suddenly asking about your jewelry pieces when he wasn’t interested before, he’s thinking of proposing to you. [Read: He popped the question with an ugly engagement ring – what to do]

We’re going to be honest with you – men aren’t really that interested in your jewelry. Ever. If he has a proposal in mind, he’d want to know what kind you like, your size, or the sorts of rings you tend to get.

17. He wants to open a joint account

The only reason he would be asking this is that he sees a future with you. If you keep asking, “Is he going to propose soon?” the answer to that might be clearer than you think.

When your finances are joint, you’d better prepare for an engagement and a romantic speech sometime soon! [Read: How to talk about money with your partner without fighting about it]

18. He shows signs of commitment

If he’s showing his dedication and commitment to the relationship more than usual, this could be a sign he’s about to propose. Maybe he’s talking about the future or telling you that he sees you in his long-term plans.

Maybe that’s him subtly showing hints that he’s about to drop a proposal sometime soon! After all, he does see a future with you. [Read: What is a commitment in a relationship & how to know if you have it]

19. He wants to know your plans

When your boyfriend wants to know your plans more than usual, he’s trying to find the perfect time to propose to you when you don’t have plans with your friends, work, or parties to attend. 

20. He gets excited about attending weddings

Maybe your best friend invited both of you to her wedding, and you notice that he’s more excited and even sappier than usual. [Read: 25 obvious signs you’re high on wedding fever]

This is one of the that he’s about to propose, and he’s getting some inspiration for your own wedding!

21. You found a ring

The fact you found a ring means you probably ruined his surprise for your proposal! Put it back and pretend you didn’t see anything! 

If you still have doubts after this point, then we don’t know what else to say. It’s clear that he’s just waiting for the perfect time to propose! [Read: How much you should spend on an engagement ring to make her happy]

So, is he going to propose?

You need to be pretty observant to know for sure if your boyfriend is planning to propose anytime soon. But remember, not all guys have marriage in mind, so you might want to rethink everything if he’s not showing any of these signs he’s going to propose.

And if you don’t see any of these signs, you might want to know how to get your boyfriend to propose. So, let’s take a look at some things you can do. [Read: 20 really romantic ideas to pull off the most memorable proposal ever]

How to get your boyfriend to propose

You want to know how to get your boyfriend to propose. What should you do? Here are 10 great tips to help him get the message and take the plunge!

1. Be cool! 

There is nothing that is going to make a guy put off proposing more than if he feels that he’s being backed into a corner. This might make him run the other way.

You might be desperate to get married, but you have to understand that this is a huge and life-changing decision for him. If he feels totally pressured into it, it’s going to be hard for him to take the plunge. [Read: Signs he wants to marry and spend his life with you]

2. Tell him

While keeping your cool is important, you still need to make sure he knows that you want to actually get married in the first place. If you overdo the cool and casual approach, he will have no idea that you want to get married and might not have the motivation he needs to pop the question.

If you have been going out for a while, you’ve probably already had a conversation about the future. [Read: Reasons why he hasn’t asked you to marry him just yet]

If marriage hasn’t been specifically talked about, let him know what your thoughts are in a mature and sensible way. At least he’ll know where your head is at.

3. Don’t compare yourself to others

Just because all your friends got married two years ago doesn’t mean that it’s your turn.

Every relationship is different, and some people take a little longer to settle down than others. [Read: I’m not good enough – how to bring yourself up when you feel low]

If you keep pointing out how everyone else around you is married, he will feel as though you are just whining at him, which will make him want to do it even less! 

This is a really important tip for how to get your boyfriend to propose.

4. Don’t give him a choice

This might sound a little sneaky, but by offering him options, you are giving him a “get out” clause. He can choose not to get married just yet if he feels like the time isn’t right. [Read: Men women want to date vs Men women want to marry]

Don’t make it too open-ended. Saying something like, “Do you think we’ll get married in the next 2 years?” is better because it gives him a timeframe to think about.

5. Make him feel like he couldn’t live without you

If you want to know how to get your boyfriend to propose, know that he’s only going to do it if he really believes that you are “the one.” 

Getting him to see that takes time! You need him to feel like he’d be completely heartbroken if he ever lost you. [Read: 15 classy ways to make a guy go crazy over you]

Make sure that he understands and appreciates everything that you do for him. 

If you can make him realize that he is so lucky to have you, it will only heighten his desire to get your relationship locked down sooner rather than later!

6. Share everything with him

The closer he feels to you, the more likely he is to want to marry you. [Read: How to be emotionally available – 17 ways to open up to love and life]

If he feels as though you are the person he can trust the most in the world and someone that he can completely be himself with, he will surely want to spend the rest of his life with you.

7. Hang out with married couples

Seeing your friends who are happily married and still having fun will show him that marriage is nothing to be frightened of, and it’ll make him more ready to make that commitment to you, too.

He might be worried that getting engaged and married will eventually change your relationship, and that might be scary for him. [Read: 20 reasons to get married and live happily ever after]

Seeing how your married friends are exactly the same will help put his mind at ease, and it’s another great tip for how to get your boyfriend to propose. 

If your married friends are willing to give you a helping hand by talking about how wonderful married life is, that probably won’t go down too badly either!

8. Build it up slowly

Don’t go from zero to one hundred. Take things slowly, and build up to the point where marriage is the next obvious step to take. Move in together to see how that goes first. 

Then, if you’re both animal lovers, why not get a pet and see how you get on with that?

Moving your relationship forward in steps like this will make it a much easier transition when the time comes for him to wrap his head around the idea of proposing to you.

If you’re still in the dating stage, you might have your work cut out for you. But don’t worry! You’ll get there eventually! [Read: Happily ever after – the psychological benefits of marriage and commitment]

9. Be more independent

Having your own life outside of your relationship is healthy, regardless of whether or not you’re thinking about getting married! 

However, showing him that you are an independent woman and giving him the freedom to have his own life and enjoy things without you will show him that you trust him and are willing to set him free.

Doing that will only strengthen your relationship and make him feel more ready to take that plunge and make that lifelong commitment to you. [Read: How to get a man to marry you – steps to get that sparkler]

10. Have your own friends of both sexes

Always make him feel secure, but drop a few hints about all the other guys who are vying for your attention. Guys have a tendency to take things for granted easily. 

By letting him know that there are a hundred other guys who would be happy to take his place, you’re letting him know that, as much as you love and care for him, you’re not a pushover. 

A guy will realize your value only when he feels like you’re a prize that’s being fought over. [Read: How to make sure he doesn’t get jealous]

11. Be the perfect girlfriend

You and your man get on great. You have loads of fun together. Your sex life is awesome, and you feel like you can tell him anything. But take a minute and think about what more you can do.

Making him feel wanted, secure, and special is what it is all about. You probably know him better than anyone. You know what he loves, what he hates, and what is going to make him think you are even more amazing.

Do everything and more to be the perfect woman for your man. Show him that you’re all he needs, and he’ll start thinking about making that forever commitment sooner than you think. [Read: How to be the best girlfriend – 25 ways to leave him addicted]

12. Take care of him

If a man feels as though he can’t live without you, he’s going to want to lock that down as soon as possible.

Take care of him and make him rely on you for certain things, whether it’s silly stuff like doing his laundry or just being there to support him. 

Having you by his side through life suddenly becomes seriously important and something he couldn’t bear to be without. [Read: How to be the perfect girlfriend]

13. Be his biggest fan

Be your man’s personal cheerleader. Whatever he wants to do, whatever his passions are, however crazy his ideas may seem, be there to tell him how awesome he is, and encourage him every step of the way.

When he realizes that the reason he got to where he is now is that you were there encouraging him and never letting him give up, he is going to want to make sure you know how special you are to him.

14. Treat him

Men sometimes get tired of being the ones who have to take the girls out. Surprise him with a thoughtful day out doing all the things he loves to do. [Read: How to be a better girlfriend – 30 relationship changers]

Taking him out to romantic places, wining and dining him, and showing him how wonderful romance can be will get him all loved up. With romance on his mind, he might be moved to pop the question!

15. Be honest about what you want

Most guys are not mind readers. Sometimes, you can let a relationship go on for years, constantly fretting about why he hasn’t proposed. Chances are that he isn’t at all against the idea, but it simply hasn’t occurred to him yet!

If you have an honest conversation with your man, make it obvious how much you love him, and let him know where you see the relationship heading, he might be prompted to do something about it. [Read: How to get through the most common commitment issues]

Even if he is a little unsure about marriage, at least you planted the idea in his head. If he has any concerns about it, you can talk through them together.

16. Don’t become too comfortable

Getting too comfortable can be disastrous for relationships, particularly if you want your man to take things to the next level. 

It’s so easy to get used to the way things are, fall into a routine, and get lazy. Make sure you have your own life, your own interests, and your own friends. [Read: Signs you’re getting too comfortable with each other]

There is nothing more attractive than an independent woman. Make him realize that you have your own thing going on and your own life outside of the relationship. 

He’ll soon see how easy it could be for you to walk away and will want to make sure it won’t happen!

17. Don’t frighten him

Scaring a guy into a marriage proposal is definitely not the way forward. It’s fine to talk about it and state your case. [Read: Is he afraid of commitment? 30 signs he’s scared of a real relationship]

If you constantly pressure a guy into it, always bring it up, or get teary every time you walk past a bridal store, it’s going to wear pretty thin pretty fast and probably scare him off.

Going into too much detail about your fantasy wedding when he hasn’t even proposed is probably going to freak him out as well. 

Suddenly, instead of thinking about the beautiful commitment you’ll make to one another, he’ll just be thinking about his woeful bank balance at the end of it all. [Read: How to get him to propose by reading his mind]

18. Show why you’ll make a fantastic wife

When a guy decides that you are ‘the one,’ it’s because he imagines spending the rest of his life with you.

If you want him to put a ring on your finger, show him you’ll make an amazing wife. Be caring, loving, loyal, and sweet. He’ll soon see there is no other woman he could possibly want to be with.

19. Step back

If it’s been a while and you’ve tried all the above, the last thing to try is to hold back a little. Giving your man a little space to think and breathe is not a bad thing. [Read: How to be independent even if you’re in a relationship]

You don’t have to do anything drastic. By cooling off a little, he’ll suddenly feel your absence and realize that life without you just isn’t worth living!

He’ll realize that he’s miserable without you and want you more than ever!

20. Propose to him

Sometimes, being blunt is best. If you’re tired of waiting, why not just take matters into your own hands and propose to him? [Read: 20 tips to make your man extremely happy]

You never know! Not only can you make sure that the proposal is exactly as romantic and amazing as you want it to be, but taking all the pressure and hassle away from him might be exactly what he was hoping for!

Things you need to remember about getting your boyfriend to propose

If you’re wondering how to get him to propose to you soon, here are a few things you need to remember. After all, you are an individual and not just his arm candy.

1. Your boyfriend doesn’t own you or control you

He is no one to make you feel ecstatic or down in the dumps by the way he behaves. If you really want him to propose to you, tell him straight that you’d like for the relationship to take the next step. [Read: How to think like a man and impress your guy]

You’re both equal partners in the relationship, after all. You definitely have a right to your own happiness.

2. He may be using you

Your boyfriend may have unrealistic expectations. Is he really happy with you, or could he just be using you to bide his time? [Read: What is the right age to get married?]

If he gets upset while talking about the future of the relationship, think twice about whether or not you should stay in love with him.

3. Listen to his explanation

Don’t argue with each other. Instead, try to understand each other’s perspective. Your man may have his reasons for putting the talk of marriage on hold. 

Understand his perspectives and voice your concerns. If true love exists, it will triumph without any hitches.

4. Don’t change yourself

Don’t withhold something just to punish him. You’d be behaving like a child. Do you want him to propose to you happily, or do you want to twist his arm, gag him, and shove marital bliss down his throat? [Read: 30 sexy tips to keep a guy interested in you]

5. Avoid giving ultimatums

It’ll never work. On the contrary, it might just backfire and force him to harden his stance on not getting married yet.

6. Don’t panic

It’ll happen when it happens. If he feels like he’s ready to propose to you, he will.

7. Tell him how you feel

If you can’t stop panicking, tell your boyfriend how you really feel. Tell him that you’re really happy with him and your life together but are afraid of the future because you have no idea what could happen. [Read: How to talk about your feelings in a relationship and grow closer]

Additionally, tell him that your life seems too good to be true, like a happy bubble that may burst anytime. If he has any sense, he’ll know it’s time for him to give you some assurance.

8. The last resort

Don’t hide your emotions or play with words. Tell him exactly how you feel. Tell him you feel that the relationship is not moving forward. 

No guy who really loves you would make you feel like you’re hanging on by a thread all the time. If he really does love you, he won’t be upset to hear that. Instead, he’ll say something that makes you feel better.

9. If he gets upset

If he retaliates, it means that he’s just not ready to commit, no matter what you or anyone else says. A guy may truly love you, but he may not be interested in marriage. 

Can you deal with that? If you can’t handle that and are really serious about getting married soon, it’s probably time to ask yourself if you’re with the right guy. [Read: Signs of a nice but controlling boyfriend]

10. Accept his decision

At the end of the day, you can’t force someone to marry you! If he isn’t ready to commit, you have to deal with his decision. There isn’t a whole lot you can do about it. Don’t have a tantrum or get too upset.

It might be that he just needs a little more time to get his head around the whole idea. In the meantime, if the relationship is worth waiting for, you’ll know. 

If it isn’t, maybe it is time to say goodbye and find someone who does want to offer you that kind of commitment!

[Read: Signs he wants to marry and spend his life with you]

Is he going to propose or not? If he’s showing most of the signs that he’s going to propose, it’s a definite yes! You can now squeal with joy and excitement because it’s going to happen soon!

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Carol Morgan LP
Dr. Carol Morgan
Dr. Carol Morgan has a Ph.D. in communication and is a professor at Wright State University where she loves corrupting young minds. As a relationship and succes...