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If you've got a ring hiding in your back pocket and you're waiting to pop the big question, the first thing we want to say is, congratulations! Marriage is a huge step in anyone's life. But that's just the thing, it's a huge step. Which is why, although this is certainly a happy milestone you should be celebrating, before you jump the gun and commit to the big act, there are probably a few things you need to think about first.

The idea of marriage sounds beautiful and perfect, but it's definitely not something you should rush into. Of course, we all want to be happy, but with something as grand and important as choosing the person to spend the rest of your life with, careful thought needs to go into it. So if you're in the stage of figuring out whether proposing is the right call for you, here are three major questions you should be asking yourself before doing the deed.

You're Aligned On The Future

Before settling down with the person of your choice, you have to first make sure, are they ready to settle down the way you want to, too? Though fairy tales and romance movies have exposed us to happy, magical endings that just work out the way everyone wants them to, unfortunately, reality doesn't work that way. In real life, sometimes love isn't enough to make a relationship work!

Because alongside love, there needs to be compatibility. We know you've likely heard this many times before, but that's because there's truth behind these words. You can't exactly start a new life with someone if the two of you are walking on separate paths to begin with! So before you propose you need to make sure of one thing: both you and your partner's future goals are aligned. 

This can be as small as lifestyle preferences to big matters like having kids, moving countries, and more. Every little thing matters when you're talking about spending forever with your loved one, so leave no stone unturned. Before you even talk about marriage and proposing, the two of you both should have had deep and clear discussions about what you want. Only after will you know for certain if marriage is in the picture or not.

They Want Marriage, Too

Just because you want marriage isn't enough to make it happen. If your partner has explicitly told you that he or she isn't interested in getting married, then you have no right to force it on them with a proposal. In fact, doing this might just be the most disrespectful thing you can do to your partner!

Marriage is a choice, and if your partner doesn't want it, you have to respect it. Surprising them with a spontaneous proposal isn't romantic, it'll only sour your relationship and show them that you take their word for granted. Or worse, that you don't listen to them and that you only focus on your own needs and wants. 

So before you do one of the most nerve-wracking acts of your life, which might become a nightmare down the line if you're not careful, you absolutely should wait until you and your partner have openly and comfortably discussed marriage before. You don't want to leave it up to chance! It all goes back to our first point on alignment—both of you should be wanting this before you act. Besides, the entire proposal will feel so much better if you know your partner is enjoying it too.

How You're Proposing Is What They Would Want

Remember, though it is your responsibility to create a beautiful and magical proposal, it's more important that you do something that your partner would actually want. Because while it's a big moment for you, a lot of the magic comes from surprising your partner with this loving moment that they'll remember forever.

So think about how you're choosing to propose for a moment. Are you going all out with a party, doing it in public, or having your friends over to celebrate? Or are you keeping it small and intimate, whether that be right in your own home or in a private area? How you propose matters because if you end up doing something your partner is not comfortable with, it'll become a memorable experience for all the wrong reasons.

It's simple: if they're a more reserved, quiet person, perhaps a more intimate setting would work the best. But if they're someone who's lively, extroverted, and has been waiting their whole life to get proposed to, maybe something along the lines of a Disney proposal would be more fitting. It all depends on your partner and no one knows them better than you. So just choose wisely!