You’ve got the engagement ring, you’ve planned the perfect day, and now it’s time to get down on one knee and propose to the love of your life! Proposing is a big deal as you make the promise of spending the rest of your life with someone, so you’ll no doubt be feeling all the nerves.
One thing that many struggle with when proposing, is where to hide the ring before the event. Of course, you wouldn’t want your partner to see or feel the ring box concealed in your pocket just moments before. So, how can you carry it and keep it a secret until the proposal? Well, we’ve got the best tips to ensure the ring stays hidden and how to hide the ring when you’re travelling too.
1. Wear Loose Clothing
If you’re heading out for the day and planning to propose in a romantic, meaningful location, hiding a bulky ring box will be tricky. The last thing you want is it to be bulging out of your pocket and your partner questioning it.
We’d recommend wearing loose-fitting clothing, like a loose jacket or trousers with larger pockets. If you’re proposing in the winter, wearing bulky outerwear will add an extra layer to cover the ring. However, make sure whatever you’re wearing is comfortable, if you’re adjusting the ring in your pocket, your partner may notice.
2. Have Someone Else Carry It
If you’re comfortable with someone else being there with you during the proposal, a very close friend or a sibling, for example, have them hold onto the ring for you until you need it. This would work especially well if you’re planning on going for a walk through a beautiful park or woodlands, or if you’re at a party or event and planning to pop the question.
Have your confidant slip you the ring just before you ask that all-important question for a smooth transition. During the proposal, they can also help to capture the moment for you!
3. Use a Prop
Depending on when and where you’re going to propose, you can easily make use of a prop to hide the ring. If you’re taking your partner on a romantic picnic, hide the ring in the picnic basket or an empty, solid-coloured travel mug. Going on a hike? Place the ring securely in your backpack. Heading to the beach? Carefully wrap the ring up in a towel.
There are plenty of props and places you can use to hide the ring, and this can be a very effective solution if your partner is used to you carrying things like backpacks, camera bags or gym bags. If you don’t normally carry these things though, or if it doesn’t make sense to carry something to where you’re going, don’t risk raising suspicion.
4. Ditch the Ring Box
Unless you’re proposing with a 20-carat ring, chances are, the ring box will be the bulkiest part that takes up all the space. If possible, we’d suggest ditching the ring box and simply carrying the ring in your pocket.
Of course, carrying the ring on its own can be a little risky, and you may worry about it falling out or getting lost. But, if you’re planning on proposing early in the day/evening, or you have a pocket with a zip and are confident you can carry it safely, this will be an easy solution.
5. Hide the Ring Securely On-Site
If you’ve hired exclusive access to a venue for your proposal, such as a private garden, historical building or restaurant, you may be able to sneak in early, with the help of the staff, to hide the ring on-site. This way, you won’t need to worry about carrying it around during the day, making it more of a surprise when you go to the hiding spot to retrieve it.
However, make sure you definitely have exclusive access to the venue and that no other couple or customers will be entering beforehand so you can be sure the ring is safe. Also, hide in a place that you’ll remember as you don’t want to be searching around during your romantic speech.
How to Hide an Engagement Ring When Travelling
If you’re taking your partner away to propose on holiday and are worried about how to hide the engagement ring while travelling and how to get it past security without raising suspicion, here are our top tips and tricks to help.
1. Keep the Ring in Hand Luggage
Make sure you keep the ring in your hand luggage, which will be with you at all times. We’ve all heard the horror stories of larger suitcases not making it on the plane or getting lost for whatever reason, so don’t take the risk when you have such a high-value, sentimental item as it could ruin the proposal.
You’ll also want to leave the ring in the hand luggage rather than your pocket as it could set off the metal detectors when you walk through security and you don’t want to be left explaining why you have metal in your pocket. Hand luggage is the safest and most secure place to keep the ring.
2. Leave the Ring in the Box
When travelling, we recommend leaving the ring in its box. A loose ring in your suitcase can easily get lost in the nooks and crannies - especially since your suitcase will be jostled and moved around during the flight. And, you don’t want to be worrying or turning your entire suitcase upside down while on holiday to find it.
Having the ring in its box will also help protect it from getting damaged while in your suitcase. While it’s pretty much impossible to damage a diamond, unless it somehow gets scratched by another diamond, if it gets based during transport, you may end up with a misshapen ring.
3. Write and Attach a Note for Security
Random searches at airport security can happen, and if a guard needs to open your hand luggage to see inside, you don’t want them to pull out the ring for your partner to see. So, we’d suggest taking extra precautions and attaching a short note to the ring box, letting security know that you are carrying an engagement ring and need it to stay secret from your partner.
This method isn’t fool-proof but may be worth the extra effort, just in case. Hopefully, the security guard will be kind enough to keep the search discreet, and your partner will be none the wiser.
4. Enter a Different Security Queue
If you can, try to enter a different security queue to your partner, rather than standing next to them as you place your hand luggage or any items in your pockets on the trays. This will help to reduce the chance of them noticing anything suspicious or even seeing the ring if you get stopped and searched randomly.
5. Follow all the Airport Rules
Lastly, to get through security as quickly as possible and minimise the chance of being searched, make sure you follow all of the airport rules. Keep any liquids under 100ml in a clear pouch, don’t take any sharp objects like razors or tweezers, or any undeclared food either, and you should be able to breeze through the security lines with no problems.
As soon as you’ve passed security, relax in the knowledge that your ring is safe and your partner has no idea of your grand proposal plans!
Need some extra inspiration on how to pop the question? Take a look at our proposal ideas that involve your closest friends and family too.
Also, learn when the best time to buy an engagement ring and then the wedding ring is, so you can be completely prepared.
You’ve got the engagement ring, you’ve planned the perfect day, and now it’s time to get down on one knee and propose to the love of your life! Proposing is a big deal as you make the promise of spending the rest of your life with someone, so you’ll no doubt be feeling all the nerves.
One thing that many struggle with when proposing, is where to hide the ring before the event. Of course, you wouldn’t want your partner to see or feel the ring box concealed in your pocket just moments before. So, how can you carry it and keep it a secret until the proposal? Well, we’ve got the best tips to ensure the ring stays hidden and how to hide the ring when you’re travelling too.
1. Wear Loose Clothing
If you’re heading out for the day and planning to propose in a romantic, meaningful location, hiding a bulky ring box will be tricky. The last thing you want is it to be bulging out of your pocket and your partner questioning it.
We’d recommend wearing loose-fitting clothing, like a loose jacket or trousers with larger pockets. If you’re proposing in the winter, wearing bulky outerwear will add an extra layer to cover the ring. However, make sure whatever you’re wearing is comfortable, if you’re adjusting the ring in your pocket, your partner may notice.
2. Have Someone Else Carry It
If you’re comfortable with someone else being there with you during the proposal, a very close friend or a sibling, for example, have them hold onto the ring for you until you need it. This would work especially well if you’re planning on going for a walk through a beautiful park or woodlands, or if you’re at a party or event and planning to pop the question.
Have your confidant slip you the ring just before you ask that all-important question for a smooth transition. During the proposal, they can also help to capture the moment for you!
3. Use a Prop
Depending on when and where you’re going to propose, you can easily make use of a prop to hide the ring. If you’re taking your partner on a romantic picnic, hide the ring in the picnic basket or an empty, solid-coloured travel mug. Going on a hike? Place the ring securely in your backpack. Heading to the beach? Carefully wrap the ring up in a towel.
There are plenty of props and places you can use to hide the ring, and this can be a very effective solution if your partner is used to you carrying things like backpacks, camera bags or gym bags. If you don’t normally carry these things though, or if it doesn’t make sense to carry something to where you’re going, don’t risk raising suspicion.
4. Ditch the Ring Box
Unless you’re proposing with a 20-carat ring, chances are, the ring box will be the bulkiest part that takes up all the space. If possible, we’d suggest ditching the ring box and simply carrying the ring in your pocket.
Of course, carrying the ring on its own can be a little risky, and you may worry about it falling out or getting lost. But, if you’re planning on proposing early in the day/evening, or you have a pocket with a zip and are confident you can carry it safely, this will be an easy solution.
5. Hide the Ring Securely On-Site
If you’ve hired exclusive access to a venue for your proposal, such as a private garden, historical building or restaurant, you may be able to sneak in early, with the help of the staff, to hide the ring on-site. This way, you won’t need to worry about carrying it around during the day, making it more of a surprise when you go to the hiding spot to retrieve it.
However, make sure you definitely have exclusive access to the venue and that no other couple or customers will be entering beforehand so you can be sure the ring is safe. Also, hide in a place that you’ll remember as you don’t want to be searching around during your romantic speech.
How to Hide an Engagement Ring When Travelling
If you’re taking your partner away to propose on holiday and are worried about how to hide the engagement ring while travelling and how to get it past security without raising suspicion, here are our top tips and tricks to help.
1. Keep the Ring in Hand Luggage
Make sure you keep the ring in your hand luggage, which will be with you at all times. We’ve all heard the horror stories of larger suitcases not making it on the plane or getting lost for whatever reason, so don’t take the risk when you have such a high-value, sentimental item as it could ruin the proposal.
You’ll also want to leave the ring in the hand luggage rather than your pocket as it could set off the metal detectors when you walk through security and you don’t want to be left explaining why you have metal in your pocket. Hand luggage is the safest and most secure place to keep the ring.
2. Leave the Ring in the Box
When travelling, we recommend leaving the ring in its box. A loose ring in your suitcase can easily get lost in the nooks and crannies - especially since your suitcase will be jostled and moved around during the flight. And, you don’t want to be worrying or turning your entire suitcase upside down while on holiday to find it.
Having the ring in its box will also help protect it from getting damaged while in your suitcase. While it’s pretty much impossible to damage a diamond, unless it somehow gets scratched by another diamond, if it gets based during transport, you may end up with a misshapen ring.
3. Write and Attach a Note for Security
Random searches at airport security can happen, and if a guard needs to open your hand luggage to see inside, you don’t want them to pull out the ring for your partner to see. So, we’d suggest taking extra precautions and attaching a short note to the ring box, letting security know that you are carrying an engagement ring and need it to stay secret from your partner.
This method isn’t fool-proof but may be worth the extra effort, just in case. Hopefully, the security guard will be kind enough to keep the search discreet, and your partner will be none the wiser.
4. Enter a Different Security Queue
If you can, try to enter a different security queue to your partner, rather than standing next to them as you place your hand luggage or any items in your pockets on the trays. This will help to reduce the chance of them noticing anything suspicious or even seeing the ring if you get stopped and searched randomly.
5. Follow all the Airport Rules
Lastly, to get through security as quickly as possible and minimise the chance of being searched, make sure you follow all of the airport rules. Keep any liquids under 100ml in a clear pouch, don’t take any sharp objects like razors or tweezers, or any undeclared food either, and you should be able to breeze through the security lines with no problems.
As soon as you’ve passed security, relax in the knowledge that your ring is safe and your partner has no idea of your grand proposal plans!
Need some extra inspiration on how to pop the question? Take a look at our proposal ideas that involve your closest friends and family too.
Also, learn when the best time to buy an engagement ring and then the wedding ring is, so you can be completely prepared.