My girlfriend and I have been together for a long enough time that it isn’t a matter of if we get married, it’s a matter of when. Still, she has made it very clear that I still need to formally propose, and she means formally: nice diamond engagement ring, permission from her father, down on one knee, the works. Luckily, I already planned on that, and even more luckily, I have been setting the stage for the last couple of years without really knowing it. Vintage Collection by True Romance The first year we celebrated Valentine’s Day, we had only been dating a few months, so I didn’t know how big a deal to make about it. I’ve never been a huge celebrator of the day, even with previous girlfriends, but apparently it’s a big deal to her. I got her flowers and some nice candy, but that was it. She was disappointed and told me so, so I tried to do better the following year. That day included a professional hockey game – she’s a bigger fan than I am! – and luckily, a pair of diamond earrings. I even gave them to her at the game, so she’d get ice at the ice. She laughed, but I don’t think it was what she expected. Naturally, by this year, I’m sure she’s expecting more of the same. She’s even made a couple of jokes about there being a monster truck rally on February 14^th and maybe we should see if they have a lover’s ticket package. She might not be happy when I park right near the arena that night, but we won’t be going to see Bigfoot. The most romantic restaurant in town is right down the street. It’s where I have reservations for two, a bottle of champagne ordered, roses prepared to be sent to the table, a violin player, and of course, the chocolate dessert garnished with her dream diamond engagement ring right where she can see it. (It would be memorable but not romantic if she accidently swallowed it, so I’m making sure that can’t happen). Best of all, even before I bought the engagement ring, I talked to her dad. He said yes.