The major benefit of proposing on an Occasion is that significance is already built into it. For instance, you know before you even sit down for a Valentine's dinner that there will be an aura of romance. And for some guys, this is great. But for others, it just adds pressure. That's the benefit of being a guy, though. It's all in your hands.
"Non-Occasion" proposals have several advantages of their own. First, there's the fact that any day of the year that isn't an Occasion is a Non-Occasion. This gives you tons of flexibility. For example, if you decide in March that you want to propose on Christmas, then you'd better pack a lunch -- you're going to sit around waiting for a while. Christmas is a fixed date. It only comes once a year. But on the other hand, if you decide in March that you want to propose on a Non-Occasion, you can basically do it whenever -- in March, in April, in May, etc. The world's your proverbial oyster.
This flexibility also comes in handy when Proposal Day arrives. Why? Well, suppose things aren't going according to plan. Suppose you're snowed in and can't keep your reservations. This is bad news if you want to propose on a holiday, because, again, holidays only come one time a year. Your girlfriend will think something's fishy if you insist on cashing that "Valentine's rain check" in early March. With Non-Occasion proposals, however, nothing is set in stone. You can reschedule -- no questions asked!
Finally, there is the issue of the element of surprise. This is the big one. Let's face it: Your proposal is supposed to be your crowning romantic achievement. And few things are more romantic than spontaneity. This is why lots of guys choose Non-Occasion proposals. Their girlfriends never see it coming! (Nor do the people who whisper, "He passed up another good chance," every time you fail to propose on a holiday. It's two for the price of one!)
Which isn't to say Non-Occasions have a lock on the surprise factor. Holidays and dates of personal significance can be equally surprising -- and, in some cases, more surprising. It all depends on how you play it. Suppose the only time you and your girlfriend ever go out for a fancy dinner happens to be Valentine's Day. Will you be able to swing a fancy dinner in mid-August without letting on? If not, then a Non-Occasion proposal may not be quite as surprising as you think.
One other issue you should consider before settling on a Non-Occasion proposal is a rarely diagnosed medical condition called Irresistus Urgus, or, in laymen's terms, "The Irresistible Urge." It can be very hard to resist proposing once you know you're hiding a ring in your closet. You can spend months and months putting together an elaborate battle plan, with reservations, music, flowers, etc., only to blow it in the waning days because you just can't take the suspense anymore. Trust us. We've seen it a thousand times. Choosing an Occasion gives you a set goal and timetable. A Non-Occasion, on the other hand, inspires thoughts of: "Why not now? I was going to propose soon anyway." The next thing you know, you're on one knee, trying to beat the commercials during a Tuesday night rerun of "Friends."
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