What to do on the day of your surprise proposal in Valencia

You have the ring.

You’ve probably already looked at the location we chose together for the proposal a few times.

And by now, you’ve probably checked the weather forecast approximately 47 times. 😂

But then comes a question many men only start thinking about at the last minute:

What are you actually going to do with her all day without her suspecting a thing?

Because you can’t exactly wake up and say:

"Good morning! I’ve planned a very special day for us today."

We women find that slightly suspicious. 😉

A surprise proposal isn’t just about the moment when you get down on one knee. The hours leading up to it are just as important.

After more than 10 years of organising weddings and events in Valencia, I’ve had quite a bit of experience planning special moments. And if I were planning a surprise proposal in Valencia myself, this is roughly how I would plan the day.

An example of an ideal day for a surprise proposal in Valencia

Start with something normal

I wouldn’t make the day too complicated.

Let’s say you’re staying in Valencia and you normally like to have a relaxed start to the day. I’d suggest having breakfast at Bluebell in Ruzafa.

Coffee, breakfast, a little chat, perhaps a stroll through Ruzafa and a look around some of the lovely vintage shops.

Nothing suspicious.

And that’s exactly the point.

You want your partner to think you’re simply having a nice day together in Valencia.

Not that there’s a secret mission happening around every corner. 😉

Then: cycle to Patacona

If you both enjoy cycling, I’d hop on a bike and head towards Patacona beach.

That’s one of the things I love about Valencia: you can easily cycle from the city towards the beach, and the atmosphere completely changes along the way.

Once you arrive in Patacona, I’d have a relaxed lunch at Cocoa.

Lunch by the sea, perhaps a glass of wine, and most importantly: no rush.

And that’s exactly what you want on the day of a surprise proposal.

You don’t want the feeling that you’re following a strict schedule.

You just want to enjoy the day together.

Because she thinks you’re simply having a lovely day in Valencia.

You know there’s something very different coming later. 😉

Then head back to the hotel

After lunch, I’d take it easy and head back to the hotel.

Have a shower.

Take a little time to relax.

And then comes one of my favourite parts of the day:

Getting ready for “dinner”.

You’ve obviously already booked a restaurant. 😉

Or at least… that’s what she thinks.

Maybe you’ve told her you found a beautiful restaurant for the two of you that evening.

Maybe it’s somewhere you’ve talked about before.

Maybe you’re supposedly celebrating something.

It doesn’t really matter, as long as it feels believable.

And meanwhile, you know something she doesn’t:

This isn’t an ordinary date night.

This is the night you’re going to ask her to marry you!

7 things to keep in mind on the day of your proposal

The perfect surprise proposal day doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, quite often, the opposite is true.

1. Don’t suddenly plan a completely different day than usual

If you normally have a relaxed breakfast, wander around a little and stop somewhere for lunch, don’t suddenly create a full itinerary with seven different activities.

She’ll notice. 😂

The best way to keep a surprise a surprise is often to make the day feel as natural as possible.

2. Start with something normal

Breakfast.

Coffee.

A walk.

The beach.

Lunch.

Choose things that feel like you as a couple.

The goal isn’t to make every hour of the day spectacular.

The goal is for her to feel relaxed and have absolutely no reason to think something special is about to happen.

3. Give yourself plenty of time

This is probably one of my most important tips.

If we have the proposal planned for 6 pm, don’t make sure you’re still on the other side of Valencia at 5.30 pm.

Give yourself some breathing room.

Because in real life, everything sometimes takes a little longer.

You lose the bike.

Your partner wants another coffee.

Someone needs to use the bathroom.

It’s hotter than expected.

You can’t find a taxi when you need one.

Or someone says:

"Shall we have another drink somewhere?"

And meanwhile you’re thinking:

NO. WE HAVE TO GET TO THE PROPOSAL. 😂

4. Choose activities that won’t get in the way of the proposal

A bike ride to Patacona can be perfect if you normally enjoy cycling together.

But if your partner never cycles and you suddenly decide that the day of your proposal is the perfect time for a 20-kilometre bike ride…

Maybe choose another plan. 😉

Also think about how she is going to feel afterwards.

You don’t want her to be exhausted, sweaty or grumpy when you’re about to get down on one knee.

5. Have a good reason for dressing up

This one is important.

If she normally dresses casually and you suddenly say:

"Wear something nice tonight."

The alarm bells might start ringing.

So give her a reason that makes sense.

A nice restaurant.

A rooftop bar.

An anniversary dinner.

A night out.

Maybe you’ve supposedly booked somewhere special.

It doesn’t have to be complicated.

“I booked us a nice dinner” is definitely believable.

6. Have a good cover story

This is probably one of the trickiest parts of a surprise proposal.

If you tell her you’re going somewhere for dinner, you should actually be able to name a restaurant.

If you say you’re going for drinks, it needs to make sense.

And if you suddenly want to take her somewhere you’ve never been before, make sure there’s a believable reason why.

The less you have to improvise, the better.

7. And then comes the final hour…

This is when the planning really matters.

Where is the photographer waiting?

How do you make sure your partner doesn’t see them?

Where exactly are you going to stand?

And what happens if your partner suddenly says:

"Shall we actually go somewhere else?"

These are exactly the details you want to think about beforehand.

Because a surprise proposal might look spontaneous.

But behind a well-executed surprise proposal?

There is usually quite a lot of planning. 😉

The perfect day shouldn’t feel perfectly planned

That might sound a little contradictory, but that’s actually the secret.

You don’t want your partner to say at the end of the day:

"Wow, you really planned a huge day for us."

You want her to think:

"What a lovely day together."

Until you take her to the right place.

The photographer is ready.

The flowers and any catering are in place.

You suddenly get down on one knee.

And the whole day suddenly makes sense. ❤️

That’s what makes a surprise proposal so special.

And what happens after the proposal?

I’d think about this beforehand too.

Because after that big moment, you don’t want to suddenly say:

"Okay… shall we go home now?" 😂

Maybe there’s champagne waiting.

Maybe you have a short photoshoot together.

Maybe you can enjoy a beautiful picnic arranged by us.

Or perhaps you’d rather head to a lovely (rooftop) bar for a celebratory drink.

One of our favourites is Luna de Valencia Rooftop · Vistas y Coctelería en Serranos.

Those moments after the proposal can be just as special. Check also out our ´We know a place...´ section for more tips on special spots in Valencia.

The nerves are gone.

The ring is on her finger.

And finally, you can both enjoy what just happened.

One final tip from me

If you remember just one thing, let it be this:

Don’t make the day suspicious. Make it personal.

You don’t need to book the most expensive activities or organise a day full of surprises.

A good breakfast.

A bike ride.

A long lunch by the beach.

A little time back at the hotel.

Getting dressed for a supposedly normal dinner.

And then…

the surprise. 💍

The best proposals feel spontaneous and personal.

But behind the scenes, there is often a very good plan.

Planning a surprise proposal in Valencia?

At Itaca Events Valencia, we help plan and coordinate surprise proposals in Valencia.

From choosing the right location and creating a believable day plan to flowers, styling, a beautiful picnic, live music, photography and coordinating every detail on the day itself.

So you can focus on just one thing:

Asking the question. 

The rest? We’ve got you. 😉

Hasta luego!