Most timing mistakes come from the same place: a date chosen before the decision behind it, or a lead time that nobody asked about until it was too short. These articles are about the calendar as a tool rather than a trap. They cover when to propose and when to wait, choosing a season, the hour of the day, how long a made-to-order ring and a wedding band actually take, what to book first for a wedding and a realistic South African planning timeline that allows for the December shutdown. Read the ring pieces and the wedding pieces together; the two timelines have to fit.
The Journal · Timing: when to propose, when to book, how long things take
Topic · Timing
Timing: when to propose, when to book, how long things take
Reading the moment rather than the calendar, lead times for a ring, and the order a wedding is booked in.
32 articles

Where to propose in Pretoria

Five private places to propose in the Magaliesberg

Where to propose in Durban and the North Coast

Where to propose on the Garden Route

A private proposal at home, done properly

How to plan a restaurant proposal that still feels private

How to plan a hotel proposal

How to plan a rooftop proposal

How to plan a garden proposal

How to plan a private dining-room proposal

How to plan a destination proposal

A Cape Town proposal without the crowds

Anniversary or ordinary day: choosing the date

Should you speak to the family before proposing?

Should you propose on a birthday?

Morning or sunset: choosing the hour

Choosing a season for your proposal

When delaying the proposal is the better decision

Proposing in a long-distance relationship

How to plan a proposal from first idea to the question

What happens immediately after the proposal

How to propose when the ring is not ready

How to plan the day without giving the proposal away

A made-to-order or ready-made engagement ring

How long does an engagement ring take?

How long does made-to-order jewellery take?

The first 30 days after getting engaged

A practical South African wedding-planning timeline

A Winelands proposal, done quietly

When to propose, and when to wait

Designing something that does not exist yet
The next step
Talk it through with Gavin.
Every piece starts with a conversation rather than a catalogue. In person at the Illovo studio, or by video call from anywhere.
