To avoid overwhelming your boyfriend, you should start by being subtle and build your way up to talking about your own marriage. You should start by casually bringing up a conversation about marriage that doesn't directly involve your marriage. You can mention someone else who got married or engaged recently or make a comment on an engagement commercial, for example. A good way to start things is to express confusion or even mild criticism. Here's how to do it:  You could say, "A co-worker just got back from his honeymoon. You know where they went? To the beach. That's so weird to me because we go to the beach about once a month and it's so close by. If I was going on a honeymoon, I'd want to go somewhere new and exotic. Wouldn't you?" You could also say, "Can you believe John proposed to Marla on a Ferris wheel? I think that's perfect for them, but I think I'd like something a little different." Don't say, "I can't wait to have ten kids with you!" Just subtly start making comments that allude to you being together in the future, whether you're married or not. If he isn't responsive to the indirect approach, start slowly making it more direct with phrases like, "if we stay together," "if we live together," and later, "if we get married."  Watch his reaction when you discuss the future. See if he carries that conversation on or avoids the subject. Remember that even though this may have been on your mind for a long time, this is a new conversation for him and he needs time to sort out his thoughts. Don't expect him to have his answer prepared. If you think that your man has been waiting for the perfect time to make the right move, then suggest that it's time that you go on vacation. Make sure that you plan it far enough away -- at least two or three months -- so your man has time to think of it as a potential place to propose. Don't mention anything about how it would be the perfect proposal destination and wait for him to figure it out.  If you don't mention that it would be a great place to get engaged, then he won't feel that you're putting the pressure on. And even if he doesn't propose, seeing you in a romantic setting where many people do propose will put his mind on proposing. If you don't want an expensive ring -- or a ring at all -- mention it casually in a conversation. This is an important point. Many men don't propose because they're putting off figuring out what kind of ring their woman wants and what her ring size is. Many more men don't propose because they're not ready to shell out thousands of dollars for a diamond ring and think it'll take them forever to save up for it.  Well, if you don't want a fancy ring, or even a ring at all, then you can mention it, however subtly, so that he knows that this shouldn't be a factor in his plans for a proposal. You can even mention your thoughts on the ring by mentioning someone else's ring. You could say, "Did you see that rock Rick gave to Sheila? I can't believe she didn't fall over with that thing on her hand. I would never want a ring like that -- I'd want it to be small and simple." If you don't want an expensive wedding, mention it. Though a proposal does not mean an immediate wedding, many men are also deterred from proposing because they're worried that they'll never be able to afford an expensive 400 person wedding, or because they don't want to be roped in to the wedding-planning hoopla. Well, if you planned on just having a small wedding in the park with 50 of your closest friends and family and having a casual dress code, you should find a way to mention this too. Though this shouldn't be a factor in a man's decision to marry you for life, it does deter men from wanting to get the ball rolling on the whole marriage thing. Can you blame them? Though he may think you're a ton of fun or a sex kitten, you should also let him see you as wife material -- as the woman who will be his lifelong partner and potentially the mother of his children. So, show him that you'd make a great wife as well as a fun girlfriend. Let him see that you're independent and career-oriented while also knowing how to take care of him when he's sick, how to tastefully decorate your home, and how to cook a healthy meal -- nothing fancy required.  If you want him to see you as a wife, then your relationship should be positive most of the time. If you spend most of your time fighting or crying about your insecurities, he won't think you're ready for marriage. Let him see that you have your act together on your own and that you're ready to move towards marriage. If he thinks that your life won't be complete until you get married, he won't want to propose.
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One-sentence summary -- Bring up marriage casually. Mention your future together. Plan a romantic trip. Comment that a ring is not important to you. Describe your idea of a perfect wedding. Let him see you as "wife material."


You will need plain paper, contact paper, brown packing paper or newsprint, a felt tip marker and scissors.  Making decals from contact paper is more inexpensive than using a computer and requires fewer materials. This method is better for simpler designs which don't require a detailed rendering. You can also work on it using photo editing software.   For wall decals, create a sketch of the room where you plan to put the design. Make sure it's somewhat to scale and includes furniture. If you are using software like Photoshop, scan in a picture of the room and add the design to the photo digitally. Do this based on your drawing and the scale of the room or item where you are putting it.   Contact paper is available in various roll sizes and colors from online stores and home improvement stores. Make sure you buy enough for your project and allocate for mistakes and waste. If you are working on a large area, it's a good idea to buy in bulk to save money. Paper like  brown packing paper or newsprint will work best for this mock-up.  Tape the design to the walls to make sure you are happy with the scale and shape. Pay special attention to corners, making sure that the shape looks good in the location and that its at the correct angle. Make adjustments as needed until you are satisfied with the look. This is what you will use to trace the image onto contact paper.  Make sure your design from newsprint doesn't become torn or damaged by the tape that temporarily holds it onto the wall. Double check your design to make sure it looks correct. Make any adjustments as necessary. The back of the paper should be facing up.   Use weights in the corners if it's a large piece that slips. Place the paper design on top of the contact paper. Trace the design onto the back of the contact paper with a felt tip marker. If your design is detailed with lots of negative space, it might be easier to use an X-acto knife.   If using an X-acto knife, be sure to use a mat underneath to avoid scratching your work surface. X-acto knives are very sharp and can slip from your hand easily. Be careful! Children should be supervised while doing this step. Do this by starting at the bottom of your design, working upwards.  Peel off the backing paper as you go. Go slowly to avoid wrinkles and bubbles in your design as you press it onto the wall. Press firmly to make sure the sticky surface of the contact paper adheres to the wall.
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One-sentence summary --
Gather your materials. Sketch out the design on plain paper. Figure out how much contact paper you will need. Draw out the design on inexpensive paper to scale. Remove the paper from the wall. Spread out the contact paper on a flat surface. Cut out your design carefully with sharp scissors. Transfer the contact paper to the wall.