The big moment has arrived...you've been dating a girl long enough to know that she's the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. Congratulations! Now that you've made the life-changing decision to ask a girl to marry you, you need to start thinking about your engagement.

If you're like most guys about to pop the question, you'll be trying to put together the perfect proposal. Should it be at the beach at sunset, at your favourite restaurant, or during a romantic vacation? Think about what your soon-to-be-wife enjoys, and craft a unique proposal around that. Don't ask her to marry you at a baseball game because you love sports. Don't just book a table at a fancy restaurant you've never been to and slip the ring in her cake. Make it a memorable evening that will surprise and amaze her for the rest of her life.

A big source of anxiety for many men is selecting the engagement ring. You're choosing a symbol of your love that your wife will wear every day. Here are a few engagement ring buying tips to help you:

• You've heard that “diamonds are a girl's best friend.” But, some girls don't love them, and would prefer a different gemstone or plain band, or no ring at all! You may have to do some subtle digging to find out more about what she likes, such as asking her for her opinion on a friend's engagement ring or talking to one of her family members.

• Make a budget and stick to it. Don't get caught up in a financing plan that has you paying off the ring for the next 10 years, or feel pressured to buy the biggest rock you can find. Your girlfriend will appreciate the gesture because it came from the heart, not because it cost you a lot of money.

• The ideal way to know if your girlfriend will like the ring: get her to help pick it out! It's becoming much more common for couples to go together to select a ring, and this way, she'll get exactly what she wants.

Don't forget the family! The right thing to do before you ask your girlfriend to marry you is to get permission from her father. Traditionally, this was done in person, but if your father-in-law doesn't live nearby, a phone call is acceptable – but no email! Don't put it off until after you ask her, or down a few rum and cokes before the call; just tell him honestly how much his daughter means to you, and assure him that you'll take good care of her.

If all goes well – and it will, if you've taken the time to get to know your girlfriend and feel in your heart that she's right for you – you'll be on to wedding planning in no time!