Proposing on Valentine’s Day can be tricky. On one hand, it is the most romantic day of the year so it can be a good day to pop the question. On the other hand, proposing on a holiday can turn super cheesy if it isn’t done properly. Follow this Valentine’s Day Proposal Guide from a Proposal Planner and your proposal will be a success.

Do think of a way you can surprise her even though a lot of women expect a proposal on Valentine’s Day. Accomplish this by doing something to throw her off. For example, tell her you have a romantic dinner reservation at 7 but instead, right as you are about to leave a huge choir holding candles appears in your front yard and serenades her with your song.

Don’t propose at an expected time. Again, throwing her off is important so the last thing you want to do is to propose over dinner or some other obvious time. Do not have a waiter bring your ring out on a tray or anything predictable. The element of surprise is a must, especially on Valentine’s Day.

Do think about how she would want to look on the day she gets proposed to. Is she the kind of girl that would be disappointed if she were wearing jeans on the big day? If you know your girlfriend would be mortified to have a photographer take a picture of her with no makeup on, make sure she is dolled up for the big moment.

Don’t over-plan. For some reason when men get stressed out, they can overdo things. As a Proposal Planner, I have seen men add too much detail because they just want to make sure it is very special. Keep in mind that you can go overboard. You don’t need singers, dancers, limos, helicopters, flowers, picture frames, guitarists, mariachi bands, jugglers, and more. Just a couple “big” surprises are more than enough and even that is not necessary.

Do think about her personality type when deciding on the proposal idea. Ask yourself if she is the kind of girl who would enjoy a public or a private proposal before you start planning things. If your girlfriend hates to be the center of attention, a public proposal would likely mortify her.

Don’t propose in a creepy way. You should never propose like this but especially not on the day of love. Examples of creepy proposals are faking your own death or scaring her so she can appreciate your heroism later. Proposals should be pleasant, period.

Do consider documenting the proposal. If your girlfriend is the type that loves to share photos on social media or likes to scrapbook, then she will really appreciate you hiring a photographer to capture the moment. If she is camera shy, you might want to skip it.

Don’t hide the ring in a ridiculous place. This includes but is not limited to; in a champagne glass, in a cupcake, in a box of chocolates and last but not least, somewhere you can lose it or easily forget about it.

Do have help. Just as women hire Day of Coordinators for their wedding day, have someone that will help you take care of details so that you can enjoy your day stress-free. Consider hiring a proposal planner or just enlist the help of an organized friend.

Don’t be afraid to be emotional. There is a social stigma that men are not supposed to cry but during a proposal, many men do. Don’t worry about that. On your proposal day, you should be emotional and you should be telling your girlfriend all of the reasons that you can’t live without her. Your emotion will make it even more endearing.

Do laugh if something goes wrong. If something unexpected happens like a dog comes up and takes a bite out of your romantic picnic, don’t sweat it. It will all be part of the proposal story you tell later and it adds character to the event.

Don’t have expectations for how she will react. I have seen so many reactions from women who get proposed to. Some laugh, some cry, some scream, we even have had girls curse! You never know what someone’s reaction will be when they are in shock so don’t feel let down if you don’t get a reaction you thought you would. Just go with the flow and let her emotion come naturally.

[via The Huffington Post by Michele Velazquez is a Romance Expert, who specializes in Romantic Date and Proposal Planning. She owns The Heart Bandits and has been featured in the New York Times, L.A. Times, Fox News, Houston Chronicle, and KTLA news.]