I've planned over 200 proposals. Here are 5 mistakes to avoid when planning to get down on one knee.

• I planned over 200 proposals when I worked at Paparazzi Proposals.
• I noticed people tended to obsess over finding an original idea and never considered a simple plan.

I've witnessed hundreds of women — and some men — say yes when the love of their life got down on one knee.

My first adult job was helping plan picture-perfect proposals for Paparazzi Proposals. The company was popularized on "Shark Tank." Clients from all over the US hired us to bring their dream engagements to life. For three years, I helped happy couples come up with a romantic idea, then helped orchestrate it, and I ensured a hidden photographer was capturing the big moment.

James Ambler, the founder of the company and inventor of the phenomenon of surprise proposal photography, was my mentor in all things romance. The first lesson he taught me was to stop romanticizing the work. Our job wasn't to make magic happen; if anything, our responsibility was to distinguish what was possible and what would require a movie set.

Having helped plan over 200 proposals in that job, I've noticed people make the same mistakes over and over — often negatively impacting their own experience. To help ensure your proposal lives up to expectations and is one you remember fondly, here are five common mistakes to keep in mind before getting down on one knee.

You obsess over originality, but you're never going to come up with a completely unique idea

The concept of an engagement can be traced back to 1477 in Rome when Archduke Maximilian of Austria commissioned what's believed to be the first-ever diamond engagement ring to cement his partnership with Mary of Burgundy. Sorry for the unsolicited history lesson, but the point is folks have been doing this for centuries.

You're not going to reinvent the wheel or come up with an idea that hasn't been done before. I've suffered through working with impossible clients because nothing would satisfy their need to find something unheard of. Instead, focus on what will speak to your partner and your relationship. Remember, this will be unique to them because it's not every day you get engaged.

You think simplicity won't be enough, but it does not negate romance

I get it: You want to fly in on a helicopter and land on a skyscraper on an island where there will be a thousand rose petals and candles in the shape of a heart, and there you will step center stage to propose. Then Beyoncé jumps out of a sparkling cake and performs.

Look, your partner knows you want to give them the world, but they don't expect it literally. There's no shame in working with your local rooftop and taking the elevator, you can have a human-sized heart made of roses (petals fly away), and you might need to settle on LED candles for fire-safety regulations.

I've coordinated spectacles like flash mobs and city scavenger hunts, yet the most romantic and beautiful proposals I've seen took place at easily accessible public locations, like parks, beaches, and cliffs. The undeniable connection and contagious happiness from couples are what resonated with me — not the over-the-top proposals.

There's no award for doing it all on your own — ask for help

Stop trying to be the lone hero of your engagement story, especially if it's driving you bonkers. Depending on your plan, you might need to ask for help, and that's OK — even if it's just having a friend or family member get your partner to an exact location.

Of course, deciding whom you can trust is another story, but there's no shame if you didn't plan everything yourself or worked with a professional to facilitate the process. It doesn't have to be a dirty secret. Plus, if you have help with the main idea, it shows signs of maturity and communication skills, which are key components to a successful marriage.

This is your moment, but keep in mind you are sharing it

I once had a client who was so excited about proposing to his girlfriend at the end of the same hike they did on their first date. I pointed out that many people didn't want to be photographed after hiking several miles in 80-degree weather, especially considering an impromptu engagement-portrait session was included in the package. But he insisted on it. How they looked in photos was not important to him; the sentimental value of the location mattered. His sweaty fiancé, an influencer, disagreed with him. I've never seen a newly engaged person more disappointed and angry. You would have sworn he asked her for a colonoscopy.

You get nervous and excited, but remember to breathe and take it slow

Unless the setting makes the proposal obvious (think: banner, decorations), there is no need to propose immediately. You are supposed to be enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime occasion, not racing to end it. Relax and take your time telling your partner everything you want to say. Let your words and emotions guide your hand to your pocket and your knee to the floor.

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