Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillio talk about their engagement

Nick Lachey’s engagement to Vanessa Minnillio was part of a “carefully calculated plan”. The 98 Degrees singer — who divorced Jessica Simpson in 2005 after three years of marriage — explained he didn’t want to fail in his proposal to the 30-year-old beauty by setting the bar too high.

“You gotta take it in stages,” Nick said. “If you set the bar too high then you set yourself up for failure. This was a carefully calculated plan. You have to set the romance but you have to take it in phases. This was phase one.”

Despite the romantic proposal, Nick — who has been dating Vanessa since 2006 — admitted when one knee gave in, he had to go into “full begging position” when popping the question.

“One knee wasn’t enough so I had to go into the full begging position. And plead for her hand,” he added.

However, the pair are in no rush to get married.

“We’re enjoying being engaged. Everyone rushes to the next step, and I like this step,” Vanessa said.