I'm down for the heads up and maybe asking my dad on advice how to pick a ring (although my dad has excellent taste in jewelry so this may be why) but as far as asking permission - I didn't ask his permission to move halfway across the country and move in with a guy - I don't see where asking permission is necessary.
However, I'm from the North. And I can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan. And I'm a bra burner.
ETA:
FSUZeta, congratulations! You sound way cooler than my potential mother in law!