A proposal is a serious step in any relationship, and an exciting one! It marks the next chapter in your love story and commences the process of planning your wedding together. But before you get to “I do”, you have to ask “Will you marry me?”.
And it seems there are hundreds of ways you can ask this magical question. You might want to create a moment neither of you will ever forget, or you might want a simple proposal that reflects both your personalities.
If you’re unsure of anything past that, don’t worry. We’re here to help! We have rounded up 10 popular ways to propose and exactly how you can ask the question, from wonderfully romantic to wonderfully creative.
Picnic proposal ideas
A picnic proposal can be a lovely, intimate moment. After all, who doesn’t love eating delicious food in a beautiful setting with their soul mate? This is a great proposal option if you are worried about proposing in a very busy, public setting like a restaurant, and there are a multitude of locations you can choose from.
Whether in a beautiful forest clearing, by a picturesque mountain lake or in a colourful flower meadow, the opportunities are endless! You could even choose a meaningful place that connects your history, perhaps where you shared your first kiss, went on your first date or said ‘I love you’ for the first time.
A meaningful place that connects you with one another is particularly worthwhile. For example, how about exactly where you kissed for the very first time?
Be sure to pack the right items for the occasion, including a picnic blanket, cool box, your choice of food and drink, a blanket and cushions and even some candles. Don’t forget the ring either! If you’re able to without your partner noticing, maybe pack a bottle of champagne or another tipple of your choice to celebrate with.
Candlelight proposal
Candles are the ultimate proposal tool, so use them to your advantage. You could organise a beautiful candlelit dinner at home, cooking your partner’s favourite food and finishing with a ring in the dessert.
A candlelit proposal might be difficult to organise in a public place, as most restaurants and other venues won’t allow you to bring your own candles to light. A public outdoor space may work well though, like the beach.
Photo album proposal
A photo album proposal is a wonderful, personal way to propose. The book is something that you can keep forever, and it’s also the perfect momentum of all your shared experiences and memories from your past.
To create a proposal photo album, print some photos of your favourite memories and moments together. You might have other memorabilia to add to the book too, like ticket stubs, postcards, receipts, etc.
Once you’re happy with your book, add a proposal on the last page. You could write ‘Will you marry me’ in some sand and take a picture to add to the book, or even take a picture of yourself on one knee holding a ring! There are plenty of photo opportunities you can use here, so get creative. When they get to the last page of the photo album, there’ll be a big surprise waiting for them.
Hot air balloon proposal
This is certainly an extravagant way to propose, and ideal if you and your partner love a bit of adventure! Most people have never been in a hot air balloon, so it would definitely be a memorable experience and a great story to tell.
There are plenty of companies that can help you to organise a hot air balloon proposal, so you can start by finding one local to you and getting the event booked in. Some offer additional extras, like professional photography to capture the special moment and on-board champagne (or other drink of your choice). Spend some time checking reviews and shopping around to plan the perfect proposal in the air.
Romantic sunset proposal
There’s just something magical and beautiful about a sunset – the golden glow, the changing colours, the darkening sky, the stretched shadows. It’s such a romantic time to propose and will make a beautiful backdrop in your pictures.
Plus a romantic sunset proposal means you can pick any location of your choice, whether it’s up a mountain or hillside or on the roof of a building you both love.
Stargazing proposal
If you and your partner love the night sky or have a liking for stargazing, then this could be the best way to pop the question. You can plan a romantic evening picnic, waiting for the sun to set before making your announcement.
If you want to be extra prepared, pack a telescope and read up on some popular constellations beforehand. You never know, you might even be lucky enough to see a shooting star.
Holiday proposal ideas
Proposing on holiday is a wonderful idea, and there are a whole host of ways you can ask the question when abroad. Depending on your destination, you could plan a beach proposal, a nature proposal, a themed proposal or something else entirely! The world is literally your oyster.
It can be harder to plan a proposal abroad when you don’t know much about your destination, such as the most romantic restaurants or most picturesque spots. Do some research before you travel (where your partner can’t see!) to make sure you know these things in advance, as well as how to get there.
If you’re going somewhere where there is water, like the sea or a lake, you could plan a romantic boat ride to ask the question. If you both love concerts or theme parks, book tickets in advance to make these locations your proposal destination.
Christmas Day proposal ideas
Christmas Day is all about spending time with your family, celebrating the love you share for one another, spoiling each other with gifts. So what better day to show your love to your partner as well? It will be a beautiful moment that the rest of your family gets to witness too.
There are a number of ways you can pop the question with a Christmas Day proposal, so we’ve listed some of our favourites!
- Put the ring in a stocking for them to open on Christmas morning
- Create a Christmas movie night, watching your favourite films and then picking the perfect moment
- Hide the ring in a Christmas cracker (just make sure they open the right one!)
- Use fairy lights to spell out ‘Will you marry me?’
- Give them a personalised Christmas ornament, like a bauble
- Hire a snow machine and propose outside in the garden
- Ask your children (if you already have them) to gift your partner the ring
- Create a personalised advent calendar that will present the question when they open the Christmas Day door.
Valentine’s Day proposal
Valentine’s Day – arguably the most romantic one of the year! It’s the perfect and one of the most popular occasions for proposals, and we can certainly see why.
You can take some other ideas from this guide and plan them on Valentine’s Day, like a hot air balloon or a candlelit proposal. You could also recreate your first date, go out for a casual breakfast, plan an afternoon tea, go on a hike, and so much more.
Valentine’s Day usually falls on a weekday, so take this into account and make sure you both have the day off work.
New Year’s Eve proposal
With a New Year’s Eve proposal, it’ll feel like all those fireworks are just for you. The end of a year signifies the start of a new one, which is why it’s such a popular date to get down on one knee.
If your nerves will let you last out until midnight, proposing during the countdown would be a beautiful moment, and you’d literally be seeing the new year in as an engaged couple. Add some fireworks and champagne and you have a real celebration of love.
You could propose in other ways too, by adding the ring to the end of a sparkler, throwing a New Year’s Eve party or going to a ticketed event at a venue.
When is the right time to get down on one knee?
This is very much a ‘how long is a piece of string?’ question, and there is no set answer. Some couples may be ready to begin their marriage just a few months into their relationship, while others may prefer to wait several years. There is no formula for success here – you have to weigh up whether you and your partner are ready for this new phase of life.
The chances are if you feel ready to propose, your partner will feel ready to say yes!
