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Updated May 03, 202316 Christmas Proposal Ideas No One Will Be Able to Resist
Make the season even more festive with a holiday proposal.
Engagement season runs from Thanksgiving through Valentine's Day, but the pinnacle is without a doubt Christmastime. And it's not hard to see why December, and Christmas in particular, is such a popular time of year to get engaged. Twinkling lights, decorated trees and flurries of snow—the season is practically made for your movie-worthy ask. "The holidays are romantic. Places are lit up, festive, and it completely makes for a romantic moment," notes proposal planner Michele Velazquez of The Heart Bandits.
If you're ready to take the next step with your partner and pop the question, then let these Christmas proposal ideas inspire you. While planning your Christmas proposal, keep in mind there are some things you should definitely include when in your marriage proposal, and a few things to certainly avoid. Take note of the tips below to ensure your proposal goes off without a hitch.
Dos and Don'ts With a Christmas Proposal
While Christmas is a beautiful time of year to get engaged, it's also a busy time generally filled with lots of family events and other to-dos which can make planning the perfect Christmas proposal a bit tricky. Keep these must-know tips in mind to ensure that the proposal is meaningful, memorable and goes off without a hitch. After all, nothing would be worse than letting poor planning get in the way of asking one of the most important questions you've ever had to ask.
Things to Do With a Christmas Proposal
Figure Out What Your Partner Likes
If your partner prefers intimate, private moments then a public proposal in front of the Rockefeller Christmas tree in New York City is probably not the way to go. "No matter what time of the year people propose, they need to make it personal. Christmas is no different. Focus on your relationship and what truly makes you unique and then incorporate that into the proposal. If they love music, maybe hire Christmas carolers to knock at the door but as a surprise, they sing your special song instead," advises Velazquez.
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Consult Your Partner's Friends and Family
Especially if you're planning to ask your loved one to marry you during a family event or around loved ones during a holiday gathering, make sure to let any key players know what you intend to do. Velazquez says that during the holiday season "your families are both probably in town or you will be with your families so if you want them to be a part of the proposal or you want to celebrate with them after, it is the perfect time."
Check the Weather
Snow is common around Christmastime and, depending on what you have planned for popping the question on Christmas day, that may or may not be a good thing. Make sure the check the weather forecast a few days before the proposal and have a solid backup plan in place in case inclement weather thwarts your original plans.
Keep the Entire Day in Mind
"It is really important that the proposal stands alone and doesn't get lost in the normal Christmas activities," says Velazquez. While it will only take a few minutes to actually propose, make sure to plan with all of Christmas day in mind. What will your S.O. be doing earlier in the day and what ruse will be in place to get them to the proposal location?
Things Not to Do With a Christmas Proposal
Don't Get Overwhelmed
With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it can be easy to start feeling overwhelmed.
Don't Do It All Yourself
Ask for help! Whether you hire a proposal planner or simply tap some close friends to assist, it's a wise idea to enlist help with your Christmas proposal.
Don't Wait Until the Last Minute to Plan
"Christmas is one of the most magical days of the entire year," notes New York proposal expert Ash Fox of Ash Fox Proposal Planning & Photography. "That said Christmas is one of the most in-demand days of the year and Christmas gets fully booked months in advance. Also because so many people are celebrating Christmas themselves it can be more difficult to find available vendors on Christmas." Proposal planner Heather Vaughn of The Yes Girls concurs. She notes that "the biggest hiccup when planning a Christmas proposal is finding available vendors. It can be tricky to schedule with everyone's holiday parties, family plans, ans such so that is just something to keep in mind when choosing a date."
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Best Locations for a Christmas Proposal
These festive Christmas towns are the perfect backdrop for a holiday proposal. Many of these iconic towns are known for how they bring the holiday spirit to life during Christmastime. From iconic lights displays to must-visit Christmas markets, any one of these destinations would be the perfect spot to pop the question.
- New York, New York
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- North Pole, Alaska
- Dahlonega, Georgia
- Branson, Missouri
- Durango, Colorado
- Leavenworth, Washington
- Santa Claus, Indiana
- Williamsburg, Virginia
- Solvang, California
- Woodstock, Vermont
- Freeport, Maine
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Frankenmuth, Michigan
- Helen, Georgia
Best Ideas and Activities for a Christmas Proposal
If you want to pop the question during the Christmas season, let these marriage proposal ideas inspire your big ask.
1. Advent Calendar
If you want a long lead-up to the big question, consider making an Advent calendar part of your wedding proposal. Give your partner a small gift each day of December with the final gift on Christmas morning being a ring box with the engagement ring in it.
2. Christmas Tree Lighting
Whether it's during a trip to see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting in New York City, the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC, or even simply a local city tree lighting, there's something so romantic about the moment when a beautiful fir tree begins to brilliantly sparkle.
3. Enjoying Neighborhood Christmas Lights
Pack a thermos of hot chocolate and stroll around the neighborhood taking in all the festive fairy lights and baubles neighbors have decked their homes out with. Then cap off the evening by romantically popping the question.
4. Ornament on the Christmas Tree
If you want to have a keepsake by which you can remember your proposal, consider asking the question with a Christmas ornament. Pro-tip: Don't hang the special ornament when you're initially decorating the tree, but instead sneak it on the tree on Christmas morning so you don't need to worry about safekeeping for the ring or your partner foiling your plans. Alternatively, you could pop the question while decorating the tree earlier in the festive season so that you're able to enjoy all of Christmastime as an engaged couple!
5. Christmas Present Under the Tree
What's a better Christmas gift than a diamond engagement ring? While opening presents on Christmas morning, asking your partner to marry you will be the very best gift of all.
6. Ski Trip Proposal
If you and your partner are big ski buffs, then turn your annual snow sports trip into a marriage proposal.
7. Christmas Movie Proposal
Create a winter wonderland date night as the backdrop for your proposal. There are so many great proposal-focused Christmas movies you could watch to set the tone for your own big ask.
8. Christmas Cracker Proposal
Christmas crackers are normally filled with small trinkets or tchotchkes, but you could consider having a special one made to house an engagement ring. Just be careful that when it comes time for your partner to pull open the cracker that they're in a safe spot where the ring can't go flying or get lost.
9. Ice Skating Proposal
Go for a few twirls around the rink before dropping to one knee to ask your S.O. for their hand in marriage.
10. Christmas Tree Farm
Talk about a romantic Christmas proposal! While trekking around a tree farm to find the perfect Frasier or Douglas fir, find a quiet moment to pop the question.
11. Christmas Card Photoshoot
If you want to ensure the proposal is caught on camera, consider booking a Christmas card photoshoot are a ruse. Plus, you'll be able to ensure your loved one is dressed to impress without them suspecting a thing.
12. Mistletoe Proposal
Guarantee that your proposal ends with a happy kiss by staging the big moment under a sprig of mistletoe.
13. Christmas Dinner With Family
If family is especially important to you, consider having them be part of the moment by proposing on Christmas day during family dinner.
14. Decorating Christmas Cookies
If your family has a tradition of decorating cookies on Christmas Eve, make the most of the tradition to ask the big question. Or even if it hasn't been a tradition in the past, start a new one this year that begins with cookie decorating and ends with the perfect ring.
15. On the Door Step
Pay homage to the classic holiday film Love Actually by professing your love on the doorstep. Who could resist a grand romantic gesture like that?
16. On a Sleigh Ride
If you live somewhere snowy where a sleigh ride or even a dog-sledding adventure is a possibility, turn the fun winter activity into a marriage proposal.
