Top 10 Christmas Proposal Ideas: How To Propose At Christmas

Too corny for some but just right for others, a Christmas proposal can be the perfect way to round off the festive season.

We’ve found that winter is the most popular time of year to get engaged, and there are plenty of reasons why. The snow is falling, the lights are twinkling and the festive spirit is in full swing - it’s hard not to get swept up in the moment!

But along with the obvious reasons, what is it that makes proposals at Christmas so popular? And, more importantly, is a winter engagement right for you? 

We’re going to discuss the pros and cons of getting engaged during the winter season, along with our top tips for planning the perfect Christmas proposal. In fact, if you’ve already decided that a festive proposal is right for you, feel free to skip ahead by hitting the button below!

How many people get engaged at Christmas? 

Although Valentine’s Day is often considered to be the most romantic occasion of the year, the Christmas season appears to be the most popular time to pop the question. 

While lockdowns were amidst us in 2020, this meant that Christmas Day was the time to pop the question. However, according to Wedding Wire, Christmas Day is still one of the most popular days for proposals in 2021, taking third place on the calendar, closely followed by New Year's Eve & Valentine's Day.

It’s a similar story here in the UK: research from Bridebook (a popular wedding planning app) states that more than 100,000 engagements occur during the Christmas season, with 40 percent taking place between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day in 2020. This has been backed up by events agency Chillisauce, who surveyed over 10,000 people and found that more proposals take place between December 24th and January 1st than any other time of the year!

Why is Christmas a popular time for wedding proposals?

The key reasons why people pop the question over the winter season might include:

• While Valentine’s Day is seen as more “romantic” in the typical sense, Christmas holds a lot of sentimental value for individuals and couples alike. Whether it’s due to religion, being able to spend time with loved ones, or simply getting swept up in the festive spirit, Christmas is an occasion that many of us already hold close to our hearts. Getting engaged just makes it even more special!
• For many couples, the biggest motivator is getting to celebrate with friends and family. Christmas is often spent with loved ones, meaning that you can easily share the big news while everyone is gathered in one place. 
• Getting engaged is a momentous occasion, and once it’s happened, you want to bask in the romance of that moment for as long as possible! Many people take time off work around Christmas, meaning that they have more free days to spend with their partner and enjoy that post-proposal bliss. 
• Finally, there’s no denying that Christmas and romance go hand in hand: cosying up by the fire, drinking hot chocolate, watching the snow fall outside… It’s the perfect backdrop to an unforgettable proposal.

Should I plan a Christmas proposal? 

Okay, so there are plenty of reasons why Christmas is a great time to get engaged - from celebrating with loved ones to having that extra time off work to spend with your new fiancé(e). But that doesn’t mean a Christmas proposal is right for everyone. 

Some people, just want Christmas to be Christmas. If you get engaged during an important holiday, it might feel like one celebration overshadows the other or that you have to compromise on celebrating your new engagement to make time for other festivities.

Furthermore, some people might not feel comfortable announcing the news over Christmas dinner. While sharing the news with friends and family is exciting, many people prefer to spend a few days just celebrating with their new bride/husband-to-be with zero distractions.

And finally, we mentioned that having time off work is a top reason for getting engaged over Christmas - but this obviously won’t apply to those who work in services like hospitality! For some, the festive period is actually the most stressful time of year.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide if a Christmas proposal is the right way to go. For any marriage proposal, you must consider your partner’s preferences (along with your own) and ask yourself what will make the moment perfect for you. 

How do I propose for Christmas?

If you decide that a Christmas marriage proposal is right for you, it will be unforgettable no matter what! It doesn’t get much more romantic than presenting a ring to her underneath the tree or getting down on one knee during a dreamy winter walk. 

If you’re searching for some unique, romantic or cute Christmas proposal ideas, we’ve got ten very special ideas for you!

1. Put the ring in their stocking

Maybe it’s a little cheesy, but it’s hard not to love this surprise Christmas proposal idea. When you sit down to open your stockings together on Christmas morning, just make sure she unwraps the ring box at the end - saving the best till last! 

2. Make a personalised engagement advent calendar

A personalised advent calendar is adorable in any circumstances, but one that ends in a proposal is truly unforgettable!

You can DIY the whole thing or buy a customisable advent calendar like this one. Whichever option you choose, you’ll be in charge of picking a mini gift for each day in the lead-up to Christmas; some cute ideas for your partner include their favourite sweets, chocolates or heartfelt notes. 

Of course, the engagement ring is reserved for the last day (whether that’s Christmas Eve or Christmas Day). Just make sure you’re there for the moment they open that final bag! 

3. Write them a Christmas card they’ll never forget

At first glance, this festive proposal idea might feel a little tame. But if you have a way with words, and if your partner is one to shy away from grand gestures, you might consider writing them an extra special Christmas card this year. 

It could be a traditional card filled with declarations of your love and commitment, or maybe you’ll get creative and write them a little festive poem! No matter what you choose to write, the important thing is that it comes from the heart.

You might also want to read it to them - just in case they glance towards the end and spoil the final surprise when you ask them to marry you.

4. Hang a new decoration on the tree

We love the surprise reveal of this Christmas proposal idea! While they might be expecting a ring to appear under the tree, they likely won’t expect to find one on the tree. 

Again, you have the option of DIY-ing this extra special decoration or you might choose to buy one. You can tie the engagement ring to a simple ornament and perhaps decorate it with the words “Will you marry me?” for the final touch. 

Of course, don’t hang this decoration up until the day you want your partner to find it! You might need to prompt them by asking if they’ve noticed anything different about the tree recently. They’re sure to be blown away!

5. Make a personalised proposal cracker

You’ll need a homemade or a “fill your own” Christmas cracker for this idea. Bonus points if it looks attractive - presentation is key, after all!

Next, all you need to do is place the engagement ring inside of the cracker. You might want to keep it in the box (if there’s space) or wrap it up in something for a little extra protection. Engagement rings are durable, but you don’t want to risk them flying off into the distance and getting damaged! 

Finally, wait for the right moment to offer it to your partner on Christmas Day. When you play, just try to make sure that they win! Failing this idea, why not try a Christmas proposal movie? Put all of your special memories together and have the question pop up on the screen at the end as another romantic concept!

6. Propose during a romantic winter walk

Simple yet romantic, this winter proposal idea is best reserved for snowy weather. 

If you live in an area of natural beauty, you might already have the perfect spot in mind to pop the question - otherwise, you might want to travel somewhere a little more scenic. 

One of the best things about this idea is that you can tailor it to your and your partner’s preferences. You might opt for a more intimate style, whereby you and your partner go for a quiet stroll together in a secluded spot; or perhaps you’ll pop the question during a post-Christmas dinner walk with all of the family. 

7. Ask them in lights

If your partner is one for big romantic gestures, this might be the perfect option.

The Christmas fairy light proposal is quite a novel idea, but it’s rapidly risen to popularity recently (possibly due to its social media shareability). Christmas lights are an integral part of the festive season, and including them in your proposal will surely make for a dazzling memory!

Gather together as many fairy lights as you can find, and spell out the words “Will you marry me?” in spectacularly twinkly fashion - and watch their face light up when you plug them in! Alternatively, you can use candles to spell the words out on the ground outside. Just ensure you’ve got a good vantage point from above so they can read the message!

8. Write it in snow

Go as big or as small as you want with this one. Spell out your proposal on a snowy lawn (again, ensure you’ve got a good viewpoint from above), or keep it simple and sweet by drawing on a snowy car windshield! 

9. Leave a gift under the Christmas tree

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with going back to basics. The simplicity of giving her an engagement ring as a present is undeniably romantic, and it’s sure to make for an unforgettable Christmas morning. Just make sure that you save this gift for last!

10. Keep it private

For our last Christmas proposal idea, why not keep the special occasion between you and your other half? If you’re looking for more thoughtful and intimate engagement inspiration, check out our top ideas for romantic home proposals - perfect for every season!

Bonus: Boxing Day Proposal

It’s no secret that it can feel a little underwhelming the day after Christmas. Many of us become a little deflated when we realise that the winter festivities are ending, so why not keep the celebrations going with a surprise Boxing Day proposal? 

If you want to stay true to the day's spirit, place the ring in the ring box - and then place that in another box, then another box, then another box... and so on. The surprise reveal at the end is sure to be worth it!

Bonus: New Year’s Eve Proposal

We know that New Year’s Eve is another popular time to propose, and it’s no surprise. Fireworks, fizz and celebrating with loved ones makes for the perfect backdrop to an unforgettable winter proposal! Wait until the clock strikes midnight to get down on one knee, and start the new year off with a bang.

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Will you be one of the loved up couples getting engaged this winter? We’d love to hear your Christmas proposal ideas or stories in the comments below! In the meantime, check out some of our stunning engagement rings or if you're unsure as to which ring to choose, read our blog on placeholder rings- a trend that's here to stay!