Proposing at Christmas

Mental Mickey

Hi

Am looking for some input/ideas for proposing to my OH around Christmas/New Year.

We've been going out for just over two years now, and feel that this is the next step.

I have the ring already -I originally meant to keep it as a surprise, but I couldn't keep my mouth shut & took her along to get fitted and to choose a ring.

I am looking for some proposal ideas(be they old fashioned, unique, corny, romantic or whatever). She obviously knows that I'm going to pop the question, but not when, so I'm looking to catch her off guard.

Hope this all makes sense?

whiskeyman

Do you have somewhere that yee both lovely going for walks / visits?
Perhaps bring her there over the Christmas time?
The fact she knows you have it, I'd avoid giving on Christmas day etc... as she'd probably expect it more then?

Personally, I would never have considered a Christmas engagement, and I know my OH wouldn't have wanted one either!

whiskeyman

oh, and congrats by the way!

dori_dormer

I'd do it xmas eve, maybe on a nice walk. I like things simple though. Then she'd have the ring to show off xmas day when visiting friends and family.

My cousin recently got engaged. Her boyfriend had a whole day planned, and gave her envelopes to choose what to do. So she got 2 choices of what he'd make her for breakfast, then he gave her 2 choices of mornign activity, then two choices for lunch, two choices for afternoon activity. She was wrecked at the end of the day, but they are very romantic so nothing dawned on her that the day was extra special. The decided to just spend the evening relaxing at home and playing scrabble. She went and got the wine and he set up the scrabble. When she came back the letters on the board said ' will you marry me?' Was lovely!

Now I'd know my oh was up to soemthing with a day like that planned but she was very surprised!

ElleEm

Are you set on doing it at christmas? It is so cliche and very obvious if she knows it's coming. I don't think it is that special either, as lots of people get engaged in christmas eve/ christmas day. Why not do it on new years day, start the year off engaged?

I recently got engaged and my fella brought me back to the place we had our first kiss. I thought it was a beautiful sentiment. We both cried!

nikkibikki

I'd do it Xmas eve or before it if I were you. I knew hubby was gonna propose to me at some stage and it was torture waiting and each "special" day that came and went I was disappointed. In the end, he proposed on a random Monday evening in November over a cup of tea in our kitchen! Caught me completely by surprise! It was perfect! Candles lit and everything. She might be waiting for it Xmas eve or Xmas Day and might be disappointed if those days pass and it doesn't happen.

Jude13

ElleEm wrote: »

Are you set on doing it at christmas? It is so cliche and very obvious if she knows it's coming. I don't think it is that special either, as lots of people get engaged in christmas eve/ christmas day. Why not do it on new years day, start the year off engaged?

I recently got engaged and my fella brought me back to the place we had our first kiss. I thought it was a beautiful sentiment. We both cried!

Each to their own but some would see the first kiss proposal as cliche

ElleEm

Jude13 wrote: »

Each to their own but some would see the first kiss proposal as cliche

It is unique to each couple though, and isn't dictated by special occasions on a calender. Each christmas/ new years eve there are at least three couples i know that get engaged each year. It just seems like the "done thing". I preferred the surprise element of it happening on a random day. It also helps that the place is not an obscure location so it was not unusual to be there. But again, some people like tradition so may like getting engaged at christmas.

solerina

Make sure she will be happy with a Christmas proposal, I know I would have been annoyed, too many people get engaged at Christmas and loads expected us to get engaged too. We waited until end of March...not Christmas and def not Vakentines day

1hnr79jr65

Do it at xmas dinner, you could get the wish bone from turkey and ask her to split it with you then let her win the "wish" after that you can propose and say "i hope this is what you wished for"

intheclouds

Wow - I never knew people would be "annoyed" over getting proposed to at certain times of the year!! Certainly takes the romance out of it if the proposee is annoyed!!

Do it the day before xmas eve. Go to a place that is special for you both OR watch a movie/listen to music or have some reference that is special for you both.

If you do it just before xmas eve then she will have the news and ring to show off over the whole xmas.

best of luck - being engaged is lovely!

stargazer 68

Op I have to echo what some of the others have said. Why wait until Xmas eve when she already knows? Surprise her before when you are wrapping presents or getting lists sorted - an element of surprise. Best of luck

dori_dormer

Yeah I really think it's weird that people would get annoyed over being proposed to at a certain time of year. Sure she already picked the ring so knows it's coming. She's likely already spilt the beans to some close family or friends if she's excited. I don't think timing matters much if it's the one you love!

Sure I was proposed to in the kitchen in my pjs right before heading to bed on a random fri night!

My cousin that I mentioned above got engaged a few weeks ago. My friend got engaged that same weekend, and my sister the weekend before. It made none of them any less special just because they happened at the same time.

mahoganygas

You're mental, Mickey!

stargazer 68

dori_dormer wrote: »

Sure I was proposed to in the kitchen in my pjs right before heading to bed on a random fri night!
.

Mine was also in my pjs watching the late late show! Makes a funny story to tell though!

Princess Peach

solerina wrote: »

Make sure she will be happy with a Christmas proposal, I know I would have been annoyed, too many people get engaged at Christmas and loads expected us to get engaged too. We waited until end of March...not Christmas and def not Vakentines day

Have to agree, I have a tally of December engagements of people I know or have seen on Facebook, 6 so far this month.

She might love it, I just know I would hate it! So much to celebrate in December as is, why not wait until after the commotion has died down and really enjoy the engagement without so much else going on.

intheclouds

intheclouds wrote: »

Wow - I never knew people would be "annoyed" over getting proposed to at certain times of the year!! Certainly takes the romance out of it if the proposee is annoyed!!

The stuff I read on this forum never ceases to leave me with my jaw dropped.

I cannot believe someone would actually be "annoyed" to be proposed to - any day of the year.

I am stunned. Seriously.

It sounds very very spoilt.

Mental Mickey

mahoganygas wrote: »

You're mental, Mickey!

Zzzzzz

Mental Mickey

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The stuff I read on this forum never ceases to leave me with my jaw dropped.

I cannot believe someone would actually be "annoyed" to be proposed to - any day of the year.

I am stunned. Seriously.

It sounds very very spoilt.

That's social media for ya! :-)

Princess Peach

Well for me personally its the fact that within one week we have Christmas, New Years and both of our birthdays, as well as a couple of family birthdays, too much :P

I just think there's that lull in January where things can be a bit miserable that might make for a nice time for an engagement.

eviltwin

The problem with these questions is we don't know you, we don't know what places, events, dates etc have special significance, what your own personal tastes are. I'd have hated a Christmas proposal so my head is going Nooooo but that means nothing, it could be the most perfect way to do it for your partner. I think asking here makes things more confusing cause you get a range of opinions. You know her, we don't. Go with your gut instinct. The proposal is the most important thing so even if you get the setting not quite 100% perfect so what, it's just window dressing. Congratulations.

Jude13

Thank god I have avoided a partner who would be annoyed at getting proposed to at a certain time of year, it screams to me as a life time of grief.

Mental Mickey

Jude13 wrote: »

Thank god I have avoid a partner who would be annoyed at getting proposed to at a certain type of year, screams to me as a life time of grief.

This makes no sense

zaphodbeeb

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Hi

I have the ring already -I originally meant to keep it as a surprise, but I couldn't keep my mouth shut & took her along to get fitted and to choose a ring.

I am looking for some proposal ideas(be they old fashioned, unique, corny, romantic or whatever). She obviously knows that I'm going to pop the question, but not when, so I'm looking to catch her off guard.

Hope this all makes sense?

Not really - I mean, you've kind of proposed already haven't you? And she's pretty much said yes too given that she's picked out the ring?! :-)

Dude - you're engaged already hahahaha. Maybe take her out for dinner, then suggest a pub after and propose on the way (to pub). Especially if it's raining.

But seriously, is it just me?

Best of luck with everything - although it sounds as if you've not too much to worry about. Although don't leave it too long.

As regards people saying there are times they'd hate to be proposed to... I think if I'd have had that reaction from my missus I'd have seriously re-considered the whole thing...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

wuffly

Congrats and best of luck.
My OH proposed on Christmas eve, brought me off hiking after a 7 hour flight :eek: it was lovely and very us. You know her and know what she would like. The romantic day with the options that was mentioned above would be something i would like, she already knows but might be nice to have few little surprises, depends on her and if she would like that.
Didn't know Christmas engagements were a thing? I wouldn't be annoyed about a day or anything like that but i would have been really uncomfortable with anything public or a room fully of family and friends behind a door!

Toots

Guys can I just remind posters to have a bit of tact when expressing their opinions? Just because something isn't what one person would like doesn't mean it's rubbish or cliche.

OP I used to work with a guy who was in the exact situation as you - they'd bought the ring and he was planning to propose over Xmas. What he did was got a shoebox sized box and a load of packing pellets and put the ring box in the shoebox, then added the packing (so the box wouldn't rattle around) wrapped the whole thing up and gave it to her. They exchanged gifts on Xmas eve, and she was genuinely caught by surprise, the big box really threw her.

My SIL got engaged on Xmas day (also her birthday). Her bf handed her a "Merry Christmas Wife" card and she turned around to ask him why he'd given her that he was down on one knee with the ring.

stargazer 68

Toots wrote: »

My SIL got engaged on Xmas day (also her birthday). Her bf handed her a "Merry Christmas Wife" card and she turned around to ask him why he'd given her that he was down on one knee with the ring.

Oh now thats sweet!

Mental Mickey

I can't do the whole "down on one knee" thing

Toots

Mental Mickey wrote: »

I can't do the whole "down on one knee" thing

Ah sure that's optional!

Larbre34

Avoid Christmas proposals. Those that would be most likely want to celebrate with you will be tied up with other things and it will slip by. Do it at the end of January, as I did, had the party a week before Valentines and stole a march on everyone. Also, any venues you might wish to use may be quieter.

Willfarman

Avoid cliches at all costs... You have to be unique.

Like everybody else!

Toto Wolfcastle

Mental Mickey wrote: »

I can't do the whole "down on one knee" thing

If my husband had gone down on one knee we'd probably still be there trying to get him back up!

Best of luck with the proposal and congratulations. I'm sure whatever you decide to do it will be lovely. Merry Christmas!

Star Lord

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Am looking for some input/ideas for proposing to my OH around Christmas/New Year....
... so I'm looking to catch her off guard.

What about picking the day she'd be least likely to suspect? So many people get engaged at Christmas, or on the run up to it, or new years eve. What about something like December 27th/28th? Or January 2nd/3rd? those kinda lull days where it's between or after the big days? Give you an extra day to celebrate!

intheclouds

Mental Mickey wrote: »

I can't do the whole "down on one knee" thing

My husband didnt do the down on one knee thing. Its not a necessary part at all.

MintyMagnum

My cousin got proposed to in the middle of a lake, in a rowing boat. Was different.

ChewChew

I didn't think I'd want to get engaged at Christmas or any time around an event but Dec 20th last year we got engaged and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. My best friend who lives in the Middle East was home at the time and she'd had the ring made over there after my partner designed the ring and sent it to her. She was home for Christmas so my partner wanted to do it while she was home. I actually had the night planned for him because I wanted to treat him to a nice evening. We went to a lovely hotel, had a fabulous meal and had the place to ourselves and there was a stunning open fire with a comfy sofa so when we were chilling out there he popped the question!! It was beautiful because he txt my friend to tell her I said yes. We were going to visit her at the parents house any ways and there was loads of people there when we arrived and they had a lovely champagne toast for us! It was extra special as we were telling people about our pregnancy too but I wouldn't change it. It genuinely was so magical!

Best of luck OP

Electric Sheep

zaphodbeeb wrote: »

Not really - I mean, you've kind of proposed already haven't you? And she's pretty much said yes too given that she's picked out the ring?! :-)

Dude - you're engaged already hahahaha. Maybe take her out for dinner, then suggest a pub after and propose on the way (to pub). Especially if it's raining.

But seriously, is it just me?
!

Exactly. It's a bit silly to pop a question that has already been anwered. Just decide between you when to announce the already existing engagement. There is nothing romantic about a fake proposal.

honerbright

Electric Sheep wrote: »

Exactly. It's a bit silly to pop a question that has already been anwered. Just decide between you when to announce the already existing engagement. There is nothing romantic about a fake proposal.

I disagree with this. Yes, they've agreed to get engaged, but that doesn't mean they are already engaged.

I picked out my engagement ring in early april this year, I knew my OH was going to ask me and I did not consider us to already be engaged. In late may we went for a walk around Killarney National Park and he got down on one knee and then we went for a meal in a nice restaurant. Knowing it was going to happen did not take away from the romance of it, and it was still extremely special and my favourite day from this year.

OP, no matter what day you do it, whether it be christmas day, new years day or any other day of the year it will always be a stand out and special day in both of your lives.

eviltwin

honerbright wrote: »

I disagree with this. Yes, they've agreed to get engaged, but that doesn't mean they are already engaged.

I picked out my engagement ring in early april this year, I knew my OH was going to ask me and I did not consider us to already be engaged. In late may we went for a walk around Killarney National Park and he got down on one knee and then we went for a meal in a nice restaurant. Knowing it was going to happen did not take away from the romance of it, and it was still extremely special and my favourite day from this year.

OP, no matter what day you do it, whether it be christmas day, new years day or any other day of the year it will always be a stand out and special day in both of your lives.

But if you've agreed to get married you are engaged surely? You don't have to have a proposal to make it legit

Mental Mickey

eviltwin wrote: »

But if you've agreed to get married you are engaged surely? You don't have to have a proposal to make it legit

We haven't announced it yet, and the ring isn't on her finger. I have it - I'm going to do it when she least expects it.

honerbright

eviltwin wrote: »

But if you've agreed to get married you are engaged surely? You don't have to have a proposal to make it legit

I'm sure most couples talk about getting married in the future, doesn't mean they're engaged just because of this? Myself and my OH had talked about getting married 'one day' back in 2007.

A ring was picked out so that he knew it would be the right size and that I would like it. He also said that he would only ever propose once in his life, and wanted to do it right

eviltwin

honerbright wrote: »

I'm sure most couples talk about getting married in the future, doesn't mean they're engaged just because of this? Myself and my OH had talked about getting married 'one day' back in 2007.

A ring was picked out so that he knew it would be the right size and that I would like it. He also said that he would only ever propose once in his life, and wanted to do it right

I never got a ring or a proposal, still got married though. I considered us engaged when we decided to get married.

Mental Mickey

Everyone's different though.....

Felexicon

Mental Mickey wrote:

We haven't announced it yet, and the ring isn't on her finger. I have it - I'm going to do it when she least expects it.

Look mate don't mind what anyone in here says.
You know what will make it special for you guys so just go ahead and plan every detail the way you know she'll like it.
Then when it comes to the day loads of things will go wrong and you'll realise that it's doing it and not how you do it that will matter.

PennyWren

Mental Mickey wrote: »

We haven't announced it yet, and the ring isn't on her finger. I have it - I'm going to do it when she least expects it.

I agree, you are not engaged yet. I knew my oh was going to propose, I'd seen the ring and everything but nothing compares to the moment he actually asked! No matter how much it wasn't a surprise, that fact that the man I love asked me to marry him was still a surprise if that makes sense.
Do it whenever feels right to you, personally I wanted it to be private, a moment just for us but that's me, you'll know what she would like.
Congratulations to you both! It's a wonderful, exciting time no matter when it happens.

Faith

Felexicon wrote: »

Look mate don't mind what anyone in here says.
You know what will make it special for you guys so just go ahead and plan every detail the way you know she'll like it.
Then when it comes to the day loads of things will go wrong and you'll realise that it's doing it and not how you do it that will matter.

Exactly. My husband proposed on my birthday, which is 2 days before Valentine's Day. The timing meant nothing to me because I was so happy and excited. He had a big proposal planned at the beach (I believe), but a massive storm hit that day and we were too busy dealing with the slates flying off our roof to go for a walk! By that evening, I was in foul humour and kept refusing his requests to do romantic things, so he ended up proposing in our bedroom while I did my makeup. In the end, absolutely nothing mattered except that we were engaged.

Penny Dreadful

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Everyone's different though.....

Exactly. What one person or couple sees as a cliche another will see as a lovely romantic proposal.
You do what is right for you and your girlfriend. You know her better than any of us here.
Propose today, tomorow, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, whenever it is right for you guys. It will be lovely and special for you.

I know one couple who got engaged at the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park and they think it was the best place ever to get engaged. I thought "ugh, would hate that" but it doesn't matter a damn to them. They had their experience and loved it. They might well hate how and where I got engaged but I loved it for us.

Good luck with the proposal and enjoy the engaged bliss.

dori_dormer

I'm sure if your girlfriend detested the idea of getting engaged at xmas time, she probably would have made her feelings very clear already since she knows you have the ring.

Jbubs

Sour Lemonz wrote: »

Do it at xmas dinner, you could get the wish bone from turkey and ask her to split it with you then let her win the "wish" after that you can propose and say "i hope this is what you wished for"

Heave

Jbubs

She's probably going to be expecting it at any moment now as she knows it's coming. I doubt you'll be able to surprise her now that she's picked out her own ring, that ship has sailed..
But understand to want to make it special in some way. So what are you doing this weekend? Heading around town for some shopping? Will you be having a meal or few drinks? Just incorporate into something like that. But you'll need to decide yourself how cheesey it's going to be based on what she would like. Would she like it in public? Do you live together? How about at home at the Christmas tree with champagne?
We decided to get engaged in August and we got my ring and partner said he'd do something special but I honestly didn't want to take the ring off. I didn't want or need any big declaration, but that's just my personality. Wed been together over 7 years and have a mortgage and son so it was just a matter of sealing the deal

amdublin

I'd put it in a little ring box and hang it on the tree like a Christmas decoration. And then I'd point to it and say I've never seen that decoration before have you.


Even better I'd put it in this box!
http://www.newbridgesilverware.com/products/giftware/ladies/item/WY6887L/Ring+Box