A guide to planning a surprise Christmas engagement

Christmas is one of the most popular times of the year to propose to your partner, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s something magical about the festive season which most people tend to love, making it the perfect time to pop the question. 

But, with so many Christmas proposals happening every year, it can be hard to think of special and unique ways to make it your own. You don’t need to plan something hugely extravagant or elaborate, after all, it is Christmas, but instead, put together some thoughtful and simple ideas that your partner will appreciate and love because it’s special to the two of you.

Whether you want to do it in private, or in a location surrounded by your family and friends, here is a quick guide, packed full of tips and ideas, for planning a surprise Christmas engagement. 

Figure out what proposal your partner will like

Before you even begin planning your engagement, it’s best to find out what your partner will like. Would they prefer a more private and intimate engagement, or are they happy to be proposed to in front of a crowd? Some people might love to be proposed to at a family gathering, whilst others would much prefer a quieter engagement in their own home. 

If you’re planning a surprise engagement, then asking your partner questions about what they would like might give it away, so enlist the help of friends and family members who will have inside knowledge. Once you have an idea of what type of proposal they would like, you can then start thinking about the ring!

Choosing the ring

Choosing the right engagement ring is one of the biggest parts of proposing. Offering a token of your love is a huge symbol of your commitment to your partner and is something that will stay with them for a lifetime – no pressure! If you’ve not discussed engagement ring types with your partner before, then you might be feeling a little stuck, but there are some ways you can find out what type of jewellery they like, then go off of that. 

Take a look at their current jewellery collection to see what metal they like, for example, if they like silver jewellery, avoid getting them a gold ring. This is a failsafe way to choose the right material for your engagement ring, then you just need to decide on the gemstones. If your partner is sentimental or prefers vintage jewellery pieces, then why not consider an antique engagement ring? Not only are they special and unique, but they become a timeless piece that can be kept in the family for many years to come. 

Simple engagement rings, with individual gemstones or plain bands, are ideal for those who are more relaxed and laidback about their style and want a jewellery piece that can be paired with anything. If you really are stuck, ask a close friend or family member what types of jewellery they like, or if you have a few ideas but can’t find the right ring, speak to a jeweller who will be able to help. 

Planning the proposal

Now that you’ve got an idea of what type of proposal your partner would like and have got the ring sorted, it’s time to start planning your surprise engagement! Christmas is full of so many romantic opportunities to propose, so now it’s time to start getting your ideas together and finalising the big day. 

If you’re planning a romantic and private proposal, then you might need to start ordering items to add to the engagement, or if you’re doing it in a location or with friends and family members present, you’ll need to start getting everyone together and ensuring they keep the day free and proposal a secret!

There are so many Christmas proposal ideas, it can be hard to choose just one. With that in mind, here are some ideas you can use:

Advent calendar proposal

Everyone loves an advent calendar, and what better way to have a laidback and romantic proposal than by making your partner their own advent calendar, filled with some of their favourite things? Get an empty advent calendar and fill it with their favourite chocolates, small bottles of alcohol or even more personal things, like Lego or stationary. Then, on the 24th or 25th, you can pop the ring inside and wait for them to open! 

Christmas lights

Lights are a must at Christmas and what could be more surprising than using Christmas lights to pop the question! You could use this for both intimate or public proposals, by using lights hung up inside, spelling out “Marry Me?” waiting for them to get home from work, or you could hang them outside and get your friends and family together and waiting in the front garden for when you get back from a date night!

Decorating the tree

A lot of couples decorate the Christmas tree together, so make it a real day and play Christmas music, warm some mulled wine and decorate as you would normally. Then, as you end the near of decorating the tree, present them with a personalised decoration or bauble, with your engagement ring inside. You can keep the decoration for years to come, plus it’s a great story to look back on for many years to come and is a great tradition to keep.

On the day…

All your planning and preparation is complete and now it’s the big day! Remember, the day doesn’t end when you propose, so if you’re planning a morning engagement, why not arrange a romantic meal or drinks in your favourite bar for the evening so you can really make the most of the day and start chatting about future plans

If you’re planning a public proposal, after the moment and celebrations with family and friends, remember to have a private moment where it is just the two of you so that you have time to soak it all in. This is a big day for the two of you, so you want to avoid feeling overwhelmed with all the excitement. In the build-up to the proposal, relax and take your time and remember to take in every moment – good luck! 

Natalie Wilson
Natalie Wilson
Natalie Wilson is a freelance writer and avid decorator and interior designer. She loves discovering home renovation blogs and Instagram accounts and spending her free time shopping. She aims to buy her own home in the next year and begin her very own renovation project! You can connect with her on Twitter @NatWilson976.
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