How to propose 25+ ways to create, capture and celebrate a romantic proposal

No.1

Make sure you and your partner are ready

Taking this next step in your relationship is a significant milestone. You’re about to ask someone to spend the rest of their life with you, promising to love and support them through good times and bad. As you go into your proposal, you want to be reasonably sure that they’ll say yes.

Whilst it might feel more of a fairytale to make your proposal a complete surprise, talking about marriage with your partner ahead of getting down on one knee will give you a key indicator whether your values and dreams for the future align. In fact, recent research by The Knot suggests that 47% of couples in a serious relationship thought that marriage should be discussed prior to a proposal.

This doesn’t mean you can’t plan an amazing, romantic proposal – it just means you should be sure you’re both ready to take the next step before you pop the question. Hopefully, this should take some of the pressure off you as well, as you feel more confident in their answer.

No.2

Ask for permission or a blessing if necessary

Traditionally, the groom-to-be would ask the woman’s father for permission to propose. In 2025, for many couples, this is a tradition that’s not as popular, especially in the UK. However, it’s still a popular choice in the US, where 71% of people still choose to ask their partner’s parents beforehand.

Some people compromise, and ask their future spouse’s parents for their blessing, rather than permission. This doesn’t necessarily mean their father – it might be both parents, siblings, grandparents or someone else significant in your partner’s life. It’s a way to include the family, show respect and demonstrate that it’s important to you that they’re happy. It’s also a vital part of many cultures, where family is a central part of life. 

On the other hand, some couples feel that the decision about getting married should be a private discussion between them alone. 

You should try to establish what your partner would prefer so that you can go into the big moment knowing that you’ve met their wishes. Showing you’ve taken the time to understand their preferences and meet with their parents if necessary just demonstrates how much you love and understand them.

No.3

Think carefully about the location, date and time

Your proposal is a story you’ll tell to friends and family members throughout your life. As such, part of what makes it such a romantic moment is bringing together the right alchemy of the perfect place, date and time.

When you’re thinking about where to propose, you could:

Try to think about what your partner would like best. They need to be happy and relaxed in order to enjoy your proposal, and they should be comfortable sharing the story with your family and friends. If they’re an introverted, private person, then a public place isn’t likely to be suitable – but if they’re the life and soul of the party, they may relish a proposal with an audience.

Once you’ve set the location, try to set a date and time. This might not be possible if your plans are weather dependent, but it’s essential if you want someone to capture the big moment on film.

Unless you know this is something your partner would like, it can be best to avoid proposing on birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, as they tend to be stand-alone celebrations – and it’s a definite etiquette no-go to propose at someone else’s event.

No.4

Get the ring size as close as possible...

A ring is central to any proposal, both as an outward marker of your engaged status and as a show of lifelong love, commitment and trust in each other. Picking the right ring is often the part of the proposal that keeps prospective newlyweds up at night – you’ll want to be sure that you’ve chosen a piece that your soon-to-be fiancé will love and be happy wearing forever.

Try to make sure that the ring is as close to the right size as possible, so you can capture the ‘putting the ring on the finger’ moment on camera, as well as snapping a photo of your new fiancé showing it off. It’s better for it to be too big than too small, so size up if you’re not confident.

No.5

...Or have a promise ring

If you’re not sure on size, don’t know what style your partner would prefer, or want to design a custom ring together, then don’t let this hold you back from proposing. You can use a promise ring to propose, and then upgrade to a permanent ring later on.

Don’t be tempted to skip the ring altogether – having a placeholder will make your new fiancé feel more ‘engaged’ and will give you something to have on their finger for your proposal photos. Choosing a ring, even a temporary one, is also a sign of the care and thought you’ve put into this moment. It’s also a lovely gesture that shows you’re committed to designing or choosing a ring together.

No.6

Getting friends and family involved

Some people love a private proposal – but for others, having friends and family involved makes the moment even more meaningful. If the latter applies to your partner, then make sure you plan ahead of time and get everyone in on the surprise.

This could mean that your future spouse’s loved ones are waiting at a restaurant to celebrate with you, or that they’re actively involved – for example, hosting a gathering where you then propose. If you’re not sure what they’d like, it’s best to opt for meeting friends and family afterwards, in case having them there is too overwhelming and impacts the moment. 

Make sure you swear anyone else to secrecy, so that they don’t ruin the surprise. Group chats should be carefully hidden from your partner, and try to keep the timeframe short, so that no one has to keep the secret over a long period of time. Doing so will give you the best chance of avoiding an accidental slip up.

No.7

Pets and children

Present-day relationships have evolved to be more than just two people. You may have pets that are a beloved part of your family, or have children either from your current or previous relationships. Bringing them into your proposal, as well as including them in your wedding, can make for a truly personal experience that your partner will really appreciate.

Children and pets can be unpredictable at the best of times, so unless you’ve got older children, it’s better not to hinge your entire plan on them doing what they’re told. Instead, see them as enhancement that can be added on the day if things go to plan. For example, they could carry the ring. If this isn’t going down well on the day, you can then simply hold the ring yourself and have your child or your pet in the same room to celebrate with afterwards.

No.8

Deciding what to say

Proposing is a big chance to shower your partner with love and tell them how much they mean to you. Especially if you’re not usually vocal about your feelings, it’s a chance to step out of your comfort zone and give a speech that demonstrates that making them feel loved is important to you.

Planning is key here: once you’re in the moment, unless you’ve prepared, there’s a chance that you might just go blank and simply say “will you marry me?”. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with this, if a big proposal is what you’re aiming for, it pays to do some preparation. 

Try writing out your speech beforehand, and rehearse it ahead of time. You don’t have to get it word perfect on the day, but if you’re familiar with it, you’ll improve your chances of remembering what you’d like to say. The main thing is to make it heartfelt and sincere.

No.9

Outfits and nails

Will your future spouse mind what they’re wearing, how their hair looks or if they’ve had their nails done when you propose? If the answer is yes, then you need to put in some preparation to make sure they get what they wish for. 

One way to do this is to recruit your partner’s close friends – if they suggest a spa day, special dinner or other event, the chances are that your significant other will dress up accordingly. You can then whisk them away for a romantic proposal instead. This is probably the least suspicious and most reliable option.

Alternatively, if your partner regularly gets their nails done, you could call the salon and get them on board with your plan. Either time your proposal in line with their regular appointments, or pay for an appointment yourself, which the salon can then offer to your future fiancé under the pretence of offering ‘free’ bonus sessions to loyal customers, or framing it as extra training.

No.19

Write down how you feel

There’s a lot of heightened emotion when you propose; all the excitement and relief can sometimes mean that when you look back on it, you completely forget what you said. Both you and your husband or wife-to-be might want to consider taking a moment to pause and write down how you’re feeling and what happened, so you can look back on it in years to come. Especially when you get caught up in wedding planning, it’s a lovely thing to read over and remember why any stress is all worth it.

No.20

Pause before you tell people

Letting people know you’re engaged can feel a bit like breaking a bubble that just contains the two of you. Once you’ve told other people, you’ll likely start getting questions about wedding dates, dress ideas, guest lists – so it’s completely up to you when you decide to tell other people. It can be exciting to have others celebrate with you, but it’s also a change of dynamic. Unless you really can’t wait, taking 24 hours to just enjoy this milestone together can really ensure the romance of your proposal isn’t lost to logistics.

No.21

Announcing your engagement to close family and friends

Your close family and friends would usually be the first people to know that you’re engaged. Typically, this means letting both your parents know, and then sharing the news with your friends and extended family. It’s up to you whether you tell them in person or over the phone, depending on how close you live and your respective other commitments. 

It can be worth specifying to whoever you tell that you’d rather they didn’t share the news until you give them the go-ahead – otherwise you run the risk of someone being offended if they didn’t hear from you directly. The last thing you want is an upset relative to spoil your engagement mood.

No.22

Sharing your engagement on social media

Sharing your engagement on social media is the new equivalent of posting a notice in the newspaper. Research suggests that around three-quarters of couples announce their new status this way, usually within two days of the proposal.

When crafting your social media post, try to settle for just a few images and a short caption. Unless you both appreciate public displays of affection, a few words is better – save any romantic declarations for your partner.

Some platforms allow you to do a joint post, which can be a great way to cement your newly-engaged status and ensure that your friends and family can all post their congratulatory comments in one place. Gen Z, in particular, would prefer upwards of 50 likes on their engagement post – if this applies to you, creating a joint announcement is the best way to achieve this.

No.23

Engagement photoshoots

If you didn’t get any photos of your proposal, you can still celebrate this important time with an engagement photoshoot. Not only does having pictures taken allow you to show off your ring, but it can be a good warm-up for your wedding day, helping you get to know your photographer and feel more confident and comfortable in front of the camera. Plus, these photos are fantastic for wedding invitations, your wedding website, thank you cards or even for displaying at the venue as part of your wedding decór.

No.24

Hosting an engagement party

Engagement parties used to be a way for the parents of the bride and groom to announce the engagement; nowadays, it’s simply a chance for you to celebrate with your friends and family, who already know you’re engaged.

Remember that having a party isn’t compulsory, nor is having a huge celebration. Do things your way, whether that’s a small dinner party at your home or hiring out a local venue for an evening of drinks and dancing. Whatever you choose, try not to let it stress you out and take the shine off your engagement. You’ll have enough to organise when you plan the wedding, so aim to make this as easy as possible.

No.25

Plan an engagement-moon

Want to stay in your excited bubble of bliss for a little while longer? Why not plan an engagement-moon trip away? Taking a short holiday can be a lovely way to mark the occasion and take a break from everyday life – especially when you live together, it can be easy to slip back into the mundane details of who’s cooking dinner or who is taking the bins out. Even a few days away can give you space to celebrate your relationship and talk about the future together.

This sort of trip can also be a good idea if you’re expecting a long engagement. You don’t have to go right away – you could cement the details of your big day first, and then go as a reset on the wedding stress – but it’s important to remember why you’re getting married as you go through the planning process.

No.26

Embrace this time as fiancés

This might be your only chance to be a fiancé – so embrace it. Celebrate your first meal together as an engaged couple, the first trip, your first photo with the ring on, or go all-out with fiancé themed cards for Christmas, birthdays or Valentine’s Day. It might seem silly, but keeping this playful excited energy will help make this time special.