How nailing the proposal might just help seal the deal
Proposal season – aka the period between Bonfire Night and Valentine’s Day – is upon us, and with it comes the nerve-wracking planning around popping the question. Stumped on how to do it? A lot of people are. Put your own spin on one of these five creative (non-cheesy) proposal ideas. Whether you want to do it in a simple but unique way or you're ready to organise a super surprise with drum rolls, there's something for everyone. Plus, to help you seal the deal, we’ve gone the extra mile and suggested an engagement ring style for every type of proposal. Well, what are bridal besties for?
Our top five proposal ideas
Over the past (nearly) two years the world proposed on TikTok, announced engagements on Instagram, and got married on Zoom. Technology brought us together, and the pandemic has forever changed the rules that have been notoriously tradition-bound.
From nailing the perfect ringfie to telling your family via Facebook, it’s safe to say, the digital age has changed engagement etiquette forever. But when it comes to seeking out the very best proposal ideas, even the most Gen Z of couples are captivated by the tradition of proposing.
For the generation who came up with prom-posals, scroll down for ideas that are all about flexing your creativity, flamboyant extravagance, and often, much more OTT than just getting down on one knee.
Restaurant proposal ideas
From our favourite restaurant to our go-to brunch spot to vibe at the weekend. If there’s one thing us millennials like to do is eat well. Foodies at heart, our evenings and weekends are taken up with bottomless brunching or sampling the best green smoothies. And as professional brunchers, what better way to propose than over a pancake stack? Whether piled high and stodgy, American style, or mixed with buckwheat and topped with ricotta, combine it with a dazzling diamond pear ring and you’re reaching perfection. For extra measure, consider looping in Tony the barista and ask him to write it on their cup and add heart latte art. Scroll to pick your perfect pear.
Perfect Pears
9ct White Gold 0.25ct Total Diamond Pear Halo Ring
£599 | was £799The Diamond Story 18ct White Gold 0.33ct Total Diamond Ring
£1750Emmy London 18ct White Gold 0.50ct Total Diamond Pear Ring
£999 | was £19999ct White Gold 0.33ct Total Diamond Pear Cut Halo Ring
£9999ct White Gold 0.20ct Total Diamond Pear-shaped Cluster Ring
£4999ct White Gold 0.15ct Total Diamond Pear Cluster Ring
£399Outdoor proposal ideas
The list for outdoor proposal ideas is limitless. Choose your favourite outdoor spot at sunrise or sunset – where you met, where had your first date, where you first said ILY. A wooded wonderland, a lavender field, a pumpkin patch, would all make for the perfect alfresco proposal setting.
For anyone in London, there’s landmarks galore to choose as your backdrop. Begin your happily-ever-after with panoramic views at The London Eye, Tower Bridge or the Shard. Or, if your idea of the great outdoors is more countryside than cityscape, London is also ridiculously green – so much so that it falls under the UN’s definition of a forest. Yep, you read that right, a forest. From Richmond and Regent’s to Hyde and Holland, there’s no excuse not to get down on one knee amongst the birds and the bees in London’s parks. And for those with a flair for the dramatic you could create a seriously epic scavenger hunt. A trail of roses on a beach? Clues across town? A woodland trail? Not forgetting the pièce de resistance – a lavish proposal demands a look-at-me halo engagement ring. Scroll for the goods.
Heavenly halos
The Diamond Story 18ct White Gold 0.50ct Total Diamond Ring
£22509ct White Gold 0.33ct Total Diamond Round Halo Ring
£999Emmy London 18ct White Gold Halo 0.40ct Total Diamond Ring
£14999ct Yellow Gold 0.33ct Total Diamond Round Halo Ring
£99918ct White Gold 0.50ct Total Diamond Round Halo Ring
£1499Emmy London Platinum 0.33ct Total Diamond Halo Ring
£1699Unique proposal ideas
Yes, a hot air balloon, a private plane, or hiring a skywriter are all larger-than-life proposals but are they unique? No, not necessarily. Unique to us, is personal, something that means something to the both of you and only you two. Don’t know where to start? Ask them after the last curtain call at your favourite play. (You could even add your own plot twist and get on stage). For the stargazers, ask under the constellations; for the skiers spell it in the snow; for the beach lovers write it in the sand; for the thrill seekers ask them at the top of The Big One. Whether it’s the sky, sea, sand or wherever, choose somewhere unique to you. Speaking of unique, make the ring as one off as the proposal, with unusual shapes like the baguette and coloured stones that speak to their individual style. Diamond engagement rings come in an array of shapes, sizes, styles and cuts, so extensive you better get your thinking cap on!
Shapes of love
The Forever Diamond 18ct Yellow Gold 0.40ct Total Ring
£799 | was £1999Emmy London 18ct White Gold Sapphire & Diamond Ring
£899Emmy London 18ct White Gold 0.25ct Total Diamond Halo Ring
£1099Emmy London 18ct White Gold 0.25ct Total Diamond Halo Ring
£699 | was £13999ct Yellow Gold 0.14ct Diamond & Pear Emerald Ring
£699The Forever Diamond 18ct Yellow Gold 0.33ct Total Ring
£1099 | was £1499Home proposal ideas
Home is where the heart is, right? A simple home proposal can often be the most meaningful. And your wife, husband, or partner-to-be? Well, they’re the low-key type that doesn’t vibe with a grand public display of affection or attention. But just because they don’t want a Kimye-esque ‘Please Marry Me’ sign flashed across a baseball stadium jumbotron; doesn’t mean they don’t want something special. This is a milestone moment, after all. You want it to be memorable. With that in mind, here are our suggestions to help you get your homemade proposal right. (Spoiler alert: start ordering candles.)
- Make the home proposal-worthy – yes, that includes doing the laundry.
- Build up the suspense – a pathway of candles will add some proposal pizazz.
- Pop, fizz, clink – transform one room or space with a beautiful backdrop: flowers, more candles and a bottle (or two) of champagne should do it.
- Cook – the evening doesn’t have to end once that stunning solitaire is on their finger. If Harry can propose to Meghan over a roast chicken, then you can do it over their favourite food, too.
- And remember, just because the proposal is low-key – it doesn’t mean the engagement ring has to be. Scroll for standout solitaires that are anything but simple.
Standout solitaires
The Forever Diamond 18ct White Gold 0.40ct Total Ring
£999 | was £199914ct White Gold 0.66ct Diamond Solitaire Ring
£1499 | was £299914ct Yellow Gold 0.50ct Diamond Solitaire Ring
£899 | was £17999ct White Gold 0.50ct Diamond Solitaire Ring
£1199The Forever Diamond 18ct White Gold 0.40ct Total Ring
£999 | was £199914ct Yellow Gold 0.66ct Diamond Solitaire Ring
£1499 | was £2999Fun proposal ideas
Perhaps spurred by the pandemic, the board game boom is in full swing as we’ve looked for new ways to socialise. If you’re a fan of playing games, get a custom made ‘Chance’ card so they get more than they bargain for when they advance to go and collect £200; Pictionary is ideal for a picture-perfect proposal and Scrabble, well that speaks for itself (literally). For a ring that slots perfectly into place with a coordinating wedding band, go for a two-piece bridal set that fits like a jigsaw.
Game, set, perfect match
Perfect Fit 9ct Yellow Gold 0.33ct Total Diamond Bridal Set
£499 | was £999Perfect Fit 9ct White Gold 0.33ct Total Diamond Bridal Set
£799Perfect Fit 9ct White Gold 0.50ct Total Diamond Bridal Set
£1199 | was £1599Perfect Fit 9ct White Gold 0.25ct Total Diamond Bridal Set
£799Perfect Fit 9ct White Gold 0.33ct Diamond Bridal Set
£899Perfect Fit 9ct White Gold 0.33ct Diamond Bridal Set
£799