It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas is just around the corner and the scene will be incredibly romantic - the perfect moment to drop to one knee and ask the one you love to spend the rest of their life with you.
Research conducted by William May has discovered which day of the festive season the British public finds most romantic, but is it Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, or New Year’s Eve?
If you’re planning on making this year a Christmas to remember, William May is here to help. We take a look at what’s so great about proposing on the four main days of the festive season. And given that Christmas is all about sharing gifts, we speak to the proposal experts on how to pick the perfect engagement ring that your partner will want to wear forever.
When is the most romantic day of the festive season to propose?
Christmas can be a busy enough time as it is. It can be difficult enough knowing the perfect time to put the turkey in the oven, but throwing a proposal into the mix suddenly puts a lot more pressure on.
First things first, when to do it. The timing of a proposal is everything, as it will be a day that you both remember for the rest of your lives. And at Christmas you are spoilt for choice when it comes to memorable days. So let’s explore each of these days, discover which day the British public believe is the most romantic, and the pros of choosing each one...
New Year’s Eve was the overwhelming winner from the survey, with almost half of respondents (48%) stating that it would be their day of choice for popping the question. This was the same for both men and women, and we have to say that we agree. What better way is there to start your New Year off than dropping to one knee and committing to a new life together forever?
The second favourite day for proposing was Christmas Eve, which yielded 24% of the vote. Interestingly, women placed the 24th December higher on their list than men (29% of women compared to just 20% of men). So if you’re looking to put a surprise smile on their face, why not start the festivities early with one small box for them to open?
Christmas Day came third on the list, with 23% of the overall vote. Men were more likely to pick this day (25% of them selected it as opposed to 19% of women). It’s certainly a romantic option! Imagine: they think they’ve unwrapped their last present but then you slip a little black box under the tree. Whilst they open it, you drop to one knee. What’s not to love?
Last on people’s list of potential proposal days was Boxing Day, which received just 6% of the overall vote. Usually a time spent cleaning up, eating leftovers and visiting family members, Boxing Day doesn’t really stick out in people’s minds as a romantic occasion. But, one thing is for certain, it would definitely be a surprise to present them with one more box!
Whether you’re planning a proposal on Christmas Eve or waiting until the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, the key to nailing your proposal lies within that tiny little box.
Some people now prefer to choose an engagement ring alongside their other half after the proposal has been accepted, but if you’re a traditionalist at heart, you’ll want to slip it onto their finger on the day. So how can you give them their ideal present of a lifetime, without ruining the surprise?
How to pick the perfect engagement ring... Without letting them know!
In the past we’ve talked about how to pull off the perfect proposal without giving the game away, but now we’re going to cover how you can get another element of your big day just right - the ring. We’ve spoken to the experts to get their insights on how to pick one that they’ll be showing off for years to come.
Match them to their diamond
Perhaps the most iconic part of an engagement ring is the stone itself. Whilst it isn’t necessarily the biggest stone that will capture the heart of your other half, the shape itself can say a lot about their personality.
That’s according to romance expert Tiffany Norris, founder of proposal planners The One Romance, who says that the cut you choose, as well as the size and colour, can speak volumes:
“Type: Classic. Your partner is the sort of person who likes classical, timeless things. They don’t do over-the-top (forget modern bling or fancy designer clothes) and is happiest when looking chic and classy.”
“Diamond: Round. Round diamonds have 58 facets, which make light bounce up from the bottom of the diamond through to the top, making it sparkle more than any other diamond. It’s very classic in shape but still has a certain ‘wow’ factor without being too overwhelming.”
“Type: Stylish. They’re flirty and fun with lots of style.”
“Diamond: Princess Cut. Created in the ‘60s, the Princess Cut was the trendy ring to have. Recently it has had a revival and over the past few years is the choice of fashionistas and trendsetters.”
“Type: Glamorous. Your partner echoes the glamour of the Hollywood screen.”
“Diamond: Emerald Cut. Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly both wore emerald engagement rings.”
Whatever kind of stone you think will match the personality of your other half, you can be sure to find one with us. Why not explore our gorgeous collection of engagement rings?
Think about other elements of their style
If you think about it, everything you need to know about your significant other is already in their house. Their wardrobe, their jewellery box and even their shoe box; all of these will give you clues as to their kind of style.
Certain characteristics of the clothes they already wear may stand out to you; do they love tea dresses from the 1950s? Then you have a vintage-lover on your hands! Or do they love the latest gadgets? Then they might prefer something modern.
There’s no rush, so take some time to discover more about their own individual style, as this will give you great clues that you should be bearing in mind.
Lauren Troughton, from stag and hen do agency Chillisauce.co.uk, gives her advice:
“Spend time discovering their style - pay attention when they admire someone else’s engagement ring, or a ring in an advertisement. Look in their jewellery box; notice the style of jewellery they already wear and even take a couple of their favourite pieces down to the jewellers with you. Go shopping with them and browse a few diamond jewellery stores; you’ll get to see first-hand what really catches their eye. You will soon get a clearer sense of their style, whether it be ornate, minimalist, vintage or modern.”
Get the inside track
If you’re going for the ultimate surprise and are worried that bringing up diamonds in a conversation or strolling deliberately past a jewellery store might give the game away, then it may be time to enlist the help of others.
But be careful about who you confide in! While one friend may be incredibly useful and will help find the perfect ring, it’ll all be for nothing if they go and spoil the surprise before the big day. Choose your allies wisely.
Nick Withington, Managing Director of William May, says that those closest to you should be your first port of call:
“For any person planning to propose, choosing the perfect engagement ring can add a certain amount of pressure. But remember that you don’t necessarily have to do it alone! Close friends and relatives of your partner will be a relative goldmine of information, but be sure that you can trust them to keep the secret!
“Best friends are a good bet, as they spend a lot of time together and are likely to have discussed the subject of engagement rings. On the other hand, parents may be less so. If they are close to their sibling then you could get the best of both worlds; someone who ticks the box of being a best friend but is detached enough to want to keep it to themselves.
“Of course, siblings have spent most of their lives together so they can have insights that you won’t find anywhere else. They will know when their love of vintage items first started, or whether they prefer coloured stones to clear diamonds. If they’re there, use them!”
As we have mentioned before, you only get to propose to your partner once, so make sure it’s as memorable as possible. If you follow the advice given by our experts here, you can make your Christmas this year extra special.
Here at William May, we are highly experienced in helping couples choose the perfect ring, so if you need any advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
