Festivities, family and perhaps a little romance? Here are five ways to make sure your Christmas proposal is a memorable one.

Written by Keelie Briggs, The Clued-Up Bride.

Ahh Christmas. The twinkling tree in the corner, the smell of mulled wine filling the house and the stockings lying in wait on the fireplace. You’re probably enjoying cosy nights in watching Christmas films (or if you’re like me, the Royle Family Christmas specials). It’s the perfect time to show your partner how much you care and give them a gift that will change their life forever!

Now, the big question – how will you do it? And how do you propose at Christmas? Here are a few ideas that will guarantee a wonderfully romantic Christmas proposal.

UNDER THE MISTLETOE

Turn a good old-fashioned mistletoe kiss into a moment that will transform your relationship. Sometimes keeping it simple and all about the love is the best way to commit your lives to one another. How you celebrate your news afterwards, can be a totally different story!

PASS THE PARCEL

Some women can sniff out a ring box within seconds of entering the same room as one. Don’t give the game away too soon! Wrap your ring up, then put it in a larger box and wrap that up too. Do this several times with a fun note after each layer like ‘fooled you’ after the first layer, then maybe a ‘try again’. You can let your partner open the last box and drop to one knee as they do, or you can make the last note ‘now pass the parcel’. You then open and present the sparkly ring to your eagerly anticipating other half.

AT CHRISTMAS DINNER

Don’t go sticking a ring around a brussel sprout! And no dropping it into the bottom of a glass of wine – major choking hazard! Instead, once the dinner is served and before anyone starts tucking in, ask if you can say a few words. Make sure you let your partner know how important they are to you and tell them why you want to spend the rest of your life with them, then pull the ring from your pocket and drop the major question. This one works well whether you have a lot of guests over for Christmas dinner, or if it’s just the two of you.

ESCAPE THE CHAOS

If your house turns into a bit of a free-for-all Christmas day and you’d pictured an intimate proposal with just the two of you, tell your future fiancé that you need five minutes out and ask if they will join you on a little walk. Get wrapped up warm and go and have your special moment away from all the noise. Then, you can come home and add to the celebrations with your exciting news.

NEW YEAR’S EVE

If you don’t want to imagine a year where you don’t have your partner by your side, tell them so. From when the new year countdown starts, you have eight seconds to tell them how much you love them and how next year will be a new chapter in your love story. When everyone else reaches two, ask “will you marry me?”. Your new wife/husband to-be will love telling work mates how the whole world celebrated your engagement with rapturous applause and explosive fireworks.

BONUS TIP

Share your secret plans with someone who will be there on the day. They can have a camera at the ready and you can look back on that precious moment for years to come. This is one of the reasons it’s important to plan ahead and look your best when you pop the question – those photos and videos will be around for a while! We’re not saying you have to be in a suit (especially if you’re planning to propose somewhere a little more casual), but something you feel comfortable in that works with what your other half is wearing.

Merry Christmas and happy proposing!

Keelie is passionate about helping brides and grooms have fun with their wedding planning and make great decisions with their budgets.  For more big day advice, money saving tips and DIY ideas visit TheCluedUpBride.co.uk or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.