Proposal ideas: 50 ways to pop the question

It’s a story that you’ll be asked to repeat several hundreds of times, so you might want to do some planning to make sure it’s one you won’t get bored of.

Often the act of proposing can mean as much as the decision to commit to that one special someone for the rest of your life. It’s a chance to go above and beyond to show them how much you care, so it's understandable that for many, they feel they need to get this moment totally pitch-perfect. Whether or not you've spent years dreaming about how you'd like to be proposed to, choosing the perfect way to do it comes with a lot of pressure. 

For these reasons, it can be hard to figure out how to propose. While your partner is sure to appreciate the gesture irrespective of which idea you finally choose, as with everything, it's the thought that counts. The best proposal ideas come from taking the time to really understand your partner and what they would want from this moment.

While some people love sweeping gestures and to be the centre of attention for their special moment, for others, their ideal proposal is all about a private moment between them and the one they want to spend the rest of their life with.

Planning a proposal is therefore a delicate business: you don’t want to go over the top with lavish gestures if it isn’t your partner’s style. But equally, it’s important to make your proposal feel like the special occasion it is. For many people, weddings are all about family, and they want this to be reflected right from the proposal moment, choosing to be surrounded by their nearest and dearest. For others who love to lean into the romance of marriage, nothing is more appealing than being swept along in a whirlwind romance of a proposal, by making a weekend, or even longer, of the occasion.

If you’re starting to brainstorm how to pop the question to your soon-to-be life partner, here are some of our favourite wedding proposal ideas.

Private proposal ideas

If you and your partner prefer to keep your special moments to yourselves, here are some ideas to create the perfect intimate proposal. From recreating your first date to booking a luxury hotel stay, these meaningful ideas will allow you to soak up the momentousness of the occasion in only each other’s company.

Recreate your first date

Take a trip down memory lane and return to the place where your romance first started, for a touching and sentimental way to signify your progression to the next stage of your partnership.

Cook a romantic meal at home

Create a restaurant-worthy romantic meal at home with one of these DIY restaurant meal kits

Proposals don’t always have to be extravagant – sometimes the ultimate act of love can be preparing your partner’s favourite food, and transforming your home into an unrecognisable haven for the night. Dim the lights, bring out the candles and adorn your home in flowers for an intimate proposal.

Stage a road trip

Nothing promises a lifetime of adventure like popping the question while out on the open road. You’ll have a choice of locations to stop off and choose as your backdrop, and it’ll provide endless wedding planning conversational mileage for the rest of the trip!

Get your pets involved

Create the perfect surprise by attaching a ring to your furry friend’s collar. Your partner can unsuspectingly go to attach their leash, then come across the hidden ring – making for a dog walk with a difference!

Surprise them with breakfast in bed

Prefer to make a 'thing' of it? The Wolseley serves a stellar breakfast in opulent surrounds for the perfect proposal setting

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day for a reason. There are few better ways to start your day than by treating your partner to their favourite breakfast in bed, perhaps hiding a sparkling ring somewhere between the croissants...

Organise a surprise mini-break

You don't have to leave the UK for a perfect proposal mini break - stay in one of the luxury rooms at The Roseate in Edinburgh

Why not make a weekend of the occasion? Planning a city break full of surprises, and telling your loved one minimal details about the trip is an utterly romantic and thoughtful way to propose. Just be careful about not getting caught at airport security with your hidden ring!

On a once-in-a-lifetime trip

If you’ve got a big trip lined up, why not make the most of the experience by securing a lifelong partner while you’re out there. It will make a milestone adventure even more unforgettable.

Create a personalised jigsaw puzzle

Prove the tenacity of your relationship for years to come by creating a personalised proposal puzzle. The finished product could spell out ‘will you marry me?’. If they have the patience to piece together 1,000 pieces to reveal the proposal, they’re the one for you.

Sing it in a song

You can then re-live the moment by playing the song for the first dance at your wedding, like this couple at Pennyhill Park, or discover more first dance wedding songs in our ultimate list

One for the musically-inclined – how better to say it than in the medium of the spoken (or sung) word? This creates not only a truly memorable experience, but a piece that can be performed again at your wedding and on anniversaries for years to come.

Say it in a poem

If you’re a wordsmith who isn’t blessed with perfect pitch, use the same sentiment behind composing a song and write the reasons for why you want to marry them in a sonnet. You could then frame the poem as a touching wedding gift to your partner, as a memento of the moment you committed to one another for life.

Book a luxury hotel room for the night

Head to Yorkshire for a night in one of Grantley Hall's chic rooms, with a top-tier meal to match, or choose from a number of the best restaurants with rooms in the UK for a foodie-centric stay

You don’t have to leave the country, or even your hometown, to create an exceptionally special experience. Booking a night away in the city you live in creates a special break from your everyday lives. Plus, it's minimal hassle and close to your loved ones who you might want to celebrate your happy news with soon after.

Head to the beach

If your partner’s a beach lover, what could be better than taking them to some stunning coastal scenery to ask for their hand in marriage? You could even write the question in the sand, or get down on one knee as you watch the sunset over the sea.

Go on a romantic hike

As if your heart won’t be racing enough, why not add to the adrenaline by asking your partner to spend the rest of their life with you while at the peak of a mountain? Drink in some immense panoramic views while you create a moment to savour forever – also making for some pretty epic 'just engaged!' shots.

In a photobooth

Create a retro memento of your proposal by proposing mid-photobooth photoshoot. You can catch your partner off-guard between shots, and catch their reaction in real time. This will also produce a precious photo you’ll be able to show your children and grandchildren for years to come.

Write it in the sky

If you’re feeling lavish, you can hire a plane to write your message in the clouds for a jaw-droppingly grand proposal gesture that feels like something out of a film.

On a helicopter ride

Perhaps one of the most extravagant ways to pop the question, organise a helicopter ride for yourself and your partner to see famous landmarks and rolling scenery from the sky. Then, pop the question while thousands of feet above ground for a pretty unparalleled way to propose.

Go wine tasting

Among the vineyards at Denbies Wine Estate is an incredibly romantic, and picturesque, place to propose

Spending an afternoon wine tasting to then get down on one knee amongst lush green vines is probably one of the most picture-perfect ways to propose. Plus, you’ll already have a glass handy to toast to your future together.

Slip the ring into their stocking on Christmas Day

Planning on proposing around Christmas? Hiding the ring in your partner’s Christmas stocking is a special way to surprise them during the private time you have together before the rest of the Christmas madness commences.

Hide the ring behind the final advent calendar door

Another idea for the festive period: at the start of the month, buy an empty advent calendar which you can fill with your own gifts. You can have fun with the unsuspecting presents you place behind the doors, while your partner spends the month none the wiser. Then, on the final day, they’ll receive the perfect gift – just in time for Christmas!

Create a personalised comic book

Create an illustrated book which maps the story of your relationship, culminating in the proposal, still yet to happen. Your partner will look up from the pages to see you ready to pop the question – sometimes life really is better than fiction.

On a boat

Take to the open waters and propose on board a boat like those at Thames Luxury Charters

If your partner loves the sea, it’s easier than you might think to hire a boat for a day’s activity on the open water. After cruising around and seeing some beautiful coastal landscapes from the sea, you can start the surprise by bringing out some Champagne, and then the ring.

In a hot air balloon

How often do you have an excuse to take to the sky in a ginormous balloon? Give yourself a reason to tick this one off the bucket list, and time your flight with sunrise or sunset for a movie-worthy proposal.

Under the stars

Or, create your own starry sky with twinkling fairylights, like at 100 Barrington

There’s something about stargazing that reminds you of what’s important in life. Take your partner to a place where you can get lost in the dazzling night sky, before surprising them when they look down to find you asking for their hand in marriage.

Take them ring shopping

Surprises aren’t for everyone, and that’s ok! Marriage is a partnership after all, and some couples like to be equally involved in all the momentous milestones in the relationship. Instead of a grand proposal, you could organise a special day out where you go and choose the ring together, and maybe crack open a bottle of Champagne.

Bake it into a cake

Does your significant other have a serious sweet tooth? Bake an edible proposal so they can have their cake and eat it too! You can get creative with this, either icing your message onto the cake, or hiding the ring within the layers of sponge. You’ll just want to make sure you protect it properly – or they’ll have some sticky fingers after saying yes!

Public proposal ideas

For couples who thrive at being the centre of attention, and want to get loved ones involved in the special moment, here are some public proposal ideas that are sure to turn heads. 

At a rooftop bar

Popping the question in front of the breathtaking views at OXO Tower Restaurant or Bar, or at one of any number of the best rooftop bars in London, is sure to blow your partner away

Some things never get old, and looking out to incredible landmarks or watching the sunset are two of those things. Wherever you’re located, there’s sure to be a nearby rooftop bar that ticks all the boxes. So why not make the most of it and get down on one knee in front of some stunning views?

At a family gathering

If you’ve got a family reunion or large gathering lined up, this could be the perfect opportunity to share the love and have all the most special people in your life involved in the event, and create a wonderful shared memory between the most important people in your lives.

At airport arrivals

Has your partner got a trip planned without you? Create your own Love Actually moment by heading down to airport arrivals to pick them up, then popping down on one knee. Surrounded by so many people reuniting with their loved ones, love will really be in the air!

On New Years' Eve

You could always make a reservation at GONG by Shangri La The Shard to guarantee spectacular views at the stroke of midnight

If it’s your new year's resolution to express how much people mean to you, why not make the most of the magic of New Years Eve and pop the question after the countdown at the stroke of midnight… making for a new years’ kiss with a difference!

During karaoke

Hop on the mic at any one of the best karaoke bars in London to ask the all-important question. Lucky Voice and BAM Karaoke Box are great options.

This is an option for those who really like to perform. If you’re fans of a group-singalong, assemble your nearest and dearest for a karaoke night and hop on the mic to ask the big question, in front of a crowd of adoring fans.

Incorporate it into a pub quiz

If you’re regulars at your local’s pub quiz, switch up your weekly routine for a trivia round with a difference. You could get the quizmaster in on the surprise, and get them to add it as an extra bonus round at the end.

In a bookshop

One for the bookworms: if your partner is a book-lover, take them to a beautiful bookshop. You could hide the ring between the pages of their favourite book, and wait for them to uncover the surprise as they leaf through their beloved pages.

Make a grand gesture on a billboard

If you want to declare your love for all to see, hire out a billboard in a public space asking your partner to marry you. You can then orchestrate a visit past it, then stop for a photo while they turn and realise what’s happening.

At a restaurant

The romantic setting of Bardo St James' is a great bet, or check out our guide to the best London restaurants for marriage proposals for more inspiration. Or, choose from any other of the most romantic restaurants in London for great options for foodie couples

If you’re a foodie pair who also love grand gestures, proposing at your favourite restaurant, or somewhere you’ve always wanted to try, could be the perfect option for you. For an added element of romantic fanfare, you can get the waiters involved in the surprise, bringing flowers to your table or writing “will you marry me?” on your dessert.

In a park

For some, there’s nothing more romantic than seeking solace in nature. If there’s a particular park, lake or heath which means a lot to you as a couple, you could plan a picnic amongst the grass, or take a long walk before asking the all-important question.

Organise a surprise party

Both surprises and public proposals are certainly an acquired taste, but if that’s your partner’s style, what could be better than gathering all of their favourite people under one roof to proclaim your love in front of the masses?

At a theme park

If you’re a pair of adrenaline junkies, what could be more your speed than popping the question amongst the thrill of a theme park? You could ask the question while catching your breath between rides, before hopping onto the next to scream with excitement.

At a palace or castle

Few places are as memorable of a place to propose than among the astonishing settings of Hampton Court Palace

Does your partner harbour fantasies of being treated like royalty for the day? This is your opportunity to make their dreams come true. With a number of incredible historic properties across the country, you can get down on one knee in a Tudor courtyard, or in the halls where kings and queens once lived.

At a concert

If you’re a couple that loves to go to live music together, or there’s one artist that means a lot to you both, popping the question at a concert is an ultra cool, totally romantic way to go about it.

Call into a radio station

If there’s a certain radio show you know your partner never misses, you could call in and propose live on air.

At a historic site

What could be more perfect for history lovers than proposing at the Tower of London's iconic site?

Is your significant other a history buff? There’s something incredibly romantic about adding the next chapter to your story amidst grounds steeped in history, or among ruins which have survived the test of time – boding well for the strength of the marriage to come!

At the aquarium

You may be surprised to learn that a number of aquariums offer proposal packages – getting down on one knee in front of a marine audience is pretty unforgettable after all. You can either choose this option and get your favourite sea life, or even the aquarium’s divers involved, or do it your own way and propose when the right moment strikes.

On the screen at a sports game

For some people, their sport of choice means a lot to them. Almost as much as their partner. So why not honour this and pop the question at a game or match? You could do this while in the stands, or, if the opportunity is available create a classic big screen moment and propose court-side.

At a botanical garden

Proposing among the foliage at The Barbican's secret rooftop conservatory is an incredibly romantic route to take

For the horticulturalists and green-fingered among us, nothing seems more fitting than proposing amidst a sea of exotic plants. Plus, the leafy surrounds will make for some pretty stunning engagement photos.

While out dancing

If you’re a couple that likes to tear up the dancefloor together, why not plan an evening where you borrow the DJ’s mic to propose on the dancefloor. You’ll have a ready-made engagement party to boogie with after!

During an overhead announcement

If you’re heading away on a holiday abroad, you could get the plane’s cabin crew involved and propose over the loudspeaker system while cruising at 35,000 feet.

Hire a musician

Why not hire a musician to serenade your partner with their favourite love songs, or a dedicated song in which you propose? Whether it’s with a string quartet or a one-man-band, proposing in the musical medium is an unforgettable way to do it.

At an art gallery

Popping the question amidst the gallery-come restaurant at Sketch: The Gallery is an incredibly photogenic way to propose

Is there one particular painting or piece of art that is meaningful to your significant other? What could be more romantic than suggesting a day trip to go and see it in the flesh, then hopping down on one knee in front of a masterpiece.

With a group message

Another idea that involves your friends and family in the proposal: assemble your loved ones into a line either wearing t-shirts, carrying balloons or holding up signs that spell out your message. You could either arrange for your partner to arrive with the question already spelled out, or get everyone to assemble mid-way through the occasion.

With a flash mob

If the aim is to surprise your partner, this idea is certain to wow them. You can organise an impromptu dance flash mob in a public place,and get them to involve your partner before dropping down on one knee for a public display of affection.

Now that you’re engaged, it’s time to get wedding planning! A popular first step in this process is choosing the venue, so why not take a look at this list of the UK’s most romantic wedding venues to see if we can help you find the perfect one.