New Year's Eve Proposal Ideas
- The Countdown: This is the go-to. Drop to one knee and ask for their hand in marriage just moments before the clock strikes twelve. Seal the deal with the sweetest midnight kiss.
- New Year's Resolution: Ask your partner to list your goals together. When it's your last turn, write down "get engaged." Then, surprise them by dropping to a knee then and there.
- Champagne Cork: Write your proposal message on a champagne cork and pop the question as you open a bottle at midnight.
- Fireworks Message: As the sky lights up at midnight, arrange for a private firework display where your grand finale spells out "Will You Marry Me?" Sparklers are a cute, more accessible option, while firecrackers add festivity.
- Confetti Balloons: Create a countdown to midnight using (biodegradable) confetti-filled balloons, cannons, or poppers that burst and fall around you as the countdown reaches zero. While the air is filled with confetti, drop to a knee, and ask them to marry you.
- Lantern Release: Write your wishes for the new year on paper lanterns and lift them into the night sky. Attach your proposal to one and have your partner launch it as you get on one knee.
- Countdown Car Journey: Plan a mini road trip and have family and friends help you place countdown signs as you approach the proposal destination. The final sign will say, "Will You Marry Me?"
- Hourly Updates: Give your partner notes or gifts every hour leading up to midnight, culminating in the proposal moment just before the new year begins.
- Masquerade Ball: Host an elegant, glamorous New Year's party — the perfect way to ring in the new year in style. Unmask at midnight and propose.
- Ball Drop: If you can't make Times Square or your city center, make your own replica. You can decorate it together. Enhance the romantic ambiance with candles or fairy lights and propose when the ball drops at twelve.
New Year's Day Proposal Ideas
- First Footing: With NYE celebrations behind you, surprise your partner with an activity the following day. You might be the first footprints in sand or snow. Propose when the moment feels right (maybe as you watch the first sunrise of the year together).
- Brunch: Add champagne to your OJ with a morning mimosa. It's an enticing way to invite friends and family. Make January 1 reservations to pop the question over a late breakfast.
- Ice: Propose with a seasonal arctic adventure. It might be on a frozen lake while ice fishing. Or build a backyard igloo together and snuggle inside for a cozy, unique proposal.
- Year in Review: Create a scrapbook, quilt, or video that highlights the best moments of your past year together and propose as you both reflect on your memories.
- "Forgotten" Present: If you want a more intimate proposal, wait until after most holiday guests have gone home. Say you found one last box under the tree.
- New Years' Time Capsule: Create a time capsule with items representing your relationship and your hopes for the future. In the weeks leading up to New Year's Day, you can gather mementos and slip in a piece of paper with your engagement speech. As you gear up to bury the capsule, open it and propose as you reminisce about its contents and your memories together.
- Year of Letters: If you're looking for a New Year's proposal that requires a lot of advance prep, consider this Notebook-esque idea: present 365 handwritten letters to your loved one. Your last letter could be the proposal.
- Lunar New Year: This occurs towards the end of January. But you can celebrate the first new moon (and your engagement) with a memorable lunar theme. Incorporate moonlit activities like star and moon gazing while you pop the question.
- Fresh Start: Since it's a morning of firsts, recreate your first date. This holiday is all about the passage of time. Nostalgic and sentimental, this New Year's proposal reinforces your readiness for the next step in your relationship.
- Champagne Tower: Elevate the champagne proposal with a dramatic spectacle worthy of a gala. Create a pyramid of champagne/sparkling cider glasses and pop the question as you pour a fountain from the top to the bottom.
New Year's Proposal Speech Ideas
As you say goodbye to this year and look ahead to the future, work the new year theme into your proposal speech.
1. New Year, New Life: As one year turns into the next, people seek renewal and positive change. Speak about the milestones and possibilities in your relationship.
- "I know the new year holds promise if it's a future with you. I can't think of a better way to start this year than by asking you to be my forever love. Will you make this year and all the years to come the best of our lives?"
2. Timing: The time is right. As the clock strikes midnight and you usher in a new year, think about all the moments you'll share together.
- "As we watch the clock, I can't help but think that the time for us to be together forever is now. It's time for us to take the next step in this beautiful journey."
3. Forever Resolution: Make the joint resolution to be together for the rest of your lives.
- "As we make our resolutions for the coming year, there's one resolution I'd like us to make together – to make each other endlessly happy."
4. Midnight Kiss: Everyone looks forward to that magical tradition when you share the first kiss of the year. It's a moment filled with hope and excitement. Make it even more special.
- "I want to start and end every year with a kiss from you. Will you marry me and be my forever midnight kiss?"
5. Countdown: Anticipation is the whole point of the holiday. Recognize that each moment has brought you closer, but you'll be stronger and more in love with every passing day.
- "As we count down the seconds to a new year, I want to count the days of forever with you. Will you marry me and make every second count?"
New Year's Proposal Do's and Don'ts
This holiday proposal can mark the new year, but make sure you set your engagement up for success.
- Don't go for glitter; do opt for confetti. When you want sparkle that lasts a lifetime, rely on the ring.
- Don't drop the ring in a champagne glass. For safety's sake, if you're handing your partner a flute, it should be pre- or post-proposal, not the proposal itself.
- Do embrace cultural traditions. Around the world, there's a rich diversity of customs to welcome the arrival of the new year. In Thailand, they release fish into rivers to let go of negative energies and misfortunes. In Italy, they throw old possessions out of the window to get rid of what's useless to make room for good vibes. The symbolism and superstition from your shared or unique cultures can make a proposal more personal.
You Got This!
There's nothing quite like a New Year's proposal to start the year right, especially if you resolve to spend the rest of your life with your partner. Before proposing on New Year's, learn how to buy an engagement ring to give them the ultimate surprise.
