The Most Popular Month to Get Engaged

If you read our previous post on the most popular month to get married, you know that most couples gravitate toward a particular season year after year: Fall. Trends tend to show that the majority of couples get married in September or October, with one month or the other leapfrogging to the head of the wedding celebration train depending on the year.

Photo by Nathan Chanski Photography

Maybe you’re a particularly astute reader and noted that the winter months are the least popular months for marriage, specifically November, January and February. Surprisingly, those very same winter months are some of the most popular ones for engagements! December takes the lead, though statistically speaking, 40 percent of all engagements in the United States take place between Thanksgiving and Valentines Day every year. Christmas Eve is one of the most popular dates for engagements, and the holidays tend to draw people in with their notions of romanticism, family, and love. What better way to propose than when surrounded by family and friends? Or, if you opt for a private engagement for just the two of you, the holidays offer an environment where you can potentially announce your news to all of your loved ones in the same room, shortly after it happens.

New Year’s Eve is another exciting engagement holiday, with promises of prosperity and the anticipation of fresh beginnings as the calendar year begins anew. New Year’s Eve offers a vibrant energy and bold appeal for couples looking to start the new year off in the most exhilarating fashion: In celebration of fervent love.

The number one spot for the most popular day to get engaged oscillates between Christmas Day and, you guessed it, Valentine’s Day! Christmas day has always been in the top five for most popular engagement days, though Valentine’s Day has historically taken the top spot more often. Unsurprisingly, the day of the year designated wholly to the celebration of love is often selected for those special proposals.

For some, the winter represents a more difficult time of necessitated rest stemming from the lack of light and warmth compared to other seasons, overall burnout from the long year left behind and anticipation of the holiday marathon ahead. Despite its challenges, the winter holiday season provides a special sort of ambiance that most individuals can recognize and appreciate in some capacity. Winter season engagements can serve as a beacon of hope and something good to look forward to for families, friends and loved-ones alike as they navigate the transition into a new year ahead.

Photo sourced from Lucido Fine Jewelry

For many others, the holiday season provides a sense of magic, enchantment and nostalgia. The winter holiday season creates a sense of wonder with its twinkling lights, crisp air, charming holiday displays, colorful floral choices such as poinsettias, holly berries, and mums, and eye-catching glittery ornaments, tinsel and decorations. The holiday season is visually appealing and dynamic, creating a romantic backdrop for a beautiful marriage proposal. The sentimentality of holiday rituals coupled with the proximity of family allows couples to participate in a particularly special celebration of love that combines both tradition and reverence for new beginnings.

Photo by Samantha Leigh Studios

While trends are great for telling us what is popular at a certain moment in time, they cannot tell you what is right for you and your future spouse. Only you and your partner know what time of year is perfect for your proposal — perhaps you have a date in mind that is near and dear to your heart for any number of reasons that may be sacred to you. It’s fun to look at trends and draw inspiration from others, but ultimately, your proposal is yours and yours alone to design! We hope this information helps you choose the right day for your dream proposal, whether or not the classic winter wonderland scene is your ideal backdrop.