I want to propose to my girlfriend on Christmas... any good ideas? Ladies, what would really make her smile?

Oh, there's just all kinds of ideas for this! You could take the ring, tie a ribbon through it and hang it on the tree as an ornament, when everyone has finished opening their presents, hand her a Christmas card (homemade or one from the store), and in it write "Merry Christmas sweetie, I love you. P.S. - how do you like your new Christmas ornament?". this will send her on a search all over the Christmas tree for her new "ornament" - then when she finds it, propose to her.

Another way, more simple, would be to wrap the ring, in the ring box, and put it under the tree. When she opens it, get down on one knee and propose to her.

Playing off the wrapping the ring as a gift, you could wrap it in all different sizes of boxes, starting with a large appliance box (such as a refrigerator - check with your local appliance store - if you explain your purpose for wanting the boxes, they would be more than happy to let you have some, I'm sure) and then gradually have the boxes get smaller, each one wrapped with a little note on it saying something you love about her or about your future together, and then, of course the last, smallest box will contain the ring. When she opens it, get down and propose.

have carolers come to the door. gather the whole family around and let them sing "this christmas". it's all about being in love at christmas and a warm fire. then, at the end of the song, one caroler hidden in back and should dressed like an angel should step forward and hand you the ring box which will be wrapped like a christmas present, bow and all. take the box, get on one knee and propose. don't use traditional wrapping paper. instead, use white wrapping paper with a solid colored grosgrain ribbon or chocolate brown wrapping paper with a white ribbon. when she says yes, hold up a piece of mistletoe above your heads as you kiss. make sure that someone in the family is there recording the whole thing for posterity.

now, if you can have little kids as the carolers that would be super cute. perhaps your church or the elementary school has a kid's choir. if that won't work, consider hiring a professional or church choir to come for just one song. that shouldn't be too expensive, and her parents might even be willing to chip in a little to help create the mood.

Congrats. I just got engage recently =)

I think if my fiance had proposed to me on xmas i would have like the box in the box idea or hanging the tree on the tree. Someone above said to put a note on each box saying how much you love her. I really like that idea. It could be one long continous speach. You can also do another version of the box inside the box and use two boxes .. a big one and a ring box and then fill the big box with packing peanut and make her look for it.

I think some girls do like public proposals (like at a restaurant or in the commercial where the guy is screaming out how much he loves her in italy) and some don't. At xmas you can do it at a skating rink or in a horse carriage...maybe drop it in her glove before she puts it on. You know your girlfriend best. I have seen proposals where the boyfriend includes the girls parents and it's really nice too. You have to think about what kind of girl she is.

If you aren't going to do the pulic proposal at gift opening time, then I would propose before any of the family gatherings, that way she gets the pleasure of announcing it to her whole family at dinner. Maybe do it xmas eve morning. I think morning is a nice intimate time anyway. You can maybe tie it around her neck while she sleeps with xmas ribbon.

I think proposing on xmas is a great time.. it's such a beautiful time of the year. Especially if she's like me and loves xmas. Just remember ambiance is really important. Make sure the lighting and music and everything is perfect. It has to feel romantic or celebratory if you're doing the public one.

Good luck!

Dude, don't do it on Christmas. It's just a bad idea. I'd suggest doing it before Christmas, and that way it's something extra to celebrate when you're with her family.

Also, when you do propose to her, don't over-think it. You should know what she likes -- some girls really dig the big production, others don't.

The fact is, you just proposing to her is going to put a huge smile on her face. Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be.

Good luck!

I was thinking..maybe before you decorate your Christmas tree, you could sneak the ring tied to a red bow on the tree....then as she decorates it, she'll see the new "ornament" and then you can move in and get down to the proposing! :)

How about making two gingerbread people, a boy and a girl and show them to her , and then make the girl gingerbread have a big ring on her finger and then propose?

The idea of the gingerbread house and saying something along the lines of "I want to start a home with you" and then picking up the roof (don't ice it down) and have the box in there

If you open presents alone, I've always loved the idea of the box inside of a box inside of a box...however, make sure you put something HEAVY in one of the smaller boxes so that she will think there's something in it...also, if you want to throw her off, maybe throw in something else that she wanted into one of the smaller boxes BEFORE the ring, that way she'll think that THAT was her gift.

Good luck!! :)

He's doing it around X-mas too....I think. Lol hopefully he reads this.

1. Personally I wouldn't do it in front of her family. Contrary to what movies tell you many women DON'T want the huge public proposal and would prefer to keep that moment private and unedited.

2. I'd also skip the "ring under the tree" bit. Suprise her! if she's got an inkling she will expect it to come then. I'd so something smartass, and so will my HTB I'm sure. Wrap the ring box, but instead put something else inside like concert tickets. Really play that up like it's the gift and watch the confusion take over her face. let the whole day pass and get her convinced the proposal isn't coming. Then maybe the next morning do it. You will get a much more geniune response instead of something she's rehearsed in her head.

I've also had some romantic stories that did take place on X-mas day. In one the groom made a gingerbread house and had it waiting on the table that evening. when they got home he said something to the effect of wanting to build a real home wth her then got on his knee.

Just a really cute idea that I got, based off of something that I saw in a film.. I know, cheesy, but, meh. Be outside of her house on Christmas Eve, light a ton of candles in the shape of a heart, and set a piece of paper inside the circle, saying how much you love her, or her favorite poem or something. Then wrap up clues in presents, and put them all over the house, eventually leading outside, where you propose to her in the heart of candles. :) I think it's cute at least.

Personally, I wouldn't want to be proposed to in front of my family... I don't know her opinion (but I'm sure you do)...I would say do it in the morning so that when you have the family over she can surprise everyone and brag about it ... If you want to do it in front of the family, make sure you know that she is comfortable with that...you don't have to do anything super special...it is Christmas and people are generally happy around that time and she will be so excited and happy that you are proposing...she will be all smiles! Congratulations!!!

I think that the most romantic way would be to get her the ring and wrap it like any other normal christmas gift, but put it in a big box to throw her off as to what it could be and put it under the tree(if you have one). When its time to open presents you give it to her but dont act weird about it. To her its just a normal gift, she wont think your gonna propose to her.. when she finally realizes what it is you will know when its time to ask her that question. Im sure she will be surprised!!

Good Luck!

I totally agree with busymom4boyz who wrote:

It sounds good but.....don't do it on Christmas. I know this is done all the time but make a day that is special just for the two of you. Even if it is the day before or after. And don't do it when everyone is around.

Propose on a special day BEFORE Christmas. Make it just the two of you. Then you two can happily announce your engagement on Christmas Day.

I keep thinking of one acquaintance I had . . . whose boyfriend proposed on Christmas in front of all the family. She felt pressured and obligated to say yes. So she said yes, even though she wasn't ready to marry at that time.

Then after being engaged for several weeks, with happy family busily making plans . . . she had to find a way to uncomfortably extricate herself from the engagement. It was a difficult situation.

Note to wishful grooms: Always propose to your bride alone, when it is just the two of you. Don't make her feel pressured. Give her the option of saying no. Saying no now doesn't mean no forever. She may want to finish school before becoming engaged. She may want to pay off some bills before becoming engaged. Just let her decide, without others present.