For much of the world, the time following Thanksgiving is known as the holiday season. However, for a select few each year, there’s another magical – albeit perhaps less well-known – season beginning. Engagement season. It lasts until Valentine’s Day. But where are the best places to propose ? Here are our top picks for the best places on earth for a luxury marriage proposal during engagement season.
its officially engagement season
Now that Thanksgiving is behind us and December is here, we have officially entered the next holiday season. Nope, we’re not talking about Christmas and Hanukkah, or even New Year’s Eve.
We’re talking engagement season.
More people will become betrothed between December and Valentine’s Day than at any other time of the year. We’ve examined how to find the perfect engagement ring. Now we move on to the pressing question of where to pop the question. Where are the best places to propose?
For romantics, the proposal is almost as important than the wedding itself. Let’s face it, the first question you’ll both be asked after the engagement announcement is “How did he/she do it?”
If you’re looking to make your paramour swoon, you’ve got some planning to do. But don’t fret, dear reader. We’ve rounded up the best luxe ideas for a grand wedding proposal. From the Maldives to Paris and Venice, here are our top picks for the best places on earth for a luxury marriage proposal. These are the very best places to propose. Let the fun begin!
where are the best places on earth for a luxury marriage proposal?
What are the best places to propose? Many of the most romantic places for a proposal during engagement season happen to be the same places that are great destinations for luxury travel during the month of December.
1. under the glow of the northern lights
Seeing the Aurora Borealis with your special someone is a perfect romantic treat. Not to mention that cuddling is essentially mandatory in the places it’s visible. At Finland’s KakslauttanenIt’s Arctic Resort you can opt to stay in a Kelo Glass Igloo. There, you can view the northern sky just outside your door, or from the comfort of your own room, thanks to the glass roof. After the light show, you can retreat to your own private sauna.
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
2. on the canals of venice
There is something truly magical about Venice, especially in winter when the crowds are sparse. Exploring the city together (and getting lost together) is the perfect prelude to one of the most meaningful moments in the life of a couple. If you’re in, book a stay at the Aman Canal Grande Venice, which was built in the 16th century. It features ceilings painted by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Be sure to reserve one of the hotel’s gondolas for a sunset (or sunrise) cruise, and catch the shimmering light across the Italian lagoon as you present your sparkling gift.
Aman Canal Grande Venice
3. overlooking the eiffel tower
At first thought, a proposal in Paris involving the Eiffel Tower may sound too cliched. But seriously, how romantic is that? You don’t have to be part of the crowd when you pop the question if you opt for a room at the Shangri-La Hotel. Over half of the rooms come with amazing views of Paris’s most famous monument. At this former home of Napoleon’s grand-nephew, you can practically reach out and touch the twinkling tower in the evenings. Just pair that with some of your favorite champagne and a little red box (it is Paris, after all).
The Shangri-la Paris
4. in the middle of the indian ocean
How about proposing on a private sandbank in the middle of the Indian Ocean without another person in sight? The Baros Maldives specializes in creating opportunities like these for their guests. For the more adventurous, another option is popping the question underwater, surrounded by marine life and followed by a cruise around Dhoni. Wow.
The Baros Maldives
5. on a mountain in south africa
Romantically nestled between the breathtaking Twelve Apostles mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean, the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa in Cape Town is the perfect venue for a memorable proposal. And the hotel has not one but two proposal packages. We say go for it, and splurge on the lavish Deluxe Proposal Package. It features a helicopter ride to the V&A Waterfront, a sunset couple’s massage in a mountain gazebo, sessions in the plunge and saltwater pools, and plenty of chocolate-dipped strawberries, oysters and Champagne.
The Twelve Apostles Hotel
6. in a forest in vermont
Twin Farms in Barnard, Vermont is the former home of writers Sinclair Lewis and Dorothy Thompson. A 4-star Relais & Chateaux property, it offers cozy rustic winter romance. The property’s 20 accommodations (including ten cottages) each have unique touches. For example, Japanese, Moroccan, and Tuscan aesthetics dominate the Orchard, Meadow, and Woods residencies. And works from contemporary artists Frank Stella and Roy Lichtenstein adorn the Studio. The food and wine options are superb. Plus, there are spa treatments, including a Japanese furo bath. If you want to be more active, you can go cross-country or downhill skiing.
Twin Farms
7. on the road to hana
The scenic and lush Road to Hana on the island of Maui in Hawaii is the stuff of which tropical dreams are made. Book a suite with an ocean view at the gorgeous Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, and hire a private car to take you on this iconic drive. Along the way, you’ll pass waterfalls, hidden coves, and dreamy beaches. Take your pick, and you’re almost certain to find yourselves alone in paradise. Afterward, celebrate with a private dinner for two on the beach, arranged by the hotel.
The Road to Hana, Maui
8. high over london
Feeling like a cosmopolitan city setting? Stay at our favorite hotel in London, the Beaumont in Mayfair, and pop the question high above the skyline. The London Eye’s Proposal Package includes includes a personal “capsule” all to yourself, plus your own photographer (playing the role of your personal host), a glass of chilled Pommery Brut Royal Champagne and a luxury box of Hotel Chocolat Pink Champagne Truffles.
The London Eye in South Bank
9. on the shores of lake pichola
The Oberoi Udaivilas Udaipur
10. in the skies above manhattan
A proposal during engagement season in New York City might coincide nicely with a trip to do your holiday shopping and see the Christmas sights. If that’s your plan, we suggest staying at the charming Whitby Hotel in midtown. It’s perfectly situated for a stroll to the tree at Rockefeller Center, the skating rink at Bryant Park, Broadway, Times Square and the MoMA. When the time comes, the new restaurant Manhatta would be a wonderful spot. It’s 60 stories above the city, with spectacular panoramic views. Sunset, twilight, or once the stars are out? Your call.
Restaurant Manhatta
11. in the wilderness of the northern territories
At the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in the UNESCO-designated Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve on Vancouver Island, a proposal takes on a spiritual quality. There, you can find wilderness adventure, plus Relais & Châteaux-class dining and spa services. The rustic-chic accommodations are comprised of candle-lit guest tents. For your proposal, you can book the games tent or waterfront lounge. You’ll be surrounded by antique furnishings, sparkling silver, candles and oil lamps, and discreet anticipatory service. Sounds perfect!
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
And there you have it, our top picks of the best places on earth for a luxury marriage proposal. Now that you know the best places to propose, all you have to do is muster the courage to make the ask. Good luck!
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