Planning a Christmas proposal? Don't make this mistake

Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve rank among the most popular proposal dates of the entire year. The magic of twinkling lights, festive cheer, and the promise of new beginnings creates a seemingly perfect backdrop for asking that life-changing question.

However, not every holiday setting delivers the fairy-tale moment you're hoping for.

Blake Asaad, Founder and Creative Director of GOODSTONE, a leading provider of exquisitely crafted diamond jewelry, has seen some proposals go right and some painfully wrong. 

“The festive season brings incredible energy, but that doesn't automatically translate to the right proposal setting,” he explains. “Some of the most popular holiday venues can actually work against creating that intimate, meaningful moment couples will treasure forever.”

Blake has confirmed one big proposal mistake you should avoid this year, and that's popping the question in front of all the family at dinner.

Firstly, the dinner (the peak moment of Christmas Day) will go cold amid all the excitement, a true travesty if you ask me.

The scene seems picture-perfect: everyone gathered around the festive table, crackers pulled, wine flowing. But dropping to one knee in front of your entire extended family can quickly turn what should be an intimate moment into an uncomfortable spectacle.

“Proposing during Christmas dinner puts enormous pressure on your partner,” says Blake. “They're not just saying yes or no to you. They're doing it in front of parents, siblings, grandparents, and potentially that aunt who has opinions about everything. It removes their ability to react naturally and privately.”

Beyond the pressure, this setting robs you both of those precious first moments as an engaged couple. Instead of holding each other and processing the magnitude of what just happened, you're immediately surrounded by well-meaning relatives wanting hugs, photos, and to inspect the ring. 

There's also the risk that if your partner needs time to think, which is perfectly reasonable, they may feel cornered into saying yes despite having reservations.

All I can picture is the scene from The Bear, and that isn't a setting suitable for a proposal at all.