How to propose during lockdown
By now, we’ve gotten used to putting plans on hold due to COVID restrictions, but what about everyone waiting to start a new chapter and get engaged this year? Many would-be proposers are worried about how to make a proposal truly special while also staying safe, along with not being able to share the fun with family and friends, or prospective plans getting cancelled.
If this sounds like you, know that we’re in it together. But also, things might not be as discouraging as they seem!
On their anniversary, Daniel had a Michelin star meal delivered to their home, where he proposed to Bethany
In fact, thousands of people in the UK have still gotten engaged since March 2020, both in between and during lockdowns. Turbulent times make people realise what’s truly important in life and today people are more willing than ever to make a decision to commit to a future with their partner, or stoke the flames of a love that has been burning for years.
If you’re feeling uncertain about how to make an unforgettable lockdown proposal go off without a hitch, this is the list for you. Here are eight ways to propose during a quarantine that will make a memory that lasts forever.
When their holiday was cancelled, John finally got the chance to propose during a walk in historic Greenwich Park
A restaurant-worthy home cooked meal
Think of the first restaurant you and your partner ever went to on a date, and try and remember what you both ordered. Buy the ingredients needed to recreate the meal and create a print out of the evening’s menu–capture all the little details like the restaurant’s logo at the top of the page or add the date of the night you first went there together. Tell your partner that you would like to cook dinner that night, and set the table nicely. Put your favourite playlist on, and let the evening begin!
Take your partner on a virtual tour of the world’s natural wonders
If you’re itching to travel and your holiday plans have been cancelled, explore one of these virtual tours of the world’s natural wonders, listed by the Guardian here.
To prepare, we’d recommend that you secretly undertake your favourite destination’s virtual tour first, and find a spot where it would be perfect to propose. Cook your partner their favourite meal, perhaps even a meal from the chosen country. Pour a drink, and after dinner, take your partner on a dazzling tour through any one of the amazing locations!
A tip: if you have a television, connect your computer to your television to maximise the effect. When you reach your chosen scenic view, take out the engagement ring and pop the question!
If your vacation was cancelled–turn your house into a fairytale story!
If your dream holiday was cancelled due to the travel ban and you were planning to propose, not to worry! There are many ways you can bring the spirit of your planned trip into your home. Our customer, Jon, created the dream proposal in a cabin in Dordogne, France back in 2017.
Even though they were on holiday, the magic was in the small details Jon had captured in their cabin. Jon sent Hayley to the spa for the day, and while she was gone he transformed the cabin into a complete fantasy. He strung fairy lights around the room, and created a red carpet for Hayley to enter the room. He placed a glass slipper and an old fashioned clock with a print out of Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast on the floor.
Complete with a staircase covered in flowers and a projector which projected stars on the ceiling, Jon was sure to receive a “yes!”.
A Zoom friends & family quiz proposal
If you imagined proposing surrounded by your friends and family, a video conferencing app could come in handy! Create a quiz about your partner and your experiences together, and get your loved ones to agree to a time to have a video conference. As you ask the group questions, your partner will be reminded of all the wonderful memories you both have shared over the years, with your favourite people. At the end, the last question can be, “Will you marry me?”
Love is the best we've got.
There are great advantages of proposing in quarantine, if only to make this chapter of history memorable for the right reasons. Most importantly, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy your newly-engaged life together. Take advantage of all the down time together to build even deeper connections because at the end of the day, true love can’t wait.
