For eager brides- and grooms-to-be, waiting for your partner to ask for your hand in marriage can feel like an eternity. When you’re so in love that you want to get that next chapter of your life started, you may be hoping that any moment—whether it be one that’s perfectly ordinary or something so next-level, you know you’ll be telling this story to your children and your children's children for decades—is going to be the one when you turn and see your partner down on one knee. Statistically speaking, there’s one specific time of year that you’re more likely to be asked the most important question of your life—and it falls during the aptly named engagement season. 

Engagement season is the time of year when most of the world’s proposals happen. This unofficial season may run for just a few months, but just under half of all couples get engaged during this time, report multiple outlets. So, what makes this window so popular? It has a lot to do with what everyone around you is doing (think of it as a proposal cascade)—and the fact that tradition, travel, and timing create the perfect backdrop for that big question.

Of course, with so many folks having the same idea, that means that this can be a busy (and expensive!) time of year. It’s important to learn as much as you can, including how you can prepare to ask or be asked, now, before this window opens. Ahead, learn more about engagement season, including what you should be doing now to make sure your proposal is the moment you and your partner have always dreamed of—plus, a few proposal trends you can expect to see during the 2024-2025 engagement season.

What Is Engagement Season?

As its name implies, “engagement season refers to the magical time of year when more couples get engaged than any other time,” explains Kia Marie, a wedding planner and the owner of Kia Marie Events. “It’s filled with love, celebration, and beautiful memories, as couples take the next big step in their journey together.” According to Susie Saltzman, an engagement ring designer and the founder of Susie Saltzman Fine Jewelry, engagement season sets the scene for over 30 percent of the year's proposals. And in her industry, which involves producing the diamond rings that duos use to pop the question, that translates into serious business.

When Is Engagement Season?

Engagement season is roughly three months long and runs from the end of November through early February, according to Saltzman, who says that Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day are the unofficial beginning and ending bookends. She calls this window the “peak or most popular time of the year” for proposing, noting that it has a lot to do with how easy it is for newly minted to-be-weds to share the good news with their nearest and dearest, since this is when most families gather for end-of-year celebrations. “Often, couples want to share their exciting news with family, friends, and loved ones and that can be easiest to do around the holidays,” she affirms. 

This time of year also offers a picture-perfect backdrop and plenty of romantic ambience for proposals. “This spike is largely driven by the warmth of the holiday season, with families coming together and a sense of love and gratitude filling the air,” Marie says. “The festive atmosphere, combined with special moments, like Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Valentine’s Day, inspires many to pop the question while surrounded by the ones they love.”

The Most Popular Month for Proposals

While engagement season spans a few months, there's one in particular that seems to have become the most popular month to propose. “In my experience, December is the most popular month for engagements,” she affirms. Marie seconds this sentiment. “December is by far the most popular month for engagements,” she says. “With Christmas proposals being a classic choice and the spirit of giving and joy at an all-time high, it’s easy to see why so many people choose this time to make their proposal unforgettable.”

This isn't just anecdotal—there are real numbers to back up the fact that December is the most popular month to get down on one knee. According to research from How the Nation Pops the Question, over 11 percent of proposals happen during the last 31 days of the year (which is a more concentrated percentage than any other time); the study also noted the popularity of winter travel, when couples and their families often take warm-weather trips, as another reason for December's stand-out numbers. Additional data from Zola affirms this: December saw the most proposals out of the entire year in 2023, mainly due to the aforementioned factors of holidays, vacations, weather, and time spent with family.

What to Expect During the 2024-2025 Engagement Season 

We know December 2023 was a major inflection point for proposals—but what will this engagement season bring? There’s a lot to consider if you’re hoping for a ring over the next few months. 

Proposal Pricing

Unfortunately, for anyone hoping to save a bit of money by using the underlying magic of holiday sales to pop the question, you may actually end up spending more for certain extras, according to Riley Canty, the owner and CEO of The Yes Girls. “Typically, during the holiday season, pricing for proposal venues, flowers, etc. is much more than in the off-season,” she says. “You can also expect things to be booked up much farther in advance, so it is very important to provide as much planning time as possible.” The takeaway? If your dream proposal includes renting out a restaurant and filling it with flowers, you may pay significantly more to do this in December than you would during less popular proposal months (think spring or summer).

Proposal Locations

After a surge of public proposals, Saltzman says that more duos will choose to get engaged privately during the 2024-2025 engagement season. “For example, over a quiet dinner or walk in the park leading up to the holidays, shortly before they have plans to be with family and friends,” she says. “That way, the couple can enjoy their personal moment privately before sharing and celebrating it with others—the best of both worlds, right?"

Engagement Rings

In terms of engagement ring trends, Saltzman says elongated diamond shapes—think emerald cut, marquise, antique cushion, and oval—will continue to be fan-favorites. “I see couples becoming more curious about chunkier settings that are more modern and bold in look,” she continues, adding that she’s noticed that the bezel setting, in particular, is gaining popularity. “Overall, people are craving the option to personalize their ring in some way. They want to set it apart from the super delicate solitaire that we have seen so much of in the past five-plus years. They want their engagement ring to feel like it's their own and the one-and-only.”  

Marie agrees, noting that personalization is a major trend on the proposal front, too. “Couples are embracing unique, meaningful proposals, from customized engagement rings to memorable settings that reflect their story,” she continues, noting that proposal videographers (not just photographers!) are becoming more popular. “There’s also a growing trend toward intimate, sentimental moments captured beautifully on video for future reminiscing.”

Another thing to expect to see a lot of during this engagement season? Couples getting engaged their way. “Thoughtful, creative touches are in, and couples are investing in creating unforgettable experiences rather than focusing solely on tradition,” Marie says.

How to Prepare for Engagement Season 

Engagement season is not just about the proposal, says Marie—it’s the beginning of a couple’s journey towards wedding planning and marriage. As such, she suggests embracing the moment to make it authentic to you and your relationship. “And remember that at the heart of it all is the love you share,” she continues. “Whether you keep it simple or go all out, make sure it reflects who you are as a couple.”

Preparing to Propose

If you're feeling overwhelmed by planning a proposal, Canty suggests hiring a pro to help. Companies like hers can create a “stress-free proposal experience” when it comes to setting the stage for the big moment. “We handle everything from start to finish, so all you need to do is show up and pop the question,” she says, adding that planners will take care of all of the logistics and details, allowing you to truly focus on the moment. Just don’t forget to book in advance—Canty adds that, at the minimum, you should be hiring someone at least a month before you plan to get down on one knee. 

Saltzman—who flags that preparing to propose actually starts with talking to your partner about how they feel about getting engaged—agrees and recommends creating a proposal plan, hiring vendors, and, of course, sourcing that all-important ring ahead of time. “Often, we actually work with both partners jointly, meaning we see the couple together and then one partner ‘exits’ the process so there is still an element of surprise,” Saltzman says of the logistics, which can actually span six months, depending on how involved you want the process to be (custom diamonds and settings, like the ones Saltzman designs, take longer to create). “Then, once you know what your partner wants in a ring, you can pick a date and location and start planning.” 

Preparing to Be Proposed To

If you’re hoping that this engagement season is going to be the one where your partner finally pops the question, Saltzman says it’s all about getting those manicure appointments lined up from now until the end of December. “Be ready to show off that ring this holiday season!” she says.

And if the season passes without a proposal? Don't let that get you down, says Saltzman. “I would see it as an opportunity to express your love and commitment to your partner,” she says. “See if you could start to dream up what a perfect proposal and perfect engagement ring would look like for you, as a couple, and then, in six months—hello summer!—you can be one of the ‘cool girls.’ Engaged in the off-season and ready to shine in an era all of your own!"