It’s December which means the festive – and engagement season – will soon be upon us – yay! This happy time of year is a popular time for popping the question with guys and gals donning sparklers with wild abandon! And there is always a sweet and meaningful story attached to it that makes us go Aw. We love a good love story here at weddingsonline so this afternoon, we’ve rounded up a selection of proposal stories from our real wedding couples from the past year. From popping the question over a cuppa to intimate getaways, the lads show just how romantic they’ve been. Tissues at the ready…
Paige & Kjell
Our proposal… Kjell cleverly proposed in Phoenix Park on a chilly, sunny Saturday morning in November. I arrived at the park thinking I was meeting someone else, but in reality Kjell had set up a scavenger hunt for me! Each clue along the way was found under a huge balloon, and a stranger came up to me and gave me a dozen roses. At the last balloon, Kjell had prepared a picnic, and he got down on one knee and proposed with a ring in one hand, and a puppy in the other! He’s a true romantic.
See Paige & Kjell’s Bellinter House real wedding captured by Circus Photography!
Barry & Aileen
Our proposal… was a real surprise to me, although we were going out almost 6 years, I didn’t expect it just yet! It happened at home on an ordinary Saturday morning; Barry went downstairs to make a cup of tea and returned with a ring!
See Barry & Aileen’s real wedding captured by Konrad Kubic Photography!
Alice & Paul
Our proposal… As a treat, Paul had brought me away for a weekend in Knockranny House Hotel, in Westport. Sometime in the past, as part of some deal or other with Paul, I had agreed to climb Ireland’s holiest mountain; Croagh Patrick (Paul had wanted to do this for years). When we reached the summit, Paul suddenly walked away from me and stood at one side looking out (into the clouds). I was a bit puzzled at his behaviour but just put it down to him having a religious moment! Around two minutes later he came back over to me with a beaming smile, knelt down on one knee and asked the tried and tested line: “Will you marry me?” I was shocked and asked him: “are you sure?” and he said “Yes”, and I said “Yes”; and the rest is history. It was a fantastic proposal, it caught me totally off guard – I had a feeling a proposal might be on the cards around that time and always thought it would take place in a restaurant with me dolled-up to the nines and not in a tracksuit, runners, no make-up and on top of a mountain!
See Alice & Paul’s Lough Rynn wedding by Michelle Prunty Photography!
Karen & Andy
Our proposal… One of our favourite musicians, Wallis Bird, was playing a gig in Rome so we decided to make a long weekend out of it. After sipping wine in Piazza del Popolo, while I jokingly told Andy he had to propose to me in the next two years, we headed up to the Trevi Fountain to see it lit up at night. He got down on one knee at the centre of the fountain and I managed to eventually get a ‘yes’ out through the tears. It was very romantic! Afterwards, people came up to us with pictures they had taken and they emailed them to us within hours which was lovely. The following day we went and got our rings blessed in the church around the corner, where my Mam and Dad got married.
See Karen & Andy’s Clonabreany celebration by Julie Cummins Photography!
Magdalena & Colm
Our proposal… Our house is surrounded by fields and one gorgeous summers day, we went into one of the fields, with our two dogs, Boo and Bella (St. Bernard and Golden Retriever) to feed carrots to the many horses and miniature ponies there. Just as I gave the last carrot to the pony we call Betty, Colm, in his wellies, shorts and t-shirt, got down on bended knee and said those four big words… ”Will you marry me?” With a squeal of delight, a huge beaming smile and the two dogs and nine ponies looking on in bemusement… I said yes! He had the ring for three weeks before he picked his moment.
See Magdalena & Colm’s real wedding by Art Wedding Photography!
Sam & Katrina
Our proposal… It was Christmas morning, Sam gave me a gift of a lovely pendant but hanging off it was my engagement ring!
See Sam & Katrina’s real wedding captured by Into The Light Photography!
Pam & Paul
Our proposal… Paul brought me right back to the place we first met, Sin É – we live across the bridge from it in town so he had me up at the crack of dawn watching a gorgeous video he had made of our story while he waited for me outside Sin É. I have never ran as fast across the bridge (or ever) to where he was waiting for me.
See Pam & Paul’s real wedding by Moat Hill Photography!
Laura & David
Our proposal… was quite personal for the both of us, it was on our 5th year anniversary, we had arranged to meet up for a few drinks at Pine Lodge and Dave arrived before me to prepare the area where he had first asked me out. I was collected by my sister and a friend. When we arrived at the Lodge my friend said that she had forgotten to walk her dogs so needed to go home, by now I was a little suspicious that something was happening, walking into the Lodge I saw Dave at the bar looking rather nervous. We ordered our drinks and decided to play a game of pool. I was just about to take my jacket off when Dave came up behind me and blindfolded me. He then led me out of the bar and tried his best to guide me around. Much to his great effort he did manage to walk me into a tree, we eventually stopped and Dave sat me down and told me to take the blindfold off. Once I had taken the blindfold off and adjusted my eyes, I saw Dave in front of me down on one knee holding a little black box. I sat there overwhelmed with emotion surrounded by the most beautiful flowers, Dave then asked the question “Laura Toomey, will you marry me?” and of course I said YES…
See Laura & David’s real wedding captured by Tomasz Kornas Photography!
Cheryl & Shane
Our proposal… We live in Perth, Western Australia and Cheryl had her Christmas Party on the Saturday afternoon. It gave me some time to set up our balcony with flowers and candles and a bottle of Champagne…. I closed the blinds and waited for her to get home. When she lifted the blinds to go out onto the balcony I surprised her and popped the question! Hoping she would say yes!
See Cheryl & Shane’s Cabra Castle real wedding by Couple Photography!
Edward & Gina
Our proposal… Ed had the ring for a good few months and waited until I finished my fellowship exams. He took me on a romantic night away to celebrate the exams being over to a favourite spot of ours – Sealfield Hotel and Spa in Wexford. We went for a walk on the beach and he got down on one knee. Complete surprise!
See Edward & Gina’s real wedding by Brenda McGuire Photography!
Criona & David
Our proposal… We decided to take a holiday just before Christmas, and David insisted on heading to Paris so I did have my suspicions about his plans. We spent an evening at the Christmas market on the Champs Elysees, having mulled wine and roast chestnuts, then wandered through the city until we got to the Pont des Arts, where David proposed. He gave me a beautiful plain gold bangle when he proposed, and then a sapphire ring we chose together a few weeks after.
See Criona & David’s city wedding captured by Michelle Prunty!
Ciara & Cormac
Our proposal… It was my birthday and we were living in Chicago at the time, so Cormac planned a night away in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin to celebrate. We went for dinner and afterwards, back at the hotel, he asked me to check the meal receipt to see was everything right… He had written ‘Will you Marry Me?’ on the receipt.
See Ciara & Cormac’s Kilshane House wedding by Weddings By Kara!
Katie & Sean
Our proposal… Sean asked me to go for a walk in the park, I wasn’t pushed about the idea but eventually gave in and Sean, myself and our little boy Mason and the dog went off for a walk in the park. I was walking ahead pushing the pram and Sean called me, I didn’t even look but just said Sean “come on”, he called me again and I turned around to see him down on one knee in the park asking me to marry him and of course I said YES.
See Katie & Sean’s real wedding by Art Wedding Photography!
Eleanor & Shane
Our proposal… Was a big surprise on a Friday evening in Sydney in November! Involving a surprise dinner, a helicopter trip around Sydney followed by a chauffeur driven transfer in a beautiful Merc with refreshments to be welcomed to the Shangri La hotel for an overnight stay accompanied by lots of champagne and goodies! We got a good night sleep and embarked on the ‘ring’ search from 10am the next morning!
See Eleanor & Shane’s celebrations captured by Insight Photography!
Nicola & Maurice
Our proposal… I proposed to Nicola by the lake in Glendalough in December. I brought Christmas crackers to the wintry picnic and when Nicola pulled hers, a ring and a note saying “will you marry me?” popped out. She almost forgot to answer but when she did, the gathered ducks and I were delighted.
See Nicola & Maurice’s real wedding by Konrad Kubic Photography!
Main Image from Real Wedding by Brenda McGuire Photography
