  According to a survey by Weddingbells magazine, December ranks as the biggest month for engagements. (Shutterstock.com) |
'Tis the season to be jolly and, apparently, get engaged.
Seems the Christmas season is one of the most popular times for popping the question, frequently trumping Valentine's Day, anniversaries and even the site of a couple's very first date.
Maybe it's something in the mistletoe or the spiked eggnog, but whatever it is, it seems to inspire guys to get down on one knee and ask the timeless question, "Will you marry me?"
According to a survey by Weddingbells magazine, December ranks as the biggest month for engagements.
"Christmas has the emotional appeal and the celebration," says John Thompson, of the high-end jewelry store Birks.
"We see in the fall, typically, traffic increases, and we see more people looking for engagement rings ... Valentine's Day is always very popular, but Christmas is even more so."
On Christmas morning four years ago, 29-year-old Laura Watt didn't exactly get the puppy she'd asked for as a present.
Her then-boyfriend Ryan had something else in mind.
"I opened the box and there was a stuffed dog with the ring around her neck on a ribbon," she recalls.
The ring had belonged to her grandmother, and her future husband had taken it in to have the stone reset.
"It was nice to do on Christmas because we were seeing family that day and everyone was very excited," Watt says.
The couple were married the following September and they've since gotten a puppy and had their first child, a baby girl, last August.
While love is in the air during the Christmas season, mastering the art of a great, story-telling proposal is still an essential element.
"Anything with a surprise is generally lots of fun," suggests Thompson.
"For instance, most people don't sit down for breakfast every day, but on Christmas they tend to. Set the ring on the breakfast plate beside the piece of toast, or when open the Christmas stocking and at the bottom, it's there waiting."
Another idea is hiding the ring far back under the tree. When it looks like all the presents have been opened, make your move.
Or consider placing the smaller ring box in an oversized parcel to throw her off the proposal scent. Just when she thinks she's about to get yet another bathrobe, voila! she discovers a glittering rock.
It was Christmas Eve almost 18 years ago when one woman was asked for her hand in marriage before an audience of about 30 family members. Thankfully, the couple had been discussing marriage, so her future hubby was pretty confident she'd say "yes."
Her then-boyfriend had given her a pair of gloves as a gift, cleverly tucking the ring inside one of them.
"It was really nice to be able to share it with everybody," she says.
"He knows how important family is to me, it's a festive time and I'll always remember it - Every Christmas Eve, it's our anniversary."
Bling basics
It isn't just a ring, it's an engagement ring. Some women have been fantasizing about the perfect diamond for years, which means choosing just the right one can be a daunting task for guys (not to mention a very delicate test of just how well you know your partner's tastes!)
"Getting engaged is typically one of the biggest decisions a couple is going to make in their lifetime," says John Thompson, of Birks Toronto.
"(The ring) is something that the woman is going to wear for 40, 50, 60 years. You have the cases where the diamond is not big enough and the cases where he's gone overboard."
If you're confident you know your girlfriend's bling style, picking the ring on your own brings a nice element of surprise. If you're unsure, however, going to shops with your partner will give you a better idea of what catches her eye.
"It's good to know the style that the lady wants to wear," says Thompson.
"It's something that's going to be with her for a long time, so you want to make sure she likes it."
A survey on the website theknot.com found that 50% of brides-to-be prefer a round-shaped centre diamond, followed by a princess cut at 30%.
The cost of saying 'I do'
A reader survey conducted by Weddingbells magazine conducted earlier this year found the shaky economy hasn't given Canadian couples cold feet about the big-bucks business of marriage.
The results found that the average anticipated wedding cost is $19,038, but just how are couples footing the bills?
According to the findings, 46% say they rely on their savings to pay for the big day, whereas 16% take out loans and 32% look to the financial kindness of family members.
The wedding industry in Canada is estimated to be worth about $4 billion annually.
What are the odds
British bookmakers William Hill cut its odds to 6/1 from 12/1 of a Christmas engagement for Prince William and girlfriend Kate Middleton after the royal family instructed a lawyer to oversee a crackdown on "intrusive" photographers last week.
