10 cliché holiday marriage proposals

December is the most popular time of the year to get engaged (about 16 percent of all proposals happen this month). And for good reason: There are decorations, champagne and sparkly lights everywhere, plus plenty of gatherings with family and friends. We're not saying that these are bad ideas -- they’re actually very romantic -- they’re just proposals that we’ve seen a time or two or three before.

At the top of the rock

More from The Knot:10 marriage proposals gone wrong!

Rockefeller Center's observation deck has been the site of many NYC proposals. If it's a view of the city you want, just know you'll have to compete with a crowd before you can get down on one knee.

-- Jamie Miles

©The Knot

1 of 12 Shutterstock / The Knot

At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve

Keep in mind that when the clock strikes 12, everyone around you will be going wild and your words might not even be heard by your significant other!

More from The Knot: Most over-the-top marriage proposals

Video: Tips to save on your wedding dress

2 of 12 Thinkstock / The Knot

Underneath the mistletoe

Kissing under mistletoe is a long-standing holiday tradition, but it doesn’t have a lot to do with engagement rings or proposals.

More from The Knot: Celebrity engagement ring look-alikes

Bing: Celebrity rings

3 of 12 Thinkstock / The Knot

On ice

Engagements on ice are fairly common once the weather turns chilly.

More from The Knot: 9 romantic places to propose

Just be sure you know how to skate before you decide to publicly propose at an ice rink!

4 of 12 Thinkstock / The Knot

At Christmas (or a Hanukkah) dinner

Do you really want your entire family there the moment your significant other pops the question?

Video: Great wedding cake designs

5 of 12 Shutterstock / The Knot

On Santa's lap

There's nothing cute about your significant other donning a Santa suit and ho-ho-hoing his way through a proposal.

Bing: Ways to propose during the holidays

Do you want your sex-related question answered by our sex-pert? Email us at msnlivingmail@microsoft.com and include your question, name and state, or whether you'd like to remain anonymous.

6 of 12 Thinkstock / The Knot

As the present under the tree

Hiding a ring under the Christmas tree is sweet...but not exactly original.

7 of 12 Thinkstock / The Knot

On a horse and buggy ride

You may feel like you've met your Prince Charming if he proposes in this old-fashioned way -- but you wouldn’t be the first to get engaged like this.

8 of 12 Shutterstock / The Knot

With a puppy as the present

Your significant other might be so caught up in cute that they miss the meaning behind your words. And once you pop the question, you have to immediately talk puppy day care!

9 of 12 Shutterstock / The Knot

In the chocolate dessert on Valentine’s Day

Chocolate-covered strawberries are one thing, but a chocolate-covered engagement ring just sounds messy!

10 of 12 Shutterstock / The Knot

11 of 12 Visit TheKnot.com for wedding ideas, trends, tips, + more

More from The Knot

9 most daring new wedding dresses

9 things your groom wants you to know

10 marriage proposals gone wrong!

12 of 12

From The Knot

12Comments

Best

Dec 19, 2012 10:02PM

Someone sounds old-maid bittery.

Previous replies

Roanae

Dec 19, 2012 10:18PM

They may be cliche, but that doesn't mean its not sweet.

Previous replies

A reasonable guy

Dec 20, 2012 12:17AM

Cliche proposals? Really? When a man proposes to a woman he is telling her he will do everything he can to protect her and make her happy. And 'The Knot' has nothing better to do but judge the way in which a man 'proposes' this? Really? Any woman that thinks these are 'cliche' might be better off without the diamond ring, and the life time of commitment it is supposed to represent. How caddy and pathetic. How great it is to be a guy, spend $10,000+ on a ring, then be part of water cooler talk the next day about how "cliche" his proposal was. Awesome.

Previous replies

Fey Lovecraft

Dec 20, 2012 2:04AM

Really, who complains about a cliche proposal? If a man cares enough to propose, are you going to call your mother or sister, and say 'Steve proposed! But oh my gawd, it was sooo cliched!'

Previous replies

Lucky to have my knight in shinning armor

Dec 20, 2012 2:03AM

This sounds like someone who is "always the Bridesmaid, never a Bride" type who is a bit peeved that she was assigned to write this. I don't blame the Knot for this b/c they helped me with planning my wedding very easy. My personal opinion coming from someone who has actually been there that, there are some that have been done many times; but, you have to break yourself from what the media has shoved down our throats as women what is romantic and what is not. The reason ladies why we know of these so-called "common proposals" is b/c we watch chick-flicks where we see these things, know friends who've gotten engaged, or read books/articles containing recounts of made-up or of others proposals; so we deem these ourselves as cliche. Most guys are truly clueless on how to be romantic and ask their buddies or reference "our" fave books/movies for help...and all it takes is for one clueless woman to not realize this and not really care to ruin it. You know that saying that it wasn't man who killed chivalry, it was women....it's true. (well not all women but a good few)

Previous replies

Janet1964828

Dec 20, 2012 2:50AM

Yeah this person has serious "issues" . I do agree with the cake one though, not because of the mess, but it could quite possibly be a choking hazard.

I can picture it now. The guy sitting there watching the girl eat her dessert. He nervous and excited. She only eats a little because she's a chick and doesn't want to look like indelicate in front of the guy she really digs... that's for after they're married. His right heel is bouncing up and down on the floor. The anticipation is killing him. He tries to gently prod her to keep eating, but it comes off as nagging. To get him off her back she complies...

Suddenly she clutches her throat.... turns blue... the guy freezes up, motionless in panic... a Greek god working his way through med school as a busboy does the Heimlich. They form an intense emotional bond over his live saving skills. She dumps her boyfriend 2 months later.

All because he didn't buy her a puppy... that's way too cliche and besides, he's allergic to dogs ;)

Previous replies

Camaro Mom

Dec 19, 2012 11:19PM