Why It Feels Like Everyone's Getting Engaged Right Now (Hint: It's Because They Are)

In recent years, wedding industry professionals have begun referring to the period between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s day as engagement season, given the surge in new proposals around the holidays. Industry professionals estimate that 40% of all proposals take place in this 2.5 month span.
Table of Contents
  1. Intro

Why It Feels Like Everyone's Getting Engaged Right Now

(Hint: It's Because They Are)

What Is Engagement Season?

If you’re between the ages of 25 and 45, and reading this between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, chances are you’ve noticed a conspicuous uptick of engagements being announced in your social feeds.

It can often seem, around the holidays, that between decorating cookies and glazing hams, everyone and their cousin (and their cousin’s cousin) is popping the question. You open up Instagram and people seem to be dropping to one knee.

If it feels like everyone you know is getting engaged RIGHT NOW: well, you’re not far off.

In recent years, wedding industry professionals have begun referring to the period between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s day as engagement season, given the surge in new proposals around the holidays. Industry professionals estimate that nearly 40% of all proposals take place in this 2.5 month span (with 20% of them taking place in December).

While the entire period is a popular time to get engaged, December takes the cake, with particular surges on Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve — though New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day are popular as well. It makes sense: a time that’s already about family and togetherness lends itself to making a commitment to the one you love.

The practical outcome of all these engagements happening around the same time? Well, a lot of those Christmas couples will begin the New Year by trying to set dates, book venues, find planners, etc —  which may create a hectic sense of competition. And it’s no mistake that wedding season, the most common time for weddings, peaks about 6 - 8 months after this surge of engagements, creating stressful overlap even for attendees.

Nonetheless, engagement season can be a beautiful time to celebrate love, commitment and family — yet another reason to celebrate during the holiday season.

How To Prepare For Engagement Season

Well, that all depends.

What To Do If You’re Watching The Non-Stop Engagements On Instagram

Don’t stress. Remember that, no matter what it looks like on social media, everyone is on their own path and their own timeline, so don’t let this season make you anxious about your romantic life. Just make sure to prioritize loving number one: yourself (ok, yes that was corny, but it doesn’t make it less true).

Also - feel validated that you’re not imagining things! Yes, many many (many) couples are taking the plunge, but it’s likely to die down in the coming weeks and months, so honor this wave of engagements in whatever way feels authentic to you — whether that’s sending a congratulations text, a gift, or planning an impromptu celebration. And if your feed is busy now during engagement season, you can anticipate that your calendar will be equally so during wedding season, so plan accordingly. Begin locking in dates, blocking off time at work and saving up money to ensure you’re able to make it to as many of those weddings as you wish.

What To Do If You’re Planning On Popping The Question

Congratulations! It’s a monumental step — and we couldn’t be happier for you and your partner. Once everything’s official (and you’ve called everyone in your contacts to share the good news), be sure to get started early with planning, particularly if you hope to be married in 2023.

The flipside of this wave of holiday proposals is that many of these newly-engaged couples will begin the new year by locking down venues and vendors. While there’s no need to buy into the competitive spirit, we do encourage you to be proactive, to avoid future stress.

Wondering where to start? Here are the first five steps you and your partner should take in planning your wedding.

AND, What To Do If You Think (Or Know) Your Day Is Around The Corner

For now, there’s not much to do but wait. Try to stay in the moment, avoid any snooping that might ruin the surprise, and keep those hands moisturized so they’re camera-ready ;)

In recent years, wedding industry professionals have begun referring to the period between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s day as engagement season, given the surge in new proposals around the holidays. Industry professionals estimate that 40% of all proposals take place in this 2.5 month span.
Get Started with provenance
Open article

10 Ways To Ask Your Friend or Family Member To Be Your Officiant

Your wedding day is one of the most special days of your life. You want everything to be perfect, including who officiates your wedding ceremony. Choosing the right officiant can be a daunting task, but once you’ve found the one, it’s time to pop the question. Since typically only one partner will propose to the other, it can be fun to team up to brainstorm how to "propose" to your officiant. Here are ten ways to ask someone to be your wedding officiant:
Open article

When to Send Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, and it can be challenging to keep track of all the details involved in the process. One critical aspect of wedding planning is sending out save the dates and wedding invitations. Timing is crucial when it comes to these essential items, as it can significantly impact the success of your big day. Below we'll go over when to send save the dates and wedding invitations to ensure your guests can make it to your wedding.
Open article

How to Incorporate Your “Step-Family” into Your Wedding

As the structure of the American family continues to evolve, it's important for couples to find ways to include and honor the children from previous relationships in their wedding ceremony.
Open article

The Wedding Budget: Who Pays For What?

When it comes to planning a wedding, one of the most stressful aspects can be figuring out the budget. Who pays for what, and how much should each person contribute? It can be a delicate subject to navigate, especially if you and your partner come from different financial backgrounds or have different expectations for your big day.
Open article

5 Meaningful First Valentine's Day Gifts for Newlyweds

Valentine's Day is a special day for couples to celebrate their love, but it can be especially significant for newlyweds celebrating their first Valentine's Day as a married couple. If you're struggling to come up with a thoughtful gift for your partner, don't worry - we've got you covered! Here are five meaningful gift ideas to help you make this day extra special.
Open article

How To Make Selecting A Gift Off Someone’s Registry Still Feel Personal

Wedding registries have become a staple of modern weddings. Couples create a list of items they need or want for their new home, and guests purchase these gifts to help them start their new life together. While registries make gift-giving easy and stress-free, they can sometimes feel impersonal. After all, you’re buying a gift that someone else has already chosen. But fear not! A) They added it to their registry for a reason - because they want someone to get it for them! B) There are still plenty of ways to make selecting a gift off someone’s registry feel personal and special. Here are some tips to get you started.
Accept cookies? View our Privacy Policy for more information.