The Best NYE Proposal Spots, According to Women

Behind Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve has emerged as one of the top dates for marriage proposals in recent years. Indeed, with the end of the year fast approaching, a time for reflection, celebration, and fresh starts, New Year’s Eve could take the mantle of being the best time for a proposal. 

We asked 3,000 women who were in long-term relationships but not yet married where their absolute dream proposal scenario would take place on New Year’s Eve. More specifically, we wanted to find out which landmark would be the perfect place for their partner to get down on one knee. 

Best Destinations by State

The survey revealed some interesting choices. For example, women in Hawaii (perhaps spoiled for choice) declared their ultimate proposal location would be Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. Who wouldn’t want to be standing on warm sand, listening to the gentle sounds of the waves, while fireworks burst over the Pacific? It all adds up to the perfect mix of romance and excitement. 

Here is the state-by-state breakdown:

Women in South Carolina identified Charleston Waterfront Park as their dream location for a proposal. On New Year’s Eve, there’s a firework display over the harbor, while the park’s historic charm and serene ambiance make it an ideal spot for a proposal — not to mention the highly Instagrammable Pineapple Fountain, creating the ideal setting for a ‘She said yes!’ selfie.

South Carolinians’ second choice was the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. Picture dreamy, oceanfront views, fireworks illuminating the Atlantic, and the soft swell of waves.  

In complete contrast, women in New York, perhaps unsurprisingly, chose Times Square as their number one NYE proposal destination. It certainly wouldn’t be the quietest spot to do it, as it’s filled with approximately one million people, all going crazy for the countdown to the ball drop. But if you fancy being caught up in the frenetic energy, it’s definitely the place for you. 

Elsewhere in New York state, the next choice was the Empire State Plaza in Albany, which boasts impressive architecture and a serene reflective pool, perfect for amplifying the fireworks overhead.

A striking choice among California women was the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It has the wow factor, with iconic views of the Bay and the thrill of the fireworks display all around. 

Women in New Jersey said their dream proposal would be on the Atlantic City boardwalk. A fun and lively mix of festive lights, celebrations, and oceanfront views, it’s a great blend of coastal charm and city excitement. 

Women in Colorado dream of a NYE proposal on Pikes Peak Avenue in Colorado Springs. It is where mountain views meet city sparkle. If you’re not too lost in each other’s eyes to admire the beauty of nature around you, it’s among the best places for a one-of-a-kind proposal. 

For women in Florida, Bayfront Park in Miami is the dream proposal destination. With a backdrop of imposing skyscrapers and awe-inspiring fireworks over Biscayne Bay, it’s a thrilling place to say, “Yes!”

Proposal Preferences

We also asked women what their ideal preference would be at the very moment of the marriage proposal; the overwhelming majority (78%) said they wanted it to be a special, private moment, with only the two of them, so it feels more meaningful. 

Another 20%, however, would love to share the news with family and friends straight away and would be happy if they were close by. And a mere 2% said they wanted to take center stage and make it a grand, public spectacle with a large audience.

The classic ‘man goes down on one knee and hopefully proffers an open ring box’ would be the ring reveal choice of 60% of women, while 22% said they wanted a creative surprise, where they have to hunt for the ring or have it be elaborately revealed to them. Another 18% said they liked the idea of it being hidden in a meaningful object, such as a book or a dessert (provided they didn’t swallow it by mistake). 

Nearly half (46%) of respondents said the perfect time to propose on NYE would be just before the clock strikes midnight, perhaps not thinking that the bells and cheering would drown out any answer. Another 30% said they would prefer to do it during a shared dinner or event earlier in the night, and 24% would rather it happen in the early evening, thereby setting the mood for the celebration.

The survey also found that the most important element of a NYE marriage proposal was the element of surprise (36%), while 28% wanted to be wowed by their other half’s speech or words. The location was, of course, important to 22% (after all, it’s going to be somewhere you remember forever), while 14% thought the atmosphere and ambiance, like the music or lighting, were key. 

The best accessory or detail for making the moment extra special was said to be a meaningful token or memento of the relationship, something that sums up why they’re together or things they share (41%). Always thinking about the ‘Gram, 27% said they’d want a photographer to capture the moment, while 22% would love fireworks or sparklers (just as well it’s happening on NYE then), and 10% wanted to toast the moment afterward with champagne.

Finally, the ideal backdrop for a NYE proposal was a tie between a quiet natural setting, such as a beach or the mountains (30%), and a cozy indoor space with candles and fairy lights (30%). Meanwhile, 22% said they want a glittering city skyline as a backdrop, while 18% are up for somewhere completely unexpected. 

“When you’re thinking about proposing, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices and pressure on that moment, but what really matters is the love you have for that other person,” said Amber Brooks, Editor-in-Chief at DatingNews.com. “Remember to put the most thought into what you say when you get down on one knee, then it’ll be special no matter where you are.”

As long as the answer is “yes,” I guess it doesn’t really matter where their partner pops the question.

Methodology

We carefully selected 3,000 female respondents from a geographically representative online panel of double-opt-in members. This selection was further tailored to meet the precise criteria required for each unique survey. Throughout the survey, we designed questions to carefully screen and authenticate respondents, guaranteeing the survey’s alignment with the ideal participants.

To ensure the integrity of our data collection, we employed an array of data quality methods. Alongside conventional measures such as digital fingerprinting, bot checks, geo-verification, and speeding detection, each response underwent a thorough review by a dedicated team member to ensure quality and contextual accuracy. Our commitment extended to open-ended responses, subjecting them to scrutiny for gibberish answers and plagiarism detection.