Are holiday proposals really that great?

Things to consider before kneeling in the snow.

From Hallmark movies, to Love Actually, and Every. Single. Person. On. Instagram, it seems like everyone gets engaged in the final four weeks of the year. It’s probably no surprise that 31 percent of people say they’d prefer to get engaged on Christmas Eve. So if you’re planning on proposing to your partner during the holidays, there are some important factors to consider.

1. Whether it’s Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day or their birthday, getting engaged on a day that already has a significance of its own can be problematic. It can run the risk of taking away the importance of the day forever. And if the relationship ever ends, special days like a birthday or Christmas could be dampened. Instead, choose a time that’s meaningful to both of you – like the anniversary of your first date – or a random day that means nothing to you…like April 17th. That way, you have a new day to memorialize for the rest of time. And not to mention, a picture of your engagement ring on December 26th will likely get lost in the shuffle. So why not wait for a slower time when your followers are thirstier for it?

2. Public proposals can be cruel. If you’ve ever seen a proposal on the Jumbotron at a football game, you know it doesn’t scream romantic – unless your idea of romance is standing next to seven guys with “DEFENSE” painted on their chests. With that in mind, proposing at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in front of a thousand tourists taping it on their iPhones can put a lot of pressure on your partner. Rule of thumb: don’t turn your proposal into a meme.

3. If you want to celebrate your engagement with friends and family, the holidays can seem like an ideal time since you’re already together. But the issue there is that people are overloaded with celebrations during this time of year. Sure, they’re happy for you, but the chances of them wanting to go to another party – especially something that wasn’t already on their schedule – are slim. Instead, getting engaged during a less busy time will ensure that more loved ones are able to drop everything and toast you and your betrothed.

Obviously, if you’re planning a Christmas Eve proposal, go for it. You know your partner better than anyone. But at the end of the day, getting engaged is just the beginning, so make sure it feels right for both of you.