The 14 Best Proposals In Film & TV

Hollywood sets the bar pretty high when it comes to stunning wedding proposals. If you are considering popping the question to your significant other and are looking for inspiration from films or television, look no further. From casual conversations in bed, to very cliché scenes in the rain, here are our 14 favourite proposals for all the romantic types out there.

1. Jamie & Aurélia – Love Actually

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After watching Colin Firth stumble his way through some fairly poor Portuguese in a very public setting, Love Actually is a compulsory contender in the best proposals list. Despite the language barrier, Jamie proposes to Aurélia at the restaurant she works at because ‘it’s Christmas and I just wanted to check’.

2. Ike & Maggie – The Runaway Bride

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After running away and leaving many poor men at the altar, followed by some extensive soul searching, Maggie (Julia Roberts) romantically turns the table and proposes to Richard Gere. She delivers a carefully crafted speech to Ike on his balcony one starry night, after turning in her running shoes to him as a gesture of her commitment.

Related: 9 Romantic Quotes from Literature to Inspire an Amazing Proposal

3. Barney & Robin- How I Met Your Mother

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On a New York rooftop adorned in fairy lights and candles, How I Met Your Mother’s bachelor Barney finally bites the bullet and proposes to a dumbfounded Robin. Barney proposes under mistletoe, with a meticulously planned play titled ‘The Robin’ which took months to accomplish.

4. Robbie & Julia – The Wedding Singer

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Soaring to the peak of romantic proposals is Robbie’s serenade to Julia, on a plane. Singing an adorable song called ‘Grow Old with You’ to an already engaged Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler’s in-flight entertainment certainly tugs at everyone’s heart strings.  The tune has even become a popular wedding song since the film’s release in 1998.

5. Chandler & Monica – Friends

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Taking a page out of Julia Roberts’ book, a teary eyed Monica proposes to an equally teary eyed and romantically surprised Chandler in their New York apartment, which has been shrouded in candles. Bit of a deadly fire hazard, but adorable nonetheless!

6. Mark & Bridget – Bridget Jones

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Colin Firth is at it again as Mark Darcy proposes to Bridget at his law chambers, after she’d been embarrassingly drenched by a puddle. After spoiling the moment with typical Bridge Jones-esque awkwardness saying ‘as long as it’s not will you marry me’, the two persevere despite the lack of cliché proposal cues. ‘I know there’s no music playing, and it’s not snowing, but that doesn’t mean that it … that it can’t really be something,’ Bridget says.

Related: How Has Proposing Changed Throughout History?

7. Andrew & Margaret – The Proposal

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Quite possibly the most amusing proposal in this list, which consists of a lover’s tiff across the office, it is still one of the most poignant. After pretending to be engaged as a desperate act to avoid Margaret’s deportation, Ryan Reynolds decides to genuinely propose to his boss Sandra Bullock. He uses the witty line ‘marry me, because I’d like to date you’.

8. Schmidt & Cece – New Girl

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Considering the history of Cece and Schmidt, it was no surprise that his proposal was both unique and entertaining. The day they met he bet $5 that he would one day marry her, claiming ‘girl imma marry you’. Flash forward to season 4 and he is using the same $5 bill while he’s down on one knee.

9. Charles & Carrie – 4 Weddings and a Funeral

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After leaving his previous fiancée at the altar, a typically bumbling Hugh Grant combines with Hollywood romance for a passionate proposal in the rain.  He asks ‘do you think not being married to be might be something you’d consider doing for the rest of your life?’

10. Luke & Isabel – Stepmom

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Opening a ring-sized box to a spool of thread may not seem like an astounding proposal, however Ed Harris’ following speech about love and commitment makes this one of the most romantic scenes in film. ‘Even when things are hard and you feel like giving up, you have to hang on to that decision, that choice to love each other. Even if it’s only by a thread. I let that thread break once. This time, it won’t. Will you marry me?’

11. Jim & Pam – The Office

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This list couldn’t exist without TV’s favourite couple. After a series of almost proposals, Jim finally pops the question to Pam using a ring that he bought a week after they started dating, in a petrol station during a downpour of rain.

12. Ian & Toula – My Big Fat Greek Wedding

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As one of the few private moments this couple gets, Ian’s proposal to Toula is both sweet and modest. He simply proposes in bed, saying ‘I don’t know how to say this… will you marry me?’

13. Matthew & Lady Mary – Downton Abbey

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Matthew Crawley and Lady Mary Grantham are the perfect periodic couple. His enchanting proposal takes place in the scenic Downton snow after lady Mary insists ‘you must say it properly. I won’t answer unless you kneel down and everything.’

14. Mr Darcy & Elizabeth – Pride & Prejudice

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Finally, Pride and Prejudice, as a young Colin Firth makes yet another appearance on this list. The scene where Mr Darcy and Elizabeth confess their feelings for one another is possibly the most memorable scene in Pride and Prejudice, aside from the famous lake scene. As one of the most beloved literary figures, Mr Darcy manages to make all audiences swoon.

Can you think of any proposals we might have missed? Let us know in the comments!