Laura
01 February 2022
Love is in the air this Valentine's Day and we’ve uncovered some of the most heartwarming marriage proposal stories and UK holiday romance stats from around the UK to make you smile.
Some of the UK’s most amazing marriage proposal stories
Some of the loveliest marriage proposal stories from across the UK include:
💕 “My husband had planned to propose to me while we were on holiday in Exmoor National Park. He had planned a day out at a stunning countryside location, the Tarr Steps, where there is an ancient bridge built over a river - the perfect proposal spot, though I didn't know this was his plan at the time!
So we put the Tarr Steps into our SatNav and left our holiday cottage. The roads got smaller and smaller until we were driving along a dirt track. It didn't feel right, so my husband decided to turn around at the entrance of a field. But when he tried to reverse back out, there was a horrible crunching noise and the car wouldn't budge!
I got out and looked under the car, to find that the undercarriage was hooked on a boulder. There was absolutely nothing we could do except call for roadside recovery. They told us we were so far out of their usual recovery area, we'd be waiting for them all day!
In the meantime, I got to work, on my hands and knees, trying to dig the boulder out of the mud with my bare hands, in the hopes of freeing the car! I looked an absolute state! We gave up and decided to go for a walk in the countryside while we waited for the tow truck to help us out.
In a gorgeous spot mid-walk, my husband popped the question! The photos we took after show my hands caked in mud, with dirt under my fingernails. He told me that the minute he saw me jump into action and try to dig the car out, he knew he didn't care how it happened, he just wanted me to be his wife!”
💕 “We climbed high into the clouds amongst the wind and rain, it was the first time I had ever been to the Lake District. My husband traditionally went down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes! He was in the Royal Navy at the time and had just returned from a 7-month deployment along with the most beautiful engagement ring - I’m a very lucky lady.”
💕 “Well, I had arranged to go for an all you can eat buffet. All very normal it seems :-). I had bought these fortune cookies saying 'Will you marry me?'.
The worst thing was I had the fortune cookies in my pocket and she was enjoying the all you can eat buffet. I phoned a friend and she said just keep filling the water up so I did and that worked.
I passed over the fortune cookies two red and one gold. I didn't read it properly as the gold one was bigger and to my horror, it was mine that said 'Will you marry me?'. I ended up passing it to her and after about six times of reading it she said, is this you asking me to marry you? She was in shock, bless her.
The funniest thing was we go to church and they did a prophetic evening at a church I went to. I said on the way back what will my wife's name be and the answer was Nelly. It just so happens Nelly is Greek for Helen, my wife's name.”
💕 “Just the two of us, on a dog walk, with a glorious sunset overlooking the Black Mountains.”
💕 “I was on holiday from work for a week, as was my then-boyfriend (now husband of 37 years), but we weren’t really together as it had always been a bit of a long-distance relationship because I lived in Southend-on-Sea and he was living and working in Birmingham.
Unbeknown to me, he had taken a week off his work, and had cycled all the way down from Birmingham to Southend (about 150 miles), turned up on my doorstep, and asked me out for dinner that evening. We were going with his friends, to try out a restaurant in Southend for our friend’s cricket club dinner.
When we got back to my flat after the meal (and I should add that the meal was so bad, I was ill in the ladies loo in the restaurant), whilst enjoying a cup of coffee, he proposed to me… and we got married a year to the day of that evening!
And in case you’re wondering, he got the train back from Southend to Birmingham….”
💕 "Beautiful early-morning walk up Helm crag…my then-boyfriend proposed at the top over a lovely picnic of smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels, and prosecco! The sun even shined!"
UK holiday romances
Having surveyed over 100 people across the UK to collate the data, the results show that:
💕 50% of those surveyed have had a holiday romance
💕 24% of those surveyed met their current partner on a UK holiday and 42% of them still holiday to that destination together
London, Cumbria and Cornwall are the most popular places to propose, The Midlands, South East and Wales are the most popular areas to tie the knot and Cornwall, Dorset and Devon are the top UK honeymoon destinations!
The top places to propose in the UK are:
London
With a huge amount of cosy wine bars, secret gardens, whimsical streets and historic spots all within reach, London tops the list of the top UK places to propose!
From rooftop bars overlooking this famous skyline to lush green parks and evenings of fine dining, there may be even more to celebrate on a trip to the UK’s capital.
Cumbria
The Lake District in Cumbria is famous for its gorgeous, emotive, wild and beautiful scenery. It's no wonder it makes the list for an ideal setting for that special romantic gesture.
Claiming the top spot of the prettiest town in the UK, Keswick in the beautiful Lake District is a picture-perfect place to pop the question!
Cornwall
With its quaint fishing villages and beautifully diverse landscape, Cornwall is one of the dreamiest destinations for an unforgettable holiday.
Being such an idyllic part of the UK, we’re not surprised it made the list of the most popular UK destinations for couples to get engaged!
The top places to get married in the UK are:
Midlands
The Midlands offer plenty of choices for those looking to tie the knot. From trendy celebrations in city centres to quaint venues in lush countryside, it's no wonder so many couples spend their special day here.
There are so many settings for that special day, from beautiful barns and chic country houses to impressive grand marquees. Romantic Herefordshire, with its gorgeous River Wye, provides a spectacular backdrop to that big day with the county’s two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: the Wye Valley and the Malvern Hills.
South East
Featuring historic villages, miles of coastline and vast open unspoilt countryside, there is an abundance of romantic places in South East England to spend that special day.
From windmills and theatres to beautiful Tudor mansions and converted barns, South East England is home to plenty of uniquely romantic places to tie the knot.
Wales
From dancing the night away in the trendy capital to exploring majestic mountains and rural retreats, Wales is full of magical settings for that special day.
Romantic Wales is perfect for making memories and enjoying each other’s company. Our romantic cottages, combined with dreamy waterfalls, tranquil lakes and awe-inspiring views, make Wales one of the most desirable destinations for couples to wed.
The top places to honeymoon in the UK are:
Cornwall
Sunset lovers will adore the romance of a special getaway together in one of Cornwall’s many mesmerising spots.
One of the most romantic places to visit is St Michael's Mount, a picturesque island with a gorgeous historic house on the hilltop and lovely colourful sub-tropical gardens.
Dorset
Dorset has everything you could imagine for that extra-special break together and you’re guaranteed to fall in love with this romantic area of the UK.
Get treated to amazing sunsets from beautiful golden sandy beaches, wonderful woodland walks together and romantic restaurants to savour for all time.
Devon
Discover Devon’s beautiful beaches, magnificent moors, wonderful waterfalls and vibrant villages.
Diverse Devon is home to lots of romantic spots and things to do on that special romantic break, from dining out in fancy restaurants to holding hands on special coastal walks.
About Sugar & Loaf
Sugar & Loaf is the booking agent for a handpicked selection of luxury cottages in Wales with romantic, dog-friendly, countryside and coastal holiday homes available.
If you fancy a break in one of the UK's loveliest places to propose, then browse our full collection of luxury cottages in Wales to find your perfect romantic base.
*Data collected by Sugar & Loaf during January 2022. Based on a sample size of 102.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.