First Posted: 12/12/2014

Engagements are supposed to be a special time in a couple’s relationship that comes with a great story that you can tell your kids and friends later in life. YouTube videos of well-planned engagements have gone viral, and a thoughtful proposal always gets a high five in my book.

When it comes to originality and thoughtfulness, what about holiday engagements? Are they a cop out or the makings of a great holiday memory?

Last weekend, I was finishing up some holiday shopping and checking out the sales at the Wyoming Valley Mall. Since I am drawn to sparkly things, I sauntered into one of the jewelry stores covered in glittering baubles of all shapes and sizes. It was here that I was privy to a conversation between an awkward 20 something guy and his mother.

They stood together over the diamond ring counter browsing the selection. He looked to her for guidance and advice, the exchange however, was something short of what I would hope my future engagement planning (someday!) would sound like. The boy turned to his mother and said “Well I was going to propose to her anyway, if I do it on Christmas morning, I won’t have to buy her any other gifts, so it’s a win-win, right?”

His mother surprisingly replied “it’s like killing two birds with one stone.”

So here I am the hopeless romantic. My jaw drops to the floor as I am flabbergasted that a woman could compare something as memorable and beautiful as an engagement to murdering birds. What about the story? What about the romance? What about the element of surprise?

Then my cynical side kicks in; what if she says no? Or what if they end up breaking it off a few months down the road? I am pretty sure this would ruin Christmas for me.

I guess the point I am trying to make here is that a Christmas morning engagement is not my cup of tea. Granted, I personally have never been engaged and would probably be thrilled to be asked on Christmas morning or any other day as long as it was the right person asking, but if you are planning on buying an engagement ring as a way of getting out of buying some holiday gifts, you might be going about this all wrong.

Follow your heart; ask your mate when it feels right. Whether it’s Christmas morning next to the tree and surrounded by your loved ones, or if it’s Tuesday afternoon in a rainy bus station just the two of you; ask from your heart. Not every engagement needs to be YouTube worthy or written on the score board at Madison Square Garden during halftime, but be original, make a story, make a memory.

It’s the stuff that makes life sweet.