It’s National Proposal Day! Here Are the 20 Best Places to Propose In Philly


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It’s National Proposal Day! Why, you ask? Because someone named John Michael O’Loughlin from Irving Texas declared it to be so one day. (Something about his cousin taking forever to propose to his gf, so John declared a designated holiday—side note: can anyone just do this?—for proposing, to give any dilly-dallying man a day to just do it already, and here we are.)

We’ve seen all kinds of roundups today on everything from proposal stats to diamond shapes, but to commemorate this most sacred day in our world, we thought we’d involve this lovely city of ours. And so, we did a quick survey with our wedding-planner friends to see what their favorite spot is for a proposal in Philly.

Now, I think we are probably all in agreement that any place that is personally meaningful to the couple is always an excellent idea, whether that place is in public or on the couch in the first home you bought together. But in case you know anyone who could use a little/not-so-subtle inspiration, let’s say, give ’em a look-see at these ideas:

Sarah Morrison, All About Events: The iconic Broad Street strip! The honking of the cars and “Congratulations!” yelled out the windows make any woman feel like everyone is as happy as she is in that moment about the man in front of her on one knee! Plus, it’s the most beautiful back drop, especially at night with all of the buildings lit in blue and pink!

Kelsey Gilland, A Little Soirée: The Shofuso House & Gardens—it is a hidden treasure, and the gardens provide such a romantic and unique backdrop for a proposal.

Lauren Lerner, Lauren James EventsAddison Street: This charming, private street that is tree-lined and strung with white lights year round will make that special moment even more magical!

Gina Sole, the Wedding Planner: I think it would be so cool to attend a class at Cook with the bride’s favorite chef, and invite her closest friends and family to attend the class. Then, somewhere before the end of the evening, the groom can pop the question! I’m personally a sucker for a ring stuffed in a chocolate soufflé!

Chrissy Lehman, Truly You EventsKelly Drive. I think a lot of grooms like the idea of proposing in public, but then lose their nerve when they think about the big crowds in locations like Love Park. But with Kelly Drive, it’s public, sure, but there are many nooks/benches and vistas that are beautiful and very quiet, plus the flowering Japanese cherry blossoms are so dreamy, and Boathouse Row and the PMA in the background are perfect for engagement selfies. It’s walkable from the city, so it’s easy to trick the proposee into thinking she/he is just walking the dog or going for a run—and it can then become a part of your training route while sweating for the wedding!

Christina Hadlow, KPW Productions: I think the gardens of the Rodin Museum and Race Street Pier are both wonderful places to get engaged. They’re striking architectural gems and so uniquely Philadelphia.

Melissa Brannon, Uncommon Events: Rittenhouse Square. You can have dinner at Parc, and then take a stroll through the park afterwards.

Angela Malicki, Angela Malicki Events: I’ve got so many! The New Hope-Lambertville Bridge. On a bench facing the Ben Franklin Bridge in Independence Hall Park. Valley Forge Park by the Washington Memorial. Or inside Bistro Romano on Lombard or Cafe Beau Monde—both are super romantic.

Jaclyn Fisher, Two Little Birds Planning:  With beautiful brickwork, old-fashioned flower boxes, and brightly-colored window shutters, the historic Elfreth’s Alley is often the backdrop for engagement sessions and wedding photos—but it’s also one of my favorite Philadelphia spots to get engaged! Plus, after making their own history, couples can enjoy a romantic stroll down this quaint and picturesque cobblestone street, followed by celebratory drinks or dinner at one of the many area bars or restaurants.

Susan Norcross, the Styled Bride: Being high above the city is always breathtaking—so we love the City Hall Observation Deck with its bird’s-eye view of the city—or if you can swing it, the Franklin Institute has a outdoor spot on the fifth floor (you would have to get permission).There are also some hotels and restaurants with pretty gorgeous top-tier city views: R2L, at the PSFS sign on top of the Loews building (again, you would have to get permission), The Hyatt Penns Landing has suites that over look Penns Landing (you could book this for NYE proposal and stay warm while proposing over fireworks without the crowd), and Nineteen at the Bellevue.

So there you have it, kids. Loads of ideas!

But in case you need any more, you can read a ton of proposal stories—and watch a ton of proposal videos—right here.

Happy question popping!

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