Nothing beats an over-the-top proposal. Any girl who says she doesn’t care if she has an amazing engagement story to tell is a liar. And there is no better place for overly romanticized proposals than TV! TV shows always have the best proposals. Are they in any way realistic? Hell no! But that won’t stop us from gushing over them and wishing that was us.
The perfect editing, the 100 candles, and romantic soundtrack — what’s not to love about a TV proposal? They have all the makings of the perfect love story. And while real-life probably won’t mimic what we see on screen, it’s hard not to watch these cute proposals and start dreaming of your own. Here are the absolute cutest TV show proposals of all time!
18. Mitch And Cam, Modern Family
Sometimes the cutest proposals aren’t the ones you plan. This romantic proposal happens after gay marriage is legalized across the country and Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam (Eric Stonestreet) decide to celebrate — and maybe make this thing official. But when they find themselves changing a flat on the side of the road, they think their romantic night out is a bust. Until the two start waxing nostalgia about their relationship. Next thing you know, they’re both on one knee changing a tire and looking into each other’s eyes saying “yes!” It’s simple and understated, but so full of love. Who knew your car breaking down could be so romantic?! Only on TV, folks.
17. Cory And Topanga, Boy Meets World
Usually two highschoolers getting engaged is pretty ill-advised. But that doesn’t exactly apply when you’ve been together since you were about five years old like these two. Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) are as close to #couplegoals as you can get. Cory has always been sure the two were going to spend the rest of their lives together, but logical Topanga had worries. So it was shocking when she proposed to him right in the midst of their high school graduation! It was sweet and simple, just like their adorable relationship!
16. Max And Lorelai, Gilmore Girls
When Lorelai (Lauren Graham) is explaining the “perfect proposal” to her boyfriend Max (Scott Cohen), she doesn’t expect he’ll take her words to heart. As she explains, “There should be a thousand yellow daisies, and candles, and a horse, and I don’t know what the horse is doing there unless you’re riding it, which seems a little over-the-top.” Next thing you know she’s surrounded by 1,000 yellow daisies and so taken aback she can’t help but accept his proposal. The two don’t work out in the long run but the proposal was cute enough that we (almost) wish they did.
15. Michael And Holly, The Office
Michael (Steven Carrell) wants to give the ultimate proposal. One that’s elaborate and romantic and all the things everyone dreams of. Too bad he keeps blowing it. Eventually, he decides to take it all back to where it started: the office. He points out all the spots in the office that held importance in their relationship. All of their coworkers were there too, obviously, holding candles and doling out fake proposals before Michael popped the big question himself. While all that sounds lovely, the cutest part is actually when the sprinklers get set off because of the candles and the two agree to marry. It proves that sometimes all you need is a little nostalgia and a whole lot of candles to make a proposal perfect.
14. Matt And Julie, Friday Night Lights
Sometimes awkward teen relationships turn into true love. After years of ups and downs, Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) finally put it all on the line for Julie (Aimee Teegarden) and proposed outside the Alamo Freeze. While it was a huge step — and her father totally didn’t approve — the minute he gave her his grandmother’s ring the deal was sealed. These two crazy kids needed each other and watching them finally decide to settle into a life together was like proposal comfort food.
13. Leonard And Penny, The Big Bang Theory
Who would have ever thought these two would work so well as a couple and eventually get married? The nerdy guy and not-quite-so-smart girl were opposites from the start, but they truly balance each other out in the most beautiful way. Leonard (Johnny Galecki) always knew he wanted to marry Penny (Kaley Cuoco) but she didn’t have that conviction. When she finally outright says to Leonard that she thinks they should get married, it seems to go off with no pomp, and no circumstance. That is until Leonard pulls out the ring he’s been carrying around for years and puts that gorgeous rock on her finger. Leonard knew so early on that they were meant to be together that he bought a ring waiting for this day, and that’s cute AF.
12. Ron And Diane, Parks And Recreation
What makes this proposal so cute is how unflinchingly unsentimental it is. No big moment, no tears. Just two people who love and respect each other decided to go up a flight of stairs at City Hall to get a marriage license. They treated the super short engagement as a foregone conclusion. One day in Ron’s (Nick Offerman) office, the two decide that they should probably get hitched and make this great thing between them official. Its sweet and understated, just like those two.
11. Derek And Meredith, Grey’S Anatomy
This one is basically the epitome of what a proposal between doctors should look like. Derek (Patrick Dempsey) plasters an elevator with MRI photos from all the successful surgeries the two have undertaken together. He points out the ones that are most important to him, like the one where he realized Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) would be an amazing surgeon. And without bending the knee to propose, he simply tells her he wants to spend the rest of his life with his love and she feels the same. How much cuter can it get?
10. Niles And Daphne, Frasier
Niles (David Hyde Pierce) has loved Daphne (Jane Leeves) for as long as he can remember. Even when he was married, he always had a thing for the Irish gal. When they finally got together, Niles — and fans — were ecstatic. And then he prepared to propose. His initial idea was lavish and over-the-top. And it even included Wolfgang Puck cooking dinner for Daphne and him! But when she comes down with the flu, all of those plans go out the window and he opts for a more simple proposal. He just speaks from the heart, slides a ring on his sick bride-to-be’s finger and that’s that!
9. Harry And Charlotte, Sex And The City
These two crazy kids almost didn’t make it. After Charlotte (Kristen Davis), puts intense pressure on Harry (Evan Handler) to set a wedding date and attempts to basically change everything about him, he breaks up with her. The two try to move on, but a chance meeting at a single’s nights brings them back together. The two realize they can’t be without each other, and Charlotte even says he doesn’t have to marry her — he just has to be with her. But of course he gets down on one knee right then and there. Super cute and also probably super confusing to everyone else in the room at single’s night.
8. Mike And Phoebe, Friends
Mike (Paul Rudd) and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) were such a wonderfully weird couple. But Mike’s reluctance to ever get married again after a past divorce ended up splitting the two up. Eventually he comes to his senses and proposes just before Phoebe’s ex David does the same (Hank Azaria). But she rejects it and says she just wanted to know marriage was possible in their future. The two officially get engaged a little while later. Mike tries all the cheesy proposals in the book — even a ring in a cake — until realizing that doing anything the “normal” way was not in the cards for this quirky twosome! At that point, he lays his heart on the line, proposes to Phoebe. The two eventually have one of the most picturesque winter weddings in NYC before officially becoming Mr. Crap Bag and Mrs. Princess Consuela Banana Hammock.
7. Barney And Robin, How I Met Your Mother
This was a TV proposal that no one thought would ever happen. What would it take for serial womanizer Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) to give up his single life for marriage?! Apparently a girl named Robin (Colbie Smulders). Barney finally decides to take the plunge and brings his love to her favorite spot in the city as snow falls around them. There are flowers, candles, and tears. It’s a surprisingly by-the-books proposal for a couple that has been everything but. The marriage may not have worked out (don’t get us started on the ending of the show!), but we’ll always have this sweet proposal.
6. Criss And Liz, 30 Rock
This was such an appropriately simple and weird proposal for our gal Liz Lemon (Tina Fey). After being angry that her stupid ex could adopt a baby just because he’s married, she and her own love decided they should do the damn thing. All right there in her office. But here’s the thing: Liz doesn’t want a wedding. She wants to be a princess on her special day with her special man. So the two head to city hall, Liz dressed as Princess Leia, and get married then a there. Sometimes there’s nothing cuter than two nerds in love doing life together.
5. Luke And Lorelai, Gilmore Girls
Yes, Lorelai’s on the list twice! This is one of our fave TV proposals mainly because the woman proposes to the man. Because she is a strong independent woman who doesn’t need to wait for her happy ending! One night at Luke’s Diner, Lorelai pops the question. While their future engagement is far from easy, Luke’s love for Lorelai and her daughter is clear the whole time. He accepts the proposal before she can even get all the words out! These two small-town lovers have a very intimate engagement and Stars Hollow gossips about it, but the two were always meant to be.
4. Jake And Amy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
These two may both be cops but they could not be more opposite. Which is why it was surprisingly cute when they coupled up and balanced each other out. Jake (Andy Samberg) decided to propose to his longtime love by masquerading their annual Halloween Heist as an elaborate way to propose. When Amy (Melissa Fumero) finally gets the winning cumberbund, Jake prompts here to read it. It’s not the winning belt at all — it’s a fake, emblazoned with “will you marry me?” She, of course, accepts just before Charles comes in and passes out from all the excitement. TBH, if our best friends were marrying each other, we might pass out too!
3. Jim And Pam, The Office
This is the engagement everyone was waiting for. It wasn’t as climactic as some were expecting, but their love was so raw it didn’t really have to be. Sometimes two people love each other so much that a proposal isn’t even planned — it just happens. And that’s what happened with everyone’s fave TV sitcom couple. When the two meet at a rest stop for lunch, halfway between Scranton and NYC where Pam (Jenna Fischer) is taking a class, Jim (John Krasinski) proposes right then and there. In the rain! It was as cute as these two have always been.
2. Ben And Leslie, Parks And Recreation
Ben (Adam Scott) and Leslie (Amy Poehler) knew they were fated to be together even in their early days dating in secret. So when Ben is offered to helm a congressional campaign in Florida, he forgoes it all to come back to Pawnee, Indiana, and the empty home him and Leslie were about to buy to pop the big question. Her reaction says it all. She actually stops him mid-proposal, so she can take in every single bit of the moment. It was quiet, sweet, and full of love – just like these two. Can you even think of a couple more well-suited for each other?!
1. Chandler And Monica, Friends
As far as TV proposals go, this one takes the cake. Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) became the backbone of the show with their grounded, adorable relationship. Ross and Rachel, who?! After planting the seed that he never wanted to get married, Monica figured a proposal wasn’t in her future and decided to take matters into her own hands. With thousands of candles surrounding her, she begins proposing to Chandler but stops short because she starts crying — this is why girls don’t do this! — Chandler, who had been faking his hatred of marriage in his own scheme to pop the question, takes the reigns and the two get engaged. Obviously, all of their friends rush through the door after it happens! Mutual proposals are basically the cutest thing ever FYI.