A December proposal in Lapland has a particular kind of magic: snow on the ground, candlelight from the middle of the afternoon, the polar night arriving in Rovaniemi from mid-December, and the northern lights season in full swing. With Right Where You Are, our proposal styled at your own hotel, villa or cabin, all of that becomes the backdrop to a setting waiting for you where you are staying, inside or outside, at the hour you choose.

In short: December is one of the most atmospheric months to propose at your accommodation. The long darkness makes candlelight and roses glow, a terrace or garden can be framed by snow, and a warm room becomes the perfect place to ask after a day in the cold. The proposal starts from €650, includes décor at your accommodation, a bouquet of 30 roses and sparkling wine, and requires the property’s agreement.

What makes a December proposal in Lapland different

December in Lapland is a month of contrasts. Outside, it is dark for much of the day, snowy and cold. Inside, everything is about warmth: soft light, wood, textiles and the pleasure of coming in from the snow. A proposal at your accommodation sits right at the meeting point of the two.

The polar night

From mid-December to early January, Rovaniemi enters the polar night, known in Finnish as kaamos. The sun barely rises, and the days pass in shades of blue and twilight. For a proposal, this means the light you will see at three in the afternoon can already feel like evening, which makes a candle-lit setting possible much earlier than at other times of year.

The northern lights

The northern lights season runs from late August to April, so December falls well within it. We cannot promise the sky, but on a clear night the aurora may appear above your cabin or hotel. A setting on a terrace or in a garden keeps the sky in view.

Christmas in the air

December in Rovaniemi is also the Christmas season. Even if you are not proposing on Christmas itself, the whole month carries that feeling, and it is easy to let a little of it into the setting.

Inside or outside in December

Right Where You Are can be arranged inside your room or cabin, or outside in the garden or on the terrace. In December, both have their own beauty.

Inside: warmth after the cold

Coming back to a room styled with roses and candlelight after a day in the snow is one of the most natural ways to propose in winter. Your partner steps out of the cold and into a setting made for the two of you. Inside, the weather never becomes part of the plan, and the moment can last as long as you like.

Outside: snow as the frame

A terrace or garden setting lets the snow and the winter sky become part of the picture. It is shorter, because it is cold, and it depends a little more on the weather, but the result is pure Lapland. You might step outside for the question and then go back inside to celebrate with the sparkling wine.

The property’s agreement covers both the setting and the timing, and outdoors this matters even more, because the space is shared with other guests.

Choosing the hour in December

The proposal can be arranged on the day and at the hour you choose, and in December the hour shapes the whole atmosphere. A few thoughts:

• The blue hours of the afternoon: the light outside turns deep blue, and candlelight inside starts to glow. It is one of the most beautiful times of day in the polar night.
• Before dinner: come back from an afternoon out, propose, and go on to celebrate. It gives the evening a natural shape.
• Later in the evening: darker outside, warmer inside, and on a clear night, a chance of seeing the northern lights.

For a closer look at designing a setting for this light, our guide to styling a proposal in the polar night goes into detail on blue light, candles and snow.

Keeping it a surprise in a busy month

We set everything up before you arrive and take it down afterwards, so your partner needs to be out of the room or away from the terrace for a while. In December, this is usually easy: there are husky rides, reindeer, saunas and walks in the snow to fill an afternoon. Plan the timing with us so the setup fits around the activity you have chosen.

Where you can propose in December

Delivery and setup within 30 km of Rovaniemi are included, which covers hotels in the city and many cabins and resorts around it. We also arrange proposals elsewhere in Lapland and across the border in northern Sweden and Norway; for this option, locations further away, anywhere in the Nordics, are an add-on.

Adding to the setting

The price depends on the complexity of the décor and any extra services. In December, couples often consider:

• A professional photographer: an add-on on this option, who captures the moment and takes couple photos of the two of you right afterwards. Winter light and candlelight can make for beautiful images.
• A videographer: to keep the words as well as the image.
• A bigger bouquet or a grand décor design: for a fuller, more festive setting.

If Christmas itself is the moment you have in mind, our post on a Christmas proposal in Santa’s home town looks at the season more widely. You can compare all our December-friendly options on our proposals page.

Plan your December proposal with us

December is a busy month in Lapland, so we suggest writing to us as soon as your accommodation is booked. Tell us where you are staying, your dates and the moment you have in mind. Read the full details of Right Where You Are, our proposal at your hotel, villa or cabin, and contact us here. We reply to every inquiry within one business day.

FAQ: December proposals at your accommodation

Can we propose at our hotel or cabin in December?

Yes. Right Where You Are can be arranged at any time of year, inside or outside your hotel, villa, cabin or resort, with the property’s agreement.

Is December during the polar night?

The polar night in Rovaniemi runs from mid-December to early January. December also falls within the northern lights season, which runs from late August to April.

What is included in the price?

From €650: organisation, planning and coordination, décor arranged at your accommodation, delivery and setup within 30 km of Rovaniemi, a bouquet of 30 roses and complimentary sparkling wine.

Is a photographer included?

No. A professional photographer is an add-on on this option, capturing the moment and then taking couple photos of the two of you.