Planning a Christmas Proposal? When to Order Your Engagement Ring

Christmas might seem like it’s still weeks away, but it’s slowly creeping up. The holiday season is one of the most popular times of year for engagements, especially if you’re a couple who love all things festive. The timeline for ordering an engagement ring for a Christmas proposal will depend on whether you’re designing a custom ring or buying a ready-to-ship ring. 

Below, we’re sharing our advice on when to order your engagement ring and the factors that you might overlook when planning your timeline.

When Should You Order an Engagement Ring for a Christmas Proposal?

It’s best to order an engagement ring as early as possible, especially during busy times like the holiday season. Here’s a general timeline for ring shopping:

• October to early November: A made-to-order ring may still be possible, depending on the complexity of your design. Our team can advise on how realistic your turnaround time is. Most of our custom engagement rings have a five-week working time.
• November: Current production times and shipping estimates may make a ready-to-ship ring a better option if you’re planning an early-to-mid December proposal.
• December: Ready-to-ship rings are the safest option for a last-minute Christmas proposal, but you’ll want a 2-week window in case the ring needs to be resized.

Read More: How Much Should You Really Spend on an Engagement Ring in 2026?

Made-To-Order vs. Ready-To-Ship: Which is Best?

At Valley Rose, we offer the choice of both ready-to-ship and made-to-order engagement rings, giving you the flexibility you might need ahead of your Christmas proposal.

A custom engagement ring is a great option if you want to personalize your ring with a specific gemstone or other design elements. However, the production time for a made-to-order engagement ring can range from 4 to 8 weeks after the design process is complete. Depending on your timeline, our team will be able to advise on whether a made-to-order ring is possible if you have a fixed date for proposing. 

By comparison, a ready-to-ship engagement ring may be the best option if you have 4 weeks or less until your planned proposal date. Most of these rings can ship within 2 working days; however, they may only be able to be resized within a certain range. Resizing will usually add an additional week to the delivery time of your ready-to-ship engagement ring.

Read more: Made-to-Order vs. Ready-to-Ship Engagement Rings: What’s the Difference?

The Details That Can Delay Your Engagement Ring

It’s important to remember that production and delivery timelines are estimates, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead, especially if you have a specific date in mind for proposing. Here are the details to consider:

• Your ready-to-ship ring may need to be resized, or you may need to discreetly find out your partner’s ring size.
• Personalizing one of our pre-designed ring settings with your chosen gemstone may impact the production time. Check our product listings for estimated shipping timelines.
• International shipping, custom processes, and local holiday schedules may affect delivery times, especially around the holidays.

Shop for Ethical Engagement Rings at Valley Rose Studio

At Valley Rose, we’ll help you bring your dream Christmas proposal to life. Start planning by exploring the proposal planning section of our blog or shop our collection of sustainable engagement rings, including our ready-to-ship designs.