Wedding episodes of any TV series are often the most-watched episode. While the wedding is great, the proposal episodes are usually the most exciting because you’ve been waiting for them for multiple seasons. Here are some of the best wedding proposals we’ve seen on our screens.

Monica and Chandler (Friends) 

This is a big one. Audiences had been waiting for this couple to get married. Monic’s sweet proposal by candlelight is perfectly rounded out by her best friend and boyfriend finishing her declaration of love when she gets a bit too emotional.

“You make me happier than I ever thought I could be and if you let me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way,” he said.

David and Patrick (Schitt’s Creek) 

David might be extra and Patrick less so but they make the perfectly couple despite the differences. Their proposal setting is not one you’d expect David to be caught dead in and that is what makes it so sweet. He’s out of his comfort zone after Patrick hurts himself and even apologises for being annoyed about the trip, and then Patrick proposes.

“And now here he is, the love of my life, standing in front of me. And this just felt like the perfect place to ask you to marry me,” said Patrick.

Cece and Schmidt (New Girl) 

The couple who always seemed like they were missing each other finally got engaged after Cece returns and Schmidt realises she is in love with him. He doesn’t let a single moment pass before proposing to her with the whole loft watching. Although not filled with the usual romantic settings, this proposal is great because it calls back to an earlier episode where Schmidt has to put $5 in the “douchebag jar” for saying to Cece “girl, Imma marry you.”

Nathan and Haley (One Tree Hill) 

Nathan and Haley were the couple on One Tree Hill. In retrospect their marriage was insane because they were so young and still in High School both times they did it, it was great to finally get a proposal since we didn’t see the first one. To reaffirm their relationship after all the ups and downs, Nathan re-asks Haley and she responds with their iconic saying “Always and Forever.”

“Even if I could I wouldn’t take back all the bad stuff that happened between us. Because it brought us here to this moment, this river. Marry me, Haley? Marry me again in front of all our friends and our family?”

Ben and Leslie (Parks and Recreation) 

Leslie is a control freak and this even extends to the surprise proposal she gets from Ben. As he goes down on one knee in their new house, Leslie asks him to wait so she can “take in the moment”. It’s classic Leslie and the audience loves it but eventually, you just want to scream “let him do it already”.

“I’m thinking about my future. I am deeply, ridiculously in love with you. Above everything else I just — I want to be with you forever. So Leslie Knope will you —” said Ben.

Valencia and Beth (Crazy ex-girlfriend) 

Although this proposal might not be as well-known as some of the others, it is one of the sweetest. Valencia expects a traditional, grandiose proposal from her girlfriend Beth but then realises those kinds of gestures aren’t necessary.

Valencia realises unlike in the heteronormative standard, she can also propose rather than waiting for it to happen to her. The moment when she does is so intimate as the two are in their tiny apartment in New York.

Piper and Alex (Orange is the new black) 

If there was ever a more complicated couple on TV it would be astounding. From lovers to cellmates, these two have been through it all including massive betrayals and heartbreak. When Piper proposes to Alex most would have seen it coming, but the engagement and wedding behind bars is quintessentially their story.

“You have taught me that love hurts. You have taught me that life…it hurts. And I want to be there for you. I want us to be there for each other so that maybe it hurts a little less” said Piper.

Jim and Pam (The Office) 

Alongside Monica and Chandler, this is the proposal much of the world was waiting for. This office romance turned full-on marriage switched the office fling from something sordid to romantic.

Much like the series setting itself is mundane and boring, Pam and Jim’s proposal takes place in an equally dull spot – the petrol station shop and it’s perfect. The spot is halfway between their lives in two neighbouring towns and Pam is perfectly surprised when he gets down on one knee.

“I just couldn’t wait. Pam, will you marry me?” said Jim.

Meredith and Derek (Grey’s Anatomy) 

While their post-it marriage has gone down in TV history as one of the most memorable of all time, their proposal was equally as epic. This television IT couple from the 2000s frustrated us with their constant back and forth.

Finally, Derek tells Meredith he wants to spend the rest of his life with her in the hospital elevator surrounded by CT scans to mark all the important steps they’ve taken together. It’s a fantastic round-up of the series so far and the perfectly romantic height of this relationship.

“If there’s a crisis you don’t freeze, you move forward. You get the rest of us to move forward because you’ve seen worse, you’ve survived worse. And you know we’ll survive too. You say you’re all dark and twisty, it’s not a flaw. It’s a strength. It makes you who you are. I’m not gonna get down on one knee. I’m not gonna ask a question. I love you, Meredith Grey and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Derrick said.

Tali and Darren (Tali’s Wedding Diary) 

Okay so this one might not be a “best” but it’s pretty great. Tali and Darren are running on the promenade in Sea Point, Cape Town. Down on the rocks, Tali is taking photos for Insta when Darren gets down on one knee. It’s classic Joburg girl vibes when she starts screaming “oh my god” over Darren’s romantic proposal and makes him repeat for a video on Insta.

While not the most romantic and more a spoof on the millennial obsession with documenting everything, it is great to see a more “realistic” if not slapstick version of a proposal on our screens.

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