Love is truly in the air this holiday season!
Craig Buchholz surprised his long-term boyfriend, Sebastian West, with a heartfelt proposal at the iconic Rockefeller Center ice skating rink on Dec. 19, 2024. Buchholz rented the rink to create a special "full-circle moment" for the couple.
"This space is very special to us because we had one of our first dates here. It was the first time we went ice skating," Buchholz explained. "I think it was the beginning of realizing [that] this was probably going to be forever. So, I wanted to make this a full-circle moment."
This adorable proposal — made possible by Chase Freedom, the sponsor of the ice rink — was also set against the stunning backdrop of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, which is reportedly "74 feet tall, 43 feet wide, and weighs roughly 11 tons, or approximately 24,250 pounds," per NBC.
Craig Buchholz and Sebastian West at the Rockefeller Center ice staking rink.
Stuart Sox for Out Magazine
The couple's journey began "unceremoniously" in Manhattan in 2018. "I was in New York for work as part of a big project," Buchholz recalled. "We actually connected through that [project] at a bar in New York, and then it just sort of unfolded."
West chimed in:
"And I was not expecting that! That was one of my last free weekends before studying for the LSAT. I was like, 'I'm just gonna go out and celebrate.' And then here we are."
The newly-engaged couple was visibly elated after the proposal. West expressed his surprise that the proposal took place in such a public place. In the past, the couple had agreed to avoid such displays. "We were never going to have a public engagement. I never thought of this," West remarked.
The couple plans to spend the holidays "on an airplane," visiting family across the country. "I obviously knew this was coming," Buchholz noted. "So we planned, without [West] knowing it, to see all of our family over the next three or four days." Now that the proposal is behind them, they're excited to celebrate the festive season with their loved ones.
Buchholz and West expressed that the holidays will always hold a special place in their hearts. While their previous goal had been to keep outdoing themselves every single year, Buchholz reflected on how hard it'll be to create an even better moment than this proposal. "I don't know how," he admitted. "It's tough to top that."
Craig Buchholz and Sebastian West posed for cameras after getting engaged at the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink.
Stuart Sox for Out Magazine
Sexy MAGA: Viral post saying Republicans 'have two daddies now' gets a rise from the right