Proposing at Neuschwanstein

What a beautiful idea!

There are grand rooms in Neuschwanstein that would make a great venue (i.e. the Throne Hall) for your proposal. I think you also will see the “lake” that have swan boats on them that would be a fitting area of the castle to propose. You can perhaps ask your guide in advance of the event for some input as to what your options are.

Congratulations!

I want to hire a private guide for just that event. My plan is the
horse carriage up,, guided tour,

Only official N'stein guides are permitted to guide visitors there. It's the same for any day/half-day group tour from Munich.

Assuming certainty that the proposal will elicit the anticipated response... I suggest you hire a local photographer at some point to meet you... and to just take the train/bus trip using public transport, keeping the approach low-key at first so as to make the proposal a greater surprise, if that's the goal.

I'd do it on the Marienbrucke bridge with the famous view overlooking the castle outside on your knee after an interior tour. Take the carriage down not up if you can arrange it.

Agree with Jazz + Travels: Go up to Marienbrucke bridge and propose there with her facing the the main structure. Then take the carriage down as an engaged couple. Love long and prosper.

January doesn't seem ideal.

Unless it has changed recently, the horse drawn carriage is actually a horse drawn farm wagon with rows of benches. Not very romantic actually.

I agree about the Marienbrucke location for the down on one knee - I would be surprised if the staff allowed you to do more than a whisper in her ear inside.

But I also agree that January and an inherently slippery area might give you souvenirs of the wrong kind.

I lived in Germany for four years and did that castle three times. It was the model for the Disney castle.
Not sure about January. If there is a significant snowfall, it could be hard to get there. You probably would need to rent a car and driving on icey roads in southern Bavaria can be difficult.

I'd agree that the bridge would be a nice spot although I sure wouldn't risk dropping the ring! Unfortunately, the bridge is temporarily closed in winter depending on weather, so being able to do it from there is a crapshoot. :O(

https://www.hohenschwangau.de/en/nature-surroundings/marys-bridge

Not sure how to reply to specific posts but someone here suggested only approved guides can take you in. Does that mean that you can’t go inside as a group of 2 and a guide? Are you always going to be part of a larger group and just have a personal guide stand with you, or what did that mean?

Also, the bridge is likely to be closed for the weather, or at least I’m planning on it being closed, s yes I am planning on doing it inside one of the great rooms (looking for a suggestion as to which) and then do the pics outside after. Maybe sneak a pic or two on my phone or quick video as I propose but I know that is iffy as they don’t technically allow them inside.

My big problem is not the how or where, my big problem is finding a private guide, and now I’m wondering if that even allows us to be alone in a group of 2 or would we still be tossed in a large group?

And yes, Jan is not ideal, but the ring falls where the ring falls ha. :)

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, and keep them coming. I have time to plan so this is helpful. I’m flying in wiht her from NY for this with a business trip as the ruise. Lots of moving parts. Ha

As another note, I have lived in Italy for 5 years, in the Dolomites, so mountain driving, even in winter is prettty second nature to me ;)

But again, yes, I am expecting the bridge to be closed. If I absolutely can’t do it at the bridge my second option is at the front of the castle. If I remember, and I have been there before, but many years ago, looks like the Disney one. I don’t need more than a minute or so for the actual proposal and from what I have heard, people have done it many times inside. The picture part is the harder part.

When I see private tour options for the castle, how does that work? I’m seeing people say now that all of the tours are done in larger groups? I’m confused, ha.

Exactly what Stan said, but his post seems to be gone.. Having lived nearby there for several years, and driving almost all our guests there during that time, I can attest to it. No private guides inside; only the group tours by the official tour leaders. And you rarely stand still for more than a minute in any given room, with the next tour hot on your heels. If you've got the money, you might try to contact them directly for a private tour outside regular hours, but if it was possible, it would be expensive. And those horse carts are wagons that hold different numbers of people: sometimes 10 or so, sometimes 4. Depends on what they have harnessed that day. You might be able to pay extra to have one of the small wagons to yourselves.

Well that really helpful regarding the private tour. I may have to rethink the inside option. This kay be harder than i anticipated. Ha
.

My recommendation is to send a brief message (4-5 sentences max) to the castle, tell them what you would like to do, and see if they have a way to make that happen. The worst they can do is say "no." Perhaps, though, you will reach some soft-hearted soul who sees how cool this is and how important it is to you! You definitely can't do it if you don't ask, and if through some tiny chance you get a "yes" -- you get your dream proposal. 🙂

I've had some pretty cool experiences by asking when I expect the answer is no, but I somehow get a yes.

That’s a good idea to ask. Cant hurt I guess. :)

Not a good idea to be standing way up there in the middle of Marienbrücke if she refuses. You might get a strange notion.

Left embarrassed and brokenhearted by your sweetheart's painful rejection? A sensible Plan B is a hot bowl of ghoulash (it's Halloween) and a few beers at the Hotel Müller.

I pulled my post so I could look up private tour options for N-stein, which the OP referenced. All I can find are tour operators who provide the transportation to and from N -stein, but not inside the place. ruffkutt, I think the best advice was given above about contacting the site directly, as this is probably not a first time request.

I appreciate the effort. That’s about what I was finding but they were saying private tour of the castle as well. Im wondering if they mean, either the grounds or a tour guide whispering jn your ear while youre on the larger tour.

I guess i’ll try to reach out to them directly tomorrow and see what they say. Worst they do is say no or laugh. Ha :)

I think that they would be far too polite to laugh.

And congratulations - when you get this all pulled off...

Last time I was there it was so foggy one couldn’t even see that bridge or anything more than 20 feet away. Hopefully it will be clear when you’re there.

Yes, the weather js the main reason i want to do jt inside. Im assuming the bridge will be closed so that leaves the drawbridge door, or inside.

Someone said that January doesn't sound ideal, but I think it's very lovely. Something so warm in the cold winter. About your question, try to ask your hotel concierge. Some local operators handle carriage rides, so you can contact them as well.

Tell the Neuschwanstein staff that Mad Ludwig would want you to have access to Neuschwanstein to make your proposal!

Thank you everyone. I contacted the castle directly and as it turns out, you can indeed arrange a private tour for 175 Euro. I will be doing that, and they also gave me a number to arrange a carriage for, the up and back. So all’s well that ends well.

Again, thank you to everyone kind enough to help with ideas and suggestions. I really appreciate it.

Mike

I love it when a plan comes together!!

I'm so glad that you've been able to work this out. Hope your day is all that you wish for.

Yaaaayyyyyy!

There's an important life lesson here about asking for what you want even if the expected answer is no. 🙂

Nigel stole the other quote I was going to use -- that of Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith, part of a crack commando unit sent to prison by a military court for a crime they did not commit.