Justin Timberlake proposes to Jessica Biel in the snow

CEBU, Philippines - He is said to have proposed to girlfriend Jessica Biel just before Christmas in a romantic winter setting.

And now friends have revealed that Justin Timberlake, 30, has ‘never been happier’ following his decision to settle down with his girlfriend of four and a half years.

An insider said that Justin “knew it was the right time to propose”, and decided to pop the question in the mountains during a pre-Christmas break in Jackson, Wyoming.

The source added: “Justin knows how much she loves snowboarding and the mountains, so it was the perfect place.”

Justin and Jessica, 29, split for three months last year and sources close to the couple have said that marriage was on the cards after they got back together.

A source said “This was the basis for getting back together. When they reunited they had a conversation about taking the next step.”

The couple are said to have celebrated their engagement with their family and friends meeting up at Timberlake’s home in Big Sky, Montana.

Justin and Jessica were also seen dining at a Thai restaurant in the resort called Lotus Pad and an onlooker said they were having a ‘good time’ with the happy couple ‘throwing back sake’ in celebration.

The Hollywood couple were first spotted together during a snowboarding break in January 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

The pair were said to have met earlier in the month at the Golden Globe Awards that year shortly after Timberlake split from Cameron Diaz. (FREEMAN)