Getting engaged nowadays is about much more than the ring: an age-old tradition is getting a new look.
Tattooed on the skin, written in the sand, or laid out on the ground with thousands of flower petals, sent into the sky with a large banner or penned on a fortune cookie note, today, marriage proposals are becoming increasingly extravagant and turning into events.
Are couples still getting engaged?
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise to you that engagements are back with a vengeance -and it’s not just about buying a ring. Social media platforms such as Instagram have made the moment into a much bigger production, and maybe heaped on the pressure, too.
Capturing and sharing with your friends and family that amazing moment of shock when one of you pops the question — initial bewilderment that turns into delight and then screams, hugs, or leaps of joy— has become a major challenge and the starting point for an average of a year to eighteen months of preparation for the big day.
So, what does an engagement or marriage proposal involve today?
If you scroll through a few Instagram feeds you will have your answer. One immediately obvious point is that it is a bigger deal than in the past, when you would most likely have been home or at most out for a meal when you pulled the little box out and said, “Do you want to marry me?”. Another point is that, with so much at stake, couples will have talked about it a little so it’s not a complete surprise. Finally, you will see that there is more freedom in terms of who proposes to whom; nowadays either of you can be the one to take the initiative.
Nowadays, couples will scout for a beautiful setting and plan a few days away together; one partner will definitely have to get on their knee; the presence of a photographer is a must, and if there is a live audience, spontaneous or planned, so much the better!
Some statistics
Here are some statistics proving the point that proposing is now something couples are taking more and more seriously.
According to Wedding Pro, “About 1 in 3 engagements take place on a planned trip and 1 in 5 proposers are enlisting the help of professional vendors to plan or photograph it (up 8% since 2019). In addition, 90% of couples publicly share the details of their engagement on social media, with 78% making the announcement on Instagram and 77% doing so on Facebook.”
A word of warning from the wise
While these trends are very exciting, we also recommend at the same time saving some more intimate moments just for the two of you. Just as in the old days a bigger rock was not necessarily a guarantee of a successful marriage, so too today you should not fall into the trap of believing that the more amazing the setting and the bigger “wow factor” you produce, the better chances you stand as a couple. Your relationship is the most important thing to nurture day by day, and the rest will take care of itself.
Is there such a thing as an engagement season?
Well, research has shown that couples tend to get engaged or propose marriage just before or right on the day of major holidays like Christmas or New Year’s Day or on days dedicated to love such as St. Valentine’s Day, or when families get together, such as Thanksgiving or special birthdays.
Clearly, tradition is still an important consideration when couples are thinking about when to pop that all-important question. The presence of family and close friends, the idea of creating continuity and carrying on those very traditions you have been brought up to enjoy and that have always made up your sense of your past and who you are. So, yes, there is a season, and there is a definite concentration in the winter, thinking ahead to a summer wedding. The idea of bringing the person you love into your fold, becoming intimate with another family, and perhaps creating a new family of your own must contribute to that warm and fuzzy feeling.
Popular dates
Take a look at these dates that were the most popular dates last year and you will notice that three of them are concentrated in just over a week.
- December 24
- December 25
- January 1
- February 14
My partner has said yes.
What is my next move?
Just as your proposal was unique, so will you want your wedding to be fully customized and tailor-made to your individual need and desires.
Perhaps you already know where you’re going to be getting married. If it is Italy you’re thinking of — and there is no more romantic place to hold your celebrant-led wedding — head over to our directory to find the perfect celebrant to match you as a couple, who will be able to create with you your own magic, personalised ceremony and officiate on the big day.
More numbers from Wedding Pro for you:
“Roughly 85% of couples start wedding planning in less than 2 months of getting engaged and 60% within a month of getting engaged.”
More numbers from Wedding Pro for you:
“Roughly 85% of couples start wedding planning in less than 2 months of getting engaged and 60% within a month of getting engaged.”
What are you waiting for?
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