The 2024 Marriage Proposal Report from engagement and wedding ring experts Queensmith has revealed fresh insights into modern-day proposal trends across the UK.
After surveying over 1,000 customers, Queensmith has pieced together a comprehensive view of modern-day proposals, detailing everything from the length of planning and popular proposal spots to where engagement rings are hidden and how long it took to say “I do.” The report offers a heartwarming glimpse into the nation’s proposal habits.
Whether you are looking for inspiration (or simply want to see some heartwarming statistics), you can find a summary of how the nation pops the question below.
1. Most Proposals Happen in Your 30s
Over half (52%) of respondents became engaged between the ages of 30-35.
Meanwhile, the late 20s, between the ages of 25 and 29, were the second most popular age demographic to get engaged, with over a quarter (26%) of respondents opting to propose then.
6% of couples got engaged between 41 and 50, 2% between 51-60, and 1% opted to tie the knot over 60 in their golden years.
2. December Dominates as the Month of Engagements
Festive spirit plays a role in proposals, with December topping the list as the most popular month for engagements. May and August followed closely behind.
Despite December being the most popular month for proposals, 40% of respondents said they avoided proposing on major holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day or Birthdays.
3. Intimate, cost-conscious engagements are on the rise
Nearly half (47%) opted for proposals much closer to home, highlighting a trend toward intimate, cost-conscious engagements. Eddi Norris, Gemmologist & Design Expert at Queensmith said: “We’re seeing an uptick in more intimate proposals happening closer to home, with engagements happening during walks, at UK beaches, or during staycations.
“This emerging trend of slow proposals could relate to the cost of living as we see people spending more time and money on getting the right ring that will last forever rather than spending their budget on a big, showy proposal.
“Even when customers are proposing abroad, we have observed that they are more intimate, taking place in places like hotel balconies and walks.”
53% of respondents chose to propose abroad, often in locations with sentimental value, such as a partner’s dream destination or a special holiday spot.
4. Proposal Costs Average £1,450.62
On average, couples spent £1,450.62 on their proposal (excluding the ring). Interestingly, 19% of respondents reported their proposal costs were £0, keeping the moment simple and stripped back.
5. Surprise Remains Key
Despite lengthy planning, over 80% of proposals were a surprise to the person being asked, with a whopping 85% of respondents stating they hadn’t discussed marriage plans with their partner beforehand.
6. Planning Takes Time
41% of respondents took over three months to plan their proposal, deciding when, where and how they were going to get down on one knee.
1 in 4 people purchased the engagement ring 2 months before popping the question. Laura Suttie, Gemmologist and Ring Expert at Queensmith advises “You should ideally book your first ring appointment 3 months out, so you have plenty of time for decision making. Most rings take 5 to 6 weeks to make. Luckily there are options for those with as little as 2 weeks to spare with our Quickship collection.”
7. Family Plays a Role
50% of those surveyed shared their proposal plans with someone other than their partner, with parents being the most commonly involved in helping with ring selection, planning, and emotional support.
8. The majority of couples married within a year of the proposal
The average time between an engagement and the wedding was within the year (29%) for the majority of respondents. was
Just over a quarter (26%) were married within 2 years, and a further 19% were married within 18 months.
A smaller percentage acted quickly, with 5% marrying within six months, while 4% waited three years before saying “I do.”
The full findings from Queensmith’s How the Nation Pops the Question: A 2024 Marriage Proposal Report, including the time of year with the most proposals, can be found here: https://www.queensmith.co.uk/marriage-proposal-report-2024
