How the Nation Pops the Question: A 2024 Marriage Proposal Report

You might wonder, ‘When do people get engaged?’. You can put the crystal ball down. Our research revealed that you are most likely to get engaged in your 30s, with over half (52%) of respondents becoming engaged between 30 and 35 and a further 13% popping the question between 36 and 40.

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.

So, we have covered the time of your life when you are most likely to get engaged, but what about the time of year?

Well, sleigh bells are not the only thing ringing in December. It is also the most popular month to get engaged.

Over 1 in 10 respondents went for a festive proposal, with May and August coming in a close second and third for the most popular proposal months.

Despite December having the most engagements, 60% of respondents said there weren’t any dates that they would avoid.

From the remaining 40%, who were more cautious, big days like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and birthdays were sidestepped.

The locations of proposals varied from couple to couple, but as an overall trend, Brits were most likely to pop the question abroad, with 53% of respondents getting down on one knee in a different country.

These holiday destinations were usually chosen for sentimental value, such as places their partner had always wanted to go or locations significant to their relationships, like their first holiday destination or a favourite spot they regularly visit.

You can read some heartwarming holiday proposal stories from our Queensmith community below:

“We fell in love while on our first trip to Italy. We went there together several other times, and I just knew that it would be the most special place to ask the question.”

“I proposed in New York City. This was the first place my partner and I had gone on holiday a few years prior, so it held some special memories.”

But, not every couple opted for a proposal far from home, with 47% choosing to pop the question in the UK:

“We went to the Shard. My partner is shy so would have wanted it to be as private as possible. I booked a room overlooking Tower Bridge.”

“It was the exact restaurant where we said “I love you” for the very first time. At that moment, I knew this was where I was going to propose.”

Eddi Norris, Gemmologist & Design Expert at Queensmith said: “From Times Square to Kew Gardens, our customers have always proposed all over the world.

"However, we are 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.”

With so many proposals happening abroad, it is no surprise that the average proposal, without the ring, costs £1,450.62.

The most expensive proposal we recorded cost £30,000 and included a private yacht, photographer and holiday abroad.

However, for 19% of respondents, the cost of proposing was free, not including the ring, as they opted for a more stripped back moment.

Regardless of where the proposal takes place, respondents said overwhelmingly that their proposal was a surprise.

8 in 10 reported that the person being proposed to had no idea it was about to happen, with a similar figure (85%) stating that they had not discussed the marriage proposal plans with their partner.

Part of the reason why the secret was kept so well could be in the planning, with 41% of respondents taking more than three months to plan their engagement. A further 38% spent 2 months prepping, while 9% took a single month.

7% worked on plans for a year, another 5% took just a few days, and 1% popped the question spontaneously!

The ring is the focal point of the majority of proposals, making buying the right one a vital part of the planning process.

Among respondents, the most popular time to purchase the engagement ring was 2 months before proposing, with just under a quarter (23%) purchasing then.

14% waited until the month before, and 24% selected their ring 3 months or more prior. Interestingly, 7% bought the ring after the proposal.

8 in 10 people had an idea of what ring they wanted to buy their partner before going to the jeweller, and 7 in 10 picked the ring without input from their other halves, while just under 3 in 10 selected the ring with their partner.

Laura Suttie, Gemmologist and Ring Expert at Queensmith shared: “As we craft bespoke rings as part of our engagement ring offering, it’s not surprising that we see a lot of our clients coming to us months in advance.

“We do offer a Quickship range that offers a ring in just 2 weeks but you may still want a little extra time to ponder your budget, the ring style and diamond choice.

“So, we would advise anyone planning to propose to leave themselves plenty of time unless they are going for a spontaneous proposal with the ring purchased later.

“Three months is usually a safe bet and means you’ve got room for decision-making or tweaking the first draft of the design.”

Through the planning process, 50% of those surveyed let someone else (not their partner) in on the upcoming proposal secret.

Of the respondents who had someone supporting them with the proposal, parents were the most likely to be called in to help.

35% of those surveyed asked either their own or their partner's parents to help with engagement prep. While 34% asked friends, and 25% went to siblings or their wider family such as cousins, Aunties or Grandparents for help.

The most common way people were drafted to help with engagement plans was with ring selection and designing, emotional support in the lead-up and day of, distracting the person being proposed to and helping select where to propose.

Adele Narcisi, Gemmologist & Ring Expert at Queensmith said: “We often see people coming in with a trusted loved one to have their consultation and collect their ring.

“Selecting an engagement band that your partner will wear for a lifetime is a big moment and many want to share the joy with friends and family.”

So, you have planned the perfect proposal, but where do you hide your engagement ring.

Over a third (34%) of engagement rings were hidden in bags and clothes, with a further quarter of respondents (25%) hiding their rings in drawers or wardrobes.

Popular locations to hide rings included golf, work and gym bags as well as jacket and suit pockets.

10% kept the ring out of the house with either a family member or at the jewellers, while 4% kept it under lock and key in a safe.

If you’re proposing abroad, one top tip is to keep the ring in your hand luggage. Avoid the worry of your checked luggage getting lost! In general, airport security are used to playing it cool when they come across a ring, but you could always try to join a separate security line to your partner.

Social media is filled with beautiful proposal videos from couples sharing their happy moments, but 50% of respondents to our survey didn’t capture their proposal at all.

82% expressed that a private proposal was important to them, with 67% reporting they shared some aspect of their proposal on social media.

Offline, the majority of respondents told their friends and family straight away after getting engaged, with FaceTime the most common way to share the news.

Only 40% of respondents opted for in-person celebrations with engagement parties.

Once their nearest and dearest were informed, 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.

5% made it down the aisle in just 6 months, and 4% waited 3 years for their nuptials.

The vast majority, 80% of respondents, reported that they would change nothing about their proposal, including the ring with the same percentage sharing that they still love their engagement ring!

So, now you know how the nation pops the question. Are you looking for some more inspiration? Read how Reef, a member of our Queensmith community, proposed to his fiancée Sam during a romantic scuba diving holiday.

Or, if you already know how you’ll get down on one knee, you can start your journey to finding the perfect ring by browsing our collection of engagement rings today.

We surveyed 1,175 of our customers, asking them a mix of multiple-choice and open questions to gather data on their engagement experience.