1 in 4 Brides Didn’t Love Their Wedding Proposal
TheKnot.com, the #1 online wedding planning resource (NASDAQ: KNOT, www.theknot.com), and Men’s Health, the largest men’s lifestyle magazine brand, today released the results of their fourth annual co-branded proposal and engagement survey. In the midst of prime proposal season (November to February), when more than half a million men plan to “pop the question,” this one-of-a-kind survey, featured exclusively on MensHealth.com (www.menshealth.com) andTheKnot.com, asked more than 3,000 men and women engagement questions that reveal exactly what couples are thinking during about one of life’s most personal and talked-about moments.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THEKNOT.COM & MEN’S HEALTH 4TH ANNUAL PROPOSAL SURVEY INCLUDE :
1 in 4 Brides Didn’t Love Their Proposal. The bride may have said yes, but that doesn’t mean she loved how he popped the question. Twenty-six percent of brides on TheKnot.com revealed they wished their proposal was more romantic, more original and personal, more private or that it was simply too over-the-top. Perhaps the 76 percent of men on MensHealth.com who said they planned the entire proposal all on their own should have asked for some help after all.
Propose Without a Ring? That’s the Biggest Proposal Don’t for Brides. Thirty-three percent of brides said proposing without an engagement ring is the biggest proposal mistake. But what do guys think? According to 50 percent of men, telling everyone the proposal plan ahead of time and blowing the secret is the biggest proposal don’t.
Are Men Really Choosing the Ring Without Help? Thirty percent of men said they chose the engagement ring without help, yet according to brides, it’s a mere 18 percent. In fact, 40 percent of brides went ring shopping with their husbands-to-be or actually chose the ring themselves. Either way, an overwhelming majority (96 percent) of brides said they love their ring or it’s exactly what they wanted.
Tradition Reigns for Men. A whopping 76 percent of men said it is essential to propose on bended knee, while only 49 percent of women agreed. Yet when it came to asking both Mom and Dad for their daughter’s hand in marriage, men and women were pretty much on the same page, with 57 percent and 63 percent, respectively, saying it’s a do.
Call Parents, Text Friends and Then Post It on Facebook! Looks like men and women agree when it comes to how to share the good news. Eighty-four percent called their parents first, followed by telling friends via email, a phone call or a text message. After that, 72 percent of brides-to-be and 64 percent of grooms-to-be posted the news on Facebook. But how do men feel when it comes to posting a photo of the engagement ring on Facebook? Twenty-nine percent said it’s tacky.
Men Would Propose to Jessica Alba, While Brides Would Say “I Do” to Jake Gyllenhaal.Nearly half of brides (43 percent) would say “YES!” to hottie Jake Gyllenhaal if he proposed. And although she may be taken, Jessica Alba tops the celebrity list of women to whom men would propose if given the chance (26 percent).
To help ensure a perfect proposal for future brides and grooms, TheKnot.com has created a proposal guide at TheKnot.com/engaged, chock full of engagement ring shopping tips, wedding proposal ideas and even an engagement announcement e-card to share the happy news.
To receive a full copy of the survey results or to speak with an editor, please contact:
Agnes Hansdorfer, Men’s Health: (212) 297-1505, ahansdorfer@rodale.com
Jacalyn Lee, TheKnot.com: (212) 219-8555 x1013, jacalyn@theknot.com
About TheKnot.com
The Knot is the nation’s leading wedding resource, reaching over a million engaged couples each year through the #1 wedding website, TheKnot.com, The Knot national and local wedding magazines, and The Knot books (published by Random House and Chronicle). The Knot is the flagship brand of The Knot Inc. (NASDAQ: KNOT; http://www.theknot.com), the premier media company devoted to weddings, pregnancy and everything in between, providing young women with the trusted information, products and advice they need to guide them through the most transformative events of their lives.
About Men’s Health (www.menshealth.com)
Men’s Health is the go-to source for guys seeking the latest information and expert advice in their pursuit of a healthy and active lifestyle. Published 10 times a year in the U.S. by Rodale, Men’s Health is the best-selling men’s magazine on newsstands and provides its 12 million readers with the up-to-the-minute information on health, fitness, fashion, nutrition, relationships, travel, technology and finance. Men’s Health is the largest men’s lifestyle magazine brand in the world, offering 40 global editions, a host of apps for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry subscribers, as well as branded books, eBooks and microsites. The magazine has garnered numerous industry accolades, winning a National Magazine Award in the personal service category as well as being deemed by Media Industry Newsletter as the “#1 Most Notable Magazine Launch of the Last 25 Years.” Men’s Health has also made several appearances on Advertising Age’s “A List” and Adweek’s “Hot List.” For up-to-date news from Men’s Health, visit www.menshealth.com, and get instant updates on Twitter (@MensHealthMag) and Facebook (Men’s Health).
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