Searching For The One: These Are The Biggest Engagement Trends In The UK Today
Across the UK, many brides and grooms-to-be have been given a glimmer of hope that the wedding day they always dreamed of, with no limit to the number of loved ones in attendance, is no longer in the distant future.
In fact, there may be an abundance of couples looking to tie the knot because according to Google search data, the extra time spent with our spouses has brought many UK couples closer together with engagement-related searches reaching an all-time-high.
Here at Freemans, we have analysed Google search data to reveal the biggest engagement trends and uncover how UK couples are planning their perfect proposal, including expert comment from Amanda Brown, proposal planner of The One Romance.
So, whether you’re planning a proposal or expecting to take the next step in your relationship soon, here’s what you can expect from engagements in the coming year.
UK’s Biggest Proposal Trends
Pre-pandemic, when you thought of a proposal you may have imagined couples getting down on one knee on the sandy shores of the Maldives or perhaps in front of the glittering Eiffel Tower.
However, with most of the UK finding their travel plans rudely interrupted, we can see proposal trends have become about personalisation, privacy and intimacy.
Amanda says, “95% of our clients live in the UK and they all tell me that they had planned to propose while they are on holiday but with the travel restrictions, they decided to propose on home ground because our couples really wanted to have something positive in their lives.”
YoY, searches for proposal decoration ideas are up 2300% suggesting our proposers are getting creative with their engagement ideas, and some are even looking to include their children and families in the special moment.
Other popular searches for proposals include couples looking to use objects to ask the all-important question. Since 2019, searches for book proposal ideas and pumpkin proposal ideas are up 400%.
According to Google, it is not just our brides who are being proposed to. Another trend emerging in the past year are ideas for proposing to maid of honours and bridesmaids.
Since 2019, searches for bridesmaid proposal gifts have risen by 2833% and maid of honour proposal ideas have also increased by 1200%, suggesting our brides-to-be are looking to create a special moment for their bridal party in a time they are unable to see them personally.
And the generosity doesn’t stop there.
With our time spent with family and friends limited in the past year, it appears the UK are pushing the boat out a little more to treat their loved ones with a special gift to commemorate their day with ‘engagement gift suggestions’ increasing by a huge 221900% YoY.
UK’s Engagement Hotspots
“Despite all the challenges of 2020, there must be something about being locked up with someone for weeks on end that made our clients realise they are with ‘The One’. We’ve said it before, if your relationship survived lockdown, it’ll survive anything.”, says Amanda.
This can certainly be said for many of our UK counties who have seen an increase in engagement related searches on Google since 2019.
In Newport, love certainly is in the air here, with the Welsh county seeing a 79% increase in partners looking to wed their significant other.
In second is the Northern Irish county of Lisburn where engagement related searches have risen by 37%, followed by Derry in third where 36% more people are hoping to become engaged than there were in 2019.
Have your friends or family recently become engaged, but you aren’t sure what will be the perfect present? Discover our range of personalised gifts and luxury presents.
And when you have a date in the diary to celebrate an engagement, discover our range of affordable dresses, shoes and accessories perfect for all occasions. Free your style.