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Panic often grips men contemplating an engagement: "Does she want romance or a rock?" "A splashy public spectacle or a candlelit dinner?" "When is the right time?" Well, according to a new, independent survey commissioned by Blue Nile, women have a message for paralyzed proposers: make it romantic, make it intimate and, most importantly, make it now!
By an 84% to 16% margin, women respondents said they'd rather have a romantic proposal than a gaudy ring. The survey findings also suggest men should go ahead with it, rather than waste time to come up with a unique idea. Asked if a creative, imaginative proposal was important, 70% of U.S. women said it just doesn't matter, as long as the proposal happens.
"This settles it, romance is back and speed is of the essence," said John Baird, diamond and jewelry expert for Blue Nile. "With the December peak engagement season upon us, there seem to be a lot of women waiting for their boyfriends to pop the question. It makes you wonder if guys are thinking when they should be acting."
If men are waiting because they hope to pull off a splashy, over-the-top public proposal, forget it. Ninety-four percent of women respondents preferred a private, intimate proposal to a splashy, public proposal, such as a stadium scoreboard proposal or an opera singer in the office. And the later in life you get married, the more likely you are to prefer a private proposal: 97% of women between ages 45-54 and 100% over 55 indicated they preferred a quiet engagement.
One respondent was particularly adamant, "I don't want to be a public spectacle, I'd rather he just slip the ring on my finger while I'm sleeping. Nothing could be more beautiful than waking up engaged."
Blue Nile, the leading online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry, routinely tracks engagement and wedding trends. Known as the engagement ring experts, more than 100,000 couples have been married with a Blue Nile diamond. The company regularly sells diamonds priced from $200 to more than $324,000 -- the company's largest purchase ever.
Blue Nile's proprietary Build Your Own Ring feature allows consumers to design the ring that matches their individual preferences. This makes the engagement ring more personal and more romantic. It's an added bonus when you tell your beloved that you actually designed the ring. The company also has an unmatched support staff available to answer questions and calm fears.
"The holidays are our busiest time," said Baird. "The season comes with its own romantic glow that seems to melt cold feet. If you are ready to pop the question, we're ready to help. She's waiting. Step on it."
For those guys ready to pop the question, Blue Nile provides free FedEx shipping on every order. Customers can place orders for most items as late as Friday December 22 to receive free shipping in time for Christmas.
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