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Romance is Thriving this Valentine's Day!
Harris Interactive has released a study which shows that romance is alive and thriving but is taking on different forms.
Traditions such as proposing on bended knee and the man choosing the engagement ring alone are much less popular than anticipated. However, the study also showed that traditional proposal customs were much more important to younger adults, suggesting we're entering a new era of romance.
Key findings include:
-- To knee or not to knee? Only 36 percent of adults believe it is
important that a man get down on one knee when he proposes.
Surprisingly, more men than women believe this is an important
tradition (40 percent men vs. 32 percent women). Out West it's even
less important, as 71 percent plan to keep both feet firmly on the
ground. However, young adults, aged 18-34, are much more inclined to
feel it's important to propose on bended knee, 59 percent, compared to
an average of 25 percent for older age groups.
-- Let's get personal ... Americans would choose to propose at a spot that
has personal significance to the couple (83 percent), over a nice
restaurant (12 percent), a public sporting event (1 percent), or even a
romantic destination, such as the Eiffel Tower (4 percent). Even more
important? -- Leave family and friends at home, say 91 percent of
respondents.
-- Size matters -- Especially if you live in the Northeast. While only 41
percent of adults admit that the size of the diamond is important, it's
a bigger deal in the Northeast, where 49 percent indicate size matters,
compared to 39 percent of those living in other regions of the country.
It also matters more to men (44 percent men vs. 39 percent women),
suggesting just how much they fret over the proposal and the engagement
ring purchase.
-- Two's company ... Sixty percent of adults believe both members of the
couple should be involved in choosing an engagement ring. Perhaps men
want women involved in the process out of fear of choosing the wrong
ring (62 percent men vs. 58 percent women).
-- Should I ask for their blessing? The majority, 53 percent, say it's
important to ask your future in-laws for their blessing. It's
especially true in the South, where 58 percent say it's important,
compared to 50 percent of those living in other regions. Again, young
adults (61 percent), and especially young men (68 percent), were most
likely to adhere to this tradition, compared to 49 percent of those in
other age groups.
-- Be honest, is it cheesy? No, a Valentine's Day proposal is romantic,
according to 63 percent of adults. Unlike other traditions where
younger adults were more likely to adhere to romantic traditions,
respondents find a Valentine's Day proposal more and more romantic as
they age.
-- Jolie or Aniston? We'll take Jolie. Adults choose Angelina Jolie
(chosen by 19 percent of men) and George Clooney (chosen by 27 percent
of women) as the celebrities they would most want to receive
Valentine's Day proposals from this February. At the bottom of the
list, Tanya Harding and Axl Rose each received one vote. A surprising
number of adults are not enamored of the rich and famous, with 32
percent saying they wouldn't want a proposal from any celebrity.
