engagement

Almost a quarter of men have proposed to their partner without getting them an engagement ring.

According to a poll by national jewellers, Beaverbrooks, 24 percent of modern men are asking the most important question of their lives without a traditional diamond ring.

And when it comes to delivering the ‘perfect proposal’, it seems many men are missing the mark on the style, size and stone of their partner’s ring.

A third of women polled (29 percent) said it was crucial that their partner knew exactly what ring they wanted for their proposal. Getting the ring size right first time also featured high on the list, with 28 percent stating it was an essential factor.

Fancy an impressive gift which will be useful for the planning of your wedding? Rhys Jelley, co-founder at Bride to be Box, explains why you should think outside the box…

Tell us about yourselves…

My wife Harriet and I met at university in 2007, where Harriet was studying for a degree in media and public relations and I was studying for a degree in international business management. After we graduated in 2011 we moved to Guernsey, where Harriet grew up. Harriet now works as an account director for a leading PR agency and I head up the partnerships and retail team for a large vitamin and supplement brand.

Why did you decide to start up the Bride to Be Box venture? 

So you’ve found the one, whether it was love at first sight, a whirlwind romance, or slow burning love. You’re ready to take the next step and pop the question. You may be asking yourself, what makes the perfect proposal?

For some, the idea of a grand romantic gesture with all of their friends and family present makes them weak at the knees with excitement. For others, it may be an intimate candlelit dinner or a surprise proposal at the spot they first met.

However you plan to propose, it’s normal to feel a bit uneasy. After all, there’s a lot to consider, from choosing the perfect ring to picking the date. Did you know that 40% of men don’t have a ring when they propose, or that nearly half of all proposals in the UK happen between December and February?

More than 1.8 million Brits are hoping their partner will get down on one knee to propose on Valentine's day , as revealed by new research from jewellery insurance provider Protect Your Bubble.

Although an overwhelming 72% of Brits agree that Valentine’s Day has become far too commercial, this certainly hasn’t stopped them from reaching into their pocket for cards and pricey gifts. 

Almost half of British women admit they were “disappointed” with the way their partner popped the question, according to a new study.

Researchers studied women who have been proposed to, and discovered as many as 40 percent were unhappy with how their partner asked for their hand in marriage – with a further 12 percent saying they were “bitterly disappointed”. 

And almost a quarter (23 percent) were left red faced from an over the top gesture, including flash mobs, lavish gifts and public displays of affection.

Two thirds of women felt a proposal should be all about the ‘little details’ rather than grand gestures – with 92 percent saying the special event should NEVER take place in public.

Deciding to propose and therefore looking to buy an engagement ring is an exciting prospect but can also be daunting. Before you head out to buy the first ring that you see, you need to do your research; gain an insight by window shopping, learn what style your partner prefers and set a budget that works for you.

Fine jewellery, and in particular diamonds, have a close association with timeless love and romance. We know how overwhelming and frustrating it can be to source a piece that perfectly meets your requirements, so we have put together an easy to follow plan for purchasing an engagement ring.

The London Victorian Ring Company have put together their top tips for choosing the perfect wedding ring to suit your engagement ring. Make that special decision a thoughtful and memorable one. With over 125 years’ of experience in designing beautiful vintage style rings, the jewellery is handmade by expert UK craftsmen to exclusive designs from The London Victorian Ring Company.  

Match the Metals: Each precious metal ages in its own unique way over time. To keep your engagement ring and wedding ring looking their best together over the years, we recommend choosing the same metal for both rings. So if your engagement ring is in platinum, then select a platinum wedding ring.

Look and feel like a princess on your big day - Mastercut Diamond are offering brides the chance to shine in the one-of-a-kind diamond tiara, worth £30,000! The tiara is available for all customers, who buy a Mastercut Diamond engagement ring over the price of £2,300. Sparkling with over 400 individually set diamonds of over 5 carats, the Mastercut tiara is the perfect wow-factor accessory to pair with a stunning white gown and turn the heads of all your wedding guests.

Better still, each Mastercut diamond is like no other having been cut with 89 facets, which is 32 more than a traditional round brilliant diamond. It is also cut with a unique star pattern that can be seen in the stone, which gives it phenomenal brilliance and beauty and maximum sparkle!

The UK’s original Fairtrade jewellery brand Cred Jewellery has released a brand new collection of elegant, yet ethical engagement rings – perfect if you’re looking for a unique ring with a unique story. Made completely from Peruvian Fairtrade gold and fully traceable Canadian diamonds, Cred Jewellery’s Clara collection comprises five stunning designs to suit any woman’s style…

For the ultimate statement, opt for the 18ct Fairtrade white gold Clara Halo Solitaire where a crescent of shimmering pavé diamonds surround a scintillating one-carat Canadian diamond. Or to suit a more delicate style, the Clara Petit Gemme Ring is the sweetest token of love with three diamonds to represent a couple’s past, present and future together.

"Ethical jewellery brand Arctic Circle Diamonds has unveiled its latest bridal collection Arctic Flowers, featuring sculptural engagement rings crafted in Fairtrade gold and set with scintillating and better still fully traceable Arctic Circle Canadian diamonds.

With flowing white and yellow gold designs, the Arctic Flowers collection comprises sweeping four-claw and crossover engagement rings, alongside matching stud earrings and pendants in that wrap embrace the brand’s signature Arctic Circle diamonds.

Alexis Dove’s unusual and alternative engagement rings are perfect for couples looking for a truly unique and personal piece of jewellery to symbolize their love.

In the picturesque Sussex county town of Lewes, Alexis Dove designs jewellery Alexis invites brides to her workshop to assist her in designing their very own special piece of jewellery incorporating Alexis’ signature vintage style. Brides can choose from a huge selection of Alexis’ precious rare stones and pick the metal and finish they are set in.  This service comes with a glowing recommendation from Olympic Champion Victoria Pendleton who commissioned Alexis Dove to design her own wedding jewellery.

TIME is certainly of the essence for newly-engaged Nottingham couples as popular Nottingham city centre wedding venue, the St James Hotel, sees a huge increase in bookings this year.

Wedding venues are notorious for being booked up a year or more in advance - but the St James Hotel is seeing a significant increase in the number of couples not wanting to wait a long time for their big day.

It may not have been the setting for Pretty Woman or Maid in Manhattan, but in recent years Rotherham’s largest independent hotel has proved to be the star of its own romantic blockbuster, with 17 members of staff meeting their perfect partner whilst working at the popular three star hotel.

Carlton Park Hotel has been shooting Cupid’s arrow since it first opened its doors in 1981 and hosts more than 80 weddings each year. But it’s behind the scenes where true love has blossomed and fairy tale matches have been made with many of its staff falling for its charms; meeting and eventually marrying ‘The One’ within the walls of the hotel.

Hazlitt Hotel Group, Georgian boltholes in London’s fashionable and lively neighbourhoods, is re-writing the rules of engagement for the 29th February.

2016’s Leap Year will revive traditional Valentine’s Day customs, when men take control of courting, and instead encourage women to grasp the reins of romance and be forthright with their proposals. Comprising The Rookery, Batty Langley’s and Hazlitt’s, the privately owned hideaways are reminiscent of aristocratic household and marries period charm with the needs of today’s sophisticated traveller.

Bespoke Engagement Rings and Wedding Rings at Form Bespoke Jewellers

When it comes to a wedding, you want every element to be special for you and your partner – that includes your wedding rings and engagement ring too!

A trip to Form Bespoke Jewellers in Leeds, West Yorkshire, finds you in the friendly and capable hands of award-winning jewellers, Tim Swann and Gary Thompson. With over 60 years in the jewellery industry, they have refined their quality craftsmanship into a fine art.