since 2006
Marriage Proposal Trends in 2025: These Numbers Will Shock You!
Par Nicolas, The Paris Proposal Experte | May 8, 2025
At ApoteoSurprise, we've been creating unforgettable marriage proposals in Paris since 2006. In nearly 20 years, over 3,500 couples from all over the world have entrusted us with organizing this magical moment. Eager to better understand the desires, emotions, and expectations surrounding this life-changing event, we launched a major survey. Over several months, 1,800 people agreed to share their responses. Some of their answers surprised us, many moved us, and all fascinated us. Here’s what we discovered.
Your thirties: the ideal age for a marriage proposal
When it comes to popping the question, your thirties emerge as the most common age. In fact, 50% of men who propose are between 30 and 35 years old!
This impressive figure clearly shows that your thirties are by far the best decade for asking your beloved to marry you.
Those in their late twenties (25 to 29) aren’t far behind, accounting for a quarter of all marriage proposals. Beyond 35, the numbers start to decline: 14% of men who propose are aged 36 to 40, and only 9% are aged 41 to 50. Men between 51 and 60 make up just 3% of marriage proposals.
This tells us that nearly 75% of marriage proposals happen before the age of 35, a time in life when the passion of love often outweighs more rational considerations, and the desire to build a future together comes naturally.
Only 3% of marriage proposals are made by women
Traditional values are still going strong, with only 3% of marriage proposals initiated by women rather than men. Since childhood, women have grown up with the image of Prince Charming, reinforced by fairy tales, films, and books. This may be one of the rare moments when, despite societal shifts, they still wish for these romantic and traditional values to be respected.
December: the favourite month for a marriage proposal
When it comes to asking the big question, timing is just as important as the place. And if there’s one month that stands out as the perfect time for a proposal, it’s definitely December. Nearly 15% of all marriage proposals take place in this special month, showing that the holiday season is the ideal moment to surprise your beloved.
The magical Christmas atmosphere, family reunions, and festive spirit all play a crucial role. While December remains the most popular month by far, there’s a noticeable lull between January and April. The dark days, the end of the celebrations, and the return to routine explain this drop in proposals.
However, as soon as the warmer weather arrives, things pick up again! From May onwards, proposals surge, particularly in the summer and autumn months, with August, September, October, and November all seeing high numbers of proposals. While these months are busy, none surpass December, which still holds the crown for the most proposals. The final month of the year is, without a doubt, when the most engagements happen.
Valentine's Day: the ideal date for a marriage proposal?
32% of men believe Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day to propose. However, only 19% of women share this view, with many finding the date too predictable. While the day is certainly symbolic, it can lose some of its magic due to high expectations and the over-commercialisation of the occasion. What really matters for a successful proposal is spontaneity and the element of surprise, rather than the date itself. It’s interesting to note that, despite Valentine’s Day being seen as the perfect day to propose, only 3% of men actually choose to do so on this day.
Two months on average to prepare a marriage proposal
Planning a marriage proposal requires time, thought, and often meticulous organisation. On average, 35% of men spend around two months preparing for this special moment.
Men typically take around two months to plan their proposal, which includes everything from coming up with the best idea to choosing the perfect location, or even organising everything with a marriage proposal specialist like ApoteoSurprise.
However, some men are in more of a rush. 5% manage to organise everything in just a few days, while 1% take a bold leap and propose on the spot, without a ring and completely on impulse. On the other hand, 40% of men spend between three and twelve months preparing their proposal, ensuring every detail is perfect to create an unforgettable moment.
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50% of men choose the engagement ring 2 to 3 months before making the marriage proposal
Choosing the engagement ring is one of the most important steps in planning your marriage proposal. Around 25% of men decide to buy the ring two months before asking the big question, while another quarter waits three months. These timeframes are good markers to help you organise your proposal and avoid any last-minute rush. However, it’s interesting to note that 5% of men end up buying the ring after the proposal – either because they acted impulsively or because the ring didn’t arrive in time. That’s why it’s crucial to order the ring well in advance, to avoid the stress of wondering when it will finally arrive!
The average cost of a marriage proposal is €1500 (excluding the ring)
Planning a marriage proposal requires some thought and, of course, a budget. On average, you should expect to spend around €1500, not including the ring itself. This typically covers a romantic dinner, renting a memorable location, hiring a photographer to capture the moment, and perhaps adding a few decorative touches.
That said, about 20% of men don’t set a specific budget for the event, opting instead for simpler, more personal ideas.
While €1500 may seem like a significant amount, many consider it a worthwhile investment to make the day truly unforgettable. After all, a large majority of women say the memory of the proposal is often more memorable than the wedding itself. It’s an intimate moment, just the two of you, away from the guests’ eyes – and that’s part of its magic.
The majority of marriage proposals take place abroad
More and more couples are choosing to propose in dream destinations, far from home. Around 55% of marriage proposals happen abroad, in idyllic places like the Maldives’ beaches, the canals of Venice, or the stunning views of Santorini. But for lovers from all over the world, Paris is the global capital of marriage proposals.
When couples travel abroad, they leave their everyday lives behind and find themselves in a completely different setting. This change in routine makes them feel as though they’re alone in the world, as if the place belongs to them.
That said, not everyone heads overseas. Around 30% of couples opt to propose somewhere closer to home, often in a place that holds sentimental value, like their favourite restaurant or a park they frequently visit. With careful planning, these intimate moments can be just as special and memorable, while still staying close to their everyday lives.
65% of marriage proposals are neither photographed nor filmed
Most couples aren’t interested in following the trend of over-the-top, staged proposals complete with flower decorations, heart-shaped petals, candles, and photo sessions. While these setups may seem romantic at first – especially given their viral popularity on social media – they often steal away the surprise element that makes a marriage proposal unforgettable. When a couple goes down this route, the bride-to-be immediately knows what’s happening as soon as she sees the setup, and the surprise is lost.
For 65% of men, what really matters is the emotion of the moment. A successful marriage proposal relies on suspense and spontaneity. The moment when she realises what’s happening, without having seen it coming, is what makes the proposal unforgettable. In the end, the memory, the surprise, and the shared emotion are far more valuable than the perfect photo or video intended to go viral on social media.
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The majority of couples marry within a year of the marriage proposal
After the marriage proposal, many couples don't waste any time. Around 30% of them get married within the year, eager to take the next step in their lives.
45% of couples choose to marry between 12 and 24 months after the proposal. This allows them to enjoy the engagement period while having enough time to plan their wedding without rushing.
And for those who can't wait, 5% of couples get married just six months after the marriage proposal, excited to become husband and wife!
7 out of 10 men find the marriage proposal incredibly stressful
According to a study in the U.S., the majority of men find the marriage proposal more terrifying than swimming with sharks! This is because men are increasingly aware that the marriage proposal is the most important moment in their romantic life. So, it's completely normal to feel anxious about it. But here's the reassuring part: with proper preparation, the proposal can turn out to be one of the most magical moments life has to offer!
1 in 5 women accidentally swallows her engagement ring!
Inspired by romantic movies, many men still try to improvise their marriage proposal in a restaurant, hoping to recreate a scene straight out of Hollywood. But in reality, without the perfect soundtrack or carefully arranged lighting, the moment can quickly lose its magic... or even turn into a disaster.
A study conducted across 850 Parisian restaurants found that 1 in 5 women accidentally swallows her engagement ring when it's hidden in a glass of champagne. This classic move, rooted deeply in our collective imagination, proves to be as risky as it is outdated. It's much safer to plan a surprise with every detail thought through – poetic, emotional, and, most importantly, safe.
8 out of 10 women are disappointed by their marriage proposal
The statistics are striking: 80% of women say they're disappointed with how they were proposed to. Why? Because many proposals are poorly prepared or thought of at the last minute. Many men, despite having the best intentions, end up feeling lost – they don't know where to start, they can't come up with an original or feasible idea, or they run into logistical issues when trying to make a great proposal happen.
This gap stems from a lack of understanding about what this moment means to most women. For them, the marriage proposal is much more than just a "will you marry me?" – it's the moment when the dream of meeting the perfect partner becomes a reality, where emotion, magic, and surprise need to come together to create an unforgettable memory. The most common mistake is thinking that simply asking "will you marry me?" is enough, without considering the setting, the presentation... and the heart behind it.
Proposing marriage is a one-of-a-kind, extraordinary moment – it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Magical yet nerve-wracking, the marriage proposal stirs up a whirlwind of emotions. That's exactly why ApoteoSurprise exists: to turn any anxiety into pure enchantment. By creating tailor-made proposals in Paris, our mission is to make every marriage proposal an unforgettable memory, worthy of a true fairy tale.