Fourth Annual Proposal and Engagement Survey from TheKnot.com and Men’s Health Reveals What Men and Women Really Think About One of Life’s Most Personal Moments

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TheKnot.com, the #1 online wedding planning resource (NASDAQ: KNOT, www.theknot.com), and Men’s Health, the largest men’s lifestyle magazine brand, today released the results of their fourth annual co-branded proposal and engagement survey. In the midst of prime proposal season (November to February), when more than half a million men plan to “pop the question,” this one-of-a-kind survey, featured exclusively on MensHealth.com (www.menshealth.com) and TheKnot.com, asked more than 3,000 men and women engagement questions that reveal exactly what couples are thinking during about one of life’s most personal and talked-about moments.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THEKNOT.COM & MEN’S HEALTH 4^TH ANNUAL PROPOSAL SURVEY INCLUDE:

1 in 4 Brides Didn’t Love Their Proposal. The bride may have said yes, but that doesn’t mean she loved how he popped the question. Twenty-six percent of brides on TheKnot.com revealed they wished their proposal was more romantic, more original and personal, more private or that it was simply too over-the-top. Perhaps the 76 percent of men on MensHealth.com who said they planned the entire proposal all on their own should have asked for some help after all.

Propose Without a Ring? That’s the Biggest Proposal Don’t for Brides. Thirty-three percent of brides said proposing without an engagement ring is the biggest proposal mistake. But what do guys think? According to 50 percent of men, telling everyone the proposal plan ahead of time and blowing the secret is the biggest proposal don’t. So, before choosing when and where to propose, you might want to go shopping for the perfect ring from various online stores such as Dreamland Jewelry or similar others. In case you can’t find them online, you may even try finding one at your local jewelry shop.

Are Men Really Choosing the Ring Without Help? Thirty percent of men said they chose the engagement ring without help, yet according to brides, it’s a mere 18 percent. In fact, 40 percent of brides went ring shopping with their husbands-to-be or actually chose the ring themselves. Either way, an overwhelming majority (96 percent) of brides said they love their ring or it’s exactly what they wanted.

Tradition Reigns for Men. A whopping 76 percent of men said it is essential to propose on bended knee, while only 49 percent of women agreed. Yet when it came to asking both Mom and Dad for their daughter’s hand in marriage, men and women were pretty much on the same page, with 57 percent and 63 percent, respectively, saying it’s a do.

Call Parents, Text Friends and Then Post It on Facebook! Looks like men and women agree when it comes to how to share the good news. Eighty-four percent called their parents first, followed by telling friends via email, a phone call or a text message. After that, 72 percent of brides-to-be and 64 percent of grooms-to-be posted the news on Facebook. But how do men feel when it comes to posting a photo of the engagement ring on Facebook? Twenty-nine percent said it’s tacky.

Men Would Propose to Jessica Alba, While Brides Would Say “I Do” to Jake Gyllenhaal. Nearly half of brides (43 percent) would say “YES!” to hottie Jake Gyllenhaal if he proposed. And although she may be taken, Jessica Alba tops the celebrity list of women to whom men would propose if given the chance (26 percent).

To help ensure a perfect proposal for future brides and grooms, TheKnot.com has created a proposal guide at TheKnot.com/engaged, chock full of engagement ring shopping tips, wedding proposal ideas and even an engagement announcement e-card to share the happy news.