Britain is gripped by flood of credit crunch weddings

Britain is poised for a flurry of weddings in 2009, it has been revealed. A survey by Star Jewellers of Hatton Garden indicated that record numbers of couples are planning to get hitched in 2009, and apparently it’s all down to the credit crunch.

Data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that the national marriage rate historically increases significantly around periods of recession, it is thought that couples seek increased social security during times of financial uncertainty. The biggest surge in the marriage rate during the last century came in 1940 and was triggered by the start of the WWII and the Great Depression – the most serious global recession encountered in the modern world.

In 1940 there were 470,549 marriages recorded, whereas the modern annual marriage rate is almost half this figure. The figures show us that each and every recession brings with it a simultaneous increase in the marriage rate, so there is no reason why 2009 should buck the trend.

It is thought that the credit crunch is responsible for increased numbers of couples planning to tie the knot this year; the onset of recession has sparked a trend of individuals staying home rather than going out in the evenings. Consequently, couples are spending more time together and relationships are developing more quickly, accelerating to the point of engagement.

One respondent to the survey commented: “As a couple we’re being more careful with our money at present. I've been doing more cooking and fewer big girls' nights out, and as a result we’ve had some really good quality time together and our relationship has moved up a level somehow. I won’t be surprised if he proposes over the next few months.”

New Year has always been a classic time for proposals, alongside Valentine’s Day, it is one of the great iconic days of the year for men to pop the question. Famous people who have become engaged on New Year’s Eve include Michael Douglas and Gwen Steffani.

The survey revealed that the most important aspect of the engagement experience to women is the manner in which the man proposes. One woman commented; “a wonderful location is all very well and adds to the magic, but if the words are right then even the No.74 bus could be romantic”.

There seems to be an expectation that men should generate an unforgettable experience via the proposal, resulting in a memory that will last a lifetime: “I think that most women want the proposal to be original and a moment that they will never forget. A convincing, romantic and heartfelt demonstration of love, a good story to tell for the rest of your lives is really priceless.”

When asked to describe the ideal engagement scenario, women indicated that they wanted to be taken by surprise, whisked away somewhere special or exotic, and that careful planning and a romantic environment was crucial. Weekend getaways seem to be high on the wish lists of many women, while the audience surveyed was evenly divided between wanting to be alone with their partner or being surrounded by friends and family immediately following the engagement.

Perhaps surprisingly, a clear majority of women still expect their prospective partner to seek family permission prior to the proposal, but interestingly there has been a shift away from asking the father towards consulting with both parents: “I definitely want him to ask my parents for their blessing first. If he is going to be a part of the family, he can't be afraid to approach them”.

What's more, the art of dropping to one knee is still an essential part of the ritual; “I like the tradition of the one knee thing, plus it shows that the man has confidence in himself and is not afraid to look a bit foolish for you. I think the only reason it went out of favour is because the modern man feels a bit silly. Therefore if he does do it, the gesture shows that he doesn't mind feeling a bit self-conscious in front of the world – you’re the only one that matters to him!”

The ring is still an important symbol of love and intrinsic part of the engagement process. It seems that when it comes to size, bigger is generally better and diamonds are still very much a girl’s best friend; “I want a big diamond sparkler, as I will be wearing it for the rest of my life!”

With popular television soaps such a Footballers Wives and Hollyoaks, and role models such as Victoria Beckham and Jordan advocating the materialism of big rocks, there is little surprise that women expect their man to spend as much as he can reasonably afford on the engagement ring. However, there is interestingly a parallel movement emerging towards the favouring of smaller, more subtle love tokens: “I'm personally not into having a big bling bling diamond. I'd like something a little more original, like a ring made of bone or something.”

The style of the ring is seen as more important than the size or the value, and the top two favourites include round, brilliant cut gems and rectangular, emerald cut stones. There is also an increasing popularity of heirloom, pre-owned and antique pieces that have been passed down from generation to generation within families, or bought from specialist jewellery dealers.

A small percentage of women questioned also wanted non-diamond stones set in their engagement rings. Pearls, sapphires and birthstones such as emeralds were listed as acceptable alternatives, and it was revealed that women are more interested in the size and quality of the diamond than the brand of the ring.

Just over half of the women questioned felt that when left to their own devices, men often get the choice of ring catastrophically wrong, particularly when it comes to style and size. “I don't think men realise quite how important an engagement ring is. As the single piece of jewellery a woman will wear throughout her entire life, it needs to be very special and also suited to that particular person.”

While most women admitted that they didn’t have the heart to change their engagement rings, a large percentage felt that they were presented with items of jewellery that they would not necessarily have chosen for themselves.

Adrian Demondez, Head of Retail at Star Jewellers commented: “We have noticed an unusual rise in the volume of engagement rings sold over the past 6 weeks, it seems that many British men are planning a big surprise in 2009. We are also witnessing a noticeable increase in the number of men buying engagement rings to wear themselves. As it's become more socially acceptable for men to wear jewellery, they want to share in the excitement of the engagement by making an outward and demonstrable commitment to their partner.

“For the engagement ring, men generally tend to go for the safe, traditional option of a 4 claw round, brilliant cut diamond set in white gold and the average sale tends to be a stone worth around £2000. At Star Jewellers we have a no questions asked exchange policy, so that if the ring is not right for any reason, it can be returned easily.”

Star Jeweller’s tops tips for choosing the right ring:

1. Style: think about your partner’s existing jewellery, what colours, stones and metals they prefer.

2. Fit: check her finger size by measuring and existing ring worn on the 4th finger, remember that rings can be easily altered.

3. Size: the ring has got to be practical enough to be worn every day, but also impressive enough to dazzle when necessary.

4. Budget: if cost is an issue, a large semi precious stone flanked with pave diamonds could be a better option than a tiny diamond.

5. The F Factor: consult with friends and family to see if she has dropped any hints regarding her dream ring.

6. Match the ring to the hand: the shape and size of a ladies fingers and hands will dictate the style and size of the ring. For example, someone with long, thin fingers might suit an emerald cut stone, whereas a princess cut would be more suitable for someone with short, stubby hands.

7. Clarity and Quality: if you want the best quality diamond, you may have to compromise on size. To maximise your budget and the size, be a little flexible regarding the clarity of the stone – often the difference between a grade or two is not visible to the naked eye.

8. Be a Savvy Shopper: you will get more carat for your money by opting for a non-branded ring. Head to London’s traditional diamond trading district, Hatton Garden, to save up to 40% off Bond Street jewellery prices.