Priyanka + Pepe’s New York billboard marriage proposal planned by The Heart Bandits Photo credit: © Petronella Photography http://bypetronella.com
We were recently interviewed by the media and we were asked about why some proposal traditions are the way they are. We thought our readers might like to know where some of the popular proposal traditions that we have today come from. Here are some traditions that are still carried out in modern times all over the world.
Kneeling to Propose
Why do we kneel? Well all of you Game of Thrones lovers (myself included), you will love this one. This tradition comes from medieval times, directly from the knighting ceremony that took place when knights were given their title by royalty. Knights not only kneeled for their King, but as a gesture of respect to those they served. Asking for someone’s hand in marriage on bended knee has other historical links as well, such as ceremonial gestures like praying in church. The connotation of kneeling is seen as a sign of respect and honor, of spirituality and humility in love, surrendering oneself in proposition of forming a union of two people. It’s a tradition that has lasted for hundreds of years and will likely continue to do so because of the meaning behind it.
Precious Stones in Engagement Rings
It seems that nearly everyone who gets engaged has some sort of ring, and oftentimes the stone in the ring is a diamond. Where does this tradition come from? Again, we harken back to medieval times for the answer. A groom during the medieval era was expected to pay for his bride – to show that he had the wealth necessary to support her, he often gave gifts of precious stones to the bride’s father. The giving of precious stones as part of the engagement process has stuck – and the De Beer’s company in the late 19th century made diamonds the stone of choice. Marketed as rare and beautiful, diamonds became synonymous with engagement rings. Today, more people are choosing alternative stones, or man-made stones in place of diamonds, but the tradition of gemstones in engagement rings carries on.
The Ring Finger
Just as engagement rings have been popular for hundreds of years, so too is the tradition of wearing the engagement ring on a specific finger – the third finger on the left hand. The Romans believed that there was a direct connection between the vein that ran through that finger, and the heart, and thus the engagement ring was placed on that finger as a symbol of the heart and of love itself. Today in many cultures, this tradition has continued, and the engagement ring is often joined by a wedding ring on that finger.
Once you have the perfect engagement ring in hand, its time to pick out the ring box. Our fave? The slim profile engagement ring boxes at www.ringstash.com. Ditch the clunky, oversized, cheap boxes that come with the ring in favor of one that is stylish and easily concealed.
Whether you and your partner are likely to follow popular traditions or to create unique traditions of your own, the proposal planning experts at The Heart Bandits are here to help you craft the proposal you’ve always dreamed of. Our professional planners have the experience necessary to ensure that your proposal is handled perfectly from start to finish.
Christina Clawson