Sa mother was surprised when Philipp told her about his proposal. He had made it before Christmas, in the afternoon light in a meadow among vineyards, not far from the restaurant where he and his girlfriend later toasted their engagement. A little bit, he says, he had planned beforehand. “There’s a lot to be said for a marriage proposal like that.” The ring, for example; Philip’s present sister-in-law had helped him. Or the right time; Philipp really wanted to surprise his girlfriend. It’s not that easy when you’ve been together for nine years and you’ve already noticed that the proposal is expected from me, the man.
In 2017, Philipp asked for his girlfriend’s hand. Since this year there has also been a regular survey among engaged couples, which shows what Philipp’s mother found out so astonished: The classic marriage proposal is celebrating its comeback. Five years ago, in eight out of ten engagements, the man proposed. Now it’s nine out of ten. At the same time – this is shown by the regular survey by the online printing company “Kartemacherei” among just over 1500 Germans – there are fewer and fewer couples who simply decide to get engaged together: in 2017 every sixth couple did it, meanwhile it is not even every twelfth.