Planning to propose? Here's the truth about the best Irish proposals...
The locations, the language, the fun... Ireland is a great place to get engaged or if it's not possible, it's a great idea to bring some of your Irish heritage in to a proposal.
If you're choosing to pop the question in Ireland, a whopping two thirds of proposals still involve getting down on one knee and it's a tradition that seems here to stay. So how do you propose like a pro?
The ring will always be the centrepiece so dial up your knowledge and really get to know the 'four C's' when researching that sparkle. It's all about 'color', 'cut', 'clarity' and 'carat'.
Bringing in a Celtic style into your engagement ring choice can be a really creative way by choosing a ring with a trinity knot, an emerald, an Irish inscription or even an Irish saying in ogham.
'Will you marry me' - the all important question - can be asked in many ways, but a few words in Irish can make it even more romantic - that's if they manage to understand you! "An bposfaidh tú mé?" is the straightforward way and if you want to embellish it, "anam chara" is the way to describe your soulmate. There are some beautiful pieces of jewelry with these words engraved on the pieces, from rings to necklaces and some even in the ancient language and inscription of ogham.
If you want to go old school and take it back to tradition, go for "An luifeasa le mo mhuintirse?" which means "would you like to be buried with my people?" - which was often a humorous way of asking - maybe not the most romantic of proposals and also slightly alarming!
Having the "chat" with the parents still seems to be important to Irish couples and over half of Irish men and women are still said to take the time to discuss it with mums and dads before popping the question.
Maybe it's the Irish weather, but while the clifftop or sunset or beach proposal is often seen as the most frequent photo op, surveys show that the vast majority of Irish people are still quite shy about proposing in public and very few choose a restaurant as a backdrop. Many Irish proposers don't want anyone around when they're popping the question, so often go on holiday or ask quietly during a night at home.
That said, there are the most beautiful scenic drives, beaches, picnic spots, cliff sunsets or island escapes dotted around Ireland for chances to ask or say "I do". In Ireland, the weather will always be a factor, so a plan B is definitely an essential option!
According to Ireland's Central Statistics Office, the most popular month to get married in Ireland is July. The average age for brides is 35.4 and for grooms it's 37.4. The average age of males in same sex marriages is 39.4 and for females in same sex marriages, it's 38.2.
Friday is still the most popular day to get married and the most recent figures show that 23,173 weddings took place in Ireland over a year so it seems like marriage and engagements are not going out of fashion any time soon!