Leap Year Proposal: How To Pop The Question To Your Boyfriend

So, you're ready to get married - that's great news! But before you can start the hunt for your wedding venue and the perfect decor, that all important question needs to be asked. 2024 is a Leap Year and that comes with extra day in February and a special tradition!

Originating in Ireland, this tradition states that on February 29th, marriage proposal etiquette is twisted so a woman may ask a man to marry her. Of course, women can propose any day of the year if they want, but many like to take advantage of this tradition as a way to break tradition! So, we've asked women if they would propose, men if they would accept, looked at how this tradition came about and given some advice on how to take the plunge...

1 in 4 women would pop the question

In research by Guides For Brides in November 2023, it's clear that women are stepping up and redefining traditional proposal norms, with the upcoming leap year playing a significant role in their romantic narratives.

Our research unveils that 1 in 4 women (27%) have either already proposed or are keen on proposing to their partners. What's even more striking? Over a quarter of these women (26%) said they would do it on or wait for a leap year to make their move, with a success rate of 88% among those who've proposed their partners.

Delving deeper into why women are deciding to pop the question, our survey reveals a wide range of motivations. For many, the thrill of surprising their partner (40%) takes precedence, closely followed by rejecting the notion that only men should propose (39%). Others find empowerment in taking the lead (17%) or are tired of waiting for their partner to make the move (14%).

Most men say they'd accept their girlfriend's proposal!

A significant majority of men (73%) express openness to receiving a proposal from their partners, which is not surprising! Many couples are rejecting the idea that only men can pop the question. For the small handful of men (15%) that confessed they'd be likely to say "no", they revealed their top reasons for rejecting was sticking to tradition (28%), while others believe it's a man's responsibility to propose (26%). Not being ready to get married (14%) also placed in the top three reasons to reject a proposal - a reason common between both men and women.

Our wedding expert, Nikita Thorne, believes many modern couples discuss their feelings towards this tradition before the question is popped.

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From the experts

Regardless of your gender identity, I think it's really important to make sure that you and your partner are on the same page before asking them to marry you. I think a lot of couples nowadays discuss marriage and proposals before the question is popped. So, most people who are in that place would know their partner's thoughts on marriage and their attitude towards the tradition of who does the proposing. If you don't know, it's definitely a good idea to find out to avoid the awkward conversation and getting a "no" when you do take the plunge.

Nikita Thorne, Wedding Planning Expert and Newlywed

You can find the full press release and data set at the end of this article.

The History of The Leap Year Proposal

According to tradition, it is the man's role to ask for a woman's hand in marriage, historically from her father. But on February 29th tradition was allowed to flip, thanks to Irish folklore!

In the 5th century, St Brigid of Kildare complained to St Patrick that women had to wait too long for shy men to propose! So, St Patrick decreed that on one day in February, every four years, a woman is allowed to propose herself. She did have to wear either breeches or a scarlet petticoat while doing so though! 

This ancient rule soon spread. In Scotland circa 1288, a law was passed, giving this tradition legal bearing. It also stated that any man who declined the proposal on this day would have to pay a fine. This was embraced in many European countries where the fine ranges from a kiss to money, a silk dress or 12 pairs of gloves. The gloves were so the woman could hide her embarrassment at not having an engagement ring! 

While this attitude is very much outdated and the laws are not enforced any more (especially the fine!), the tradition is still popular around the world.

Reasons to Propose to Him

Life is too short!

Stop dropping hints he may never notice and take action. There are only so many times you can subtly walk past jewellery shops and note the engagement rings on display! You may worry that you'll never know if he was going to propose to you. But, we are pretty sure if he says yes, that indicates he had it in mind! If you are one of the 26% of women who were keen to wait for the leap year to propose, your opportunity is coming up in 2024!

Use a tradition to break tradition

Of course, women can propose anytime they want. This tradition is clearly outdated, but the leap year gives you the perfect opportunity to use a tradition to break tradition! After all, we've come a long way since the 5th century, so make St Brigid proud.

Choose your own engagement ring

You won't have to worry about your ring being the wrong size, shape, stone, metal etc.. Instead, you can get the ring of your dreams and not have to practice your fake happy face!

How to Propose to Your Boyfriend

Make sure you're both ready

Our first tip is the same advice we give to anyone thinking of proposing - make sure you're both on the same page! Be sure that your man is ready for marriage before you think about proposing, otherwise you're facing an awkward conversation and potentially a "no". Test the waters with an honest chat and be sure that you both have the same life goals when it comes to marriage. 

Do it for the right reasons

Don't propose to your boyfriend just because you're sick of waiting for him to propose to you! Do it because you know you want to spend the rest of your life with him and because you know he'd love the gesture of a proposal. If you're the kind of couple that doesn't do conventional, then this is a sweet way to show him that you're ready for the next step in your journey together. 

Find the perfect ring or symbol of engagement

You need to propose with something and while traditionally this is a ring, it doesn't have to be. Having a symbol of your engagement is a nice thing to be able to present to your other half when you're proposing. It could be a watch, a pair of cufflinks or a necklace, depending on your man's style. A Haribo ring could also be a cute gesture!

Plan the proposal

When it comes to the actual proposal, put some thought into it. Take him somewhere meaningful to the pair of you, or arrange a dinner at his favourite restaurant. Consider whether he'd want the proposal to be public, or private, and prepare some words in advance so that you don't get nervous and ramble! 

If your boyfriend isn't expecting a proposal, then three things will set this out as an actual proposal rather than just a declaration of love - getting down on one knee, having a ring or present, and saying the words, "Will you marry me?" - It's a classic for a reason!

Data notes

You can view the full press release and survey data from our November 2023 study here.

• Full results from a Censuswide survey on behalf of Guides For Brides
• Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles.
• 2,000 respondents surveyed 10/11/23 - 15/11/23 (nationally representative, aged 18+). Respondents evenly split; 1,000 men and 1,000 women.