Wedding Rings – A Leap of Faith

Typically speaking, it is the man who has to worry about the purchase of wedding rings and making the proposal. According to legend, however, women get the chance to do the asking once every 4 years during the leap year. On February the 29th, men’s hearts skip a beat every time their mobile phone rings or their significant other ‘has something to ask them’ and wedding rings, ceremonies and venues bring them out in cold sweats.
 

Wedding Rings – An Age Old Tradition

According to experts, the belief that women can offer wedding rings on the 29th of February dates back as far as the 5th century. The last leap year was this very year (2008) and according to research carried out by ASDA, around 3% of those polled planned to uphold the tradition and offer wedding rings to their partners. The numbers who actually went through with it wasn’t ascertained but there were potentially thousands of aghast men on the 29th of February this year. Dawn Richie, a jewellery buyer with Argos, states, “It is definitely now more usual for women to take the opportunity of a leap year to ask their man to marry them. Traditionally, the man presents the woman with an engagement ring, but when the proposal is reversed there are a variety of options. Women can give men plain band wedding rings, a commitment ring or even an engagement ring for themselves.”
 

Wedding Rings – Excuses, Excuses

According to the survey conducted by ASDA, two out of five single women (39%) planned to ask their boyfriends to marry them on the 29th of February. However, 26% of these women said that they would do it over the phone or via text message because it would be too embarrassing to do in person. Men, however, ever being the romantic types, already had a number of ploys up their sleeves to avoid being the unwitting recipients of wedding rings. Some of the most common included:

Wedding Rings Dodge #1 – Switching off mobile for duration of the 29th.
Wedding Rings Dodge #2 – Sleeping at a friends house to avoid potential encounter
Wedding Rings Dodge #3 – 24 hour case of amnesia.
 

Speak To The Jewellery Company About Wedding Rings

The Jewellery Company has a wide range of wedding rings to suit all tastes and budgets. From plain gold bands to contemporary diamond rings, you can find your perfect wedding rings and order online. Set in tasteful ring boxes and with free UK delivery, The Jewellery Company is the perfect place to find wedding rings for your big day. For more information, browse our website, or call us on 0800 023 2283.