NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Knot, the #1 wedding resource, today released the results of The Knot 2015 Jewelry & Engagement Study. The third biannual comprehensive report, the largest of its kind, surveyed more than 12,000 US brides and 1,200 US grooms engaged or recently married from 2014 to early 2015, to uncover the financial spending habits and trends of proposals in America. This study includes national statistics on the average cost of an engagement ring and wedding band, proposal planning and trends, ring styles and other key statistics related to proposals and wedding jewelry in America.

"With engagement ring spend on the rise, we're seeing men put more thought, time and energy into buying the perfect ring and creating a more memorable proposal," said Kellie Gould, Editor in Chief of The Knot. "Believe it or not, brides are taking an active role in their engagement, too. In fact, more brides than ever are researching what they want in a ring and dropping hints to their husband-to-be. Our study even reveals that a majority of brides know the cost of their engagement ring."

As a leader in proposal planning, The Knot is the go-to source for soon-to-be engaged couples and acknowledges "Proposal Season," (November through February), when 38% of couples get engaged. The Knot has launched The Ultimate Guide to Getting Engaged at TheKnot.com/proposal featuring expert-driven advice, content and inspirational imagery for everything one needs to know about getting engaged, from a ring buying guide to proposal etiquette and much more. Additionally, The Knot is celebrating Proposal Season with a sweepstakes in which recently engaged couples can share their proposal story and be entered for a chance to win a grand prize including NFL Super Bowl or Pro Bowl tickets, a wedding gown from Allure Bridals, a three-day and two-night weddingmoon "test-drive" at a Sandals or Beaches Resort, $5,000 toward custom wedding bands from Simon G. Jewelry, and a $1,000 American Express gift card from Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company. There will be five runner-up prize packages awarded.

Top 10 Trends from The Knot 2015 Proposal and Wedding Jewelry Trends Study

1. Men Are Spending More on the Ring—and She Knows Just How Much!
Spending on the engagement ring is at an all-time high with men spending an average of $5,978, up from $5,403 in 2013 and $5,095 in 2011. They're also revealing the cost to their significant other—68% of women know how much he spent on the ring, with 34% having a general idea and 34% knowing exactly how much he paid.

2. She Knows What She Wants, and Makes It Known
Sixty seven percent of brides began researching rings before getting engaged, using their mobile devices to browse ring styles (43%), share ring ideas with their fiance (35%) and research ring designers or retailers (29%). Eighty percent of men said their partner dropped hints, and 71% of women admitted it. Of the hints they dropped, 51% of women pointed out styles while shopping, 36% told him outright what they wanted and 11% left ads or pictures laying around.

3. The Perfect Ring Takes Time to Find
Guys aren't just popping into a jewelry store and buying the first ring that catches their eye. Men say it took an average of 4.8 months to research and 3.6 months to find the perfect engagement ring. They also visited five retailers and looked at an average of 25 rings before purchasing "the one."

4. Public Proposals   
Proposals are increasingly becoming public affairs with 45% of grooms proposing in a public place, up from 34% in 2011. Where are they popping the question? Twenty eight percent proposed in a scenic spot, 21% at home and 18% on vacation. For 40% of brides, it was a complete surprise, while more than half (58%) knew it was coming but weren't exactly sure when.

5. Tradition Is Alive and Well
The majority of grooms are taking tradition to heart when they propose. More than three-quarters of men (77%) asked for the father's or parents' permission before popping the question (up from 71% in 2011) and 85% proposed on bended knee. In fact, 89% even said the words, "will you marry me?" and 88% proposed with the engagement ring in hand. 

6. Capturing the Moment, Then Using Social Media to Spread the News
Executing the perfect proposal and capturing the moment are high on men's priority list. Forty-one percent had a photographer or videographer capture the proposal as it happened. This could be why 48% admitted they meticulously planned the proposal down to the last detail. Once engaged, 79% of couples shared the good news on social media within three days. 

7. Precious Stones Are on the Rise, and the Halo Setting Triples While Round Still Rings True
Although diamonds are still the number one engagement ring stone choice (63% received a clear diamond center stone with side stones and/or accents, and 21% received a clear diamond solitaire), 8% received a non-diamond precious stone engagement ring, up from 6% in 2013. The trendiest engagement ring setting? The halo, which tripled from 7% in 2011 to 22% in 2015. The most popular diamond cut is round (49% received this shape), followed by princess (22%), then cushion (6%). Nearly 3 in 4 women (74%) received a ring weighing in at .5 to 2 carats, and 45% received a ring sized at 1 carat or more.

8. Quality Over Quantity  
Eighty-five percent of men would rather buy a smaller, better quality diamond than a larger stone of lesser quality, and 57% of brides admit that they'd rather have a smaller, better quality diamond than a larger stone of lesser quality. Additionally, brides want to stand out, with 33% saying they'd prefer a different shape stone than the traditional (and most popular) round shape.

9. Customization Is Crucial
Whether they completely designed the ring with a jeweler or made custom changes to an existing design, 45% of men are choosing to add personal elements to the engagement ring. Eighty-six percent of brides received a new ring, 11% an heirloom and 3% a vintage piece.

10. Wedding Band Spend Is Up... He Wants Comfort and She Wants Diamonds
Having a comfortable fit is the top priority (28%) for grooms when choosing a wedding band, while showing off a band with diamonds is essential (46%) for brides. She prefers a white gold (68%) wedding band above all, while he likes a variety of metals including tungsten (30%), white gold (27%), yellow gold (12%) and titanium (12%). Couples spend an average of $1,417 on her wedding band (up from $1,126 in 2011) and $558 on his band (up from $491 in 2011).

About The Knot
The Knot is the nation's leading wedding resource with a marketplace that seamlessly engages, matches and connects couples with the right local vendors, products and services they need to plan and pull off their wedding. The trusted brand reaches nearly every bride in the US through the #1 wedding website TheKnot.com, its mobile apps, The Knot national and local wedding magazines and The Knot book series. The Knot has inspired approximately 25 million couples to plan a wedding that is uniquely them. The Knot is the flagship brand of XO Group Inc. (NYSE: XOXO), the premier consumer internet and media company dedicated to helping people  navigate and enjoy life's biggest moments - from getting married, to moving in together and having a baby. Please visit The Knot online at TheKnot.com and follow on social media: Facebook.com/TheKnot and @TheKnot on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statements 
This release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or our future financial performance. These statements are only predictions and reflect our current beliefs and expectations. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the projections or forward-looking statements. It is routine for internal projections and expectations to change, and therefore it should be clearly understood that the internal projections and beliefs upon which we base our expectations may change. Although these expectations may change, we will not necessarily inform you if they do or update this release. Please refer to documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of the risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

CONTACTS:

Melissa Bach
Public Relations Director
XO Group Inc.
(212) 515-3594
mbach@xogrp.com

Jennifer Perciballi
VP, Corporate Communications
XO Group Inc.
(212) 515-1595
jperciballi@xogrp.com

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