Most people assume they will get engaged at some point in life. It seems to be a part of life and we don’t question it until the time actually comes where you choose someone to marry. We rarely think about why we get engaged. So, I asked the question, how did this all start? I was really curious and did some research about marriage proposals and found a very interesting history behind engagements. Asking for someone’s hand in marriage formally can be found all the way back to the middle ages. In the 13th century, engagements sometimes became problematic because of male suitors who didn’t take it as seriously. In the 17th century becoming engaged was an official act that could face legal issues if it was seen as taking advantage of the woman in jest. In the 17th century, engagement became more about choosing a suitor you liked rather than purely based on arbitrary reasons like if she could take care of a house and be a good helper. Women did not have many rights and their feelings weren’t often thought of when it came to becoming engaged or married. Luckily a lot of this changed during the Victorian era where women started to receive more rights and engagements became more about who you love and if you would stay happy with them. This was when permission to propose by asking the father was introduced because women were gaining more respect.
As time went on it became formal to ask one to marry you by getting on one knee. It’s not exactly clear how proposing evolved to this specific action which is synonymous to becoming engaged. Historians have only linked kneeling on one knee to suggest servitude and admiration of their chosen one, to right before the 19th century. There is not much documentation before this besides it being a typical courtship in medieval times. Becoming engaged seems to have been commercialized during the 19th century and ever since. It is now one of the most commercialized moments in most of our lives. The market for engagement rings is extraordinary and more competitive than ever. Luckily creating an amazing proposal is easier than ever. With access to the internet and people creating tools to make this moment simple and sound. We are a well-equipped team that can create a perfect New York city proposal. Enchanting Engagements is one of those tools that will make this seamless for you! Luckily in modern times, you get to propose to someone you love and see a future beyond a good caretaker. Let’s make this proposal epic.