Half wannabe brides dismayed by proposal

IN the fairytale version of a proposal, the man gets down on one knee and offers his beloved a sparkling ring.

These days, however, it seems that ideal exists only in the realm of romantic fiction for many women.

According to a poll, a quarter of men popped the question without having bought a ring. And nearly half of women said they were disappointed with the way they were proposed to.

The survey found one in 10 women would never forgive their partner for proposing in front of the television. One in 20 said their other half declared their love in the pub.

Nearly a quarter of women were left embarrassed by “over-the-top” public displays of affection – including “flash mobs” and lavish gifts.

Researchers asked 1000 women how their partners asked for their hand in marriage for the poll conducted by jewellers Beaverbrooks.

Forty per cent were unhappy with the way the proposal was done and 12 per cent were “bitterly disappointed”.