Life goes on for lockdown lovers who propose not to wait to wed

WITH the nation still largely under lockdown and deprived of social contact, summer 2020 would not appear to be the ideal time to stage an elaborate marriage proposal.

But while the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of weddings and romantic breaks, ring sellers insist engagements are still going strong as couples look ahead to life after lockdown.

Jewellers say that despite being forced to shut their doors they have been inundated with inquiries, while some are going further by purchasing online orders. Alexis Valentine, 45, of Alexis Dove Jewellery in Lewes, East Sussex, said that customers were still “massively getting in touch”.

“There are some people just waiting for shops to reopen and then they will then plan trips to come and see us,” she said. Rachel Boston, 30, who owns a bespoke jewellers in east London, said she had not noticed a slump in engagements from her clients.

“I’ve had a couple of really cute pictures from guys of their lockdown proposals. I had one guy who put candles in the living room and another couple who went on a jog and the guy then proposed, which I thought was really sweet. Another client ended up proposing during lockdown with his mother’s ring. People just don’t want to wait, they want to keep life going and have something to look forward to even if they have to wait a little bit longer for the ring.”

However, wedding planners said there would be a shortage of registrars next year due to hundreds of couples booked to get married this year having to delay their nuptials.

Bernadette Chapman, of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners, said even if social distancing restrictions were eased, pressure will remain to find enough professionals to conduct the ceremonies. She said: “We feel there could be a shortage of registrars for 2021 as you have both 2020 couples and 2021 couples wishing to marry – and let’s face it, there are only so many summer 2pm slots on a Saturday.”

James French, 33, originally planned to propose to his girlfriend Becky Firth, 30, during a holiday to Japan before the lockdown forced him to improvise. Buying a ring online, Mr French told the BBC how he set up a treasure hunt in the village where Ms Firth grew up peppered with riddles and poems. She accepted his proposal.

Roland Walet, 26, added he pressed ahead with a marriage proposal despite living with his girlfriend Marilyn Coles, 24, for just over six months. The couple plan to marry next year in Amsterdam.

Tobias Kormind, head of jeweller 77 Diamonds, told the BBC: “If someone feels the time is right to propose, then it’s right. Love doesn’t wait.”