Have you been hearing more "popping?" You should be, because industry experts say more Americans will be popping the question in 2024.

What You Need To Know

  • A 5%-10% increase in proposals has been forecast for 2024 by jeweler Signet

  • This figure is down compared to the conglomerate's predictions for last year

  • A local bridal designer says 'Generation Z' is her biggest market at the moment

There were big forecasts in 2023 for a rise in wedding proposals for 2024. Signet Jewelers estimated a 10% increase in engagements over 2023. Signet owns the chain stores Kay, Zales and Jared. Its prediction was that around 2.5 million American couples would get engaged.

That prediction was tempered slightly Wednesday after the jewelry conglomerate's fourth quarter and its 2024 fiscal statement results. Signet leaders claimed to Bloomberg that the economy is slowing the growth of an anticipated 10% jump to closer to 5-10% for 2024.

One bridal designer and retail store owner believes many more people will be popping the question in 2024.

“COVID created an engagement gap. So we didn't see as many weddings in 2023," said Spybaby Bridal president Marie Adornato. "We saw people who had been engaged and scheduled to get married in 2020, '21 and '22, now finally able to get married in 2023. So now in 2024, we are seeing this engagement gap closing and we're seeing that love is winning and people are getting engaged again.

"We are seeing so many brides choosing to get married in New York State, because this is where they came from. This is where they were born and raised and went to school and they have a sense of community here in New York and they really want to do business with their local vendors."

Adornato adds that 'Generation Z' is her major market right now, saying people of that generation prefer a more elevated, customized experience in the market.