In decent proposal

Will you or won't you? It's a leap year this year, which means it’s time for a little girl power in the marriage proposal stakes.

February 29 is the day when women say bells to tradition and take matters into their own hands when it comes to popping the question. And we’re not shy about it - a survey by cahoot has revealed a third of the UK’s women are considering asking their man to marry.

In London it appears we all like to do a little splashing out for the occasion: while the average cost of a proposal in the UK is £500, we like to go the extra mile and spend around a rather loving £850. And while only around 13 per cent of the nation like to choose a beautiful setting to pop the question, a romantic 30 per cent of Londoners make sure they do it somewhere special.

But just how should a girl propose? Bending down on one knee isn’t really that appropriate for the ladies and it’s dubious the man in your life would really appreciate a big sparkler, so check out our tips on how to make it a success.

Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve and birthdays are the most obvious dates for people to propose to their loved ones with one in 10 Brits proposing on these days. But what about a date that’s more special to you, like the first time you puckered up together or went on holiday? Ahhhh.

The average cost of a proposal is £500, which ain’t cheap. So make sure you invest in your proposal to get the result you want - and do a little saving before the big day that gets ready for that er... big day!

Here the girls win in the romance stakes. Fifteen per cent of women are more likely to choose a romantic city break such as Paris to propose, compared to just six per cent of men (booo). But if you need to tighten the purse strings you can still make it a moment to remember without breaking the bank, such as your favourite restaurant.

Matching tattoos might not be right up your street, but it doesn’t have to be a big sparkler. Choose to mark the occasion with an alternative that can be as quirky and as individual such as bespoke jewellery.