Engagements have traditionally followed a familiar formula: one , one . While this ritual holds plenty of nostalgia and charm, it’s hard to deny its very gendered roots and one-sided nature. To that end, it’s no surprise that when queer folks obtained the right to legally marry, they also expanded the custom to create a more equal exchange.
While some will have a double proposal – where they ask each other to get married at one big planned moment – others will have two separate or counter proposals. And, instead of just one engagement ring, there are usually two. The practice makes sense.
After all, what better way to start a lifelong partnership than with equal gestures of commitment and love? The idea has become so popular within the LGBTQ+ community, that some heterosexual couples are now integrating double proposals and double engagement jewellery into their engagements as well. “Counter proposals seem to be a mostly queer thing at the moment, but I hope they expand to all couples as I think each person in the relationship should have the special moment be celebrated, thought about, and proposed to,” says wedding planner , who recently planned his own counter proposal. “A marriage is a commitment of two people, so why not have two proposals, each with their unique details and personality based on your fiancé?” Meyer was first proposed to by his partner Kyle Torrence.
“Kyle planned the most thoughtful and beautiful proposal, which took me by complete su.