The U.S. States Where Valentine’s Day Proposals Are Most Likely This Year, According to New Data

New analysis of engagement-ring and proposal searches reveals where Americans are most likely to pop the question this February, and what kind of ring they’re planning to use.

Young man proposing to his girlfriend in kitchen. Valentine's Day celebration

Valentine’s Day has a reputation for being a little extra — extra roses, extra champagne, and, for a lot of couples, extra pressure. It’s also one of the most popular times of year to get engaged, when a regular date night suddenly turns into a “Wait, is this actually happening?” moment.

This year, a new analysis tries to pinpoint where in the country those big questions are most likely to be asked. By looking at how people are searching for engagement rings and proposal ideas online, wedding venue company Walters Wedding Estates created a “Valentine’s Proposal Likelihood Index” that ranks every U.S. state by how strongly residents are signaling they might propose this February.

It doesn’t track actual ring boxes hitting the table, but it does offer a pretty revealing snapshot of who’s planning something, and what types of rings they’re leaning toward when they do.

Closeup image of a cushion cut diamond ring with a diamond halo sitting on an antique knob surrounded by orange and yellow light. — Closeup image of a cushion-cut diamond ring with a diamond halo.

Georgia tops the list — and loves a classic cushion-cut

The strongest signal of all came from Georgia, with an index score more than double the national average. Search patterns there show a clear spike in engagement rings, diamond rings, and proposal planning, all pointing to a big Valentine’s season ahead.

When it comes to style, Georgians aren’t chasing trends as much as leaning into timeless luxury. Cushion-cut diamonds — which have a soft, square shape with rounded corners — were the standout ring style, most often paired with yellow gold. It’s a very “this will still look good in 30 years” kind of combination.

“Valentine’s Day proposals are rarely spontaneous,” says Rachel Johnson of Walters Wedding Estates. “They’re the result of careful planning, thoughtful purchases, and a desire to create something truly memorable.”

Judging by the data, a lot of that planning is happening in Georgia this year.

A brilliant round-cut diamond engagement ring, set in a platinum band with pave diamonds, sparkles on a luxurious black velvet surface. — A brilliant round-cut diamond engagement ring.

New York and Florida aren’t far behind

Right behind Georgia are New York and Florida, both showing strong Valentine’s proposal intent, but with slightly different ring personalities.

In New York, round-cut diamonds lead the way, again with gold as the go-to metal. Round stones are still the most popular engagement ring shape overall, which tracks with a state where people tend to want something classic but high quality.

Florida’s search behavior is more eclectic. Oval and solitaire rings are big, but so are lab-grown diamonds, Art Deco settings, split-shank bands, and traditional prong styles. In other words, Floridians seem more willing to mix modern twists (like lab-grown stones) with vintage-inspired details. All of that is still anchored by, you guessed it, yellow gold.

The South, in general, is very much in a proposing mood

The index also backs up something a lot of people in the wedding industry already suspect: the South loves a Valentine’s proposal.

The Southeast accounts for nearly half of the “high likelihood” states, including Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Add in places like Texas and Tennessee (which lands in the “average but above baseline” group with a strong preference for cushion-cut gold rings), and a clear regional pattern emerges: the South is leaning into old-school romance this February.

Vintage, milgrain, and marquise styles show up regularly across these states, suggesting a taste for rings that feel romantic and distinctive rather than ultra-minimal.

Heart-shaped silver cubic zirconia rings.

Texas is the heart-on-its-sleeve state

Among all 50 states, only Texas has heart-shaped engagement rings as its most-searched style, almost always paired with gold.

Heart-shaped diamonds are polarizing; people either love them for their obvious symbolism or avoid them for the same reason. The data suggests Texans don’t mind going big on sentimentality when they propose. If you spot a heart-shaped gold ring on Instagram around Valentine’s Day, there’s a good chance it came from the Lone Star State.

Rachel Johnson notes that these trends reflect not just fashion, but attitude. Heart-shaped styles signal people who want the romantic gesture to read loud and clear, not just in the moment but every time their partner looks down at their hand.

The states most likely to see Valentine’s proposals

Only 14 states earned a “high” likelihood rating — meaning their index score sits well above the national average, and their proposal-related searches are running hot heading into February.

Here are the states where proposals look especially likely this Valentine’s season, plus the ring style and metal that dominate search interest there:

Georgia – Index: 212 | Likely ring: cushion-cut | Metal: gold
New York – 209 | Likely ring: round | Metal: gold
Florida – 199 | Likely ring: oval, solitaire, lab-grown diamond, Art Deco, split shank, or prong | Metal: gold
Virginia – 198 | Likely ring: round | Metal: gold
Pennsylvania – 192 | Likely ring: vintage | Metal: gold
North Carolina – 190 | Likely ring: cushion or vintage | Metal: silver
Illinois – 188 | Likely ring: emerald-cut | Metal: gold
California – 175 | Likely ring: bezel | Metal: gold
Michigan – 162 | Likely ring: three-stone | Metal: gold
Washington – 158 | Likely ring: princess, pavé, or classic styles | Metal: gold
Massachusetts – 156 | Likely ring: milgrain detail | Metal: gold
Ohio – 153 | Likely ring: cushion-cut | Metal: gold
Texas – 145 | Likely ring: heart-shaped | Metal: gold
South Carolina – 140 | Likely ring: marquise | Metal: gold

If you live in one of these states and your partner has been “casually” asking about ring styles lately… yeah, they might not be subtle.

What about everyone else?

Not every state is in overdrive for Valentine’s proposals — and that’s not a bad thing. Plenty of couples prefer to get engaged on dates that matter to them, like an anniversary or the day they met, rather than on a big shared holiday.

Still, the index shows interesting pockets of activity:

Strong-but-average states: States like Maryland, Arkansas, and New Jersey all score above the national average without reaching “high” territory. They show solid search interest, with styles ranging from double-band and bezel rings to pear-shaped designs — nearly always in gold.
Midwestern slow burns: States such as Wisconsin and Minnesota land in the “low likelihood” group, despite some preference for cushion, vintage, or oval rings. That doesn’t mean no proposals are coming; it just suggests fewer people are using search terms that spike around Valentine’s season.
The lowest-intent states: At the very bottom of the index are places like Hawaii, Maine, and Montana. Many of these show “no preference” for ring metal in the data set, either because search volume is low or people are spreading their interest across a wider variety of styles.

If your state sits in the “low” category, it may just mean residents are less likely to follow the textbook Valentine’s timeline — or they’re shopping offline, asking friends for advice, or quietly using incognito mode.

Whether your state ranks high, low, or somewhere in the middle, one thing isn’t changing: somewhere near you, someone is about to get down on one knee.

If you’re curious how different states handle romance in general, you can also look at a recent study that found some places aren’t even clear on what date Valentine’s Day actually falls on — which might explain a few missed dinner reservations. And if you’re more interested in ring inspo than data charts, there’s a breakdown of Taylor Swift’s jaw-droppingly expensive engagement ring, plus budget-friendly dupes you can actually buy without taking out a second mortgage.

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