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It’s a love story and, baby, she said yes. Mega-stars Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement via a shared Instagram post on August 26, 2025, and when pop culture’s most-watched couple takes a step forward in their relationship, the world pays attention. From the lush, Secret Garden-like setting to the appropriately “Bejeweled” cushion-cut diamond, each minute detail of the proposal images is being exhaustively exhausted. And naturally, the stage (or stadium) is being set for a ripple effect.
Here’s a look at the engagement trends we’re likely to see skyrocket and how this much-talked-about romance is shaping the way couples envision their own proposals and celebrations. Would Martha, the ultimate wedding planner, approve? Let’s explore.
Natural Settings and Gussied-Up Gardens
Swift has long been associated with lush, romantic imagery—her Folklore-era influenced the cottagecore movement, while her Lover album imagery featured romantic roses in dreamy shades of pink. An engagement surrounded by natural beauty made for a natural fit.
Expect garden engagements to take on new life for the rest of 2025 and throughout 2026. The soft florals, greenery, and natural light beautifully frame not only the proposal moment, but the photos and videos that follow. Moreover, you can reap all the benefits of a stunning setup with minimal effort and, oftentimes, just the cost of an arboretum or conservatory ticket.
A helpful insight, though: The romance-novel-like setting of Swift’s proposal is likely just a bit of a fantasy. An event designer we spoke to notes that a number of the flowers featured were likely added to an existing garden by a professional florist, to enhance its natural beauty and fairytale-like appearance. (Clues include that the anemones nestled within the roses don’t naturally climb along trellises.)
The Rise of Antique-Style Rings
Reportedly designed by Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry, Swift’s ring is an elongated cushion-cut, likely around eight carats, and points to a vintage influence and heirloom design—a trend we’ve already been eyeballing.
Pinterest’s 2025 Wedding Trend Report identified an impressive 1458% growth in searches for “vintage wedding rings from the 1920s.” (It sounds like the soon-to-be Mrs. Americana and her newly minted fiancé were perhaps a percentage point or two.)
With Swift’s ring reflecting elements of intricate metalwork and old-world craftsmanship, expect antique-inspired rings to only gain momentum. Who doesn’t love jewelry that totes its own history (and potential “Love Story.”)
Cushion-Cut Gems
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One detail hard to miss in Swift and Kelce’s shared proposal photos is that glistening, megawatt diamond. An elongated cushion cut, the elegant diamond shape blends the brilliance of a round stone with the graceful length and romantic lines of an oval.
It’s a distinctive choice that doesn’t stray too far from tradition—and another already-growing trend. Pinterest’s 2025 Wedding Trend Report also cited a 175% growth in searches for “vintage cushion cuts.” (Couples can seek lab-grown versions of this cut, for a more accessible option that doesn’t skimp on visual impact.)
Staged Engagement Shoots as the New Norm
It goes without saying that private engagements without a camera in sight are just as special as those whose photos get splashed across Page Six—but expect to see more styled proposal shoots from couples.
While candid photos that capture “the” moment and all the messy emotions that come after will always be cherished, couples are increasingly planning a second set of “engagement reveal” photos. These are more styled, polished, and often captured by a professional photographer after the couple has had a chance to catch their breathes. (See: Swift and Kelce’s casual bench pose, post-popped question.)
Much like wedding day content creation, this ensures the big news is documented beautifully and consistently across platforms. Plus, it can save money in the long run, replacing the need for a formal engagement shoot.
Casual Attire as a Style Statement
One of the most relatable details of this celebrity couple’s proposal moment? The outfits. Rather than a frothy ball gown right off the Speak Now section of the Eras Tour, Swift is seen wearing a striped (already sold-out) Ralph Lauren sundress. Kelce kept it similarly business-casual in a navy knit. Per the couple’s caption, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” and their looks fit that aesthetic to a tee.
This move could further normalize the idea that—even with staged shots—engagements don’t need to be stuffy or formal, nor must dresses be pre-planned and all-white. The clothes should match the couple’s story.
Would Martha Approve?
Our founder’s wedding wisdom remains unmatched, and throughout the years (and her various books and manuals, television shows, magazine archives…), Martha’s ultimate advice for all couples encourages self-expression. “It’s getting easier and easier to be yourself,” Martha has previously shared of emerging wedding trends and attire.
And between the heirloom-inspired ring, lived-in linens, and vibrant gardens, Swift and Kelce’s proposal is giving that authenticity-wrapped-romance vibe that feels aligned with such ethos: It’s both personable and just the right amount of aspirational (“Martha aesthetic,” anyone?), and likely an example of what we’ll see from more couples moving forward.
Ultimately, modern engagements (both for the ultra-famous and not) are less about adhering to tradition and more about telling your story, be it through a passed-down ring or a whimsical proposal setting—it’s about curating details that feel natural and true to you, “Paper Rings” and all.
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