Lockdown brought us closer, quicker… now we’re engaged

Did you know that, during the first national lockdown, over 60,000 couples across the UK took the decision to get engaged?

All that despite limited opportunity for overly romantic gestures or the chance to put plans into immediate action.

It’s a little known stat that somewhat flies in the face of doom and gloom predictions of a ‘divorce boom’.

Yes, we have seen a rise in the number of separated people and divorcees signing up to Muddy Matches looking for another shot of love. However, we have also heard from plenty of country couples whose relationships were on fast forward under the heightened 24/7 intensity of being locked down.

It all goes to show there’s two sides to every story;  whilst there’s lots of noise about how lockdown put an unexpected strain on connections, including marriage, the flip side was also true; the lockdown brought many couples closer. Quicker.

One of those for whom lockdown lit up their relationship was 80% muddy, Gloucestershire outdoor lover, Lucy, who recently contacted Muddy Matches with some good news.

Two years single, after divorce, and the end of a long term relationship, Lucy joined Muddy Matches in February 2018, looking to unearth someone ‘kind, loyal and with the ability to make her laugh’.

Her country life dating experience worked and, more importantly, it has lasted the test of time, and all of the stresses and strains of a lockdown. She, like thousands of others set plans in motion to make things more official during the pandemic.

“I met my fiancé on Muddy Matches nearly five years ago”, Lucy told us in June. “So I can’t really give a better recommendation than that. We’ve been engaged for two years now.”

Lucy, alongside her Muddy Match got engaged just after the first lockdown in May 2020.

Her relationship is proof that the lockdown did inspire a greater sense of togetherness in content couples.

She is not alone. A recent survey, independent of Muddy Matches, revealed that  20% of married couples studied said their relationship strengthened in the pandemic against only 9% who said theirs deteriorated.  

We think it’s extremely refreshing that at a time when there was breathing space to think about what you wanted out of life, many chose commitment, comfort, and reassurance.

And some even wanted a ring!