S = Proposal score (maximum 100)

B = bonus
Scored from -50 to 25 depending on how many of the below events occur.

Positive:
Heartfelt speech +8
Romantic setting (eg. lighting, flowers etc.) +7
Good food +5
Good music +5

Negative:
Checking your phone -20
TV on in the background -14
Burned food -10
Kids in the house -6

T = time of proposal during meal

Pre-dinner = 1
During starter but before main = 2
During main but before dessert = 4
During dessert or after the meal = 5

M = start time of meal

5 – if between 19:34 – 20:38
2 – if between 19:01 – 19:34 or 20:38 – 21:11
1 – if between 18:28 – 19:01 or 21:11 – 21:44
0 – if before 18:28 or after 21:44

C = cost of engagement ring

5 – if between 1 to 4 months salary
2 – if between 0 to 1 or 4 and 5.5 months salary
1 – if between 5.5 and 7 months salary
0 – if more than 7 months salary

P = planning time

5 – if between 27 and 109 days
2 – if between 0-27 days or 109-150 days
1 – if between 150 and 200 days
0 – if more than 200 days

Example calculation:

B = 11 – good food, good music, nice setting = +17; kids in the house = -6
T = 4 – proposal before dessert
S = 5 – meal starts at 20:30
C = 5 – one month’s salary spent on engagement ring
P = 2 – three months (120 days) planning before proposal

Substituting all values into the simplified formula: Proposal Score = 69/100

Mathematical explanation

Variables M, C, P:

The scores were assigned as follows:

• 5 if within +/- 0.5 standard deviations of the mean (38% of data lies here – see figure below)
• 2 if within +/- 1 standard deviations of the mean (68% of data lies here – see figure below)
• 0 if greater than +/- 1.5 of the standard deviation (only 13.4 % of data lies here – see figure below)

The mean and standard deviation of each variable are determined by the survey results.

Variable T:

This is scored manually by the time during the meal when the proposal takes place. The ‘perfect’ answer is the one selected by the survey participants, and then the values decrease according to the popularity of the answers in the survey.

Variable B:

This is also scored manually and takes into account the survey results. The positive terms are scored according to their popularity in the survey results, as are the negatives. The answers ‘checking your phone’ and ‘checking the football scores’ have been combined.

Final Formula – Proposal Score

The 5 variables above have been scaled so that the final answer is a score with a maximum of 100. The weighting given to each of the 5 categories has been determined by the popularity of the answers in the survey.

The ‘ring’, ‘setting’ and ‘surprise’ all scored approximately 1/3 and so are weighted equally to each give a score out of 25. The ring is represented by the cost (variable C), the setting by variables T (time of proposal during meal) and M (the time the meal started), and the ‘surprise’ category is represented by the planning (variable P).

Since the ‘setting’ has two components, they each contribute 12.5 points to give a total out of 25.

Finally, B is scored out of a maximum of 25, but since the scores for the negatives received on average twice as many votes as the positives, their points are doubled. This means the score for B can range from +25 to -50.

Press Release

• Asda and Dr Tom Crawford of Oxford University team up to unveil the mathematical formula for the perfect at home proposal – just in time for Valentine’s Day

• The equation comes as new research reveals almost half (46%) of Brits plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day or other romantic milestones at home this year

• Smitten shoppers can even pick up Asda’s £1 engagement ring to pop the question, back on shelves after driving customers wild last year

• Shoppers who have purchased Asda’s Bistro Valentine’s Dine in for 2 offer and can prove they secured a ‘yes’ by using the perfect proposal formula on February 14th can claim a £100 Asda voucher to spend in store

With the cost of a meal at a restaurant on the rise, more couples will be turning to a romantic evening at home to mark Valentine’s Day this year. A popular day for proposals, this means a very important question may be posed in their own front room.

To help those planning to pop the question at home this February 14th, Asda has teamed up with Dr Tom Crawford of Oxford University to reveal the mathematical formula for a perfect at-home proposal.

The formula comes as new research by Asda reveals that one in five (20%) Brits have considered proposing at home over a romantic meal or would be open to it in the future. And with 46% of Brits saying they plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day and other romantic milestones at home this year, this figure seems set to rise.

Dr Tom Crawford’s formula provides a method to calculate a ‘proposal score’ (S) out of 100, based on four key factors: the time of the meal (M), the timing of the proposal (T), the amount of planning (P) and the cost of the engagement ring (C). A fifth bonus variable (B) is scored between -50 and 25 based on a series of eventualities that could take place over the course of a romantic evening at home.

Shoppers hoping to seal the deal can boost their chances of success by giving a heartfelt speech (+8 bonus points), creating a romantic setting with mood lighting and flowers (+7 bonus points), and playing good music (+5 bonus points).

Serving up Asda’s Bistro Valentine’s Day Dine-In meal could increase shoppers’ odds by 5 bonus points, with delicious food listed by Brits as among the top three factors that would influence a ‘yes’. Even better if it’s the Bistro Sirloin Steaks with Garlic & Herb Love Heart Butters and Parmesan Fries on the menu, as steak and chips is revealed as the nation’s favourite romantic meal to indulge in at home. And sparks are sure to fly if dinner is followed by the Bistro Chocolate & Salted Caramel Cheesecake Slices – Brits’ favourite romantic dessert.

Smitten Brits hoping to seduce their partner should avoid checking their phone (-20 bonus points), having the TV on in the background (-14 bonus points), burning the food (-10 bonus points) and having kids in the house (-6 bonus points).

Dr Tom Crawford comments: “To maximise your proposal score and achieve the perfect at-home proposal, you will need to concentrate on four key ingredients: the time of the meal, the timing of the proposal, the amount of planning, and the cost of the engagement ring.

Asda’s research suggests starting the meal at 8:06pm is your best bet, with the proposal itself occurring after the main course, but before the dessert. To make sure everything is perfect on the night, you need 68 days of proposal planning time, and ideally you would spend 2.5 months of your salary on the ring – although it was lovely to see that over a quarter of respondents don’t care about the cost of a ring or would be happy with whatever their partner could afford.

You also want to be sure to get the music right, prepare only the best food, and give a heartfelt speech to really win your partner’s favour. In terms of things to avoid, keep those phones switched off and out of sight, drop the kids off with a babysitter, and don’t burn the food!

If you follow this recipe for success, you’ll be giving yourself the best possible chance of getting that yes.”

Asda is offering a £100 voucher to any love-struck shoppers who can prove they secured a ‘yes’ from their partner by using Dr Tom Crawford’s perfect proposal formula on Valentine’s Day*. To claim the voucher, shoppers will need to submit the receipt of their Valentine’s Day dine-in offer from Asda and redeem it along with a time-stamped image of the moment they sealed the deal.

The retailer is also re-launching its £1 engagement ring that sent shoppers into a frenzy in 2023 – good news for the 27% of romantic Brits who say the price of an engagement ring doesn’t matter and they’d be happy with whatever their partner can afford.

An Asda spokesperson comments: “Valentine’s Day is all about romance. And as we expect more couples to propose at home this year, we want to help maximise their chances of success.

Our new Valentine’s Day Bistro Dine in for 2 offer has everything couples need to have the ultimate romantic meal at home this year, whether they’ll be popping the question or not. For those that are, we hope that Dr Tom’s formula will help guide shoppers on what makes the perfect at-home proposal this February 14th.”

To help cater for those planning a romantic night in, Asda has launched a Dine in for 2 offering across its Bistro range. Shoppers can pick up a starter, main, two sides, dessert and an alcoholic or non- alcoholic drink for just £12, from 8th February until 20th February. The offer will be available in-store and online while stocks last.