On Sunday, August 17, Bella Thorne dropped an Instagram post showing her getting down on one knee for fiancé Mark Emms. Confirming that she just pulled a dual proposal. The caption read, “3 years ago we met, 1 year later he proposed, now 1 year later so did I.” What was meant to be a sweet anniversary tribute to their engagement instantly blew up the comments section, sparking a debate about gender roles and who really gets to pop the question.
First, let’s get the timeline straight:
Technically, Mark still asked first. But does that matter? Bella’s move proved that proposals don’t need to be bound by tradition. If you love someone and want forever with them, why let outdated “rules” dictate how you do it?
Weddings today look nothing like they used to. Brides keep their surnames. Couples shop for rings together. Walks down the aisle can be led by moms, sisters, or even best friends. So why are proposals still framed as the man’s responsibility?
The reactions to Bella’s post made it clear that old gender scripts still run deep. Some comments scoffed, “He literally already proposed” or “Why did you do it lol I’m confused.” Others applauded her with cries of girl power. Bella herself called the split “hilarious,” showing she knew she was tapping into something bigger than just an anniversary moment.
Here’s the thing: proposals carry power. Whoever asks sets the pace for what happens next. If men are the only ones “allowed” to propose, women are left waiting and that’s not romance, that’s pressure.
We’ve even seen it in pop culture. In Bride Wars, Liv (Kate Hudson) stormed into her boyfriend’s office to propose. Despite going against the grain, she and her fiancé actually made it down the aisle, while Emma (Anne Hathaway) followed the traditional route and didn’t. The takeaway? Proposals should fit the relationship, not society’s script.
Dual proposals change the game. They allow both partners to show commitment, to ask and answer. It isn’t about who goes first or if it happens on the same day. It’s about equality in one of the most symbolic moments of love.
What Bella Thorne and Mark Emms showed us is simple: love doesn’t have to follow a gendered playbook. A proposal isn’t a performance for tradition. It’s a promise between two people. And when both get the chance to ask, it doubles the meaning, the magic, and the memory.
So whether it’s him, her, or both, who bends the knee doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is bending it for the right person.
To stay updated on the latest engagements, visit Wedded Wonderland. For those who already popped the question and are ready to being planning, join our complimentary Wedded Concierge service or explore our Wedded Partners Global Listing. Let’s get Wedded!
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