Engagements are set to rise in 2024, experts say. Here's what's driving people to tie the knot.

With love and romance taking center stage on Valentine's Day, many couples find themselves pondering the ultimate commitment. Experts forecast a surge in engagements, declaring 2024 the year of the proposal.

Jewelry titan Signet anticipates a record-breaking 2.5 million couples are set to get engaged this year, marking a notable increase from previous years. This uptick in engagements is being attributed to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which temporarily put social interactions on hold.

"So in 2020, the world shut down, right?" said Sarah Schreiber, who helps lead Brides, an online publication. "Singles could not get together. The singles were not mingling. When those pandemic restrictions lifted, everybody came out, the dating seemed blossomed again. Relationships boomed. Consider the fact, the average American couple takes about three years to get engaged. Everybody is getting ready to take that next step."