Newsflash, guys: The way you propose matters (so banish all thoughts of Cracker Jack rings here and now).

A new survey courtesy of The Knot and Men's Health of more than 3,000 men and women has found that one in four brides-to-be hated the way their fiances popped the question, according to the Daily Mail.

Women were dissatisfied with their wedding proposals for a variety of reasons, with 26 percent complaining that they'd hoped for something more romantic, original or personal.

Going overboard with the engagement was another source of unhappiness for some brides (also disappointed were future wives whose hubbies-to-be proposed on a Jumbotron during a Knicks game). Hearing "Will You Marry Me?" in an arena full of heaving, sweaty men just wasn't private enough for some ladies.

The biggest faux pas is a no-brainer: For a third of women, proposing without a rock was the worst offense.

A majority of men (three-quarters) revealed they were very independent throughout the whole process, planning the engagement without any help. Half of those polled said they'd kept their wedding proposal a secret until the crucial moment. Thirty percent said they hadn't even bothered with a second opinion at the jeweler's. (Note: Not a good plan. Only 18 percent of women approve.)

Luckily, 40 percent of brides-to-be chose the ring themselves or with their partners in tow.

Now, for a key concern: When is it appropriate to brag about a wedding proposal on Facebook? You should probably call your parents first (84 percent of those polled did); however, three-quarters of women and two-thirds of men posted the news on Facebook afterwards. And before you post a pic of the ring, make sure your hubby-to-be isn't one of the 29 percent that finds it "tacky."

Finally, some good news. Less than 50 percent of women felt it was essential for the man to bend down on one knee (so if you were thinking of the lazing-in-bed proposal, by all means, go ahead).

And a whopping 96 percent of women loved their ring. Apparently beautiful bling can be blinding!