Planning a wedding is tough. There is an awful lot to think about and prepare. It can take years to put the perfect wedding together and cost a small fortune. It’s worth it, however, for that one amazing day when you marry the person of your dreams. But, there is one thing that you need to do before that. Before you even think about the kind of wedding that you want, you need to get engaged. Things are a little different nowadays. The proposal itself is often a foregone conclusion. You may have spoken about getting married, discussed your futures, lived together for some time and even planning parts of your wedding day. In the modern world, people rarely propose without being fairly sure that they are going to receive a positive answer.
CreditBut, that doesn’t mean that the ring itself isn’t still incredibly important. This is your chance to show your future spouse that you know them better than anyone. You know their tastes and style and can pick the perfect ring to sit on their finger for the rest of their lives. Get that ring wrong, and your partner may start to have some doubts, wondering if you really know them at all. That fairly certain yes, may not be quite such a sure thing if you present them with a ring that they hate. Here are some helpful tips for choosing the ring that will signify the start of the rest of your life.
Budget
Before you even start looking, you need to set a budget. While you probably want to buy the biggest most glamorous ring going and have no doubt that your future bride deserves it, you need to be sensible. Starting married life with vast amounts of debt is never a good idea, especially with the current state of the economy, and you’ll already be thinking about setting aside money for the wedding as they can be frighteningly expensive.
You’ve probably heard something along the lines of “the ring should cost a month’s wage”, but this isn’t necessarily true. You don’t need to spend 2 months salary on a ring, so check the linked article and use the engagement ring calculator to find a ring that suits your budget. Of course, when you find a ring that your bride to be will adore, it won’t matter how much it costs. Look at your finances, think about what kind of wedding you might have and how much that might cost and set a budget. Then you just need to be strict with yourself and stick to it.
Create a Pinterest Board
Pinterest is a brilliant place to visually organize your ideas. You can start an engagement ring board and add to it. Add anything that you see online at Breslauer & Warren, in other online shops and in articles. Then use Pinterest as a search engine to get more ideas. Seeing all of the options next to each other on one board like this will make it easier to spot patterns and figure out what you want.
Just make sure you set the board to private so that there’s no chance of being found out if you’re hoping the proposal will be a surprise.
Think About Other Jewelry
When shopping for jewelry, it’s a good idea to look at what she already owns. Pay close attention to the pieces that she often wears, with a wide range of clothes as opposed to those fashion pieces she’s bought to go with certain outfits or to be worn for specific events.
This is even more important if she’s the type of person that doesn’t wear too much jewelry. Those pieces that she does own will be special and a clear guide to what she loves.
Look Around
Take your time. Look online for some ideas by all means, but nothing beats seeing the ring in real life. Spend a day looking around shops and seeing some options close up. Ask the sales assistants to get the rings out and tell you about them. Get as much information as you need, but try to only look at options which fit your budget.
The more you know about the options available, the more informed the final decision will be based on the right factors. Whether you choose a hidden halo engagement ring, channel set stones or a classic solitaire, you will have done the appropriate research to help you make the right choice.
Ask Friends
It can be a good idea to take a female friend or relative with you when you go shopping. Even better if they are a friend of your partner and know her well. They may have had conversations about their ideal rings, or even spent time looking together. Sometimes it’s just good to get another opinion.
Choose Shape
CreditOnce you’ve set your budget and had a good look at what’s out there, it’s time to start making some decisions. The first thing to think about is the shape. There’s princess, round, cushion, square, oval, heart, pear and emerald. This might sound like a lot, but, some of them are quite similar, and the good news is, there’s no wrong answer. Engagement rings are most popular in princess or round styles, but, all shapes are beautiful in their own way.
Once you’ve chosen the shape that you prefer, you’ll need to think about the setting. Do you want smaller stones off the shoulders? A cluster? Small stones surrounding the centrepiece? Or just one singular stone? They all have their advantages. A single stone or a large princess cut with delicate smaller stones on the shoulders can be timeless and elegant, whereas a cluster can be glamorous. Alternatively, a pear or heart-shaped stone could be ideal if your partner has a quirky or unique style.
Think About Metal Options
Metal can be easier to choose. You’ll probably know if she favors white, rose or yellow gold or even platinum from looking at her existing collection.
Consider Stone
CreditThe first thing you’ll have thought is Diamond. Engagement rings are traditionally diamonds. But, they don’t have to be. Emeralds, rubies and sapphires can all make excellent choices. You could surround a large, colored stone with smaller diamonds if you wanted the best of both.
Ask Questions
If you are really struggling to find the perfect piece, do some digging. Ask her about the jewelry she likes. If you see someone else’s ring, ask for her option.
Be Bold
Traditionally, the man buys the ring and plans a surprise proposal. But, if you follow tradition you shouldn’t even live together until after the wedding. It’s ok to do things differently. If you’re not bothered about the surprise, take her ring shopping with you. Or, even go shopping together after the proposal. Do what suits you as a couple.
Whatever ring you find, good luck with this important step.