The Ins and Outs of Promise Rings
What is a promise ring, you may ask? It is a special ring which comes before an engagement ring, and it promises that the giver and recipient are pledged to one another, even though they are not yet formally engaged. Read more about the ins and outs of this old custom, and learn whether a promise ring might be right for you.
An engagement is a very serious commitment, and at times may be too official a step for a young couple to make. Yet, at the same time, if a man and woman are in a very serious relationship which both intend will one day lead to marriage, just being boyfriend and girlfriend may not seem like enough. Enter the promise ring, also sometimes referred to as a pre-engagement ring. The purpose of the promise ring is to be less of a commitment than an official piece of wedding jewelry like the engagement ring, but a serious pledge and a promise that the relationship is headed down the path to engagement at some point in the future.
There are many situations in which a promise ring might be in order. It can be a wonderful way for a very young couple to show that they are serious about their relationship, without becoming officially engaged if they feel that they are too young to get married. Promise rings are popular among people who travel extensively for work, as in the case of military deployments or in the case of a long separation caused by one half of the couple moving away to attend college. The pain of an extended separation might be eased considerably by the love and commitment implied by the promise ring.
The promise ring is generally worn on the ring finger of the left hand until such time as it is replaced by an official engagement ring. Although it is nice if the style of the promise ring is compatible with the rest of the wedding jewelry which follows, one would not typically wear the promise ring and engagement ring together on the same finger. Typically, the promise ring will be moved to the ring finger of the right hand once the woman has her engagement ring. One thing is for certain: the promise ring will be a beloved and sentimental favorite piece of jewelry.
Filed under Wedding Jewelry | Tags: engagement ring, promise ring, Wedding Jewelry | Comment (0)Should You Pick Your Own Engagement Ring?
Should you pick your own engagement ring or is it better to be surprised? This is a look at the pros and cons.
Pro: When the woman helps to pick her own engagement ring, she is absolutely sure to love it. And that is really important, because along with her wedding ring, this is the one piece of jewelry which she will wear every day for the rest of her life. It would be a shame if she secretly disliked the style of the ring for all those years (because of course she would never say so!).
Con: Obviously if the couple has been engagement ring shopping, the woman will have advance knowledge that her boyfriend intends to propose. Or he can go the route of a surprise proposal without a ring, and then the newly engaged couple can go wedding jewelry shopping together. In that case, though, you lose that iconic moment when he drops to one knee and pulls out a tiny box while popping the question.
Pro: It can be less stressful for the man if his fiance is involved with the ring selection. Many man just plain hate shopping, and the idea of shopping for something so expensive without any input from the woman who will be wearing it can be positively nerve-wracking. Will he wonder forever if she truly loves the ring or is just pretending so as not to hurt his feelings?
Con: Sticking to a tight budget might be more challenging with the bride-to-be in tow. Some women can’t help but gravitate to the biggest, most fabulous engagement ring in the store! Saying no to her favorite is a really awkward position for a man to find himself in, and not the least bit romantic. On the other hand, splurging on a ring which is way out of his comfortable price range will not leave the man feeling so great, either.
In the end, each couple is unique, and it is up to them to decide if these practical concerns are worth losing the element of surprise at the moment of engagement.
Filed under Wedding Jewelry | Tags: engagement ring, Wedding Jewelry | Comment (0)Romantic Marriage Proposal Ideas
With Valentine’s Day here, this is a very popular time of the year to become engaged. In fact, did you know that Valentine’s Day is the second most popular day of the year to pop the question, coming in just after Christmas? If you are thinking of making this Valentine’s Day (or any day, for that matter) one which she will never forget, take a look at these romantic marriage proposal ideas.
This time of year, many people are snowbound, which offers some wonderful possibilities for engagements. Hopefully you had a chance to go out and get that special piece of wedding jewelry before the snow hit, so you will be able to present the engagement ring when you pop the question! A really sweet winter proposal idea is to build a snowman in her front yard, complete with top hat, carrot nose, and branches for arms. Off the end of one of the snowman’s arms, hang the engagement ring box with a ribbon, then ask her to come out and see what you have made. You can bet that she will have a soft spot in her heart for snowmen for the rest of her life!
A very traditional marriage proposal idea is to make a romantic dinner for her to share in front of a crackling fire. Include all of the classic foods of love and luxury, like Champagne, lobster, caviar, the works. It may not be original, but that does not diminish how romantic it will be. Finish off the meal with a special dessert, such as chocolate souffle or chocolate dipped strawberries. By that point, your girlfriend is probably going to sense that this is no ordinary evening, so don’t leave her hanging in suspense. The traditional drop to one knee and pull out an engagement ring gesture may seem trite, but when it is happening in real life, believe me, she will be seeing fireworks.
Proposing in a location that is meaningful to the pair of you is always a way to make the moment even more romantic. Perhaps you have shared many wonderful hours wandering through an art museum; why not pop the question in front of her favorite painting one afternoon? Have dinner plans awaiting you at your favorite restaurant for celebrating afterward. If your girlfriend is a sports fanatic, the grand gesture of proposing on the Jumbotron at a game is guaranteed to be a huge hit. By taking into account the places that she really loves, you can make your proposal tailored just to her.
Filed under Wedding Jewelry | Tags: engagement, engagement ring, marriage proposals, Valentines Day proposal, Wedding Jewelry | Comment (0)