If you’re planning on proposing, you probably have the whole scene already etched out in your mind. You know where you’re going to do it, you’ve planned what you’re going to say, and you’re already thinking about the life that you’re going to spend together. This is a magical time and it’s one that you should certainly enjoy.
Of course, you probably don’t want to propose without a ring. When it comes to buying a ring, here are a few things that you’ll want to avoid.
Don’t Buy a Ring Without Research
Buying an engagement ring isn’t as confusing or scary as a lot of people make it out to be, but it isn’t a purchase that you’ll want to make without doing some research first. After all, not only are most engagement rings pretty expensive, but they’re also a piece of jewelry that your special someone will be wearing every day for the rest of their life.
Buying an engagement ring is a new experience for most people, so you don’t want to go into it without doing some research. The good news is that there are a lot of references available that help make the research process easier. We’ve created quite a few guides in our diamond education center that will help you when you’re researching engagement rings, including:
- The 4 Cs of Diamond Quality
- Diamond Grading and Certification
- Diamond Shapes
- Buying the Perfect Diamond
- Buying the Perfect Engagement Ring
- How to Pick the Right Engagement Ring for Her
- Common Questions about Buying an Engagement Ring
Don’t Shop Without a Budget
It’s tempting to rush out and start looking at rings as soon as you plan to propose, but that’s a good way to get confused, overwhelmed, and possibly even overspend. That’s why it’s important that you set a budget before you go shopping.
You may have heard that you should spend one month’s salary (or two months’ salary, or three months’ salary, etc.) on a ring and these guidelines can certainly be helpful. However, they don’t tell the whole story. It’s important to consider your overall financial situation when you’re setting a budget. For example, if you have debt to pay down or other financial priorities (such as buying a house, for example) you will want to take these factors into account.
It’s also important to remember that there are great engagement rings available at a variety of different price points.
Don’t Forget About Her
It sounds simple, but it’s sometimes easy to forget that the engagement ring you’re buying is one that she’s going to have on her finger for the rest of her life. It’s common to get so wrapped up in numbers and specifications that people can lose sight of this fact in the quest for the “perfect” engagement ring. Remember, the perfect ring for her is the one that she’ll love.
So, take her style and her preferences into account when you’re shopping. Think about what she wears, how she dresses, and the style of jewelry that she prefers. Think about whether she’s ever commented on someone else’s engagement ring before. This will help you buy a ring that she’ll love for eternity.
Don’t Propose Without Knowing She’ll Say Yes
It’s natural that you’ll want to make your proposal a surprise. After all, the majority of marriage proposals are unexpected. That said, you want to be pretty certain that she’s going to say yes before you pop the question. You don’t want to get down on one knee and give her a ring without having a very good idea that she’ll be thrilled.
So how can you be sure that she’ll say yes? Think about conversations that the two of you have had. Have you talked about marriage before? Does she want to get married at all? When she talks about her future, are you a part of it? Does she say things like “When we’re old and grey we’ll…” or “maybe we’ll do that one day, years and years from now?”
These are all signs that she wants to spend the rest of her life with you. Once you’re confident that she wants to be by your side forever, it’s time to start ring shopping!
