09 Nov Before Popping the Question…
Engagement season is almost here! Didn’t know there was such a thing? Well, starting in mid-November through mid-February, this is the time of the year when most marriage-hopefuls will be popping the question to their beloved. So, in honor for all the ring shopping that will be taking place, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what your partner will have to go through as he/she shops for THE perfect ring for you. You may never hear about this side of the story from your spouse-to-be, but this is how ring shopping really goes down.
1. Sizing up your ring size. There’s no way to casually drop “Oh, hey, so what’s your ring size?” into a conversation. It’s kind of a dead giveaway that the engagement process has begun. Instead, your partner may begin calling upon your friends to act as his/her accomplice (hopefully you have a few pals who can keep a secret) or he/she may start snooping around your jewelry box. If you see a ring is missing, play it cool. Maybe youdid leave it at the gym, maybe it’s just not where you thought you left it, or MAYBE, just maybe, your partner has it and is sizing it up. You never know, so don’t jump to conclusions.
2. Getting the scoop on your style. Your partner has decided to marry you, so he/she must know you pretty well, right? Well, yes, but picking out the ring that you’ll wear for the rest of your life is no easy task. The REST of your LIFE…yeah, no pressure. You might be a classic girl, but do you want a round, emerald or oval shaped stone? Would you want a halo or a diamond band? Make things easier on your partner by dropping hints whenever you see a ring that you like, whether it’s your friend’s or a celebrity’s sparkler! Also, make sure your BFF knows your likes and dislikes (like he/she doesn’t already…) in case they’re called in as backup.
3. Picking a jeweler. This might just be the hardest part of the whole selection process. Buying a ring is a confusing, nerve-wracking, and serious investment. Your partner will ask friends, friends of friends, your dad, even strangers on the street for recommendations of where to go and who to talk to about all things rings. They may end up meeting with multiple jewelers before finding someone they REALLY trust with this big decision. If you have any friends who are engaged, ask them where they went for their rings while your partner is around so he starts to know who he can rely on for tips and advice as he starts down the engagement ring road.
4. The four what? Once they figure out the basics, then it’s time to talk details. The four C’s are the elusive must-know for buying an engagement ring: cut, color, clarity, and carat. To be able to pick out the ring, your partner will need to figure out how big of a rock he/she can afford and then quickly learn everything gemologists know about stones. Again, get your friends talking about how they worked through all the specifics. They’ll likely let you in on some general guidelines: avoid any color grade below H (will look too yellow) or any cut grade below Very Good (will not sparkle NEARLY enough).
5. Keeping the search under wraps. Chances are your fiance-to-be won’t be shopping for your ring alone. As we’ve already touched on, your nearest and dearest will probably be recruited to help. Your partner will definitely have night sweats thinking about someone accidentally spilling the beans on this secret mission (here’s looking at you BFF). He/She will constantly worry that you’ve overheard a phone call or noticed something on their email. Don’t make things more anxiety-filled for your other half by questioning your friends, sister, dad, or mailman if they’ve heard anything. Let the ring, the proposal, the process be a surprise!
6. Getting the ring. After the details are all worked out, getting the ring home is a whole other beast your partner will have to tackle. More often than not, your partner will have to ship the ring somewhere. Do they ship it to themselves? Do they send it to their parents’ house? If they send it to their parents, will he/she be able to pick it up before the planned proposal? All of these questions will be running through your future fiance’s mind until the moment the ring is in his/her possession. But then they have the ring…
7. Hiding the ring. Whether you already live together or just spend a lot of time at each other’s places, keeping a ring box hidden is no easy feat. If you’re expecting a proposal soon, your senses may be heightened. If you’re not expecting anything, you still never know what you might stumble upon while looking for a pen. Hopefully your soon-to-be fiance has a good place to stash the ring for safekeeping, but know that he/she is going to be experiencing some serious panic attacks as he/she realizes the need to hide an expensive gift in his/her house.
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