Posts Tagged ‘proposing’

 

A Real Life Engagement Story – The Proposal

Saturday, July 4th, 2009

My sister dreamed of the perfect proposal. Since she was a young girl, obsessed with fairy tale princess and romantic notions of true love, she fantasized about what her marriage proposal would be like. After four years of dating “Mr. Right,” she found out – and it met every one of her wildest dreams, and then some.

 

After a normal Saturday night dinner, my sister and her boyfriend decided to take a walk down towards the beach. Since they live in a coastal town, this isn’t unusual. They often hang out at the beach after a nice dinner, watching the waves and walking along the sand.

 

I say this isn’t unusual so that you understand my sister had no idea what was coming. They settle down on a couple of rocks and watch as the sun sets over the Pacific. (I know, romantic right?)

 

As they sit there in comfortable silence, my sister’s boyfriend breaks the silence by asking when she is going to give him an engagement ring. This sounds like a complete give-away of what’s to come, but still she had no idea. Laughing, she tells him there’s no way he’s getting a ring until one gets slipped on her finger. On that note, he gets down on bended knee and proposes, ring box in hand and a smile on his face.

 

At this point, I’m sure most women can imagine what transpired. For a woman who has waited years for the perfect proposal, this is one that definitely should go down in the history books. With tears in her eyes, my sister happily accepts the proposal and he slips a gorgeous ring on her finger.

 

I plan to talk about the ring in a later installment of “A Real Life Engagement Story,” including how the ring was picked out and what helped him make his decision.

 

While my sister’s proposal was classically romantic, not all proposals have to follow the same theme. Whether you propose on the beach or in a restaurant; a crowded airport or the patio of a chic cafe or even on your couch, it will be romantic because of the message and intentions behind it.

 

In later articles, you will learn how this real-life couple set out to find the perfect engagement ring, as well as the process of having the ring sized, appraised and insured.

 

Learning about how real couples went about the engagement process offers an in-depth and informative look at what you can expect if you are planning to wed, and I hope you join me as we continue on this journey of discovery.

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Can you Propose without an Engagement Ring?

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

When you think of a marriage proposal, your mind automatically conjures up images of the perfect engagement ring to go along with the proposal. However, there are no strict rules that say you absolutely must buy an engagement ring before you can propose.

 

In fact, many couples are starting to choose to propose without an engagement ring. Their choices for doing so vary; for example, not wanting to choose the wrong ring.

 

The fact remains that a marriage proposal doesn’t have to include an engagement ring, and couples shouldn’t feel pressured to buy one if that is not in their best interests.

 

Proposing without a Ring

 

Whether you are unable to afford an engagement ring or have another reason for proposing without one, your are not alone. In fact, there are many reasons for not proposing with a ring.

  • With the rising cost of living and other day to day expenses, budgeting for an engagement ring may be an insurmountable financial problem at this point.
  • If you are unsure how the bride-to-be will react to the engagement ring you pick out, you may want to hold off until after you propose to allow her to choose her own ring.
  • Maybe you want to customize a ring, and have your bride-to-be’s input throughout the process.
  • Finally, you may not think an engagement ring is that big of a deal, an instead choose to focus on the relationship and proposal itself rather than a piece of jewelry to “seal the deal.”

As you can see, the reasons for proposing without an engagement ring are varied, and there’s no rule that says you must use one. In fact, proposing without a ring allows the couple to focus on the actual commitment they are making, rather than the ring itself.

 

The Benefits of Proposing without a Ring

 

If you plan to purchase an engagement ring but would like the bride-to-be’s input beforehand, proposing without an engagement ring is the perfect way to ensure she loves her ring. After all, she’ll be the one wearing it!

 

Additionally, involving both partners in the decision will allow each of you the chance to get to know the others styles and taste preferences when it comes to jewelry, and make sure the ring that is purchased will be the perfect one for the bride-to-be.

 

While proposing without an engagement ring may be unorthodox, it’s certainly not a “bad” thing to do, especially if you are unable to budget for a ring at the moment or want to make absolutely sure she will love the ring she will be wearing every day.

 

Choosing to propose without an engagement ring is not a bad decision to make, and actually allows the couple to focus more on the implications of the question on that relationship than a material “symbol,” instead.

 

While it may feel weird initially to propose without the ring, it is a very personal decision and allows the couples to choose the ring together afterwards, leading to the perfect foundation for a lifelong relationship that was based on true love, not a sparkly ring!

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