In an ideal and traditional world, your partner would propose to you by getting down on one knee and popping the question with an engagement ring that blows you away – one that you’d have chosen for yourself any day, and shows off just how well he knows you inside out. But, whilst many guys are far better at picking out a stunning engagement ring than we give them credit for, there’s a growing trend of women who are picking out an engagement ring for themselves, or at least shopping with their partner for one together.
If you are considering picking your own engagement ring or at least playing a part in making the decision, then you’re not alone. And, it makes a lot of sense – after all, if you’re going to be wearing a piece of jewelry around your finger for the rest of your life, then it’s better to have one that you know you’ll like, rather than hoping that your partner will get it right. Although it may not have the same element of surprise as a proposal planned exclusively by your partner, there’s no reason to believe that having a say in your ring isn’t romantic. Here are just some of the main reasons why more and more women are choosing their own engagement rings:
Reason #1. Get What You Like:
Most of the time, guys don’t let us down when it comes to choosing an engagement ring. And, at the end of the day, if you’re in love with somebody then you probably won’t really care whether they get you a ring that’s not your usual type – you’ll love it anyway, simply because of what it symbolizes. However, since it’s such a significant – and expensive – piece of jewelry, picking out the ring yourself or going along with your partner to point him in the right direction when shopping for one, will make sure that you get the engagement ring that you’ve always dreamed of, whether you’re hoping for a traditional diamond ring, a stand-out alternative stone, or have been longingly looking at beautiful oval shaped engagement rings.
Reason #2. Save Money:
It may not be the most romantic of reasons to go for when it comes to choosing your own engagement ring, but looking together can certainly help you to save money, which can then be put towards having an even better wedding ceremony and celebration, or go towards a luxury honeymoon for the two of you to enjoy after tying the knot. Even if you can always trust your partner to find a great bargain, sharing the decision gives you the chance to find further engagement ring deals or check out jewelers that your partner may have not considered on his own.
In addition, with more and more couples today who champion equality for all especially in relationship settings, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of women are putting some money towards their engagement ring themselves. After all, the idea of the man footing the bill is a fairly old one which applied in the days when men worked and women stayed at home, meaning that they were unable to contribute to the cost. In many modern relationships today, this is certainly not the case.
Reason #3. Strengthen Your Bond:
When it comes to getting stronger and closer as a couple, there are little more exciting and romantic activities that you can do than shopping for an engagement ring together! Taking part in this incredibly romantic shopping trip can become the beginning of your wedding planning, and it’s a great way to bond as a couple and draw each other even closer as you take this huge next step in your relationship together.
A trip to your favorite jewelers can quickly become a wonderful date idea; you could even finish up by doing something special together, such as going to eat at the restaurant where you had your first date, or going to see your favorite movie, as a celebration of your relationship and how far the two of you have come.
Reason #4. Less Stress:
The last thing that you want is for your partner to be under any stress! When you love somebody, the idea of them worrying and being anxious about something can quickly cause you to become frustrated and upset. However, this is often what happens when many guys take an engagement ring shopping trip, especially if they’ve never purchased jewelry before and have no idea where to start.
Today, the pressure is on for guys to get a perfect ring with the biggest rock; even if you’ve told him you’ll be happy with any type of engagement ring, the societal pressure can quickly get to him. By involving yourself in the decision, you can be sure that it’ll be a much less stressful experience for your partner, who’ll be able to easily come to you and ask your opinions on rings that he’s considering choosing for you, rather than having to worry about keeping the secret whilst at the same time stressing about getting the ring right. Instead, picking out a ring together can be fun and special for the two of you.
Reason #5. Make Your First Big Decision:
At this point, you may have already made some big decisions together as a couple – by the time that they’re ready to tie the knot, many couples today have already reached big milestones in their relationships such as moving in together, making big joint purchases, and even starting a family. However, even if you’re quite advanced in terms of where your relationship is at, purchasing an engagement ring together can be one of the first big decisions that you make together as a couple who’s about to be married, which makes it an even more special and momentous occasion.
Reason #6. Still Have Your Surprise Proposal:
Even though there are many couples today picking out an engagement ring together rather than relying on the guy to do all the hard work himself, it still hasn’t put a stop to surprise proposals! There’s no reason why you can’t still have your surprise proposal, even if you know exactly what ring you’re going to be getting.
For example, you could tell your partner that you’d rather he propose first, then you can go ring shopping together to celebrate. Instead of giving you a ring when he asks you to be his wife, he could give you another special gift, such as a bunch of roses, another smaller jewelry item, a delicious cupcake, or plane tickets to somewhere exotic – it’s entirely up to him! Or, if you’re already both decided on the fact that you’re going to get married someday, then why not pick the ring beforehand, and let him know that you’re ready whenever he is? If you have no idea when he’s about to propose, then you’ll still get your surprise.
Reason #7. Discover Different Ring Styles:
Have you always wanted to have a really unusual engagement ring, but have no idea how to communicate this information to your partner? Then, picking the ring together could be the perfect idea for you. When you’re picking the ring together, it allows you to talk openly and honestly about the type of rings that you are interested in, rather than having to drop hints and hope for the best.
There’s no reason why couples who are planning to get married shouldn’t be able to talk openly about their engagement rings, after all, it’s a very expensive purchase so it’s important to talk it through! Let’s face it, if you were buying a car, or picking a vacation to the same value as your ring, then you’d probably want to both have a say. As you discuss, you can discover a range of alternative ring styles, from vintage family heirlooms to glittering sapphire and emerald rings, or colored diamonds.
Reason #8. Get a Custom-Made Ring:
There are plenty of great reasons to get a custom-made ring – firstly, it’s completely unique to you and designed with you alone in mind, and secondly, you can be sure that you’ll never bump into anybody else who just happens to have the same ring as you – this is yours, and yours alone! However, having a custom engagement ring made can be a little tricky when the wearer isn’t around. When you pick out your engagement ring as a couple, it’s much easier to have one custom-made to your exact preferences and requirements.
Reason #9. Get the Size Right!
Last but certainly not least, getting the size right is always an important factor of picking the perfect engagement ring. But, your ring size isn’t probably something that you’ve ever had to discuss with your partner before; because of this many guys realize that they have absolutely no idea what size to choose when shopping on their own. Plus, even if he uses one of your rings for size, there’s always the risk that he’ll pick one that doesn’t fit, or one you wear on a different finger.
Did you have a personal reason for helping to pick your own engagement ring? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.