So you found the right girl, now it is time to find the right ring. You want a ring that will make her say "yes" without hesitation, the kind of ring she can show off to her friends and family proudly. This will make you the hero in the romantic hearts of all these women, especially your future bride. The wrong ring might not be as appreciated, turning a wonderful moment into an awkward one. Can you imagine popping the question, presenting the ring, and having her refuse to put the ring on? You may think it is cool to have found a replica of the ring Morticia Addams wore on the TV show, but your girl might not have your sense of humor.
The first thing you want to do before buying an engagement ring is to plan what you are going to spend. The rule of thumb is to spend two months salary on the ring, but sometimes your love is bigger than that and you want to be a bit more extravagant. When you decide your price you have to remember all the other costs that will be associated with getting married and what you will have to pay in the future. Not every bride has a family willing to pay for the whole wedding. Then you have to decide what type of ring to get.
One thing you should investigate is the possibility that your bride may have allergies to some types of metal. You wouldn't want your ring to turn her finger green. There are many stores that offer a traditional ring, but not everyone is traditional.
There are many alternatives to the old fashioned diamond engagement ring. You could get one with her favorite stones or birthstone. If she is passionate about something it can be incorporated into the ring. For example, if she loves a particular animal you can get a ring with the animal engraved on it. If she is into the old fashioned look there are ways to have your ring antiqued with a finish that makes it appear older.
After all this it is time to actually hit the stores. When going to a store to shop, never pick the first one you see thinking it will be good enough. You put a lot of thought into the decision to get married so the same seriousness should be carried over to all the aspects of the engagement and wedding.
It is a good idea to pick a couple different rings and ask the jeweler to hold them for you and think about for a couple days. A large purchase like this shouldn't be done quickly; you wouldn't buy the first car on the lot. After the ring is chosen all that is left to do is to find the best way to propose. But that is information for another article.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as diamond earrings at http://www.diamondringsplus.com
