Contributed Post: Does An Engagement Ring Have To Be Expensive?
Getting engaged is a big thing for anyone. Marriage is a special institution, and the move towards it is a big time. So although the relationship may have been moving in that direction for a while, the decision still feels momentous. When it comes to popping that question - and saying yes - it feels right to get things right. After all, this is hopefully the only time you'll get engaged!
There are certain cliches and traditions that you are expected to live up to when getting engaged. Included in these are things like one of the partners asking the parents of the other for their blessing, and a romantic setting for the big moment. Getting down on one knee and a short speech are also part of the checklist if you want to do it to the letter. Along with this, there are certain things that are expected ring-wise.
The received wisdom is that the engagement ring should be flashy - a lot flashier than the eventual wedding ring. This should involve a big diamond, say some, and it should be sparkling and flawlessly cut. According to the etiquette of weddings and engagements, the groom must spend between a month and three months' wages on it. There is a lot of pressure on this one. But is this how it has to be?
Wedding etiquette is something that has been forged over the years by tradition. While a bit of tradition is obviously to be cherished, it is not necessarily something that should be prized above all other things. In a tight economy, not everybody has a month's wages or more available to spend or even to borrow. It's not reasonable to say people should wait until they can afford this to get engaged.
On the other hand, if you have the money to spare, then spending money on preparation for a wedding is not a bad thing. This is something that is going to happen once, and is going to be special. If you're not going to splash the cash now, when would you? If you pay for quality, with a Verragio ring and a classy venue, then the memories will be worth the outlay many times over.
The most important thing about a marriage proposal and about preparing for the wedding and the married life which follows? That's simple, it's about making sure you're both on the same page when it comes to making a life together. What you do prior to the wedding can be a handy microcosm for how suited you are. Picking the right ring, choosing the best venue and other aspects are about how well you understand one another.
The bottom line, then, is that what really matters in a wedding is you and your spouse. It's not important to spend thousands on a ring. It's also not important to see exactly how cheap you can make your wedding. You're making yourselves a team, pulling towards the same goal and with the same dreams for the future. Making that future the best it can be is down to the decisions you make.