iPhone Apps for Couples

Everyone knows the best thing about the iPhone are all the hundreds and hundreds of endless (and sometimes useless) downloadable applications available at your fingertips. But why waste precious time playing Bejeweled when you can be using it to spice up your relationship or get a jump start on wedding planning? Below are a list of some essential iPhone apps for you and your potential fiance:

Wedding Envi
Dreaming about your wedding day but not officially planning yet? Wedding Envi is an app where you can browse hundreds of web based wedding photos for a little early inspiration.

Wedding Envi is based on our acclaimed iEnvision Web-image browser, so everything is full-screen, clear, and multi-touch. Bride and groom. Dresses, tuxedos, rings, shoes, hairstyles. Cakes, flowers, invitations. And of course ceremonies, receptions and honeymoons. Wedding Envi helps you choose, while also bringing added wedding excitement to your phone.

I was just thinking about how my phone lacked wedding excitement!

iRomantic
If you’re missing the spark in your relationship, let iRomantic resuscitate it. This app has 200 romantic tips that display randomly when you shake your phone.

Let’s take an example of how iRomantic works; say you shake and you come across a tip that recommends you learn a “massage technique” on your partner, the tip will give you access to YouTube so you can watch a video on massage techniques within one tap!

The Debbie Gibson reference makes this the clear winner.

iPropose
Ready to pop the question but too lazy to deal with all the kneeling and the talking? iPhone to the rescue!

Need to pop *the* question in a pinch? iPropose has you covered! Use the text field at the top of the App to customize the proposal for that special someone, make sure the mood is just right, take a deep breath and go for it!

And the app is free, too? High fives all around! (I’m KIDDING. Please, please don’t download this.)

How to Buy an Engagement Ring When You’re On a Budget

I’ve always been a bit of a bargain hunter. I’m the type who can pick up a pair of shoes at a thrift store and then brag about how I only paid $8. But my mom, on the other hand, would always scrunch her nose and make an “Ew!” face at me. “Other people wore those clothes!” she would say. But one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right? Although a new ring will be ideal, some couples feeling the economic pinch might be forced to think of other options.

We can start first with used engagement rings. OK, so some of you might think used engagement rings are tainted and cheap. An engagement ring is something unique and special to you, not someone’s leftovers, right? But if the economy is really weighing down on your budget and cinching your pockets, you probably have no other choice. Luckily, there are tons of options for couples looking to save a little dough. Some still might frown at the idea, but below is a list ideas for those buying engagement rings on a tight budget:

Go vintage!
Plenty of jewelry stores sell estate or vintage jewelry. The jewelry can range from old heirlooms to flea market gems, and the prices can sometimes be surprisingly cheap.

Reset an old ring
Perhaps you already have an old ring sitting around, or maybe an old heirloom. Resetting an old ring with a new diamond could save you thousands. For example, if you inherited grandma’s old ring, you can reset it for a more modern look, combine it with colored gemstones, or even place more diamonds on the side. The key is to personalize the ring without spending an arm and a leg.

Buy used rings direct
Many divorced couples often find themselves stuck with engagement and wedding rings they no longer want or need, so they sell them at a reasonable price. Sites like I Do Now I Don’t and Ex-Boyfriend Jewelry allow buyers to buy rings directly from the sellers. You could also perhaps use online auction sites like eBay, but be cautious of what you might be getting into.

Get creative
There are lots of ways one can save on a ring. For one, perhaps you can think about buying a smaller mounting, or instead of diamonds buy other stones that are less expensive. Also, there are great deals to be found online, as well as dozens of resources where you can thoroughly research the ring you want. Chances are the more you know about rings, the more likely you are to make a smart and reasonable decision. “The best way to save money is to get educated,” says Diamond Ideals’ Laurent Landau.

Harrison Ford, Paris Hilton engaged; Mischa Barton, Robert Pattinson remain dateless

Did I say celebrity engagement week, because I meant celebrity engagement month. Maybe it’s just that time of the year (hey, it is spring after all), but lately it seems like every celebrity couple is tying the knot. Harrison Ford finally popped the question to Calista Flockhart after 7 years of dating. Bruce Willis married his model girlfriend Emma Heming over the weekend, while everyone’s favorite party girl Paris Hilton got engaged to her boyfriend of one month, reality TV star Doug Reinhardt.

But who’s not settling down anytime soon? Unemployed actress Mischa Barton. “I’m not a huge fan of marriage,” she said, according to Showbiz Spy.

“It puts too much pressure on the relationship. People try harder until they’re married and then you see a lot of relationships fall apart because it’s the last step. There’s nothing left.”

Another celebrity who’s not settling down? According to The New York Daily News, Twilight‘s Robert Pattinson recently said he “can’t get laid in New York.” Ouch. Hey, if Paris Hilton can settle down surely the rest of us can.

Male Engagement Rings

According to WWD.com, designer Marc Jacobs just got engaged to his ad executive boyfriend Lorenzo Martone. The two, who have been dating for about a year, don’t have a wedding date set yet but are planning to go public about their engagement (and show off their engagement rings) in the near future.

Obviously male engagement rings have grown in popularity due to same sex marriages, but most straight guys still might be too old fashioned to think about sporting one. What do you guys think? Would you ever propose to a guy with a male engagement ring?

Rubeljewelers.com giving away princess cut diamond

Frederick H. Rubel jewelry store has quite a treat to offer its visitors on their web site. They currently have a special offer where visitors can enter to win a free princess cut diamond valued at $5000. To enter to win, all you have to do is fill out a simple form on their web site and then compete with other entrants in a life or death obstacle course.

Actually, I’m not sure about that last one…

Love, Engagement 101

Celebrity Engagement News: Christina Ricci & Reese Witherspoon

Yesterday it was confirmed that Christina Ricci is getting engaged to her All’s Faire in Love costar Owen Benjamin. The two have been dating since November. Star has also confirmed that Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal are getting hitched. According to Star, Witherspoon was wearing an engagement ring when she showed up to Culver City, Cali. to shoot an Avon commercial. The actress later took the ring off and placed it in her purse, never taking it out again.

What is this, celebrity engagement week? And poor Reese. Apparently she underestimated the public’s fascination with big, shiny things…

Update: Engagement 101’s trip to D.C.!

Last weekend Engagement 101 News Editor Stephanie Taylor ventured off to D.C. for Ultimate Ring Event 2009. Not only did she come back in one piece after surviving the streets of D.C. on her own, she also brought back hours and hours of shaky footage of the event, which I’m sure we’ll put to good use. If you want to check out our reporting of the event, keep your eyes peeled on Engagement 101 TV, which gives me an excuse to plug our YouTube channel. We recently updated and beautified our somewhat forgotten YouTube page. So check it out when you can, subscribe and be our friend. We promise to friend you back…

TLC’s "Say Yes to the Dress" Revamps Web Site

TLC is the best at making guilty pleasures. I remember when I used to have to flick past the channel as fast as I could because they only showed graphic surgeries. Now they have such favorites as What Not to Wear, Jon and Kate Plus 8 and now Say Yes to the Dress. The show, which goes behind the scenes of Kleinfeld Bridal salon,  shows all the hard work, drama and stress that goes behind preparing the bride for her big day.

Their official web site has recently been revamped to satisfy brides looking for a little more outside the show. Some new features include a Virtual Bridal Salon where users can pick their body type and physical features and then pick dresses that flatter that particular body type. Users can also check out webisodes, audio Q&As from the pros behind the show, and over 30 tips on how to throw an economical wedding. Good stuff, indeed!

On Again, Off Again: Why doing the same thing and expecting a different result will never work

Although both Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer looked chummy at the Oscars a few weeks ago, recent rumors are now saying the couple have quietly gone their separate ways. In reaction to the news, the whole world does a collective eye roll. Who didn’t see this coming? Has there ever been a true success story of an on again/off again relationship? The problem with these type of couples is that they keep doing the same thing while expecting different results. It’s like eating a chocolate cake every day and expecting to lose weight.

It’s good whenever couples try to work things out. One reason I believe divorce rates are so high is because people today seem more impatient and less likely to make an effort to turn an unfavorable situation into something favorable. But if a couple already threw in a towel once, rarely do I see a reason for them to pick up the gloves and go in for round two. I don’t know, perhaps someone can prove me wrong? Can a couple really thrive on an on again/off again relationship?

Engagement 101 goes to Washington D.C. in search of the "ultimate ring"

Engagement 101 News Editor Stephanie Taylor is off to Washington D.C. this weekend to attend Ultimate Ring Event 2009 (clever name, eh?). The event, which takes place at I.Gorman’s, will showcase 10 jewelry designers, as well as their eye-popping collections. Expect plenty of footage from the event to surface later on Engagement 101 TV as our busy news editor interviews such top designers as Etienne Perret and Bez Ambar. Other designers presenting are Gebrueder Schaffrath, Henrich Denzel, Alishan, Brian Sholdt, Coge, Furrer Jacot, Sarah Graham and Mae Vona. Oh, and did we mention everything will be 10 percent off?

One at a time, ladies..