3 Things to Do When Buying an Etsy Engagement Ring

Today there are many routes people can take when it comes to buying an engagement ring. Whether it’s visiting a store like Jared or Kay Jewelers, using a family heirloom, or buying one off of Etsy.com.

Yes, you read that right. Etsy has engagement rings.

It may seem a little sketchy buying an engagement ring from an online shop that’s known for more of its handmade crafts, but more and more people are doing it now.  Etsy has a section under “Jewelry” and “Rings” dedicated to “Antique Engagement Rings”. For those who may not have an older ring to inherit, and are really interested in finding a ring with a story (or at least a later date than 2013) for their proposal, it makes shopping easier and very convenient.

So, for you worry warts, here’s the scoop.

1.    Do your research. Make sure that your buyer has good reviews and ratings.  It’s less and less risky if you know who you are buying from based on previous sales and ratings.

2.    Ask for more pictures. If you’re only seeing one photo of the ring, ask for more. Look at it from different angles and close-ups to make sure you know what you’re buying. If you are close to where the shop owner is based, you may even consider meeting somewhere to see it.

3.    Ask A LOT of questions. Is the ring insured? Do you offer insurance? Is the diamond certified? (You may even ask them if they would mind getting the ring inspected/appraised and sending you the work before you order it, if they haven’t had this done already.) Do you offer payments? Get ALL the details before you commit to buying the ring!

Jonathan McCarter (Raleigh, NC),  fell in love with a ring off of Etsy and knew it was perfect for his bride-to-be (now married for almost two years). McCarter said, “I didn’t decide on Etsy, I decided on the ring. When you have found it you will know and if your ring is out there somewhere, as long as the seller seems reputable, I wouldn’t let anything stand in the way of you and your chosen symbol of undying love and dedication.”

Emily

Photo Credit: Courtney Valentine Photography (Elizabethton, TN).

5 Ways to Propose Without a Ring

You want to propose to your significant other, but you have a few setbacks. Whether if it’s because of financial reasons or personal taste, you are planning a proposal without an engagement ring.

Don’t. Panic.

Before you decide to give up on the surprise of your proposal and consult the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, take a breath. There are lots of ways to propose without a ring and worry about that part of it later. Not only that, but planning a proposal when you can’t decide on, afford, find a ring still shows how dedicated and creative you are!

1.    Propose with a ring box. This may seem cheesy, but I loved when this was done in the movie Knocked Up. His whole thing about how he can’t afford a ring, but the box was symbolic of the ring he would someday love to buy her. I ate that up. All women may not be that way, but it’s worth trying. If you’re planning on buying a ring later, that could be part of your proposal. Or if she doesn’t want a ring, then using the box could lighten the mood and be something to laugh about later!

2.    Propose with a memento of some kind. Be sappy. There is no other way to put it. Did you go to a movie for your first date? Offer her the ticket stub. Don’t have it? Buy the movie and use it instead. Use something that represents the beginning, but also the promise of eternity.

3.    Propose with a filler–ring. What does this mean? You can go any route from buying a cheap alternate, a true promise ring (not to be confused with an engagement ring), or a Ring-Pop (not joking). Another favorite movie moment of mine is from The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) where Edmund can’t afford a ring for Mercedes, so instead she ties a string around her finger and says, “This will be my ring.” In many cases, love is all you need.

4.    Propose with words.  I promise that’s not a redundant statement. Whether you are a writer, singer, poet, or horrible with words—this may be the moment to take and express your true feelings. Write something down and put it to music, or just read it. Later you can frame your hard work and present it with the actual ring (if you are going this route).

5.    Propose in a beyond-simple way. This may seem underestimated, since some may feel that because they can’t offer the ring the proposal has to be over-the-top-amazing, but simple proposals can be underrated. Getting down on one knee, taking her hands in your own, and expressing your love is a sure way to grab attention.

We are selling really cool and affordable proposal pendants and pins for you and him.

The engagement ring isn’t the priority, the engagement is. If you know you want to spend the rest of your life with this person, and a ring just isn’t in the picture at the moment, don’t think you’re “jumping the gun” by proposing without a ring. The ring can always come later.

Emily

 

Three Ways to Propose on Mother’s Day

Whether you’re finally wanting to tie the knot with the mother of your child or you’re proposing to your girlfriend who has her own, nothing could be more special than a Mother’s Day proposal. What a way to celebrate one of her amazing roles in life and show her you mean business because not only are you signing up to become, “husband”, but also “Dad”. Need some ideas? You’ve come to the right place!

1. Involve the little one(s). Like I said, you’re really pulling a double proposal here. You’re proposing to become one in marriage, but also in parenthood. This step could be as simple as asking the little one’s permission, to involving them in the actual proposal. Flowers? Candies? A card? Come up with a creative way to introduce the idea involving your children.

2. Use some charm. Charms, that is.  From Pandora Bracelets to Tiffany’s Mother’s Day collection, all jewelry stores tend to offer special charms for Mother’s Day. Offer her a bracelet or necklace that reflects the birthstones of the children, and happens to have the engagement ring on it as well. Still expecting? Offer a footprint, handprint, or tiny shoe charm. The options are endless!

3. Go above and beyond.  Plan a relaxing day at the spa to give mama a break, all the while preparing for the proposal later. Clean the house for her. Watch the kids and let her go out with friends. Make it all about her and the fact that she works so hard at being a single mother. Show her that you’re willing to take on co-responsibility, then pop the question!

Mother’s Day is already a very special day to your girlfriend, and you will make it all the more special by using it to propose!

A Mother’s Day Proposal involving kids. Although this video doesn’t involve the engaged couple’s children, it’s still an adorable idea!

Emily

The Ultimate Airport Proposal

Most girls have airport fantasies. I’m not alone in this, right? Where she comes back from a long trip, or maybe even just a weekend, away from the man she loves and he’s waiting for her with a bouquet of flowers and they run to each other and it’s such a movie moment?

This man, an F-16 (Airforce) pilot, took it to a whole new level. When his holiday travel plans from South Korea, where he was stationed, were slightly altered it completely threw off his original proposal idea. He had to come up with something entirely different to surprise his girlfriend, and boy did he!

Imagine her surprise when 150 passengers file out before him, each handing her a flower. This video goes for a good five minutes (5:15, to be exact) before he finally makes an appearance, drops to one knee, and asks her to marry him. I personally love how many of the passengers wait for the big finale. After being a part of it, who wouldn’t want to see her final reaction?

Even if this wasn’t his original proposal idea, I’d say it probably tops his first plan.

Emily

A Cupcake Proposal

You may have thought you’ve seen it all– or at least some really great over-the-top proposals.

Well, my friends. This one is indeed over the top.

It takes place in Korea and so many things happen to make this proposal the way it is. First, it’s planned at the guy’s favorite cupcake shop. She thinks its for his birthday. A tray of cupcakes comes out for their table and she’s told the center cupcake is for display only. It is, in fact, a crocheted ring box that looks like a cupcake (a friend had made it for him). And, you guessed it! The ring is inside.

Then, she receives an envelope with a series of comics drawn on post-it notes (apparently her boyfriend is an artist and was dong a project where he made a drawing a day on a post-it). The post-its were frame-by-frame comics leading up to her proposal.

Just then, live musicians come out and start playing a song dedicated to her while a big screen TV starts playing a music video of friends and family all holding lyrics of the song and lip syncing. She’s definitely surprised.

Then, her boyfriend brings out the rest of the post-it notes, and finally asks her to marry him with his cartoons. The question? “What flavor cupcake is it?”

He opens the ring box and says the flavor is love. She of course said “YES!” I mean, who wouldn’t with that crazy proposal? Plus, cupcakes are just awesome.

Nikki

A Car-Jacked Proposal

Nothing says romance like stealing your girlfriend’s car.

This suave gent really pulled off a romantic and yet surprising proposal. Seriously, she didn’t see it coming!

First, he stole her car and moved it to another location. There was a hidden camera watching her from afar as she walked out of work, thinking she’d just drive over to have lunch with her boyfriend, only to realize her car was missing.

But never fear– hear boyfriend sent her a limo. YES. A limo. Who doesn’t love a limo?

In the limo, there was a video that said basically that he was still taking her to lunch but just wanted to switch things up a little and surprise her. When she got to the location, the driver gave her a map and she found her future husband standing outside of a beautiful gazebo where he proposed.

It’s seriously adorable. You have to check it out.

Nikki

“I Like You” Proposal

There’s a strange little video floating around on the Web currently that is probably so cute, it’ll make most people barf.

And yet, it’s an endearing proposal at the same time.

Apparently this couple met in high school and have a long drawn out love story. The video is them talking about their love story, but the main part they try to emphasize is the fact that they don’t say, “I love you.” Instead, they say, “I like you.”

Some people think its cute. Other’s think it stupid.

It’s all addressed in the video. In fact, tons of family are present at one point to help make the video. They explain that it’s because they don’t know what the future holds. They even broke up at one point before and now they’re planning on going in two separate directions (like out of the country separate directions). So, instead of making things tricky with love, they say they are each other’s “one true like.”

I’m not even making this up.

When this gent asked her to be his girlfriend years ago, he had a rose waiting for her and said, “It’s a good thing you said, ‘Yes’ because otherwise I’d have no use for this.”

Well, he decides to parallel it now and SURPRISE! He whips out a ring. She looks stunned, confused, and almost scared. But she says yes. He then of course says, “I’m glad you said yes because I don’t know what I’d do with this!”

And that, my friends, is the weirdest and yet cutest proposal I’ve seen.

Nikki

Photo Credit: WallPapersWide

The Picture Fake Out

Here’s a classic move that’ll never get old in the proposal world.

Think about it. You want to capture your proposal on camera, but you don’t want to be obvious. However, you may not be able to pay for the fancy people who take pictures for you in bushes. After all, they can cost a pretty penny. And of course, you don’t really trust your old college roommate or your cousin twice removed to hold the camera steady without making her suspicious.

So what’s the average Joe to do if you want to film your proposal?

Pretend that you’re taking a picture of course! That’s right. It’s so simple. You ask a friend to “take a picture” for you, but have them in on the proposal. They’ll have your camera on movie mode. Then just as your girl gets ready to show her pearly whites for a pictures, you turn her toward you and bear your soul.

Sure, she’ll be very confused for a couple of seconds but then she’ll be completely surprised. Talk about catching her off guard without the crazy bells and whistles. She’ll LOVE IT!

Watch this guy’s sweet form as he executes this tactic perfectly.

Nikki

Photo Credit: Mirror

A SWAT Team Proposal

Apparently this gent couldn’t be at his girlfriend’s birthday party because he was called on a SWAT mission– at least that’s what he told her.

So, he made her a video in his place. It starts out talking about how they prepare for SWAT missions, explaining that a camera crew is following them so she can get the full experience of his work. But then it cuts to different places where he discusses different memories about their relationship.

Then the raid begins and she realizes they are at her parents’ house and the “target” is her for this “mission of a lifetime.”

Really, he was there the whole time and ready to propose. The look on her face was priceless. The best part? Her entire family was there to be a part of the big moment.

Check it out below! The real action starts happening at minute 7:20.

Nikki

Photo Credit: DouglasConVSherrif

A Military Softball Proposal

It was the perfect set up.

Gordon State University had a great surprise for their second baseman, Emily, who is on the softball team. Her military boyfriend came to visit and got to throw the ceremonial first pitch to honor him for serving our country. He somehow got everyone in on it because the officials handed him a “token of their appreciation” which looked like a normal gift. In reality, it was a softball with a ring attached.

Talk about the best surprise ever during a softball game. Emily’s face lit up in disbelief. You’ll have to see it for yourself belwo!

Nikki