Are you ready to get engaged?

So you’ve been searching for the ring of your dreams while trying to send telepathic messages to your boyfriend. You may feel like it’s about time to get married because of how long you’ve been together, but how do you know if you’re REALLY ready to take that next step and tie the knot? Here are some important things to consider:

1) You’ve seen each other at your lows
While love and wedding planning can launch you into that head-in-the-clouds, blissful stage– life isn’t always like that. Have you seen each other mad, sad, scared, etc? Life can be complicated, so it’s better to know how your other half will react under certain stresses before you’re tied to them forever.

2) You’ve met the family
Now you don’t have to LOVE his family or even like them, but you probably should meet them and figure out where your man has come from. Also it’s nice just to see who these people are you’ll be sharing your life with too. You may not necessarily be marrying the family, but they will be part of your life for a long long time. Better to get to know them now rather than later.

3) You’ve talked about the future
Do you know each other’s hopes and aspirations? Are you thinking trendy condo but he’s thinking starter house? Are you planning to start your career some place specific? These are important things to think about and discuss. If he’s thinking California and you’re thinking New York, you may have some difficult waters to navigate.

How do you know if you’re ready to be engaged?

Nikki

Photo by Miller + Miller

A photobooth engagement

It’s almost like it’s from out of an old, vintage film. Boy meets girl. Girl likes boy. They decide to get their picture taken in a cute, innocent photobooth and BAM! Boy proposes to girl.

It’s such a magical idea. Think about it. You don’t even have to hire a fancy photographer to hide in the bushes while you wait for your perfect moment to launch the best proposal ever.

No siree! The perfect proposal is built into a simple machine that only costs about a buck. You take cute photos until the last frame (or second to last, like in below scenario) and pop the question. The camera catches her actual reaction close up and it makes a heck of a save the date!

Check out this photobooth proposal caught on film by clicking the French link below!

Il fait sa demande en mariage… dans une cabine photo par Gentside

Nikki 

Keep your man faithful with this wedding band

I don’t know about you, but it took me and my fiance FOREVER to pick out his wedding band. He’s never worn a ring before so he’s been worried about keeping it on all the time if it’s uncomfortable. I keep joking that he better wear it, but I’m sure there will be those moments he’ll slip it off just because his finger needs a break (at least that better be the only reason he takes off his ring).

Maybe you’re worried about your man not wearing his ring too. If you’re in need of some helping picking out your bling for your man, this may be the perfect wedding band for you. This wedding band has the clean traditional look most men go for but something extra special lays on the inside. When taken off, this titanium ring leaves an imprint on your man’s finger that says “Married.” Talk about branding your man to make sure he doesn’t go astray. The ring is only $550 by The Cheeky.

Would you buy this ring for your man? Or better question: Would he wear it?

Nikki

 

Platinum Innovation Awards 2012

During jewelry week in Vegas, awards were given to the most talented and creative jewelry designers. The challenge for the Platinum innovation awards was to do it solely with platinum. Several of the award winning designs use colored gemstones which whiteness really enhances the color of the stones.  Platinum is also malleable and ductile so it can be crafted into very intricate designs which allows for some of the truly unique designs we saw in this competition.

Good news for soon to be engaged ladies. Many people regard platinum as too expensive so they don’t even think to ask.  But with semi-mounts available for under $3,000, anyone can have a gorgeous platinum engagement ring.  Some of the design featured here are within this price point. Remember, unlike white gold, it will never have to be re-dipped to maintain its white color and it is durable so it will hold diamonds securely.  The prices of gold and platinum have never been closer, so given its remarkable attributes, platinum represents an even greater value for money spent than ever.

Jennifer Aniston Engagement Ring… or Not?

Coming back from their vacation in Paris, Jennifer Aniston arrived at the LAX flashing what appeared to be an engagement ring on her ring finger. So, did Justin Theroux proposed during their trip to Europe? Where they looking for a wedding location? Or was it just an ordinary vacation? Once again, the rumor of the possible engagement of the celebrity couple spread.

Photo via news.com

But according to People Magazine, there is no way this beautiful diamond ring was given to her by Theroux. Apparently, she has been wearing this exact same ring for months (only on her right hand)!

Looking for a similar ring?

Hearts on fire

 

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves: Proposal, Engagement Ring and Wedding Bands

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves tied the knot in Texas in an intimate thee-day ceremony earlier this month ! We knew he proposed on Christmas day, but did you know all the details? Apparently, at first, Camila didn’t say yes! That might have been because Matthew had wrapped the engagement ring in so many boxes she got a little frustrated… She had to wait her turn to open the next box as the rest of the family was opening their gift one at a time, following a family tradition. But we all know she said yes in the end!

We already know about her gorgeous engagement ring. This beautiful rose cut engagement ring matches perfectly her new wedding band!

And what about their wedding bands? At the premier of Magic Mike, the newly weds showed off their new rings. And there was very interesting inscriptions on them! Camila’s wedding ring is engraved with a timeless “XOXO” but Matthwew’s inscription is a little more tricky to decode. The numbers 6.22 don’t match their wedding date (June 9). It turned out it refers to his favorite Bible passage, from the gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 6:22 reads: “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.”

Photo via e!online

What to do if the girl says “No”

Popping the question isn’t always a fool proof plan. There is that teeny tiny chance your lady may say “No” or run away. In those instances, it’s probably good to have a game plan (though we recommend feeling out your potential bride to be to see if she actually wants to be a potential bride to be). Here are some things you can do to ease the pain and not look like a fool if your plans fall through.

1) Pretend it was a joke
If she looks at you in horror and starts shouting, “ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!” Then you can take one of two approaches: 1) Make it romantic about how you’ve lost your mind over how much you love her (bleck, Don’t do that. Seriously) or 2) Play it off like it was a joke. It may just save your relationship if you jumped the gun with the question on a girl who isn’t ready.

2) Run the other direction
Chances are, she probably ran away if she said “No.” If you’re familiar with Youtube proposal fails, you’ve probably seen the sad sight of a guy just standing there, dumbfounded, heartbroken, and probably crying. Don’t be that guy who can gets caught on someone’s camera phone. If she ran in one direction and you aren’t in the mood to chase after her, do the next best thing– RUN THE OTHER WAY. Why not? She did. Fight or flight, man. Fight or flight.

3) Pawn the ring
So she said “No.”  We’re sorry. While it may be nice to hold on to the ring for a little while as you try to salvage your future with who you thought was the perfect girl, chances are, it’s time to cut your losses. She didn’t deserve you anyway. Know what does deserve you? That shiny new Harley or every Xbox game you ever wanted. Seriously, sell the ring on Ebay and treat yourself to the male version of chocolate ice cream. I think it’s called “Call of Duty.”

What would you do if your girl said “No?”

Nikki

Tips to propose while camping

Nothing says romance like the great outdoors. You have the starry night, fresh air, a cozy tent? What’s not to love! Here are three ways to create the perfect opportunity to propose while on a camping trip.

1) While watching a Sunrise
Sure, you may want to sleep in, but rolling out of bed early or staying up super late together in order to see that beautiful sunrise is worth it almost 100% of the time. Think about it. It’s incredibly beautiful and it’s probably a little nippy out. Throw an arm around her, admire the beautiful site and tell her how beautiful she is too. It’ll definitely be a magical moment to pop the question. It’ll be a memory to remember.

2) While making s’mores
If you have a fun, kid-at-heart sort of gal, she’ll LOVE making s’mores. Have fun being kids together and maybe smash a marshmallow in each other’s face or two.  Amidst the giggles, let her know how fun she makes life and ask her to be your wife.

3) Even if it all goes wrong…
Did it rain and leave you trapped in a tent? Did you have to struggle to start a fire? Get lost in the woods? Use a bad situation and relate it to how unpredictable life is, but mention how you couldn’t imagine spending the ups and downs without her. Not only will she think you’re incredibly deep, but how could she NOT say “YES!” (unless you somehow pissed her off during this bad situation…then you probably should wait).

How would you propose while camping?
Nikki 

Three ways to ensure your ring is unique

Oh baby, the ring. Let’s face it– some girls are secretly more excited about the ring than the actual proposal. Of course it’s a big deal. After all, it is a symbol of your love, right? However, some girls don’t want just any ring that every girl and her sister has. She wants it to be special. She wants it to be unique. It’s enough pressure to make a guy’s head spin. Looking for some way to make your ring perfect for her and one of a kind? We’ve got you covered with these simple tips.

1) Design the ring your self
My cousin’s fiance designed the ring for their engagement through Blue Nile and it’s absolutely stunning.  Other guys sometimes seek out the diamond first, buy it and then find a jeweler to custom craft the piece for their lady in a way that has never been done before. Not only is it unique, this method of ring picking definitely shows your lady that you’re keeping her in mind.

2) Have it engraved
Maybe you can’t afford the custom route, but never fear! You still have options. Pick out the ring you think she’ll like and go the extra mile by having it engraved. The possibilities are endless of what special little message you can put on the inside of the ring. Maybe the date you proposed? Your initials? A Bible Verse? Or even a cute inside joke! She’ll feel like the ring is extra personal with this special touch.

3) Go the colored or gem stone diamond approach
Sure, diamonds are a girl’s best friend but that doesn’t mean that’s your only option. Black, yellow and pink diamonds are all very cool and extremely eye catching. Also gemstone rings are getting bigger now so maybe opt for that sapphire or ruby like some famous couples are doing these days. Don’t want to be too risky? Make the main diamond traditional and spice up the ring with colored stones on the side. It’s a beautiful setting that’ll have her feeling special for the rest of her life.

How did you find the perfect ring?

Nikki

The weirdest proposal ever

So, I’m all for making a proposal uniquely yours, but this one left me scratching my head a little. It’s definitely elaborate. It’s definitely special. But you have to raise your eyebrows at some point and be like,”Wait…What’s this about a purple bear and a lobster?”

Apparently they convinced the girl that they were being filmed for some prize thing. So, she and a group of friends are all skating on the ice until her sister “falls.” Because she can’t get up (don’t worry. She’s totally faking), they clear the ice. However, around minute 3:30 you’ll see that a bunch of weird Winnie the Poohs of different colors AND a lobster approach the lady on the ice and she wigs out. Then something happens with Waaaaaaaaay too many signs. The girl looks embarrassed and even says, “This is sick” at some points, especially when the lobster and Winnie the Pooh trade heads and one of the signs reads, “Maybe we’re getting a glimpse of our future children.” Hmm…interesting way to entice a lady to want to marry you.

But somehow around 8 minutes, he crawls on his hands an knees to her to pop the question. And miraculously, she says yes.

It’s an interesting one for sure. But hey, at least you can tell he put a lot of thought into it. What do you think of this bizarre proposal?

Nikki