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Buying Your Engagement Ring
One of the hurdles any Romeo would have to pass before tying the knot is picking out the perfect engagement ring. There are a lot of rings out there that can make her say "Yes," but at the same time, those that would make her doubt your intentions because of poor taste also abound. So, should you choose one with diamonds or her birthstone? Does the band have to be silver or white gold? Will she like platinum or the heirloom engagement ring that your mom asked you to give her? Picking out the right engagement ring need not be a guessing game if you follow these tips:
1. Strike a friendship with your would-be in-laws.
If there are two people out there who can really say that they know your girlfriend, they are her parents. Of course, it takes a lot of courage to tell your girlfriend's folks that you want to marry their daughter but it is a big step if you want allies. Aside from gaining their trust by letting them know of your intentions, you also get the privilege to ask what their daughter was like before you met her. Schedule a dinner or lunch with them and ask their opinion on what type of ring their daughter prefers. Even if they can't tell you the exact colour or number of diamonds your girlfriend wants, you can gain tremendous insight from talking to them.
2. Plot with your girlfriend's gal pals.
You got your boys, you can be sure that your girlfriend has her own clique too. If you're contemplating marriage by this time, surely she has introduced you to some if not most of her friends. But don't invite all of them for the big pow-wow if you want to keep your proposal a secret. Invite two or three of her closest friends. Tell them that you want their help in picking out and buying the right ring. After the shrieking and the screaming, you can ask them if they have any idea what your girlfriend wants or if she had mentioned her ideal ring. They might have already talked about it one way or another. Or if you're lucky, your girlfriend might have spotted the ring she wants during one shopping outing with her friends.
3. Scheme your way to your girlfriend's jewelry box.
This is easy if you live together or if you regularly spend time over at her place. When she's in the shower, sleeping, or just plain out of the way, look into her jewelry box. Check the kind of rings she owns. Are they classic or funky? Does she prefer coloured stones or not? If you think that she wouldn't miss it if you took a ring from her collection, take one and bring it to the jeweler. This is especially good if you don't know her ring size. Just remember to return and put it back in its place.
4. Take her jewelry shopping -- for another person.
Make your mom's birthday an excuse to take your girlfriend to a jeweler. Tell her that you want to give your mom a special gift like a ring, for example, and you need her fashion sense. Ask her what ring she would like if she's to receive one. Then switch to another topic to offset her suspicion by asking if she thinks that your mom would like the same. If you're too chicken to use this approach, you can observe the rings that draw her attention while you pick out your mom's gift. Remember that you must really buy something to avoid arousing her suspicion.
5. Propose in the store.
If money is not an issue for you, you can take your girlfriend in a jewelry shop. Better yet, pick one where the selections are within your budget. Tell your girlfriend that she makes you really happy and for that, she can choose any ring she wants. Once she had picked out one, slip it on her finger and propose. For added surprise, you can conspire with the store owner or staff.
