Congrats, you’re getting engaged! Hopefully the engagement itself isn’t a surprise, but we certainly hope the proposal is! When that time starts to roll around and you hear wedding bells in the distance, many bride-to-be's have a particular vision of their engagement ring and the process leading up to it.
While some want a complete surprise and others want full involvement, there are pros and cons to each to consider:
Complete Surprise: If your partner has great taste and you’re trusting, we can confidently say you have a lifetime of great gifts ahead of you! If you’re leaving ring shopping totally up to your partner, make sure that you have a few trusted friends or family members that know what you want, your ring size and other details so your future fiancé can call in reinforcements if necessary.
Do it Together: You’re starting your lives together, so why not take that first step as a couple? While this may be non-traditional for some, for other couples, this is what works. Ring shopping together can be a great experience–it’s typically a fun afternoon filled with champagne, sparkles and lots of laughs. This also sets the precedent for your partner to know that their opinion is important, which will be a great starting point when it comes to wedding planning.
Hybrid: Go jewelry shopping with your partner to a few different stores, point out some things you like, then leave the rest to them! This way, your partner has a starting point to work from and then can potentially incorporate a surprise or two for you once you see the final product.
