PRE-ENGAGEMENT & RING SHOPPING 101

 I cannot believe it has been one year since getting engaged! Here is what I felt leading up to engagement, the conversations I wish we had together, and all my recommendations for ring shopping!

PRE-ENGAGEMENT

To start I just want to say that everyone is different and so is every situation! You may not want to know anything about the ring, the proposal, etc, or you might want to know every detail and already have set expectations. Leading up to engagement I was BEYOND ready, but I fell a bit in between these two situations. I wanted to know the timeline and generally told Jesse what I wanted for my ring, but I think deep down I had expectations I didn't voice.

If you are someone who is similar to me or really wants to be involved in this process, here are a few conversations I would recommend having:

• Specifically talk about what you want for your ring including any details you might be thinking. If you have expectations about the ring, voice them. Do not assume he can read your mind and figure it out! This is a big investment and an heirloom piece that you will have your entire life, so it is important that it is done right.

• Talk through a general timeline of when you both would like to get engaged and when you would like to get married. This could be as specific as a month or as broad as a year, but it is important you both are on the same page so there is no lingering resentment if the time has come and gone without a proposal. In the same sense it is important that you talk about when you actually want to get married and how long of an engagement you are hoping for to plan your wedding!

• Regardless of how involved you want to be or not, I recommend going ring shopping together or with an important person in your life! It was helpful to see what my "Pinterest board engagement rings" looked like on my hand specifically. It is also great to see different options in person because you could totally change your mind! For me, ring shopping did not spoil the experience of seeing a ring on my finger for the first time because that moment is so surreal.

RING SHOPPING 101

This is new territory for almost everyone, so here is what I would recommend sharing with your significant other based on our experience.

Go in with a plan:

Whether you are wanting to purchase the ring that day or not, have a plan before going into the store! I would recommend researching all the options before going shopping.

Don't feel like you need to purchase the very first time you go:

Sometimes a sales person may be a little pushy. If you are unsure of the direction you want to go in, or a specific details such as cut, color, natural or lab grown diamond, etc. don't feel like you need to decide that day. Stick with the plan you set, and do more research if you need to.

Insure the ring ASAP:

Depending on where you are proposing this is extra important! If it is on a trip or somewhere near water, don't put added stress on yourself if something were to happen to the ring.

Ring care:

This is a big investment, so on top of insuring the ring, I would recommend learning how to take care of the ring to share with your fiance. Whether it is a natural or lab grown diamond, it is an adjustment to get used to and feel comfortable wearing everyday!

Proposal plan:

Besides coming up with the perfect proposal plan, I would recommend thinking through how you actually want to carry the ring before "popping the question." I would recommend purchasing a smaller ring box to conceal it more easily!