The thought of getting married can be a daunting one, but when you have found the right person it may be all that you are thinking of. When it is time to ask the big question there are a number of things to consider. Of course, you want this to be a unique and special event, an event she will remember for the rest of her life!

Before you even plan the proposal you want to think about the ring. Does your family have an heirloom your wife-to-be will wear? Many prospective grooms seek antique engagement rings from their family to give to the woman they want to spend the rest of their life with.

If you want to personalize the wedding gift and purchase one of many beautiful solitaire engagement rings, this is totally up to you. Many jewelry companies will give you the option of inscribing a special phrase on the inside of the ring. Think of a few special words you would want your potential wife to carry with her forever.

Incorporating your personality into the proposal can be a way to make the proposal even more special. If you are a person who is into simple, yet special there are a number of things you can do. For instance, whenever she has taken off her everyday ring replace it with the engagement ring. She will definitely find a surprise waiting for her when she goes to wear her everyday ring.

Another romantic idea includes slipping on the engagement ring onto her finger while she is asleep. Wake her up with sweet words, a drink and strawberries. She may still be sleepy, but when she recognizes her newest piece of jewelry she will be wide awake.

You do not have to spend a lot of money to make a wedding proposal special. Putting your time and effort into making it unique gives it meaning enough. Granted, planning a proposal may feel like figuring out how to get rid of acne, but once you have created the perfect setting it will be a memory you will have forever.

Consider what you will say when it comes time to ask the special question. The decision you are making is supposed to last a lifetime. Thus, when you speak make sure you do so with honesty. Let your partner know how she makes you feel. You do not even have to be a master communicator, just speak from your heart and it will go a long way.

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The giving or receiving of a ring upon becoming betrothed goes back to the most ancient civilizations. However, these were usually just a simple band of metal rather than the elaborate gems modern brides consider today. The oldest known diamond rings was bestowed in 1477 by the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian to his fiancee, Mary of Burgundy. Diamonds were then very rare and only the richest could afford them. But during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the supply increased dramatically. Average income also increased during the Industrial Revolution. The combination of the two factors allowed diamonds to be purchased by more people.

Most couples select solitaire engagement rings. These feature one single diamond, which can be set in a variety of mounts. Although technically a solitaire can be any cut, the stones are normally round. Many feel that this cut showcases the sparkle of the diamond.

A popular variation on the solitaire is the trilogy ring. This style has a large center stone with two smaller stones flanking it. These are normally all diamonds, but in recent times there have been many variations. Sometimes the center stone is a ruby, sapphire, or emerald. The bride’s birthstone is also sometimes used.

Many modern brides long for an antique engagement ring. Since they only have to be more than 50 years old to qualify, the majority are diamond rings quite similar to modern ones. However, during the twenties and thirties, the art deco movement led to the design of some novel mounts and the use of colorful stones. Rings that are older than a century or so may not even have any diamonds at all, especially those that date back to the 1600s and earlier. Most of the rings of this age use other gems, and many also have very elaborate mountings.

Princess cut engagement rings have been gaining in popularity in recent years. These diamonds are cut into a square shape and have a flat top. They are sometimes mounted flush with the band, but the typical mount places the prongs at the corners of the stone.

Emerald cut stones are rectangular in shape. Typically they have facets along each side and a top that is flat. The marquis stone is fairly round, but it will taper into a point at each end. Pear shaped cuts are rounded at one end and sharply pointed on the other end. They are more often made into pendants, earrings, or set among additional stones since their shape is not considered an attractive solitaire.

Many of the modern conceptions regarding diamonds are due to promotional campaigns by major jewelers. One such example is the rule of thumb suggesting a groom buy a ring priced at 2-3 months’ salary. This was not known until a jeweler launched a marketing campaign to encourage spending. Regardless, diamonds are still the most popular choice for engagement rings, although mountings, size, and cut can vary. Today, diamonds are more affordable, plentiful, and varied, allowing virtually any bride to sport a diamond on her hand.

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It can be a challenge to choose the right engagement ring. The cost is not the only difficulty you will face. So is the overwhelming amount of styles available. Before making the decision, you have to know what things your lady likes, and know your financial situation. Making the matter more difficult is having to know something about gemstones and precious metals. If you know some basics about rings, you may be able to solve a few of your problems.

If you have truly fallen in love, and you believe that your love will last forever, then you might consider choosing a lovely eternity ring to give to the love of your life. Eternity rings are custom made for the wearer, and feature gemstones that completely encircle the finger. These rings are often given to mark a milestone in a long marriage, to honor successfully weathering tough times together, or to rejoice in the birth of a child. The rings have become very popular in recent years, and are also chosen as the engagement symbol of a passionate romance.

If you are leaning towards a more traditional purchase, then you must learn about solitaire engagement rings. Solitaire rings are simply one stone rings. Most engagement solitaires are made from diamonds, but you can find them made from other precious gem stones. Even so, diamond solitaires continue to be the classic engagement choice.

Before you buy a diamond, you must know the 4 Cs. These are cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. The diamond is measured and valued by these elements. A diamond can vary in its proportions of each element. This could mean that a diamond may be highly rated because of the cut but may be rated lower because of the the color. When making your choice, the best jewelers will help you to purchase the highest quality ring you can afford.

Diamond solitaires come in many different cuts. Your loved one may have a clear preference for one over another. But, you should be prepared to know them. Round Brilliant stones are known for providing a wonderful sparkle. Princess cut engagement rings are also becoming popular these days, because they rival the sparkle of the round brilliant cut.

There are far more alternative cuts, each with their own following. There are the classic brilliant and the contemporary princess cuts, but also the pear shaped, heart, oval, and marquis cuts. Depending on the size and shape of the fingers and hands, one of these cuts will be perfect. The best thing to do is to take your fiancee with you to the jeweler to help with the selection process, unless you are certain of her preferences.

Regardless of the choice you make, giving the perfect engagement ring is a once in a lifetime opportunity. If the proposal is accepted, the ring will be a reminder of that special moment. Relish in your engagement by choosing the perfect ring.

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Canadian diamonds provide a new alternative to people who want to buy diamonds, but are not comfortable with buying pieces that are potentially “conflict diamonds.”  A “conflict diamond,” by the UN’s definition, is a diamond mined by a non-legitimate government force in order to fund a rebellion.Additionally, some people are still concerned about the legitimate governments that deal in diamond mining and production, because there is a lot of talk about human rights violations under those governments as well.

While diamond production and mining has become far safer and more politically-correct in the past few years, one way to be absolutely sure that no wrong has been done by producing the diamond you buy is to seek out a Canadian diamond.Canadian diamonds account for only 15% of all the diamonds in the marketplace, yet they account for 80% of all Excellent and Ideal cut diamonds.

Other diamond miners and producers have caught on to the popularity of Canadian diamonds, and have tried to mislead consumers by marketing their diamonds (mined in places other than Canada) as Canadian diamonds, so there is now a bit of confusion in the diamond marketplace about how to recognize a Canadian diamond.There are only two ways to be certain.

One way to be sure is the GNWT Certificate of Authenticity.  The GNWT (Government of the Northwest Territories) certification system tracks the diamond all the way from extraction from the ground to its velvet cushion at the jeweler’s.This is important, because some diamonds mined in Canada are still sent to Asia or Africa for cutting and polishing – which puts you back into the sticky questionable human rights territory.GNWT-certified diamonds guarantee the diamond in question was mined in Canada, and handled ethically (most likely in Canada the entire time) all throughout the process.

The certificate bears the GNWT’s polar bear insignia and includes a Gemprint of the diamond.A Gemprint is exactly what it sounds like – it is a “fingerprint” of the diamond: a digital scan of the landscape of the diamond so you can be sure the diamond you’ve bought is actually the diamond that is certified.

To take the precautions one step further, each Canadian diamond that is mined, cut, and polished in the Northwest Territories of Canada come laser-imprinted with a unique serial number.  The number can only be seen with a microscope, so no worries about staring into your pretty gem and seeing somebody’s serial number.  The number is etched into the girdle of the diamond (which is the “rim between the flatter top and the pointed bottom”) and is proof-positive that the diamond is legitimately a Canadian diamond.

Again, while diamond mining and production practices have improved a great amount in past years, the extra piece of mind obtained from buying a Canadian diamond can make all the difference for someone who still has questions or concerns about typical diamonds that are mined in the usual places and could potentially be in league with those who have questionable business practices.  Additionally, Canadian diamonds are some of the cleanest, brightest, most perfect diamonds on the market.  Isn’t your special someone worth the extra effort?

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If you’re in the market for a diamond wedding ring, there’s some important information you should know before you go shopping. For example, prices can vary widely for these rings, so having a set target price will help your decision making process. Also, as the type of rings available can vary greatly, having a budget can help you quickly sort through rings that are out of your price range or below your price range so that you can spend your time looking at the rings that are just right for you. Here are some more tips that should help you find success.

Before you start shopping, make sure you know as much as possible about diamonds so you will be aware of you’re your choosing from. Various characteristics of a diamond are graded and these are what determine the overall value of the diamond. These are commonly referred to as the “Four C’s”: cut, clarity, color, and carat weight.

Cut: There are a number of different cuts that your diamond wedding ring could have. This doesn’t refer to the shape of the diamond, but rather is a system of measuring the diamond’s brilliance. The quality of the cut will significantly impact the value of the diamond. While shopping, keep your eye out for the highest grade of cut you can afford.

Clarity: Most diamonds have some natural flaws that developed during their formative period. The best diamonds should be clear and free of any fogginess when looking at them. Your diamond wedding ring should fall between the FL category and the S12 category of clarity. The higher the clarity, the more the diamond will cost.

Color: When looking at the color of a diamond, you should try to find one that is as colorless and clear as possible. The whiter the diamond, the more valuable it is. These diamonds will reflect the light with greater brilliance. Of course, there are various shades of diamonds that you may be interested in from a purely aesthetic perspective, so if you prefer a slight tinge of color to your diamond, go for it.

Carats: When people look at a diamond wedding ring, most of the time they notice the size before the other characteristics. Of course, now that you know about the cut, clarity and color, you should realize that size isn’t everything. You will want to choose a diamond that isn’t too large for the finger it will adorn. And of course, there’s always your budget to consider.

There are so many choices in wedding rings these days, from gold to platinum to diamond wedding rings. Finding the best wedding rings isn’t always easy!

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Getting married is a strange custom in itself but then some people take the ceremony to even greater extremes!  While we have expensive weddings, diamond engagement engagement rings, and expensive gifts, other cultures have things that set them apart.

In Scotland they "Blacken the Bride" as part of the hen night and bachelorette rituals.  Nevertheless, the bride to be is pelted with foul detritus from the refrigerator usually eggs, rotten tomatoes and the like and is then paraded around town, usually taking in a few bars along the way. 
The Germans have a reputation for being efficient and humorless, and perhaps the tradition of bride and groom sawing a log really underlines the stereotype.  It is a custom for a log, as in tree log, to be placed on a saw horse and man and wife to engage in a 2-man saw competition with themselves.  The idea is that they are going to have to work together and the act of sawing the log together signifies this.

Sticking with the Germans, they have another strange custom which involves the entire host of assembled guests to smash all the items of crockery - every plate, every cup, bowl, dish, glass, you name it - all smashed!  The bride and groom then have to sweep the entire mess up!!  The idea is again, that husband and wife will be working together from here on in and so this just reinforces the bond that they will be cleaning up each other's mess together.
One last German custom is to kidnap the bride and hide her, usually in a bar, the groom and his cronies then have to go find her and of course, have a drink along the way.  This ritual has been known to end very badly.

Indian weddings are held over several days and the bride is made to feel like a princess.One crazy custom is to take the groom's shoes when he removes them at the altar - and the bride's family has to steal them while his family tries to protect them.  This can and is taken to great lengths and results in numerous fraternity-style situations and even worse, if the bride's family are successful at stealing the shoes, the groom must pay whatever price they ask to get them back!

The fun-loving Swedes have the weird custom of kissing the bride, which doesn't sound very weird but it is when you understand the circumstances.  If the bride goes to the restroom, the guests can steal a kiss from her by lining up outside the restroom doors and when she emerges she has to give the line-up a kiss each! 

The French have a custom known as “Chiverie”; during the evening the guests try to startle and surprise the couple by banging pots and pans together and generally making loud noises, often using brass band instruments.  The idea is that bride and groom are to emerge from whatever love nest they have arranged for themselves, fully dressed and serve the guests with refreshments.  It's amazing they manage to breed at all.

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Getting married is a strange custom in itself but then some people take the ceremony to even greater extremes!  While we have expensive weddings, diamond engagement engagement rings, and expensive gifts, other cultures have things that set them apart.

In Scotland, there is the custom known as "Blackening the Bride" which takes place before the wedding and is more a part of the hen night and bachelorette rituals than the ceremony itself.  Nevertheless, the bride to be is pelted with foul detritus from the refrigerator usually eggs, rotten tomatoes and the like and is then paraded around town, usually taking in a few bars along the way. 
The Germans have a reputation for being efficient and humorless, and perhaps the tradition of bride and groom sawing a log really underlines the stereotype.  It is a custom for a log, as in tree log, to be placed on a saw horse and man and wife to engage in a 2-man saw competition with themselves.  The idea is that they are going to have to work together and the act of sawing the log together signifies this.

Sticking with the Germans, they have another strange custom which involves the entire host of assembled guests to smash all the items of crockery - every plate, every cup, bowl, dish, glass, you name it - all smashed!  The bride and groom then have to sweep the entire mess up!!The point is that the spouses will be working together from now on and this reinforces the bond - they will be cleaning up each other's mess from now on.
One last German custom is to kidnap the bride and hide her, usually in a bar, the groom and his cronies then have to go find her and of course, have a drink along the way.  This ritual has been known to end very badly.

Indian weddings are held over several days and the bride is made to feel like a princess.  One wacky custom is to steal the groom's shoes - when he enters the venue with the altar, he must remove his shoes but the bride's family is under a duty to steal his shoes while his family is supposed to protect them.  This can and is taken to great lengths and results in numerous fraternity-style situations and even worse, if the bride's family are successful at stealing the shoes, the groom must pay whatever price they ask to get them back!

The fun-loving Swedes have the weird custom of kissing the bride, which doesn't sound very weird but it is when you understand the circumstances.  If the bride goes to the restroom, the guests can steal a kiss from her by lining up outside the restroom doors and when she emerges she has to give the line-up a kiss each! 

The French have a custom known as “Chiverie”; during the evening the guests try to startle and surprise the couple by banging pots and pans together and generally making loud noises, often using brass band instruments.  The idea is that bride and groom are to emerge from whatever love nest they have arranged for themselves, fully dressed and serve the guests with refreshments.It's amazing they have the chance to have babies.

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