Picking out a ring-- together or a surprise?

[BoogleBee]

Well a surprise would be nice. However I would like for us to have talked about when we intend to approximately get engaged before such a surprise. Just so we know we are both ready .

In terms of not knowing about what ring - I think that sounds wonderful . Like it would be good for us to have looked around and see what appeals to us but then maybe the actual ring could be a surprise maybe?

[CanadianGirl]

I'm more of a practical person. He definitely has some idea of surprising me though..so we'll see. I think I'd just want to skip the engagement ring and buy wedding rings together instead.

[ioanna]

for us there was no surprise, at least not in this sense. we've been engaged since july 2007.
traditionally in both our varied cultural backgrounds (lebanese, greek, armenian, etc) there is no engagement ring. the couple wears their wedding bands on their right hands during their engagement, and then on their left hands once they are married.

we didnt have an actual proposal nor an engagement party/celebration. we were just sneakily laying in my bed at my parents (PG13 house) on easter in 2007 and we just decided it was the next step, we were ready for it. so we announced our intentions to both our families separately. then a couple of months later the families met (his mom lives abroad, so when she came we invited her over for lunch) and inevitably the subject of our engagement rose up. it wasn't expected, and we were very nervous because we hadn't planned for it, but my SO and I just said that we wanted to have their blessing and for us that was enough, just an intimate gathering with our families. out came a bottle of bubbly cidre (we couldnt find champagne nearby) and that was it. next day we went ring shopping and at the first jewlery we went to found the perftect rings together. it was a present from his mom (things were finantially tight for us, and she insisted, so we accepted her gift).

[11MikesGirl21]

We looked together and talked about what I liked and didn't like. I honestly, didn't like much of anything I saw. I like simple and rings now just aren't simple enough for me. We came out of the mall one day after we had just looked at a store, and I said it'd be nice to have my grandmother's engagement ring. I had never seen it, so it'd be new for me, and I value family and tradition more than anything. He proposed with my grandmother's ring 4 months later and it was perfect. A little black from age, and my grandmother's allergy to her own ring, but we can fix that once we make our engagement public. (That's a long story, if you want to hear it message me)

[rsvpnj]

I already posted about wanting to choose my own engagement ring. I forgot to mention that he has already made it clear that I get no say in the ring that he chooses for himself---one which he will most likely design himself. That being the case, I see absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to choose my own ring.

[megfashion]

Personally, i would love a suprise one. He knows i really dont like fancy stuff (yknow, like really really big rings... i love simple!) and knows that id want to be engaged or something by 21... but thats as far as we have got on the matter... oh and he also knows that id much prefer it if he doesnt ask my dad - i just think that might bring awkwardness! xx

[Mara]

I would love for us to pick out a ring together, but that has as much chance of happening as the Sun suddenly turning purple. My boyfriend is very traditional and I can't say I'll really know anything about anything until he's on one knee with a ring in his hand. He has okay taste from what I've seen not necessarily something I'd pick out myself, but honestly as long as it's not ugly as the day is long I'm sure I'll love it because he gave it to me and it'll grow on me. I've given him some hints though about what I'd like and I've also tried to discourage him from making a grand gesture. Don't mind a surprise, just not the whole grand over the top gesture which is something he would do.

[KimberlyJ]

I'm not engaged, but I love surprises and I don't want to pick out the ring. Being engaged to my SO wont be about the ring, it will be about being with him for the rest of our lives. I will love whatever he picks out for me... I don't understand women who insist on picking out the ring because they "may not like it". I would like a sandwich bag twist tie if he gave it to me because it would be from him.

[Bethypoo]

Its all a personal preference. I want to be surprised when I get proposed to. But, I would also want the ring that I know i want as opposed to the one he picked out but I want the whole "open box with ring" not just the "marry me" part but that could be my love for romantic movies showing. In my case though, i have a best friend who would probably do the picking and honestly I love my SO and would be happy either way.

That same friend however, said she would also like a surprise but that he should give her an empty box so she can pick out her ring because she wants a ring that she knows she will love. Which makes sense because if you are going to have him spend that much money you might as well get something you will love because (theoretically) you will be loking at it everyday. So it all depends on what you want.

[eeriesaurus]

I'd love for it to be a surprise, but I'm not even sure what my ring size is :P Of course, I doubt he'd even propose so idk why I'm even posting in here. Fantasy I guess! A girl can daydream :P

[elina]

I loooooove surprises.. and he knows I do I've showed him some rings that I like so I think he's got a pretty good image of what I'd like. I trust that he'll get me a ring I'll love, when the time comes Wouldn't really want to be there to pick it with him Nor would I want to know when/where/how he's gonna propose.. I want it to be a complete surprise when he does it

Ahh, can't wait

[NineInchNails_x]

We have talked about getting engaged a few times but he is nervous about it. He is taking the whole thing very seriously(as he should be- it's a life long committment). Since we don't really talk about it that much I'm not sure if he knows what I like or not. He knows I love surprises, and I love romantic gestures. He may or may not know what kind of jewelry I like. The time we lived together we were very very short on money so cute little gifts and rings and necklaces were never an option. I'd prefer something silver, something simple, and he knows that. I think he will do a good job when the time comes. In the event that he DOES someday ask what I like, I have a whole folder of engagement rings I love saved on my computer (:
I'm more excited about the actual event of the proposal than the ring, though. I can't wait until he asks! I hope he plans on doing it this Christmas!!

[Bobbiejeanne]

An educated surprise, I think... at least for me!
I want him to know what I like *coughcoughwhitegoldsolitarecoughcough*, but I want the traditional surprise proposal, and I think picking out rings together would ruin that whole thing.... I'm a super romantic, everything's gotta be just like in he movies

[Engel]

I told him the basics of what i want my ring to be like, and the rings size, i want it in a simple white gold band, and or only an emerald or emerald and diamonds, heart or round cut, but he will choose the price, wich one to get for me, so it will still be a surprise, but he will be certain i will like the ring nonetheless

[Riyko]

Would you rather have a surprise engagement?
I want a surprise engagement, i always have wanted one and i always will

Or pick out the ring together?
No i want him to pick the ring out for me

Do you think your SO would know what you wanted?
Yeah my future SO would know because i enjoy going into jewelry stores to look at the watches and i'd go with him and walk around and then show him what i like, but it will still be a surprise to me.

a funny story my ex and i were talking about was if we were together and i proposed to him i would of given him an engagement watch