wedding/ engagement rings...
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Same with mine as well. My mom gave me my grandmothers rings to wear and I loved wearing them till I got too big to wear the solitaire anymore, and than to my utter dimay, the band snapped on the bottom of the wedding band and I couldn't wear that anymore either.When my fiance proposed to me, he didn't even have a ring. He cannot afford a diamond but he's doing the best he can. But I know his love is true, and a ring doesn't mean much to me. (I'm 22) Not all of us in this generation are all about big, flashy rings. I love my fiance and I didn't need a ring to make me want to become his wife.
My husband just bought me the rings in my profile picture. He used his bonus check from work on it, and an extra $100 from our account and I love them!!! Its 1/2 carat tw, which means the center stone is pretty small, but I LOVE it!! The diamonds are bright and sparkle and flash, and heck yeah, I flash my hand all over the place showing them off! I love my rings, I love that it didn't break the bank and that it came from my husband, and they match his band now! Sorry if its obnoxious, but I can't help but feel pride in this set on my hand!:flowerforyou:0 -
I'm wearing a £30 engagement ring. The ring means very little to me... It's the every day proof that my partner will fight for us a happy future that I need. I do have a £400 engagement ring I cannot wear due to weight loss... It means no more to me than the £30 one.
I don't want an expensive or flashy wedding... If I were to get married it'd be a small ceremony. The only thing I'd want is to be at goal weight and have a nice dress. Few closest people for a meal and I'd be happy.
I'm, 27...So consider myself young. I don't understand the vast amounts people spend on rings, but I also don't judge them. Each to their own. My twin sister had a £12000 wedding plus 2-3000 in rings. It's important to her, but males no odds to me!
Zara x0 -
I have a practical nature and am not impressed or turned on by ostentacious displays or rituals/traditions for their own sake. But I also recognize that I am not typical and have been to some gorgeous weddings and seen some gorgeous rings. As long as you don't try to borrow money from me, more power to ya.0
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Mine is a simple sterling silver wedding band. No stone in it. Engagement ring, if you can call it that cause it was only needed for 1 month, is a simple CZ in sterling silver. Cost us all of $30 I think & that was 17 years ago. Don't need anything fancy, flashy or expensive to show for it. Hell, don't even NEED a ring. All it is, like getting married, is to show OTHER people you are married.0
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One aspect to consider is the investment.
Diamonds and gold have ballooned in price over the last decade or so.
My wife's set cost $725 ... in 1966.
If they were appraised today, I'm sure the set would go for 10-15 times what I paid.
Maybe more.
I'd say put all the money you can in the rings -- they'll last forever; and put a minimal amount into the ceremony -- that's gone in an hour or two.0 -
I like big rings and I cannot lie. Lol.
Honestly my ring is beautiful, not cheap but not outrageous. I believe a man should save for a ring, not go in debt, but save for something his future wife will love wearing every day. I agree young people are bad with money, but they will live and learn.
Disagree with your last part. It's the same generalization that the OP made, even though you love big rings!
Not all YOUNG PEOPLE are bad with money. I am a young person and am proud of my investments and savings at such a young age. However, I see numerous OLD PEOPLE (40+, yes I'm categorizing that as "old" if I'm categorized as "young') who live so far beyond their means it's embarrassing that after 40+ years they still haven't lived and learned.
To the OP, my soon-to-be fiance and I have discussed what we think is an appropriate amount for a ring that we're both happy with and that we can afford and that we'll both love to look at, and that's that. It's not $20, and it's not $10,000. It's perfect for US and our realistic financial situation.0 -
I have a lovely engagement ring, but I opted for a CZ instead of a diamond, flanked by two little pink heart-shaped garnets (I knew what I wanted, so we had a jeweler make it, and it's sterling). Our wedding bands are sterling fede rings (recreations of medieval rings). We didn't spend much on any of the rings, but I love what we have. We had our wedding outside (on Halloween) and dressed in costume...so did our guests. I think our biggest wedding expense was the cake, which is the only thing we didn't do ourselves.
The money we didn't spend on rings or a big wedding was instead spent on a honeymoon to Greece and Rome (also low budget -- we couchsurfed for part of it and met some amazing people). What a wonderful time!
But -- that's us and that's what we like. Everyone else should do what THEY prefer. It's a whole lot easier to get a wedding planner and spend the money, especially if you are having a large wedding and a big reception. The smaller the party, the easier it is to do yourselves, but doing everything yourselves is not always an option and not necessarily easy.
Expensive rings are fine too -- after all, it's something you're hoping to wear for your entire life, so it had better be something you REALLY like. If you can get that done for $40, go you! If you can't get it done for under 15K (and can afford it), go for it!0 -
One aspect to consider is the investment.
Diamonds and gold have ballooned in price over the last decade or so.
My wife's set cost $725 ... in 1966.
If they were appraised today, I'm sure the set would go for 10-15 times what I paid.
Maybe more.
I'd say put all the money you can in the rings -- they'll last forever; and put a minimal amount into the ceremony -- that's gone in an hour or two.
The resale price on a piece of used jewelry, and what you would pay for it retail today are not the same thing, and often not even close. Also, many people are attached to their rings, and would have a hard time selling them. Overall, there are probably better investments.0 -
I don't even like rings..is that weird?
So, whatever my future husband spends wont matter as long as its
1) real. 2)pretty
Heck the diamond doesn't even have to be real.. As long as the band is real silver or white gold..
3) i can think of a lot better things to do with $10,000, like a down payment on a house.0 -
hahaha tell me you wouldn't wear this ring:
and if you think that's extravagant, you should see my birthday present.
but hey, i also cooked dinner for the guests at our wedding, planned and executed it myself for under $2000, and am renovating our house (which I bought, btw) with my own two hands. I also cook, clean, work hard to look good and put out on the regular and therefore think that I deserve every damn diamond I own. doesn't matter if you can or can't - having one or many doesn't make you any more or less loved, just more or less judicious with expendable income. or non-expendable income in some cases, I suppose. it's not a reason to judge people who have any more than it's a reason to judge people who have not.0 -
hahaha tell me you wouldn't wear this ring:
I wouldn't. LOL, I'd be terrified to lose it (and I probably would. I'm amazed I haven't lost mine yet).
It is beautiful.0 -
hahaha tell me you wouldn't wear this ring:
I wouldn't. LOL, I'd be terrified to lose it (and I probably would).
It is beautiful.
thanks mama. and that's why it's insured! i actually got a killer deal on the stone - bought it pre-set from someone else (it is GIA certified and has a quantifiable value, unlike uncertified stones or stones with unrecognized certifications) so a quick change of the mounting and it is worth double what I paid. not talking over-inflated appraisal prices either, actual wholesale value to a jeweler on the stone alone is substantially more than my cost. it pays to do your research! xoxo 0 -
Mine was free
. It was his Great Grandmothers. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. 0 -
My boyfriend (now fiance) of three years recently bought this and proposed. Complete surprise, shock, and happiness. Yes it os 2 carat, which some may find too much, do I care? No. He bought it because he thought I would love it. and I do.. Would I have said yes even had it been a tiny ring with a CZ? Absolutely. I love him much more than I could ever love the ring. That being said:
I am young. 23. He is 27. We both work our *kitten* off every day. I work full time and go to school full time (graduating in May). He also works full time. He is well set into a great career where he has already moved up beyond most in his company, and is valued for his knowledge and hard work. We pay every single bill EARLY, EVERY MONTH. No bill is ever late. We never worry how we are going to pay for something. We have plenty of money in the bank so that if either of us lose our job, we will still have the funds to pay our bills for at least six months, if not more. We have money saved for a down payment on a new house in Sept when our lease is up. We both own nice vehicles and rent a very nice apartment. We have money to go out and enjoy dates and not have to worry about who is paying or where we are going.
The point is, not every YOUNG person is bad with their finances. We have money saved that WE WORKED FOR, not because anyone gave it to us. We pay our bills on time, get absolutely no assistance from anyone- and if he wants to buy me a nice ring- why can't he? why does it make us irresponsible or bad with money?0 -
Pretty!0
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We pay every single bill EARLY, EVERY MONTH. No bill is ever late. We never worry how we are going to pay for something. We have plenty of money in the bank so that if either of us lose our job, we will still have the funds to pay our bills for at least six months, if not more. We have money saved for a down payment on a new house in Sept when our lease is up. We both own nice vehicles and rent a very nice apartment. We have money to go out and enjoy dates and not have to worry about who is paying or where we are going.
The point is, not every YOUNG person is bad with their finances. We have money saved that WE WORKED FOR, not because anyone gave it to us. We pay our bills on time, get absolutely no assistance from anyone- and if he wants to buy me a nice ring- why can't he? why does it make us irresponsible or bad with money?
Dang, you sound like MY daughter, except that she and her husband already own a home! Congratulations! I actually think there are quite a lot of young people out there who have learned to tame their finances, and quite a lot of older people who still haven't learned that.0 -
I wouldn't call mine flashy but it is big. A green sapphire set with small diamonds around it. However it was certainly not something I insisted on. Don't know the carats or its value and don't wish to know, that means very little to me.0
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I love seeing ring pictures. They all are beautiful!
Here is mine, set in platinum. I have a big hand.
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I believe the guy should have all the input on the ring. He can spend however much he wants. The idea that a guy wants to spend the rest of his life with you is way more important to me then how much the ring costs. I am recently got married and to me my ring is too flashy for me but I am not going to tell my husband that!0
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That's my engagement ring, wedding band and anniversary band. You can't see the wedding band because it's thin and inbetween the two. They are all soldered together.0 -
To each their own, I say. I just got engaged on the 16th, and my wonderful fiance presented me with a gorgeous ring that was well within the budget. It's not a typical ring, sort of antique looking and the main stone is .25 carat. I am going to wear this through my engagement, and I am going to have an heirloom ring (my Mom's) as my ring when we are married (and that's a very nice piece of jewelry, my Dad did good. lol). The sentimental value outweighs monetary value. My husband to be will put that on my hand the way my Dad did for my Mom. Amazing. I cannot wait!0
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If you have the money and that's what you choose to spend it on, good for you.
But it does drive me a little crazy to see so many couples living in council housing (ie rent-free, or very very low rent) who have a downpayment on a house, or three years' rent, sitting on their finger. You see a lot of that in my neighborhood. I can think of at least a dozen women that I personally know who wear £5000-15,000 rings but can't afford to pay rent.
I don't mean to sound like I'm down on the benefits system, or that I think everyone who collects social security is cheating the system. I don't. I think income support and the like are good things to have for people with low incomes who need the money for food and bills and education and other necessities. I do not think that wedding rings and weddings come under necessities.
Ehh. Even people who don't claim benefits, but live with their parents because they can't afford both a home and an expensive wedding are beyond my comprehension, but if you're happy and your folks are happy, do what you will.
Basically, I think people should live within their means. If your / your partner's salary allows you to spend a lot of money on an engagement ring, and you really want an expensive one, then have it and enjoy it. (Although please refrain from telling everyone you meet how much it cost before they even ask - that's just annoying.) If your salary doesn't allow for it, and you absolutely HAVE to have an expensive ring? Either suck it up and find something you can afford, or work your butt off to make the money.0 -
My ring is the one my dad placed on my mom's finger 45 years ago. I can't tell you the size of the stone and I don't care. It's the family history behind it.0
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I never wear jewellery so I doubt I could even make myself wear a ring everyday, haha. Also, my fingers are size 12/13 so my boyfriend would probably have to propose with an onion ring.0
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Of course, I'm probably prejudiced here. I can't wear rings. Arthritis in the hands. Although if someone buys me a nice silver ring, I sometimes put it on my charm bracelet. I would dearly like to be able to wear one on my finger, but it appears that this is not to be. 0
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It is indeed absurd.
People have totally misplaced values which is why our whole nation is in this dreadful financial condition.
What we need is a horrible depression to toughen us up.
There is nothing better for character building than hard times.0 -
I don't really care much about what other people do, but I can see the OP's point to a degree. I got married four years ago (second marriage) and I was somewhat appalled by some of the things I saw and heard on the wedding board where I posted. It did indeed seem that several of those girls were interested in the wedding, not the marriage. One girl complained constantly about how her fiance worked too much and how it cut into their time together - but never once did she consider scaling back their $50k wedding that they were paying for.
And frankly, I do recall seeing some of the rings that these girls had and wondering how they could afford them - some of these couples were barely out of college and struggling to make ends meet, but were sporting $5k and better rings.These were the same girls complaining that their electricity got cut off, or how they had to borrow money from their parents to buy groceries, most of the time.
It's really no one's business about other people's financial outlook, but it does raise eyebrows when someone is spending thousands on weddings and/or rings while complaining they can't afford the day to day bills. Having been through some pretty tough financial times myself (sometimes of my own doing, more recently due to other "influences") I can empathize with folks who have money issues, but it is difficult to empathize when someone is wearing a $5k diamond ring, driving a brand new $40k car, and getting weekly mani/pedis, all while claiming they can't afford to pay their water bill (and yes, I know someone who does that).
It's not a generalization, because I don't think it applies to "everyone" in a certain age group, or everyone in any group - but I do believe that for some people, the appearance of having money, and how that affects their wedding plans, is much more important than the marriage. And that is something that transcends age - a lot of people get caught up in "keeping up with the Jones's."0 -
Weddings should be cheap, the divorce should cost about 40k, there would be a lot less of them. NOT that sometimes divorce isn't warrented or needed. I just think sometimes it's the easy way out. And again I said sometimes, NOT all the time.0
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My ring is the most beautiful thing I've ever owned. I still smile every time I look at it. Who's to say what is and what isn't a reasonable way for someone else to spend their money?0
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