How to Plan a Stunning Proposal (Ring and All)

Until you actually have to propose, you probably thought the hardest part was finding the ONE. But you know the proposal (and the ring) will be something you both remember and cherish for the rest of your lives.

Jewelry Creations, your independently owned jewelry store in downtown Dover, has years of experience (and plenty of resources, both online and in the store) in both areas. They even have a list of proposal ideas on their website, including:

1) Take her out to your favorite restaurant, and have the wait staff bring out a menu that you designed. Some of the menu choices could be dates that you had, romantic experiences, and you could save the proposal part for the main course, or even dessert.

2) If you're both runners, write the proposal question in chalk along her usual running route. Plan to go with her that morning, and bring the engagement ring with you. Just for the sake of suspense, write her first name on the sidewalk, then a quarter mile later, write her last name, and then a quarter mile after that, write the full question on the sidewalk: Will You Marry Me? Give her the ring then, and get down on one knee.

3) Plan a treasure hunt around your house, or even your town or city, with a string of clues that eventually lead to her engagement ring.

For the ring itself, shopping at a local jewelry store gives you more security than an online shop: You can try it on, learn about the 4 Cs (cut, color, clarity and carat), be assured the stone is genuine and receive free appraisals and complementary cleanings.

Consider whether you should go shopping together (this Cosmopolitan fashion editor thinks you should); if you decide to shop solo, be sure to find out her ring size.

According to Glamour, this year's engagement ring trends include "unique stone shapes and off-kilter settings," pear-shaped stones, trillion-cut diamonds, East-West styles (the stone is set horizontal, rather than vertical), marquise-cut stones and two-stone settings.

Locally, Jewelry Creations has seen a lot of interest in the "dream" cut diamonds in the Hearts on Fire line, like this Transcend Dream Solitaire Halo Engagement Ring.

Whatever the current trends might be, the most important thing is finding a ring within your budget that SHE loves. Could commissioning a custom ring be a good option? Learn more about the process here.

Ready to schedule an engagement consultation with Jewelry Creations? Click here.