Virginia Engagement & Wedding Directory

Here’s what you do…buy her a diamond and have it set in a traditional tiffany-style mounting. Then pop the question. When she says “Yes”, tell her you’ve set a day aside to take her shopping for the mounting of her choice. This will make her feel like she is part of the decision and make you a hero. Pamper her and treat her like a princess because she will remember this day for the rest of her life. Make arrangements with your jeweler before you purchase the diamond to set up a time for a ‘special’ appointment where she’ll receive extra attention and be able to have her diamond mounted while you wait. Be sure to factor the mounting into your overall budget.

Nearly every diamond contains identifying characteristics or inclusions, although many are not visible to the naked eye. Inclusions are a primary way of identifying specific stones and discerning between natural and simulated diamonds. Flawless (F): no inclusions or blemishes (on the surface of the stone) of any sort. Internally Flawless (IF): no inclusions, but do have minor surface blemishes. Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1 & VVS2): contain minute inclusions, very difficult to see. Very Slightly Included (VS1 & VS2): inclusions are clearly visible under 10X magnification, but not to the naked eye. They are characterized as minor or small in appearance. Slightly Included (SI1 & SI2): inclusions are noticeable or fairly easy to see under 10X magnification, but usually not visible when stone is viewed with the naked eye.

How to propose is basically a question of how creative and imaginative you are. There are many ways of asking your girlfriend the one big question that ultimately leads to the altar and you probably have the idea of a man getting down on one knee while offering his girl a box that contains a ring. Well, this is the classic way of proposing to a woman. But we are now in the twenty-first century and getting down on one knee can be considered a bit too feeble. Nevertheless, it is not a crime to simply go with the flow and do as the millions of men before you did back in the day. But if you want to know how to propose in ways that are more interesting and applicable to this day and age, then you better think about how to enthrall and bewitch your woman's emotion. You know very well that the way to a woman's heart is through her fantasies. Thus, most women just can't say no to things that captivate their imagination. Making your girlfriend want to say a vigorous "yes" to your proposal essentially means holding her spellbound with your act. Some of the more ingenious ideas on how to propose to the woman of your dreams go beyond simply uttering the words. Heck, you can do it 10,000 feet up in the air by printing the big question on your parachute or ask a pilot to write it all for you up in the sky with smoke from his airplane. Smoke signals can work to, but your girlfriend may not get it at all. But if you are great with sign language, you can invite her to go scuba diving and right beneath the sea ask her to marry you using hand signals amid all the bubbles from your scuba gear. If you are the typical shy guy, the best way for you is take a full page ad in your local paper with nothing but your names and the question you have always wanted to ask. A local TV ad can have the same effects, too. But all these do not mean fooling or tricking your girlfriend with crazy antics. On top of making sure that your proposal becomes an unforgettable moment in both your lives, sincerity still counts as the biggest factor when proposing to your bride-to-be. And never forget that most, if not all, women have keen intuitive abilities that can smoke out liars and jokers. But in the end, whatever her decision will be, you can bet that her answer will be directly influenced by how to propose.

Determining your budget for your ring can be a very tricky event in your life, just like when you were choosing your first car to buy. The only difference is that the ring will generally appreciate in value, sentimental or otherwise. While the car will surely depreciate as the years go by. Make sure that your budget for the engagement ring that you will give to your fiancée will enable you to buy the best that you can afford. Determining your budget before you go visit a jewelry store will save you from indecision, which can easily translate to waste of time or, worse, lost opportunity of buying the perfect ring for the girl of your dreams. Indeed, buying an engagement ring can be very confusing under many circumstances, but this is such a very important moment in a man's life that you have to go through no matter what. As a matter of fact, this is the very instance where you will prove to yourself and to your future bride that you are no longer a careless irresponsible guy but rather a gentleman ready to mind his place in life and start a family. Determining your budget for an engagement ring may sound like a very insignificant undertaking. But in truth, it can be considered as the beginning of the rest of your married life because the ring and the memories or the affection that it can bring later on can last for a lifetime. For this reason, jewelry experts believe that you should choose an engagement ring that is at least equivalent to two months of your salary. This supposedly standard price range may look ridiculous for some, but you owe it to your fiancée to determine if the amount you are ready to shell out for a ring truly befits your feelings for her. In the end, determining your budget for an engagement ring is not only about the money in your pocket. As there can be no going back after you have made up your choice, you should also carefully consider other important factors from the size of the diamond and the time you need to shop around for the ring, to the skin condition of your bride-to-be. Always remember that everything about getting married requires some serious decision making process and budgeting for your engagement ring is right in the middle of the spotlight. Hence, whatever budget you have for a ring, never buy on a rush.

Finding the right ring for her is your next step after you meet the girl of your dreams and if she is truly special, you would take time to learn how to choose the perfect ring that she would be proud to wear. Picking the right ring for her can help you a lot when the time comes for you to finally ask her the big question. Believe it or not, the size, shape and grade of the ring you choose can be the difference between a vibrant and an unenthusiastic "yes". Well, you do not want to be embarrassed in front of all those people in your engagement party or the small band of Mariachis serenading you at the dining table. So, you better try not to foul the mood up by choosing a mediocre engagement ring. There are no hard-and-fast rules in finding the right ring for her and that's definitely good news for most guys who absolutely hate following rules, especially when it comes to girlie issues. What matters most is that the ring should suit your woman's personality. But at the very least, you should make sure that the ring fits your budget as well. There is no use for you taking aim at a very expensive ring if you know that you can not afford it in the first place. Though, this is not to say that the perfect ring for your bride-to-be should be measured by the price tag attached to it. If you really have no idea on how to go about finding the right ring for her, you can always visit reputable jewelry stores in your area and take a look at all the different types of ring designs available. But if you are like most men who are either too lazy or too pressed for time, you can also check out a wide variety of engagement rings online. On a good weekend, you can grab a cold one and start surfing the Net to find the perfect ring for your woman. In the end, finding the right ring for her is the best way to tell your future bride how much she means to you. You can call it an investment or you can write it as an outright expense. But only two things are for sure, your future wife will wear that ring for the rest of her married life and whenever she looks at it, she can only think of you. So, choose very carefully.