Rules of Engagement Rings


 Source: 1//2//3//4

Now don't get excited: I haven't gotten engaged. Not that I would never want to be engaged. I think it's incredibly elegant to be able to refer to your significant other as 'fiancé', and the internet has shown me many beautiful examples of proposal scenes (just try not to cry at this one). That moment where you go out on a limb (literally in this case: the knee) by basically saying "hey babe, I want to spend the rest of my life with you"... I mean seriously, who wouldn't want to experience that?



I would wear a red wedding dress. This one is by Vera Wang.

The best wedding I've been to was my brother's. Or at least it was the wedding that most suited my own preferences. You can read about it here, includes lots of pictures. I loved how casual and happy the entire day was, and the setting was completely perfect. I don't even really want a 'real' wedding. I'd like a dress and a party with great food, but I don't need to be officially wed. I think I see myself as doing some sort of individualized hippie ceremony sooner than getting a marriage license and making it official in a city hall. Besides, my boyfriend is Belgian and I'm Dutch, and he's told me that I'll get a Belgian passport if we were to wed. And I'm sort of ridiculously sentimental about my Dutch nationality.

ANYWAY, if I were to get married, I'd want a ring. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it has to be pretty so that every time I look down at my hand, I can fully soak up the beauty of the love me and my fiancé share. You know? And since the ring I wear right now is a circle, it probably doesn't surprise you that I have a thing for halo rings. Halo rings basically have one centre stone that is surrounded by a circle of smaller stones. It's a bit like "I heard you like bling, so I put your bling in some bling so you can bling while you bling". You know? To make my weird explanation a bit clearer: these are all halo rings.



 Aaaaah, the bling! 
From left to right: Rondel's, designed by Natalie K//Uneekjewelry//Coronetdiamonds

Did you know pink diamonds are not only gorgeous but also very rare? Yeah, unless I win the lottery, I probably won't be able to afford a pink diamond. If I ever were to get a big rock I'd get the best bang for my buck by going for a coronet diamond, apparently. During my latest round of getting lost in google, I read that coronet diamonds actually give you the look of big stone but for a much lower price, because a coronet diamond is basically a couple of smaller diamonds placed together to mimic the look of a larger rock. If you look at the rightmost ring close enough, you can notice it. PROTIP, something to remember!

After looking at some pictures I actually think I like rounded square centre stones the best, but if I ever were to pick out a ring I'd definitely go try it on. In my experience (like when I picked out my Diamanti Per Tutti ring), trying on a ring and seeing it on your actual hand can make a huge difference. Don't ask me to explain, but if I were to wear a ring for the rest of my life, it would have to make my hand look hella elegant. It doesn't need a big stone -  I think I'd much rather eat sushi every week for a year rather than paying big bucks for a rock - but I would want something that I'm head over heels with. Maybe a vintage piece? Not sure. After all, the actual act of tying your future another individual is more important than having a piece of shiny stone on your finger.

This post isn't really going anywhere, is it? What can I say, sometimes after a long day at work and some frustrating hours spent on trying to properly install a dishwasher, you waste a lot of time on the internet. And it ends in putting together a little wedding inspiration. Or, you know, pinning recipes that include a lot of cheese.

PS Stéphanie, when are you picking up your awesome wedding blog again? THE PEOPLE NEED THEIR INSPIRATION!

I don't even need to ask this, just be honest: you have a wedding pinterest board, don't you?


33 comments

  1. "It doesn't have to be expensive, but it has to be pretty so that every time I look down at my hand, I can fully soak up the beauty of the love me and my fiancé share. You know?"



    I know. I know so well. I'm getting married in October and I have the dress and have booked the venue and have even picked out the ring, but he is planning some secret proposal so I don't have it yet. In the meantime, he is working out of town 5 days a week and I'm anxious to get the ring for the very reason you mentioned. A little sparkly reminder of all the joyful things to come.

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  2. oh but that's so very exciting!! I wouldn't be able to sleep if I could expect a proposal ANY DAY how do you COPE? :D btw show me your dress or at least describe it to me

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  3. Hmmm, I guess it would be safe to post the dress here since said fiance is hardly ever online and eschews most social media. But I'll just post the link from the website just in case. Make sure you look at the third photo, I think the dress the model in the first two photos wears is too big for her. Mind you, I am vain and I think I fill it out a lot better than the waify models...I think it is meant for someone with a defined hourglass shape. http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_One-Shoulder-Tulle-Ball-Gown-with-Lace-Appliques-CKP421_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Designer-Oleg-Cassini

    I am not coping well at all!! Hahaha I am the absolute worst. He is so awful...he planned to do it this past Saturday on the weekend of my birthday, but my friends threw me a party and apparently ruined his big plans. So now I'm in even more agony, and he tells me to "Just wait. Put it out of your mind. I promise you will be so excited when it happens." !!!

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  4. Whoops, apparently I posted the photo of me after all...I thought I deleted it before I posted the comment?? Oh well.

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  5. Do you want me to delete it for you? Let me know! The dress is absolutely gorgeous by the way, fairytale quality but without being too twee, and you DO fill it out perfectly. I can't imagine your fiancé not being mesmerized when he sees you in that. Did you have to search a long time to find the dress that rocked your world?

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  6. I *think* it should be safe. Hahaha. Thank you!!! I was actually a little disappointed by how quickly I found "the one." I thought I would get to play dress-up a little longer! And Michael had predicted that I would do that, so I even considered putting it off just to be defiant. I only tried on 4 dresses altogether. I was surprised that I didn't come away with a mermaid or fit-and-flare gown, as that is what I had envisioned for myself. But I loved the vintage feel to the gown, and the little one-shoulder embellishment (that you can't see in my photo).

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  7. I saw it in the other pictures, I love shoulder details or faux sleeves as well. You totally look like a princess, I wouldn't keep looking either if I'd found that looked so good on me. Best of luck!

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  8. I confess: I have 3 wedding boards (one for dress/hairdo, one for party inspiration and one for the cake!) but... they just stay as 'secret boards'! :P
    I, like you, don't want a huge princess party, but something small & fun and with nice food and on open air, in the garden, with belove people and... Ok, stop dreaming, my 10+ years together boyfriend would never ask :D
    Btw, Loving Keira's dress! Yesssss to a knee lenght dress!

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  9. hahaha you're worse than I am :D why would your boyfriend never ask? You could always ask him!

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  10. well, he actually asked last year while I had my hands in the sink washing dishes in the morning.. even before making coffee, maybe it was a dream XD
    it has been years we talk of getting married but never started with the actual organization of the whole thing, even if we think of a small party.. let's just say we're a lazy couple! :P

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  11. Such a gorgeous dress and how exciting is expecting that proposal?! Good luck!

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  12. Thank you! Exciting and maddening all at once. ^.^

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  13. You read mah thoughts, Bels! I was just thinking about engagement rings in the shower and imagining mine :D btw, stirring the bf in the right direction with a blog post is a brilliant idea! I'd hate to get a ring I don't love, nobody want a crappy ring, right?! We have a pretty similar taste when it comes to diamonds too, I also love colored ones, but indeed, cosmic prizes :(

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  14. hahaha "i was just thinking about engagement rings in the shower" :D lovesit

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  15. I reflect in the shower a lot :D I always imagined you in pink wedding dress btw.

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  16. I don't have clear expectations, I would be open to anything! Pink, lilac, coral, lace, tulle, sequins, I just have to look and feel amazing in it :D

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  17. Hihi, zalige post! Ik heb al vaak met een grote mond gezegd dat ik niet weet of ik ooit wil trouwen, maar stiekem wil ik dat eigenlijk toch wel. Geen traditionele trouw, maar - een beetje zoals jou - een kleine, originele 'hippieceremonie' en daarna gewoon een BBQ ofzo. Trouwens, op de post over je vriendje (vorige week) heb ik nog niet gereageerd maar ik wil nu toch graag zeggen dat ik het vorige week al heb gelezen heb en heel erg ontroerd was. Je vriend mag 'zijn beide pollekes kussen' dat hij iemand heeft gevonden die zo mooi en oprecht over zijn liefde aan hem kan vertellen. Ik gun jullie zeker een verloving hoor ;-) X

    (Ik ben trouwens in 't bezit van de verlovingsring van mijn mama. Een heel klein, subtiel, schoon ding maar met ontzettend veel waarde - zeker nu mijn ouders uit elkaar zijn.)

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  18. Waarom keek ik naar dat filmpje! Ik moet ook àltijd huilen. Ik overweeg om als ik afgestudeerd ben samen met mijn huisgenoot (die is documentaire regisseur) huwelijken te gaan fotograferen/filmen maar ik ga daar sowieso ook moeten huilen haha. Trouwens, geen pinterest board voor mij! Ik droom wel van een tof hippiefeest op het strand met fijne muziek en dansen tot de zon op komt, maar dat mag voor eender welke gelegenheid zijn, al lijkt een trouw mij wel het meest voor de hand liggend ;)

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  19. Ik heb ook al mijn perfect exemplaar in gedachten (en eigenlijk al de helft van mijn sprookjeshuwelijk, al kan ik nooit kiezen over welke locatie voor het feest :D Torn tussen een strand of een bos of gewoon ergens in de mooie natuur, met dan zo mega mooie lampjes die over de tafel hangen etc. Yes ik heb al teveel op pinterest gezeten ;) nu nog wachten tot mijn vriendje mij vraagt haha. Maar liefst niet te snel dan blijft de vraag 'wanneer is de trouw' hangen ;)
    Dat rode Vera Wang kleed is echt prachtig trouwens!

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  20. Hi Annebeth! Just found your blog, you totally rule! Fashion+Feminism forever. Hope you get an awesome ring someday (maybe you will be able to get a pink one for yourself!)

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  21. that's so sweet, thanks for visiting! and I usually by my own stuff but I make an exception for jewelry, it has more sentimental value if it's a gift. Or at least a gift to myself at some special occasion! :D

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  22. Neen, ik heb (nog) geen wedding Pinterest board, ook niet privé I promise!
    Ik ben op het gebied van trouwen echt wel traditioneel : man moet vrouw vragen, ik wil een witte jurk, wil maar 1x trouwen (alhoewel dit van iedereen wel het initiële plan zal zijn haha), erna pas kindjes,.. Traditioneler kan bijna niet denk ik? :p ik vind het nog wat vroeg om nu te trouwen maar op de 10e verjaardag van 'de verkering' van mijn vriendje en ik , dat zou perfect zijn (is over 5j en dan ben ik 25, ideaal voor mij)
    Oh pfff, nu wil ik op Pinterest gaan haha :D
    xo Lyn
    www.blondebutterflies.blogspot.com

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  23. I had a wedding pinterest board until recently! I might restart one even though I'm married. You know, for... um... renewing our vows someday? Haha! I LOVE the middle ring with the pink diamond. I'm a sucker for colored stones, and that one is so gorgeous! And the wedding dress! Oh my. If I had worn a colored wedding dress, it would have been red, definitely!

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  24. Haha ik heb geen wedding board en eigenlijk geen trouwambitie. Wel al een diamanten ring aan mijn vinger, daar mag het bij blijven ;)

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  25. so nice ideas for wedding ring designs well get some new models designs in wedding planner ipad app free<> thanks

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  26. I feel obligated to tell you that he proposed this past Saturday!!! I was totally surprised. He created this beautiful shoe storage chest for me and hid the ring in a jewelry drawer at the top. *swoon*

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  27. That's not too terrible...I have one for the bridesmaids, one for the groomsmen, one for cakes, one for bridal hair, one for bridal make-up, and one for general wedding decor. And probably another one that I'm forgetting about. Mildly obsessed.

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  28. ooooh the ring is gorgeous and that is SO romantic! like, movie-romantic! best of luck to you two!

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