Elizabeth Scott Photography

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For women, part of the magic of a proposal is receiving the ring of their dreams. For men, it’s knowing that they chose the perfect ring out of a sea of options.

Helping your future fiancé accomplish the feat of choosing one of the most important pieces of jewelry of your life is a delicate task. Nudging him in the right direction can be achieved through means befitting your own personality: if you are more traditional and trusting of his taste, subtlety is your best bet. For a bolder bride with an unassailable image of her ring-to-be fixed in her mind, more forward hinting may be the way to go.

Whatever kind of fiancée-to-be you are, there is a tactic perfect for you.

the antsy fiancées

- When flipping through a magazine, subtly comment on a picture of a ring you like. “Isn’t this beautiful?” “I just love princess-cut rings.”

- Complimenting a friend’s ring is another way to subtly suggest your tastes and allow you to indirectly tell your future fiancé what cut and color appeal to you.

- If a verbal exclamation of interest is daunting, leave a magazine open to a picture of a ring you like. For the stealthier of women: cut out a picture and slip it in his wallet.

- Your girlfriends and sisters are more than just future bridesmaids. Tell them what you like and don’t like. They can do what they will with that information – tell your future fiancé or even offer to accompany him on a shopping trip.

- While out and about with your significant other, casually stop by a jewelry store and browse the ring selection.

- For the audacious fiancée-to-be, shop with your future fiancé for the ring itself. While less romantic, this is a surefire way to receive the ring you have always wanted when he pops the question. Some couples even choose to design a ring together.

- Don’t forget the role of your fiancé-to-be in this process. If you have casually mentioned what you like and don’t like, you can always tell him to surprise you. Another option is choosing a few you like and letting him choose the perfect ring from those.

- Leave this article open, and your main man can read on below.

the anxious fiancés

- Take note of what kind of jewelry your future fiancée wears. Does she prefer gold or silver? Big, chunky jewelry or feminine, dainty pieces? Noticing these subtle details will help you choose the right ring.

- Spend just 30 minutes researching rings. Learn about the four C’s (cut, color, clarity, and carat), different settings and shapes, and even decide on a general budget.

- To find out her ring size, either take a ring she wears on her ring finger and slip it on, marking where it stops on your finger, or trace the inside of the ring onto a piece of paper. Asking her is always an option, but use one of these tactics to maintain the element of surprise.

- Female friends of your fiancée – anyone from her mom to her best friend– are excellent resources for ring advice.

- Contemplate her lifestyle when buying a ring. Is she active? Does she get her hands dirty on a daily basis? Certain settings are better suited to more active women.

- Trust yourself. Hopefully you know your fiancée-to-be pretty well by now, so your intuition and judgment are probably sound.