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Engagement

Engagement ring

If there exists a jewel with the highest sentimental value is, undoubtedly, the engagement ring.

The practice of giving a engagement ring raises from the roman gentleman, who assure them about their marriage agreement with a piece of ring-shaped iron that the woman keeps until the promise of marriage were fulfilled.

The tradition of putting a diamond on this jewel, popularizes so much that there were made cuts and special settings to increase the shine and purity of the stone.

In fact, has been said that the first engagement ring with a diamond and the characteristics of an actual ring, was given in the year 1477 from the Archduke Maximilian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy.

The couple gives to each other a circular alliance, as symbol of eternal love, represented in a ring that doesn’t have beginning or end.

In the 9Th century, the pope Nicholas authorized to consider the giving of a ring like to formalize a couple’s relationship. Actually, this practice keep going and the ritual is incorporated on the catholic wedding and in some others. In the civil weddings, the couple can make use of this tradition too.

The rings can be made of different materials, but the most used are gold and diamond. When the couple gets engaged, the boyfriend usually gives a engagement ring with a diamond to his girlfriend, although can be used another stone.

In the ceremony, the rings are exchanged, and from this moment on, the bride uses the engagement ring at the same time with the wedding ring. She uses her rings on the ring finger of the left hand (the hand depends of the practice of each country), putting the wedding ring first, based on the belief that this finger gets connected straight to the heart. But, a few moments before the ceremony begins, the bride must remind to pass the engagement ring to the other hand, so, her bridegroom can put the wedding ring to her easily during the ritual.

The bridegroom gives to the bride the ring to symbolize their endless love. Although these rings are made of so many materials, the most used are gold and diamond, that means the love will be as strong and pure as these materials.

How and where to give the engagement ring?

At least, when you decide to get engaged, there raises many questions: How? When? Where….? We give you some ideas, but remember that no one knows better your girlfriend than you. You must know her dreams, her fantasies, her illusions. The only thing you have to do is think about her. That day will be part of her history and it’s up to you how she remembers it the rest of her life.

The engagement ring is chosen only and exclusively for the boyfriend with complicity of a parent or close friend. The girlfriend does not get involved. When the couple visit some jewelries to choose the model of the ring, and the girlfriend participates, all the charming, the mystery and the tradition of the truthful engagement gets lost.

There are one thousand and one ways to make possible the engagement, just sit and think how she would like you do it. To help you, we have made a small questionnaire, so you can realize the right way to ask the woman you love to be your wife.

In private or in public? Would you like to be in that moment with parents and friends or you’ll choose to have it intimate, just both of you, giving the engagement ring?

How is her personality? Romantic, happy, sentimental, sexy, passionate. Then, you’ll know is the best way to ask her to marry you. For example, if she is romantic, you can invite her to have dinner with candles in a restaurant, and give her the engagement ring.

Can both of you to go out on weekend? You can go out of the city for one day, in weekend to the beach or any place she likes to go frequently, so you can be alone and to give the engagement ring.

Which activities she likes to do? What are her hobbies? Think about all the things she likes to do and that will help you in find the right place you must give her the engagement ring: a restaurant, her house, the beach, a disco, the cinema, just mentioning a few options.

Which day is the indicated? This will be an important factor. You can think in a special day and give her the engagement ring. Could be on the day you met, the day you become boyfriends, her birthday or Christmas. You must keep in mind that the day be one year by far before the day of marriage, to avoid getting misunderstood.

Remember that these questions are just to give you an idea how to astonish your girlfriend when you give her the engagement ring. Don’t forget that the surprise factor is the most important.

Some advices to the giving of the engagement ring

- Invite her to a dinner and hide the engagement ring on the food.
- To ask the hand of her in marriage in some public place like a bar, a party or familiar meeting.
- To hide the ring and play clues.
- Take her to the place you met or any other special place.

To ask the hand of.

This act has a great meaning to the couple and their families because, from that day on, you will have a truelove knot very strong, with the purpose that the boyfriend asks to the girl’s father “permission” to marry her daughter.

Formerly, the couple must wait for her father’s permission about the decision of getting married even so much time before the couple start to planning their wedding. With the years, this tradition has modernized, and now to ask the hand of, is used to get together the parents of each one and to become acquainted with before the wedding.

Also, it takes place in order to formalize the engagement in front of both families. It can vary depending of how traditional they are.
The engagement dinner

There’s no stipulated form to do it, because the way the boy’s father can express it is very personal. Usually, he talks about what represents, to him and his family, the engagement. Obviously, he gives the best wishes to the couple and bring them backup for anything they need. Then, the girl’s father do as the same and at last, he gives cheers for the couple. Formality is taken like you want, from something very elegant to something simple and informal.

Usually, the dinner is planned for the bride and her family, with the purpose to get closer the family of the bridegroom. It can takes place in the bride’s house, but can be arranged in other place like a restaurant or something.

It’s important to have in mind:

- To ask the hand of, must be done as soon as possible once the couple have decided to get married, in order to meet their families (just in case they haven’t met before) and to get finished all the details of the wedding.
- If hasn’t done yet, to define the wedding day.
- To arrange in which form the families get involved.
- The boyfriend can use this occasion to give his girlfriend the engagement ring.
- The people who won’t be required to the wedding, shouldn’t be invited.