My Precious

     Almost a year and a half after we started dating Ben and I knew exactly where we were headed--straight down that long white aisle! After dropping many, many, many hints about ring styles and loudly ooohing and aaahing at various jewelry stores while wandering through the mall one day, he finally got the hint and designated one Saturday in early January 2008 as our Official Ring Shopping Extravaganza.

     All dressed up, we hit every jeweler in the enormous Mall of Georgia that day, exploring styles I liked, styles I didn't, and rings that simply made me go glassy-eyed in pleasure. Now when it comes to rings, engagement rings especially, I've always been an equal opportunity lover of all styles. Halos? Yes, please! Three-stone with etched band? Sure! Sapphire side stones? Come to mama! I'm not picky. The only thing regarding style that I've always known is that given the choice between a large solitaire on a plain band and a smaller carat weight ring with multiple stones and antique detailing, I'd always go with the latter. Size didn't matter, but detail did.

So we searched and tested and eventually found my beauty. Throughout the day Ben would slip each ring that I loved onto my finger and test drive it a little, asking me how I felt, and we eventually narrowed the choice down to three: two beautiful princess cuts and a three-stone ring that made me cry the minute it hit my finger. The choice between the rings was his to make, because I didn't want to know ahead of time, but I think the crying was his sign that it was The One. : )

 At this point I knew he had the money to buy a ring (in fact, he even bought the ring that day when I wasn't with him! Sneaky man...) but I didn't know what he would choose or when he would propose. The anticipation was KILLING me. Various scenarios ran through my head a hundred times a day about when he could do  it, how he could do it, and every time a significant date came up, I'd dress my best and take extra time with my makeup, and be all nerves and butterflies. When, man, WHEN??

Up next you'll hear all about the lovely proposal, but until then, check out my precious, the three-stone tearjerker that even comes with her very own matching wedding band!

How about you? Did you help pick out your ring or was he all on his own? Spill it!