Myths Busted?
This is an article that was sent to me from theknot.com and it kind of got on my nerves. I'm not gonna include all of the myths because some I don't care to comment on, but the link is at the bottom on the page if you want to see all of them.
Marriage Proposals: Wedding Proposal Myths Busted!
Real brides told us what made their proposal perfect -- and what they would've changed.
Four words can turn the most level-headed person into a stress test nightmare: "Will you marry me?" Think about it: The marriage proposal story is repeated about a thousand times…it's no wonder there's so much pressure. Relieve some of that anxiety by figuring out proposal fact from fiction before you pop the question.
Myth: Carat Size Doesn't Matter
Think a diamond's quality is more important than its size? Although it's a good idea to brush up on the 4 Cs (cut, carat, color, and clarity) before you buy a ring, 68 percent of brides said that a diamond's size is equally as important as its quality. Only 25 percent told us that they'd rather downsize the diamond for a higher quality stone -- the remaining 7 percent believe size is what matters most, regardless of quality. Given these tough economic times, though, there's a lot of wisdom in taking a slightly different route: Buy a ring that's financially responsible, with the promise to upgrade when the economy is more stable. Or you could always go for an emerald cut -- it looks bigger!
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Wow ... you know, it wasn't until I got engaged that I realized many people expected to get a diamond engagement ring. Why is this so important? Why does the quality and size of the diamond matter? More importantly, why does it matter that it's a diamond??!!! Is this why the divorce rate is so high, because if you don't get the right engagement ring you'll never let the guy live it down? I was reading The Conscious Bride: Women Unveil Their True Feelings About Getting Hitched by Sheryl Paul (a pretty depressing book that I'm not sure I'll ever finish), and the author told a story of a couple who had issues during the first two years of their marriage because of an engagement ring. They eventually went to a counselor and the husband agreed to let the bride exchange it for a different one. Are you kidding me????
There were several people in my own life who were surprised that the ring I got was not diamond. Uhhhhhhh .... okay .... I guess I should flush my ring down the toilet and demand I get a ring for a few thousand dollars or the engagement is off? I don't think so. The ring I got is from the man that I love. I would be be devastated if anything happened to it ... and I would never want him to replace it with something more expensive ... the one I have is a reminder of the day we decided to spend our lives together ... a replacement would never have the same meaning.
Myth: Asking Dad's Permission Is Passe
Even if a guy faces Meet the Parents-style fears about asking his girlfriend's father for her hand in marriage, it's not an outdated tradition. In fact, 83 percent of women would like their dad to be asked beforehand, and 25 percent would like their mom included as well.
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To me it IS an outdated tradition. I don't give a rat's ass (pardon my language) what my dad thinks. I haven't researched this, but I feel like this tradition is rooted in a time when women couldn't marry a man without the dad's permission. Sorry daddy, but I'm completely capable of making the decision myself. I'm very glad that Gary and I made the decision the way we did. In my mind, that is the way it should be ... a couple coming together and deciding that they want to spend the rest of their lives together, regardless of what anyone in the world thinks.
But hey, whatever floats your boat..
Myth: Getting on Bended Knee Says It All
To see a guy on one knee with an outstretched ring is a dead giveaway to everyone around that he's proposing. And while that gesture tends to speak for itself, 68 percent of women say it's essential to ask the question, "Will you marry me?" (Another 29 percent said they'd prefer to hear those words, but it's not mandatory.) It's understandable to stutter in such a situation, but try your best to ask the question and you'll make your intentions completely clear.
*Smacks head* Sure, it's nice if he proposes on one knee just like in all the cute little movies, but seriously .... stop living in a fairy tale! Do you want to be with this man forever, or are you caught up in the fact that all of the attention is on you, and you're getting a diamond engagement ring, and you're going to have a perfect wedding with the perfect dress and the perfect wedding ring, and the perfect hoenymoon, and you're going to live happily ever after? I hate to sound bitter, but I feel like that is what marriage has turned into these days ... people don't think past the wedding day, and once all of the excitement is over, all that's left to do is to get a divorce.
http://wedding.theknot.com/getting-engaged/marriage-proposals/articles/wedding-proposal-myths.aspx
Marriage Proposals: Wedding Proposal Myths Busted!
Real brides told us what made their proposal perfect -- and what they would've changed.
Four words can turn the most level-headed person into a stress test nightmare: "Will you marry me?" Think about it: The marriage proposal story is repeated about a thousand times…it's no wonder there's so much pressure. Relieve some of that anxiety by figuring out proposal fact from fiction before you pop the question.
Myth: Carat Size Doesn't Matter
Think a diamond's quality is more important than its size? Although it's a good idea to brush up on the 4 Cs (cut, carat, color, and clarity) before you buy a ring, 68 percent of brides said that a diamond's size is equally as important as its quality. Only 25 percent told us that they'd rather downsize the diamond for a higher quality stone -- the remaining 7 percent believe size is what matters most, regardless of quality. Given these tough economic times, though, there's a lot of wisdom in taking a slightly different route: Buy a ring that's financially responsible, with the promise to upgrade when the economy is more stable. Or you could always go for an emerald cut -- it looks bigger!
****
Wow ... you know, it wasn't until I got engaged that I realized many people expected to get a diamond engagement ring. Why is this so important? Why does the quality and size of the diamond matter? More importantly, why does it matter that it's a diamond??!!! Is this why the divorce rate is so high, because if you don't get the right engagement ring you'll never let the guy live it down? I was reading The Conscious Bride: Women Unveil Their True Feelings About Getting Hitched by Sheryl Paul (a pretty depressing book that I'm not sure I'll ever finish), and the author told a story of a couple who had issues during the first two years of their marriage because of an engagement ring. They eventually went to a counselor and the husband agreed to let the bride exchange it for a different one. Are you kidding me????
There were several people in my own life who were surprised that the ring I got was not diamond. Uhhhhhhh .... okay .... I guess I should flush my ring down the toilet and demand I get a ring for a few thousand dollars or the engagement is off? I don't think so. The ring I got is from the man that I love. I would be be devastated if anything happened to it ... and I would never want him to replace it with something more expensive ... the one I have is a reminder of the day we decided to spend our lives together ... a replacement would never have the same meaning.
Myth: Asking Dad's Permission Is Passe
Even if a guy faces Meet the Parents-style fears about asking his girlfriend's father for her hand in marriage, it's not an outdated tradition. In fact, 83 percent of women would like their dad to be asked beforehand, and 25 percent would like their mom included as well.
****
To me it IS an outdated tradition. I don't give a rat's ass (pardon my language) what my dad thinks. I haven't researched this, but I feel like this tradition is rooted in a time when women couldn't marry a man without the dad's permission. Sorry daddy, but I'm completely capable of making the decision myself. I'm very glad that Gary and I made the decision the way we did. In my mind, that is the way it should be ... a couple coming together and deciding that they want to spend the rest of their lives together, regardless of what anyone in the world thinks.
But hey, whatever floats your boat..
Myth: Getting on Bended Knee Says It All
To see a guy on one knee with an outstretched ring is a dead giveaway to everyone around that he's proposing. And while that gesture tends to speak for itself, 68 percent of women say it's essential to ask the question, "Will you marry me?" (Another 29 percent said they'd prefer to hear those words, but it's not mandatory.) It's understandable to stutter in such a situation, but try your best to ask the question and you'll make your intentions completely clear.
*Smacks head* Sure, it's nice if he proposes on one knee just like in all the cute little movies, but seriously .... stop living in a fairy tale! Do you want to be with this man forever, or are you caught up in the fact that all of the attention is on you, and you're getting a diamond engagement ring, and you're going to have a perfect wedding with the perfect dress and the perfect wedding ring, and the perfect hoenymoon, and you're going to live happily ever after? I hate to sound bitter, but I feel like that is what marriage has turned into these days ... people don't think past the wedding day, and once all of the excitement is over, all that's left to do is to get a divorce.
http://wedding.theknot.com/getting-engaged/marriage-proposals/articles/wedding-proposal-myths.aspx