Weddingbee Blog

Mr. S asked my father for permission to marry me in September of 2008, and then began the Great Ring Search of 2k8. We researched, we looked, we obsessed, I cried about 100 times, and just generally stressed the hell out about it.

I didn’t want him to have to take a loan out to get the ring. We are both college students. We don’t need more loans. Also, it was important to him that he pay for it himself, that is with money he earned and no parental involvement. I also liked this.

We soon found out that we were pretty “meh” when it came to most engagement rings during our search. Or, if we really liked it, it was ridiculously out of our price range. Plus, there was nothing we really *loved*. More frustration and tears followed.

Then, then, then. Then then then. THEN, while aimlessly dream-shopping on the Tiffany & Co. website, I noticed a little blippy thing at the bottom of the page. “Paloma Picasso Sugar Stacks. New!” One of the rings in the cluster was a clear stone set in a silver-colored metal, and I went ape-shit. I went even more crazy when I clicked on the link.

This was my ring. It was. I knew it. It was beautiful, perfect, and really so very me AND us. Let me ’splain and wax poetic about it for a moment. It’s a big ol’ rock, 8 carat crystal quartz, and set in sterling silver. It’s funky and not the traditional and expected engagement ring. It was designed by Paloma Picasso, who is the youngest daughter of Pablo Picasso. Hello, my favorite artist. Big time. Also, it’s T&Co. C’mon now.

So, back to the story. I sent the link to Mr. S, he loved it, and a week or so later we went to visit it. We were scared poopless to walk into Tiffany’s, and I have no idea why. I’ve been in that store about 293408 times with my parents, and never have been nervous before. Anyway, the ring was eighty-four trillion times more beautiful in person. We died, right there.

I stalked the ring online for a few weeks. I’d re-open the page about every 4 minutes. I tried not to be pushy or drop too many hints. (And I’m sure I failed, miserably.)

Fast forward a few weeks. It was November 22nd, and we were with my parents at Phipps Plaza helping my mom pick out some new glasses. After helping her pick the glasses, Mr. S and I were sitting outside of the glasses boutique talking about the ring. All of a sudden, Mr. S said, “Let’s go get it.”

I was stunned, shocked, and didn’t believe it was happening! I scurried into the shop to alert my parents, and they wrapped things up and tagged along with us. We went into Tiffany’s, all four of us, and we saw the ring. Mr. S asked to see the ring, and after a once-over, said “We’d like this, and we’d like it engraved.”

We had it engraved with my “new”, i.e. married, initials. The ring then went on a long journey to big Tiffany’s in NYC to be engraved. After leaving the store, I thought I was going to burst with happiness. I’m not one to cause a scene in public, so I was quite reserved in the store, but I just barely contain myself. My mother was jumping up and down. It was all so lovely and perfect.

We picked the ring up on December 18th, and on New Year’s Eve, he proposed at midnight. And it’s been on my finger ever since.

Were more people involved in searching for and buying your engagement ring than just you and your FI? What did it feel like to share the experience?