Hello, ladies!! So glad to have found this wonderful community! I just signed up for the LIW list today, so here's my story:
I'm 25 and the bf is 27. We've been together 2.5 years and living together for 1 year of that. We had a very close, solid relationship pretty early on, and our first big commitment happened a year ago when he found out he had gotten a promotion that required him working for at least 2 years in his company's New York office. We had discussed this possibility, and when he got the promotion, he asked me to move here with him (from Chicago). I happily said yes, and we both agreed at the time that we wouldn't take such a big step together - not just moving in, but moving across the country! - if we didn't feel confident in making a long-term investment.
Since then, I've completed my first six months in business school (part-time, evenings), we've both gotten promotions, and things are going great. We often make references to a future together, and both of our sets of parents can't wait for him to put a ring on it! This past March, we had a timeline discussion, and a few factors came up. Having recently started b-school and with my company going through a particularly hectic time, I didn't want to rush things and not be able to fully enjoy the ring shopping experience. So, we said that we'd re-examine in 6 months, and probably start shopping then (that will be September).
NOW, I'm extremely type-A and love obsessively planning things, so OF COURSE I had to do my pre-ring-shopping ring shopping! In randomly perusing sites online, I came across the Harry Winston "The One," and it literally took my breath away! Yes, literally. I almost died. ...Okay, not literally, but still! The extra-delicate band, the micro-pave halo making the center cushion really pop! I fell in love, and immediately began searching for jewelers in NYC who do this style of ring without a $50k HW price tag. This search brought me to PS, where I've already learned sooo much about stone selection and who to trust for settings...I can't WAIT to get started!
Of course, the bf doesn't know all of this yet. I have such a tendency to over-plan things (vacations, apartment decor, major purchases) that I try to save him from the craziness until he needs to know.
Last week he was out of town on business, and we were talking on the phone a few hours after I had discovered "The One," and I couldn't help mentioning that I already knew what style of ring I wanted. He said "Oh?" and I said "Yup! And when it comes to this relationship, you better be 'in it to win it,' cause this ring is a doozy!" He laughed and said "You know I'm in it to win it." I said "Excellent. If you could please put that in writing, have it notarized and overnight it to me, that would be great." (Just joking around, of course.)
The next day, a FedEx envelope arrives from Chicago (where he's traveling for work). I pull out a handwritten paper that says "I, (name), am hereby and from this day forth, officially 'in it to win it.'" Then he signed and dated it, AND HAD IT NOTARIZED! Yes, there was actually a notary seal on the paper. This is exactly the sweet, cheesy sort of thing he would do, and I have to say it brought tears to my eyes. "The One" ring may be incredible, but it's nothing compared to The One I have in real life.
Looking forward to getting to know you ladies! I'll probably be on the list for some time - the rough plan is to start ring shopping this fall/winter, take our time, make sure the money's in order, and get engaged next spring/summer. I want to finish b-school before the actual wedding, so a long engagement will surely follow. So while I consider myself "in waiting," I'm not too crazed about time yet and plan to take it slow. ...FOR NOW!
I'm 25 and the bf is 27. We've been together 2.5 years and living together for 1 year of that. We had a very close, solid relationship pretty early on, and our first big commitment happened a year ago when he found out he had gotten a promotion that required him working for at least 2 years in his company's New York office. We had discussed this possibility, and when he got the promotion, he asked me to move here with him (from Chicago). I happily said yes, and we both agreed at the time that we wouldn't take such a big step together - not just moving in, but moving across the country! - if we didn't feel confident in making a long-term investment.
Since then, I've completed my first six months in business school (part-time, evenings), we've both gotten promotions, and things are going great. We often make references to a future together, and both of our sets of parents can't wait for him to put a ring on it! This past March, we had a timeline discussion, and a few factors came up. Having recently started b-school and with my company going through a particularly hectic time, I didn't want to rush things and not be able to fully enjoy the ring shopping experience. So, we said that we'd re-examine in 6 months, and probably start shopping then (that will be September).
NOW, I'm extremely type-A and love obsessively planning things, so OF COURSE I had to do my pre-ring-shopping ring shopping! In randomly perusing sites online, I came across the Harry Winston "The One," and it literally took my breath away! Yes, literally. I almost died. ...Okay, not literally, but still! The extra-delicate band, the micro-pave halo making the center cushion really pop! I fell in love, and immediately began searching for jewelers in NYC who do this style of ring without a $50k HW price tag. This search brought me to PS, where I've already learned sooo much about stone selection and who to trust for settings...I can't WAIT to get started!
Of course, the bf doesn't know all of this yet. I have such a tendency to over-plan things (vacations, apartment decor, major purchases) that I try to save him from the craziness until he needs to know.
Last week he was out of town on business, and we were talking on the phone a few hours after I had discovered "The One," and I couldn't help mentioning that I already knew what style of ring I wanted. He said "Oh?" and I said "Yup! And when it comes to this relationship, you better be 'in it to win it,' cause this ring is a doozy!" He laughed and said "You know I'm in it to win it." I said "Excellent. If you could please put that in writing, have it notarized and overnight it to me, that would be great." (Just joking around, of course.)The next day, a FedEx envelope arrives from Chicago (where he's traveling for work). I pull out a handwritten paper that says "I, (name), am hereby and from this day forth, officially 'in it to win it.'" Then he signed and dated it, AND HAD IT NOTARIZED! Yes, there was actually a notary seal on the paper. This is exactly the sweet, cheesy sort of thing he would do, and I have to say it brought tears to my eyes. "The One" ring may be incredible, but it's nothing compared to The One I have in real life.
Looking forward to getting to know you ladies! I'll probably be on the list for some time - the rough plan is to start ring shopping this fall/winter, take our time, make sure the money's in order, and get engaged next spring/summer. I want to finish b-school before the actual wedding, so a long engagement will surely follow. So while I consider myself "in waiting," I'm not too crazed about time yet and plan to take it slow. ...FOR NOW!
love love love the notary 
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