OPINIONS please: engagement scenario, other gifts, etc.

[diamondguy75]

Ok, I can''t decide what to do in this scenario. I have an engagement ring, will be asking my GF during Christmas vacation. Now, I also have a 4 ct tennis bracelet (got a deal from the jeweler when I bought the e-ring). I was planning on just giving her the bracelet for Christmas and then proposing some time after that. I was thinking I can''t propose first because then the Christmas gift just gets overshadowed. But I''ve talked to a few people and they are saying hold the bracelet until her birthday or something because it''s too much to give all at the same time and she won''t really appreciate the bracelet as much as she would at a later time. What do you think/what would you do? Her birthday isn''t for another 11 months (just passed in Sept) so it seems like a long time to hold the bracelet and not let her wear it, but I can see the side of not giving it so close to proposing. Maybe valentines day, although that''s a lot more than we would normall spend for Vday. Not a bad problem to have, but I''m just wondering what everyone thinks. Thanks for input.

 

[upgrading mama]

hmmm. What a great dilemma

is she ''expecting'' a proposal? Maybe you could give her the bracelet first as her Christmas gift. This could be dangerous because if she is expecting a proposal, she may get mad, etc. But I think give her the bracelet and maybe even while she is still oooohing and ahhhhhing over it, you could get down on your knee and propose. I am sure this would catch her off guard! I don''t think most gals expect 2 great sparklies at once.


i wouldn''t wait until next September sooo long to wait; that''s when my bday is too!. You may as well share in the joy of this extra engagement gift now.

congrats!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Listen, that girl is probably longing for a proposal! So don''t disappoint her at Christmas! I''d propose at Thanksgiving and then give her the bracelet for Christmas! Or, if you have to wait, then propose and give her the ring at Christmas and save the bracelet until Valentine''s Day, and tell her it is really a combination V-day and early birthday present!

 

[diamondguy75]

I will propose over Christmas definitely not thanksgiving. So one person says wait until Vday and one thinks it would add to the moment at Christmas. Does anyone else (women especially) have some insight about how it might go over on each date. Just to add a little info, a 4 ct tennis bracelet is not considered a normal gift for what we usually give each other.

 

[JulieN]

obviously propose first.

it doesn't really matter when you give the bracelet. the amount of how much /I/ appreciate a jewelry gift (coming from someone like a boyfriend, fiance, husband) depends on how well suited to me it is, not on when it was given...

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I have another idea. I''d save the bracelet for a wedding gift! I think that would be a spectacular suprise and make it even more special!

 

[Kaleigh]

Since you are proposing over Christmas, I''d wait till Valentines day to give her the bracelet. She won''t be expecting anything like this as it''s out of the norm for you two and will be blown away. Just my 0.2

 

[Molly1024]

Date: 10/17/2006 9:29:57 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I have another idea. I''d save the bracelet for a wedding gift! I think that would be a spectacular suprise and make it even more special!

That''s a great idea! It might be awhile from now, but then you can say that you bought it before you were engaged for your future wife- so romantic!

 

[anacgarcia]

i agree with Kaileigh, propose on Christmas vacation and give her the bracelet on valentine''s day... it doesn''t matter it''s too much for Vday, tell her it''s a special gift because you''re now engaged, she''ll love it

PS. we want pictures!!!

 

[reader]

Morning of the wedding might be good. Or, go for unique...slip her the bracelet as the clock strikes midnight on New Year''s Eve.

Then again, this is coming from a woman whose man proposed/celebrates Love on Groundhog Day...Valentines is for sending small treats in the mail to each other since we work in different cities....

 

[gail013]

I think no matter what anyone can suggest you will be too excited and want to give her the bracelet early. I know I could not hold off on a great gift like that! Getting engaged is a celebration in itself. I would be inclined to give her the bracelet on Christmas Eve, which is such a romantic night. You could say that you just couldn''t wait until Christmas to give it to her. And then what if you had that ring hanging on the Christmas tree? You may have other plans for your proposal though. Either way, she will be totally blown away.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 10/17/2006 9:29:57 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
I have another idea. I''d save the bracelet for a wedding gift! I think that would be a spectacular suprise and make it even more special!

I was thinking the same thing but didn''t know if he wanted to wait that long. My DH gave my diamond/sapphire earrings on our wedding day. We saw each other before the ceremony for a photo op (It was the best thing we could have done because this way I was calm/relaxed during the ceremony) He gave me the gift then and of course I cried a little. I *think* they got photos of that (if I ever get them grrrr....) I heard clicking anyways, which I think is really special.

 

[diamondguy75]

I think I can wait until Valentines Day, but I''m not going to hold out all the way until her bday. As for the Christmas eve idea, I like it but I won''t do that because if I give it to her then she will clearly know I am proposing on Christmas or I wouldn''t have given her such a big gift on Christmas eve. She doesn''t really know that I am doing it at this point, but she probably suspects it will be within the next 6-9 months so I don''t want to tip her off to the precise time. I''m not sure exactly how I''m going to propose. It''s going to be Christmas at her house with her family (brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, maybe cousins etc.) so I''m not sure if I should do it in front of everyone at Christmas or choose a more private moment. What do you think about that? Is it kind of like the more the merrier? Seems like kind of a personal preference thing, but maybe someone has some experience or insight about that. I was thinking that another gift would be good and then I could kind of work my way onto a knee slyly in order to pretend like I''m helping with the first gift and then propose while she isn''t expecting it, but I''m not sure. The ring in the tree thing probably wouldn''t be a good idea because there will be several people there and who knows if something might happen to the ring and foil the plan. So yeah, still have plenty of work to do on my plan and it might hinge a little bit on what I do with the bracelet so I''m trying to figure that out. I guess my original plan was basically give the bracelet, wait for the shock value, propose while she is still in awe. But I am now considering the fact that it might be overkill to come out with such an unusually large gift right before proposing. So welcoming any suggestions about either issue, and thanks for all the input so far. Oh and New Years Eve I actually like that too, but I think we are going to be on a flight for the ball drop

I will post pictures when I have them, but probably will be another week or so.

 

[Kaleigh]

I guess it depends on what kind of a girl she is. Would she want a more private proposal, sneak her away from the family, propose and then celebrate with everyone there?? Or would she love it if you did it infront of her family?? Only you know the answer to that. I vote for the private proposal and then sharing your happy news with everyone afterwards. To me that''s a win win situation, you have your special moment alone, and get to share your joy with everyone afterwards. That''s actually how my husband did it, so I guess I am a bit biased.

 

[diamondfan]

There are lots of ways to go, depending on her and the scenario at Christmas...

If she is a private girl, I would propose during a quiet moment before gifts are opened, unless you have some small gifts for her and can give her a few things and then propose (either away from family or if she would not mind, in front of them)...

bracelet can be held for
anniversary of first date gift now that you are engaged
Valentine''s (setting a high bar but great anyway!)
As an engagement gift (besides the ring, might be a bit much)
Holiday gift (again, with the ring too might be too much)
wedding gift (if you can hold out that long, a great "something new" she can wear at the wedding!!!)

Good luck and congrats...

 

[diamondguy75]

Thanks for all the advice. I''m leaning towards Vday at this point. Might wait til her birthday but it''s a long time. The wedding gift is a really good thought, but I think we will have a longer than average engagement because of scheduling issues so I''m not sure if I can wait that long. Here''s a pic of the bracelet. The ring is probably more interesting, but I don''t have it with me yet. Bracelet is 18k white gold, 3.85 ct F/G VS1-VS2, (70 5.5 point diamonds). Picture doesn''t quite do it justice, but you know how that goes. Maybe I can get some small earrings for Christmas so it won''t be as major of a gift before the proposal, what do you think about that?

 

[diamondguy75]

2

 

[sevens one]

beautiful bracelet-

but where''s the pics of the ring?

 

[Diamond*Dana]

The bracelet is gorgeous...I love the idea of giving it to her on your wedding day, very romantic and will hold a lot of sentimental value in the future, but I can also understand not wanting to hold onto it for that long.

As for a Christmas proposal being private or with family, I actually do have experience here! My husband proposed to me on Christmas Eve, after 5 years of dating. I never expected it even though we had talked about getting engaged. I was totally surprised when he showed up at my front door dressed as Santa Micky Mouse, had no idea it was him until he took the head off and was on his knee with the ring! I loved the fact that my mom, 3 sisters and grandmother, stepfather and brother in law (hidden in the bushes with a bottle of chanpaign) were all there to share in it, and I am normally very shy! The only people missing were his parents and my dad, but they all knew about it. Everyone that was there was totally surprised and we even got it on video.

Whatever you decide, it will be perfect...chances are, she won't notice anyone else but you at that moment!