Tips to Find Inexpensive Engagement Rings

Are you looking for inexpensive engagement rings? Deciding what type of ring you will offer to the lady of your dreams is a very momentous event in a man's life. If your resources are limited and you are against any lay-away or installment plan, the best approach is to look for inexpensive engagement rings. The most logical approach is to browse the superb collection of many designer jewelry stores and galleries in your area. You should not stop there. If you spend some precious time searching the web, you will be able to trace a wide array of inexpensive rings which possess the stunning and sparkling look and feel of high quality expensive rings.

In view of lower overhead and maintenance costs, offline sellers can afford to offer their handcrafted jewelry items at substantial discounts. They are passing their administrative savings to clients. Up to 60% discounts are being offered for various styles of engagement rings. It therefore becomes a time intensive process of scanning the internet. In scouting for rings at the jewelry stores in malls, you just need the right timing when the stores are having clearance, anniversary, inventory or special sales.

In looking for your lady's engagement ring, being aware of the basic facts about 14k or 18k white or yellow gold, palladium, platinum metals, diamonds, Moissanites, birthstones and other precious gemstones can be a big help. It is possible to place an order for a handcrafted custom engagement ring setting- whether solitaire rings, tension rings, cathedral rings, vintage rings, etc. at an unbelievably inexpensive price. You can call up the online jewelry stores' toll free number, or email them your inquiry or engage them in online chats. Look for a reputable store who has been around for many years and who is equipped with the latest state-of-the art technological knowhow in jewelry crafting and designing. These stores normally offer 100% satisfaction guarantee and automatic refund if you are not satisfied with the item you ordered. They also have a category for "inexpensive engagement rings".

One way of going about the task is to order a pre-set or custom crafted ring with a solid 14k or 18k white gold or platinum and your choice of ring setting. For a classic Solitaire setting, you can order a good quality round cut Moissanite diamond whose sparkling and brilliance quality is fantastic. With this approach, be honest and tell her of your intent to replace the diamond with a higher quality stone at a specified date in the future when you have the funds available. You pour in the major part of your budget to the ring band. This is where your investment should be because it is supposed to last a lifetime. Another alternative to acquire an inexpensive ring is to choose her birthstone or a cubic zirconia stone. However, this should only be your last resort if you do not have any other means because of the high risk and long term adverse effects depending on her reaction.

The engagement ring is one piece of jewelry which will set it apart from the other jewelries owned by your future wife. This ring has to be something special as your expression of true love and affection. The downside is the perception about how special it is depends on its value. This ring will truly have a sentimental value to her as long as she lives. If you want an authentic engagement ring with high quality metal, beautiful ring setting and sparkling diamonds but your finances don't warrant it, take time to search the wide selection of inexpensive engagement rings available in the market. When you come across a reputable jewelry designer store offering an engagement ring you are 100% sure your lady would adore, swallow your pride and take advantage of the 60-80% discount offer by using your credit card or a friend's credit card!

My name is Fem Mascenon and I thoroughly research and write about tension engagement rings. Please visit my site at http://www.pearl-engagement-rings.net/ to find the best engagement ring for your bride-to-be that fits your budget!

Original article

Vintage Engagement Rings for Your Special Bride-To-Be

Vintage engagement rings symbolize romance, timelessness and regality for many people. They cover the period of the Filigree, vintage platinum to retro engagement rings. Although some quarters differentiate the circa period of the vintage from the antique, the artistic designs and craftsmanship shown from the 1800s to the 1900s reflect the creativity and brilliance of its circa designers. This type of engagement rings is for a special breed of brides-to-be.

If you are considering an authentic vintage engagement ring or a vintage inspired one for your loved one, be sure to select something she will treasure for many years to come. There are collections of authentic or style look of vintage Edwardian, Art Deco and Victorian jewelries which she will love and adore. The price range for the authentic vintage and the vintage style jewelry rings are moderate to high end.

There are reputable jewelry shops who are capable of creating new vintage-inspired rings from your own choice of design. Vintage engagement rings come in a wide array of unique and dainty designs and settings that can leave you and your special lady breathless. It is important that you should be familiar with the 4 Cs of diamonds and other relevant information about jewelries. Once you have decided your budget's price range, you can begin your journey back to the past.

The Victorian engagement rings were the "romantic rings" made around the 1830s. The word "Dearest" was etched in the rings. The circa settings usually come in yellow or rose gold with small diamond pieces or a large pearl accented with colored gemstones. Style changed to one large diamond center stone when the diamond mines in South Africa started bringing out big diamonds. If this period setting appeals to you, there are many Victorian style rings like a stunning pink sapphire ring, a long and thin rose-cut diamond ring, a unique demantoid engagement ring, a Queen Victoria style of snake ring, a Dearest and Regard rings or a three and five stone ring.

Edwardian style vintage engagement jewelries have intricate lace-like detailed styles. Other designs are made of gold with detailed engravings, classic motif and immaculate craftsmanship. A sample Edwardian style ring you can choose has an appraisal certificate of $12,000 but is being offered for a discounted price of only $5,000. Its features cover a certified diamond stone crafted in an 18k white gold. It has an EGL Certified 0.90 round brilliant-cut-diamond graded G-H color and VS2 clarity. Again, there are vast arrays of styles and settings to choose from that can suit your budget.

When it comes to the background of Art Deco rings, it derived its name from The Exposition of Decorative Arts and Modern Manufacturers held in Paris in 1925. Art Deco vintage rings are characterized by its stylish geometric shapes, bold colors, and contrast of platinum with diamonds or crystals throughout the 1920 period. Other precious stones used during those times were rubies, sapphires, emeralds, turquoise and coral.

A sample art deco ring being offered may arouse your interest. A stunning and very unique art deco vintage diamond ring crafted in solid platinum is being sold for only $3,999 but has a professional appraisal certificate in the amount of $12,000. The ring has 1 genuine Asscher cut bezel set diamond approximate 1.55cttw, E color, very nice VS clarity and accented with 26 genuine diamonds and 12 genuine French cut sapphires, channel and prong set with very fine millegrain borders. The weight is approximately 5.0 grams. If you make a search online and offline, you will note the wide range of collections of this circa rings of vintage style.

When you plan to make the engagement proposal during a romantic candlelight dinner, you should already be armed with your choice of from a variety of vintage engagement rings. Your special lady will be overwhelmed with joy with a Victorian vintage engagement ring mounted with diamonds and blue sapphires symbolic of the durability and spark of fire of your sincere intention.

My name is Fem Mascenon and I thoroughly research and write about moissanite engagement rings. Please visit my site at http://www.pearl-engagement-rings.net/ to find the best engagement ring for your bride-to-be that fits your budget!

Original article

Custom Bachelor Party Favors Get the Party Going

Before the wedding, all sorts of planning, buying, designing, and setting up have to be done in order for a smooth-sailing event that is memorable and as stress-free as possible. Also before the wedding a bride usually has a day out with her bridesmaids and other friends where they can relax and celebrate before the wedding. Better known as a bachelorette's party, the bride-to-be is able to celebrate her last night before becoming wed. At the same time the groom also gets to celebrate his last night as a single man! Bachelor's parties are very common and are a great way for the groom to celebrate his upcoming life as well as his life as a bachelor.

Planning a guy's night out should be fun and easy and most importantly stress-free, as this is your time to relax and enjoy things before the big day! If you really want to get the party going and bring some life to your party, be sure to buy custom bachelor favors. Party favors are a great way to spice up any celebration! With custom bachelor party favors you'll be able to give your friends and family members a token to remember the day by.

Beer mugs

Beer mugs often work as the perfect boy's night favor because they are practical and can be kept long after the party is over. Beer mugs can be customized with the date of your bachelor party and possibly even the date of your wedding. Be sure that the beer mugs you choose are of high quality and will last! Beer mugs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes such as pilsners, the standard beer mug, and even beer gauntlets. Get a little creative and choose something out of the ordinary!

Beer holders

Beer holders meant to hold beer cans and beer bottles also make for great custom favors. They too can be personalized with dates and designs that go along with your bachelor party theme. Beer holders are perfect for all of the guys who attend your bachelor party. They can take them home and reuse them over and over. Practical custom bachelor party favors are truly great.

Remember that there is no one type of bachelor favors that fits all guys. You'll want to keep your budget in mind along with your own wants and needs when it comes time to choosing the best party favors for your celebration.

Where to buy custom bachelor party favors

If you want a wide selection of custom party favors to choose from, the best place to look is online. While stores may sell some custom bachelor party favors, you will surely find a much better selection online as online vendors have access to hundreds of party favors that can be used and personalized for your special bachelor party. Remember you want your bachelor party favors to be fun and light-hearted! Be sure that the party favors you choose are worth keeping.

DiscountMugs is a large distribution company based in Miami, Florida. They are web-based and factory-direct which allows them to keep prices lower than the rest of the competition. They have a huge selection of bachelor party favors to choose from. You can custom design your own beer mugs at DiscountMugs today!

Original article

Engagement And Wedding Suggestions That Lovers Must Know

When you are contemplating marrying your fiance, you need to know that there is some social decorum that should be followed for engagements and weddings. It's not something which you can simply avoid, as folks in your own family, as well as those you have grown up with, expect you to act in a particular way throughout these two extremely important events. Generally, there are a few ideas that you need to keep in mind.

You can start off understanding the family traditions concerning the engagement that you want. Some fathers might want their future son in law to ask for their permission or even to have a conversation with them first. The wedding may be unauthorized should you not do this task properly.

Ensure that you obtain the right kind of ring for the lady you want to become wedded to. Right now, there are countless varieties of rings, so you must be careful to find the right one. She might prefer the Edwardian engagement rings since they might be the woman's favorite form of engagement ring.

Once engaged, make certain you publicize the actual engagement to each side of the family at the same time. This could make everyone come to feel included and also it will clear any hurt feelings should one side appear to be less preferred compared to the other. Telephone calls can do the job in informing your own immediate family members about the coming marriage. In addition, perhaps you can tell your other best friends and family about the proper celebration.

Be aware of the wedding ceremony practices which you might need to include in your own wedding and reception. There may be traditions or faith-based values which might be expected to become incorporated into the wedding preparation since this might be vital to either side of your family.

Have a talk with your future partner and decide on what you would like to have at your own wedding and reception. While traditions are wonderful to observe, you might have a number of your own wedding creative ideas. Since it is your special day, you ought to be able to decide on the things that you truly desire.

Begin saving up your own money so you can acquire all of the appropriate stuff for your big event. The costs will certainly mount up when you receive the dress, clothing, food menu, wedding reception hall bill, church services, and everything else which you would like to include. One wonderful accessory for wedding events at this time are personalized wedding favours. Several people enjoy having things like this at a wedding and reception, because you and your spouse's completely new name may be put on them for you to celebrate your marriage.

This checklist isn't exhaustive of exactly what you will need for engagements and weddings. Nevertheless, it will certainly get you started. Be sure you get these carried out and that you figure out exactly what else you may want whenever you are getting yourself ready for these two really special events in your life.

Justin C is an author, business investor, and social media promoter. In addition to running TryBPO, a company in the Philippines primarily focused on back-end SEO and Operational support to medium sized businesses, he also creates niche sites about diverse topics like edwardian engagement rings and personalized wedding favours.

Original article

Why Men Should Consider Tungsten For Their Wedding Band

Men wear a wedding band on their ring finger to show the world that they have committed their life to their wife. It is a public display of affection. A man's wedding ring can be made of many materials, including gold, platinum, silver, titanium, and palladium.

One of the most popular choices for a man's wedding ring in the modern area is Tungsten. Tungsten, which is chemically known as wolfram, is on the periodic table of elements with the chemical symbol of W. Tungsten is a very hard, rare precious metal that is found naturally on our planet. It is known to have a very, very high melting point. Tungsten actually combines two Swedish words, which are then simply translated to mean heavy stone.

Tungsten rings are four times stronger than titanium and twice as hard as steel. It is considered to be very difficult to scratch tungsten, so tungsten rings hold up very nicely for people with more active lifestyles. Tungsten gains its extreme harness when it is combined with carbon alloy making it into Tungsten carbide. Tungsten carbide is widely used in mining machine randy rocket engines. It has a color similar to steel and can be polished to become bright and reflective. Tungsten has a finish that requires little to no maintenance over the years, and thus can be a very cost-effective purchase for the husband to be.

Tungsten can also be coated with physical vapor deposition (PDV) coatings to create a luxurious black onyx color. If you see black wedding bands on a man's finger, it is almost always a Tungsten ring coated with this process. Or it can be combined or inlaid with gold or platinum to create contrast or make the ring a brighter white color. Since the band is mostly tungsten, this can be a very cost-effective way to incorporate gold into your wedding band without breaking your bank account.

One negative that has come out about buying a tungsten ring for your wedding band is, if injury occurs, it is impossible to get off. Contrary to what is sometime said of it, Tungsten can easily be cut off at any jewelry store, hospital or by shattering it using vice grip pliers. A professional should typically remove it though, otherwise further injury may occur. It is important to note at this point that removing the ring requires shattering it, so you'll have to buy a new one from scratch. Gold, for instance, could be removed and then re-melted back into a ring once your injury heals for minimal cost.

So, to sum up, tungsten is almost always cheaper than gold or platinum rings, while often slightly more expensive than sterling silver. It is a very hard, strong metal, which does not scratch easily but is often difficult to reshape or remove in case of injury. Finally, it is a hypoallergenic metal, so if you or your wife to be are allergic to gold or silver, than tungsten just might be the right metal choice for you.

Jordan helps teach couples how to save money when they buy an engagement ring. For more information on both men's and women's wedding rings, and to learn where to buy an engagement ring check out buyingthering.com

Original article

How to Choose the Best Engagement Ring

When you plan on asking that special someone to spend the rest of your lives together, there are many different types of engagement rings to choose from.

Your future wife will be wearing this ring for the rest of her life, so it needs to be something that fits her taste. Some women tend towards white gold, while others only prefer yellow gold. You need to make sure that you know this simple fact about her.

The first decision is how much you are going to spend on that special ring. You want to make sure that you can afford it. Normally, an engagement ring is a solitaire diamond in a band. Sometimes it has additional accent diamonds or other gems. While most men like to go and surprise their future wives with a ring of their choosing, some couples go together and choose their rings. This depends on your relationship.

The second issue at hand is picking the ring setting. With rings for engagement, there are several different types of settings: invisible, prong, flush, tension, bezel, channel and many others. Once you found your chosen setting, the one that will look perfect on her finger, you will then need to choose the diamond to be placed into the ring.

Many different factors are important when picking out your engagement ring. Make sure you work with a reliable dealer who can be trusted about finding the perfect diamond within your budget. Basically, there are four C's when choosing a diamond for any diamond ring: cut, color, clarity and carat (the last one stands for the size). Diamonds also come in various shapes, including square, oval, princess, marquise, pear, heart, emerald and others.

A well cut diamond will have good shine and sparkle. Even without being an expert, if the diamond is cut incorrectly you can see it lacks in appearance. Generally, you should prefer a diamond with the least amount of color, the clearest you can afford, with the fewest imperfections, and the most sparkle and shine. Look at it and you will know.

Don't forget to get a warranty on your new ring even before the engagement. Such a warranty needs to cover repairs, regular cleanings, sizing and theft or loss.

After you've selected the engagement ring setting and the best diamond shape and size, you will finally be ready to have the ring sized. Buying an engagement ring is a big step in life. Choosing the best engagement ring will show her how much you love and know her and it will also improve the chances that she will say yes!

Tom T. Kerr, Editor.
Jewelrista - Jewelry Design & Passion.
The meeting place for Jewelry designers, lovers and shoppers.
http://jewelrista.com/

Original article

The 5 Most Popular Diamond Shapes for Engagement Rings

When buying a diamond ring, the shape of the diamond is one of the most important elements. Woman can be very picky when it comes to the shape of the diamond on their ring, so make sure to figure out what she likes and doesn't like prior to making your ring purchase.

Diamond shape is different from diamond cut, though the two are often combined. When a jeweler talks about a brilliant cut diamond, she is talking about the angle at which the diamond is shaped, not whether the diamond is in a round, or square, or oval shape. You'll often hear "this is a round brilliant cut" which tells you both the shape and the cut of the diamond. While shape isn't technically one of the 4 c's, it is just as important if you want your future wife to be happy with her new ring.

Some of the most famous shapes of diamonds include round, princess, emerald, radiant, and heart. You can get other gemstones, like sapphires and rubies, in these shapes as well.

The most popular diamond shapes, when buying an engagement ring for your girlfriend, are:

1. Round cut diamond
2. Princess cut diamond
3. Emerald cut diamond
4. Cushion cut diamond
5. Asscher cut diamond

Number 1, the round cut diamond, is far and away the most popular, since over 70% of diamonds purchased are round shaped. In the 21st century, other diamond shapes are starting to rise in popularity. Princess cut is the second most popular shape, and it is well above the Emerald cut in terms of popularity. Emerald, Cushion, and Asscher are all very close to round out the top 5. Narrowly escaping the top 5 are marquise, heart, radiant, and pear. These are more unique shapes that often cost more due to their lack of market demand.

One of the primary reasons that round diamonds are so popular amongst consumers is that they've been around for a very long time. Round diamonds were one of the first shapes created over 100 years ago, so there's a good amount of history there, and they've optimized the forming of the facets of the diamond so that it has the most fire and brilliance of any diamond shape or cut.

Whether, like most boyfriends, you choose to buy a round brilliant cut diamond or not is up to you. Just make sure that you know which shape your girlfriend will like, so that she's happy every day she looks at her ring.

Learn more about saving money while buying an engagement ring by checking out my blog at Buying the Ring. We have hundreds of tips on buying a diamond, finding the perfect setting and more!

I'm one of the authors of Insider Secrets: The Guide to saving money while buying an engagement ring. Check us out at buyingthering.com

Original article

Get Engaged in Italy - Proposing Over A Slice Of Pizza

If you are thinking about asking that special person to be a part of your life forever, one of the best and most romantic locations on earth has to be the country of Italy. There are many different locations to go to for just the right spot. However, the foremost location may be the most romantic ever. That is the city of Venice, Italy. Venice, known as the city of canals, or the city that floats, is surrounded by saltwater where travel on a water bus, otherwise known as a gondola can be a wonderful way to see the sites. Definitely, renting a water bus, taking a picnic lunch and some wine would be just the romantic set up for that special someone.

Another good choice to pop the question is to travel to the romantic Italian countryside, perhaps to Tuscany. Good wine and simple, but excellent food makes this a wonderful choice for an engagement. Tuscany is known as one of the most beautiful artistic centers in all of Italy, with the city of Florence as its capital. Tuscany is in the center of Italy and has been home to some of the world's most famous individuals such as; Michelangelo and Leonardo di Vinci.

If you want to relax in the surf and the sun, either prior to or after your engagement, the Italian Rivera may be the correct choice for you. The white sandy beaches and the beautiful and quaint seaside villages perched into the hillsides make a wonderful, romantic backdrop for the big event, getting engaged. Off of the island of Capri, one can take a boat ride on the beautiful blue waters, after your engagement to toast the beginning of your lives together.

If your girlfriend is interested in fashion, choosing to become engaged in the city of Milan could fit the bill. Milan is considered of the world's most famous high fashion locale. Milan is one of Italy's largest cities and offers a great deal to do, other than shop for fashion. Food in Milan is much different than most tourists will think of when thinking of eating in Italy. Milan residents eat more rice than pasta and almost nothing with tomatoes in it, preferring veal to other meats, etc.

If you are down to earth person and wish for a simpler, less fussy location to pop your question, try the city of Naples. Naples is well known for its many pizza parlors. Getting engaged could be as simple as ordering a pizza and proposing over a slice.

Barrie is a social blogger writing about what ever is on his mind at that moment in time. With a number of years experience in blogging and article writing, thought it only right to share what's on his mind.

Living and working in the UK on a number of social media campaigns, Barrie is an enthusiastic and dedicated social media consultant with an eye on current and future trends and activities.

Original article

The Engagement Ring: How To Pick The Perfect One

There may be no bigger choice between a man and woman than the choice to get married. Before taking this step, it is traditional to have an engagement period. However, prior to the engagement period there is the search for the engagement ring. It can be a stressful time for men because this is the moment that will link to the start of a future and of course a hope that all will go perfectly well. It is not uncommon to have your partner be present for the choice but it will take away the surprise aspect of it.

Ask The Help of a Family

Engagement rings can be thousands of designs so where do you start? It always helps to have a member of the family try to get pieces of information. Keep your ears open when beginning the search especially if you are trying to keep it as a secret. It is not uncommon to find subconscious hints from your partner.

Ask Yourself a Few Questions

To make your search less difficult, also ask yourself these few questions in your hunt for a perfect engagement ring:

How much would I like to spend?

The cost is far less important than finding an engagement ring that will perfectly fit your partner. However, taking into consideration all other details will lead you to an engagement ring that will truly impress her which will also suit your budget. In fact, a decent woman won't even bother to ask the price tag.

What type of personality does my partner have?

It is also important to consider your partner's personality. Surely you will gain her deepest appreciation once you present her with an engagement ring that perfectly fits her character.

What color or types are her other jewelry?

Does she prefer classic jewelries or contemporary ones? Or does she prefer silver, gold, or diamonds? If she favors diamonds, it is important for you to consider details in terms of band, cut, color, or style before purchasing one.

What size is she?

Take also in consideration your partner's body type. For a larger woman, a ring with a bigger gemstone and a larger setting would perfectly suit her and vice versa.

These questions are just a guide to get you thinking about your partner. Picking an engagement ring should be a great experience that is a kicking off point to your future. Take your time and pick wisely because an engagement ring will be with you for long!

Learn more everything you need to know when it comes to engagement by visiting our site as well as handy tips and advice especially when choosing a diamond engagement ring!

Original article

Excitedly Engaged With a Hint of Doubt

"There is a way that seems right (good)... but in the end it leads to death."
Proverbs 14:12(emphasis added)

I dated a good guy for several years, started when I was about 14 years old. From a worldly perspective, he was good in every sense of the word. He was good looking -tall, dark, and handsome! Additionally, there was no doubt in my mind he'd be a good provider for our prospective family! He was career minded, having job offers even before eventually graduating with a business degree. He was good at handling money too. He spoiled me with what he made, and not just with material items. His actions were always kind; he was consistently gentle and respectful toward me.

He had a nice, loving family to boot. You've heard it said, "you marry your in-laws too!" Well, I had it made in the shade with my prospective in-laws. They accepted me as if I was there own for years. I remember his mom cooking every meal as if I would be there, lending a listening ear whenever I needed to talk, and helping me get ready for college. His family supported and encouraged me on every occasion; I never doubted whether they would be in attendance at celebration ceremonies such as my high school and college graduations, homecoming queen ceremony, or ball games at which I cheered.

Even the timing of our relationship was good. Things at my home had gotten progressively worse over the years with quite the unthinkable occurring about the time we began dating. When things got crazy, his family provided a nice escape for me. The normalcy in their home was refreshing. I was welcomed with open arms anytime I showed up to their house, day or night. Initially, I had no doubt I would someday marry into the family of the career minded, good-looking, capable, respectful guy who spoiled me!

But there was one great problem which I didn't see as great at the time. The problem was spiritual! You see, I had been saved at a young age, literally asking God to "be my daddy" one night when things were chaotic at home. The Lord had been faithful, stepping into my life granting me the peace and security every person craves. However, the closer I got to my boyfriend, the further I strayed from the Lord and His ways. I eventually traded the unsurpassable peace that only Jesus gives for a false security that physical intimacy with my boyfriend provided. At a very young age, my boyfriend and I began having sex.

Over the years, it had been super easy to justify doing something so wrong that felt so right! With the promise ring he'd given me eventually replaced by a beautiful engagement ring, eight years into the relationship we found ourselves getting ready to pursue our plans to be married and start a family. However, amid the excitement, a deep down nagging feeling of doubt within me persisted. I caught myself wondering if I had given God the opportunity to bless me with The One He intended me to marry. I also wondered if my motives to marry were pure. Was marriage simply the next step I was taking to justify sexual sin? I decided to ask God.

God's response to my heartfelt prayers shocked me. "Flee from sexual immorality..." rang through my spirit. I'd known several people who'd married to make it right, but the Lord continually confirmed I was not to do so. After much prayer, I broke off the engagement and set out to be sex free for a while. With God's help, I was successful. After taking several huge steps of faith to remove myself from temptation, I grew closer to the Lord Jesus and found myself at peace once again.

Soon after I'd completely removed myself from sexual sin, I attained what I'd never dreamt possible, contentment as a single person! Not too long after that, the Lord seemingly moved Heaven and earth to gift me with The One I know I was meant to marry! The result of my faithful obedience and trust in God alone soon revealed that my good plans for marriage had paled in comparison to the man God desired to gift me. Oh I still believe to this day that I could've married the good fiancé I dated for years; I might've even had a decent life. However, to know beyond the shadow of a doubt I married the person God designed specifically for me, well, is indescribable! I will never regret having surrendered my good engagement to God, testing His faithfulness, and waiting His way for marriage!

What about you? Are you fully and completely convinced the person to whom you are about to wed is The Absolute One God has for you to marry, or is there a hint of doubt resting at the bottom of your heart? If any unrest is present, I beg you to get alone with God, call off the wedding, and find contentment in Christ alone. Only when you realize and choose to rest in God's great love toward you, will you believe that the marriage plan God has for your life is better than the seemingly good plan you've been pursuing! I urge you to fully surrender your good dreams to "the one who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)," to the one who longs to replace your doubt with "the peace that surpasses all understanding!" (Philippians 4:7) Remember these words next time you ponder walking down the wedding aisle, "total peace means go; doubt means no!"

© 2011 Dani Miser, Author of Single Woman Seeks Perfect Man (Deep River Books, 2010)

Dani is a Christian author and speaker whose ministry exists to encourage others to honor God with all of their lives, especially in the area of relationships. She writes on a regular basis with her most recent articles being published in YouthWorker Journal Magazine, CBN.com, Archsa.org, WebBiblia.com, and the Healing Hope Herald. Her latest book, Single Woman Seeks Perfect Man: Facing the Consequences of Unhealthy Relationships has been featured on television and radio broadcasts such as WATC-TV Atlanta and Canada's Most Listened to Spiritual Talk Show. For additional biography or ministry information, please visit http://www.getalifeministries.blogspot.com/

Original article

How To Make Your Engagement A Memorable Experience

Now that you have met the girl you wish to spend the rest of your life with, it will be just a simple matter of you proposing and her accepting. This is likely going to end up being one of the most incredibly nerve-wrecking moments during your life, but it is one of the most important. You will of course want to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

After making your decision to ask for her hand in marriage, there are a couple important steps you need to take before you propose. The very obvious first step is to select the perfect engagement ring. The ring doesn't need to be huge or extremely expensive. When you are ready to spend the rest of your life together, you are sure to know what kind of ring she will love. You will also need to know her ring size, so that at that moment she accepts, you can slip it on her finger and not have to take it in for an adjustment.

You are sure to want the proposal to be special and to be a surprise for her. After all, if she knows what's coming, it won't be as shocking as you would like. So you won't want to risk asking her questions about her ring size and such. One of her friends is likely to have the answers that you need. If not, speak with her mom. She will definitely have the answers for you!

Setting the Mood

Making sure you pick the best location is another hard decision. You will want to choose a location that won't give away your intentions, but you also want it to be memorable. You should be able to come up with something creative without being obvious and spoiling your own surprise.

By taking some time to think carefully about it, you should be able to find something great. Having the perfect proposal that will make both of you happy is very important. Be sure that you have planned everything out thoroughly and have figured out your next step when something goes wrong. Always have a backup plan to handle your engagement. Making sure things go smoothly will help with your nervousness as well as help make the engagement a memorable experience for both of you.

The Big Event

Proposing is a huge step in a relationship for a man just as accepting that proposal is to the lady. Make sure when you propose that you profess your undying love and your need to spend the rest of your life by her side. Once she accepts your proposal, she can start planning the wedding and invite all of the friends and family as well as showing off that engagement ring.

Learn more tips and advice on picking the perfect engagement ring by visiting our site as well as things to consider when you opt for a custom engagement ring!

Original article

Five Tips To Help You Find The Perfect Engagement Ring

Thinking of proposing to that special someone with the perfect engagement ring? If you are already anxious about getting down on one knee and popping the question with a diamond engagement ring - you are not alone. Results from a recent study from a prominent wedding website are in, and based on responses from more than 10,000 brides, we've put together the top five tips to help future grooms while shopping for engagement rings.

When it comes to selecting the perfect ring the two most common considerations are price and size, but breathe a sigh of relief because there are many options in rings that are perfect representations of your love that she can wear and love forever. Many of the diamond engagement rings on the market today are beautiful, classic and reasonably priced, given their investment into your future union.

Tip 1: Spend your time wisely - not just your money - to find the perfect engagement ring. When purchasing a ring it's not really the size of the diamond that counts, it's the fact that it's a symbol of commitment and love. It's more important to focus on her personality and style than it is to find the biggest rock to put on her finger. The average groom spends three months ring shopping, visits four retailers, and looks at 27 rings before deciding on "the one."

Tip 2: It is not uncommon for couples to go shopping for engagement rings together. This way, the fiancé-to-be is sure to absolutely adore her ring. Not to mention, this takes a tremendous weight off the man's shoulders. Studies show that the groom is significantly less nervous about the proposal if the fiancé-to-be is even somewhat involved in the ring search. The less involved the brides were in the ring search - the more nervous the grooms!

Tip 3: If you're looking to surprise her with a ring, then you need to do a bit more research. Pay attention to the jewelry she likes and dislikes. Take heed on her preference of platinum or yellow gold, designer brands, vintage or contemporary styles or if she'd prefer an antique engagement ring. The best clue of her taste in jewelry will be what she wears on a daily basis. Listen to her comments, and don't be afraid to ask her close friends or family. Truth is she's probably mentioned what designers or styles she likes, even if it was subtle.

Tip 4: Anxious about the diamond size? Consider her lifestyle. Is she active outdoors? What are her hobbies? Does she work in a hands-on profession? Would an impressive ring or a simpler ring suit her lifestyle best? How comfortable the ring is on her finger is also a significant consideration. For engagement rings, only 4% of center stones were two carats or more, while 73% of all engagement rings have a center stone that ranges in size from.50ct to under 2.00ct. These are important aspects when selecting an engagement ring because not only is it an everyday jewelry item, it is also an investment.

Tip 5: Looking for help? Her friends and family are a great resource. They will be able to give input on what style or ring would look best on her. Use them to help narrow down ring size, metal preference, diamond weight and designer ring style. Take practicality into account when selecting a ring.

Take the time to consider these recommendations before choosing a ring. After all, the engagement ring is a symbol of love and commitment and you want to be sure she loves it for a lifetime. By following these tips and doing a little bit of research, shopping for rings can be an enjoyable process!

Tacori exudes classic elegance with modern inspiration and has created some of the world's most highly regarded and exquisite jewelry. They are the leader for beautiful engagement rings and stunning fine jewelry pieces.

Original article

Religious Beliefs and Political Beliefs Can Harm Our Relationships

It's fair to say that 90% of the conflict we experience in our relationships with others is caused by attitudes of arrogance, a critical or judgmental tone of voice, and a lack of civility and kindness.

This is especially true when discussing religious or political beliefs.

For example, religious and politically conservative people love to monologue about their beliefs using a "voice" that arrogantly assumes they are speaking about absolute truth, not simply their own beliefs. Their tone of voice conveys the judgmental message that anyone who disagrees with them is wrong, unintelligent, or mis-informed.

They commonly employ a dismissive or judgmental attitude that includes emotional and psychological "distancing" from friends or relatives who disagree with their beliefs.

Rather than simply agreeing to disagree, they often choose to cut-off or walk away from the conversation and/or the relationship entirely.

When dealing with friends or relatives that behave this way it is important to remember that you did not choose the conflict or the rejection that you are experiencing. We all have the right to choose the various beliefs and values that bring meaning to our own life.

We can take the path of compassion by not talking about those subjects that we know are going to create tension, but more often than not, those who believe they possess absolute truth seem to be unaware of the hurtful arrogance they are manifesting.

They can often become aggressive when "others" bring up religion or politics, but they seem to feel that it's OK to talk about their own religious and political beliefs.

They may not bring the subjects up directly, but repeated comments such as

"praise the lord","god's will,stories about the power of prayer,derogatory and judgmental comments regarding homosexuals,negative racial and ethnic comments,critical comments regarding politicians from other political parties,how they think immigrants should be treated,why the country is in the shape it's in, andwelfare reform,

are very commonly sprinkled throughout their conversations.

It requires the patience of a saint to ignore such "sprinklings" since most of the comments will be focused directly, or indirectly, on what "you" should do or what "you" should believe.

On the other hand, those who speak with the gentle voice of personal passion, confidence, and conviction will just as clearly reflect the beliefs of the speaker, but he or she will not presume to speak "for" others. They will simply be sharing who "they" are, and what "they" believe.

People who share using the softer voices of passion and personal conviction are often fun to be around. Conversations with them tend to be thoughtful and interesting. They will often thank you for sharing your wisdom and thoughts with them.

They openly embrace new ideas and change. As such, they are evolving and growing. Sharing time with them is always a pleasure.

We all have a part of us that wants to grow, and all of us have a primitive ego that doesn't.

The part we pay attention to is our choice.

If growth is important to us, we will grow. We will learn to pay attention to the part of us that resists change. We will begin to see clearly the narcissism and arrogance that we are guilty of when we assume to possess absolute truth on "any" subject. We will begin to embrace silence and a sense of "not-knowing."

People who are growing tend to be good listeners.

It is painful to have friends and relatives pull away from us. It can difficult to be around them at times. But, like us, they too have the right to decide their own future.

We are called to love them, but we don't have to take responsibility for the karma of their choices, their behaviors, or the "voices" they choose to use.

Dick Rauscher, M. Div., licensed mental health counselor and life coach writes Stonyhill Nuggets on paths to growth and healing and awakening our primitive ego to achieve true happiness and success in life. His articles focus on taking full responsibility for the lives we are creating for ourselves, developing the skills required to achieve happiness and become more successful in life, and incorporating the day-to-day psychological and spiritual practices needed to achieve a deeper and more authentic spirituality. http://www.stonyhill-nuggets.com/

Sign up to get his free newsletter here and receive a free article on ways to be happy.

Copyright 2010 Dick Rauscher

Original article

Custom Engagement Rings - Customizing for a New Year's Engagement

What could be better than starting out the New Year with a beautiful occasion like an engagement? To truly make it a memorable moment for you and your special someone, custom engagement rings are the best way to go. Not only will you be able to offer a wonderful token of your love but also a beautiful memento that will last forever.

While there are millions of different engagement ring designs that are beautiful as they are, there are still a few things that can be done to make a ring more unique and personal. From ring design changes to little decorative additions, every last part of the ring can be changed according to your needs and even the budget.

Get the Latest Trend

A great way to stay on top with beautiful custom engagement rings is to check out the trends that will be coming up the following year. Make her feel special with a custom engagement ring for the New Year, that's totally ahead of the pack in terms of trendiness and style.

To find out what the upcoming trends are going to be for engagement ring designs, check out designer sites or ask a professional jeweller. Custom engagement rings are constantly changing to suit trends and seasons, so jewellers are always on top of upcoming trends to ensure they have exactly what their clients want.

Engrave it to Last

To seal the special moment in time, consider engraving the engagement date along with both of your initials. This is a simple yet wonderful gesture to show everything was planned for the perfect moment. If you would prefer to engrave a special message to your loved one instead, a professional jewelry engraver will be able to clearly add several words on a band, which is a lovely choice for those who are sentimental.

How to make it Sparkle on a Budget

The holidays are certainly an expensive time and choosing custom engagement rings for a New Year engagement will generally add to the cost of the season, however that doesn't mean you will have to settle for anything less than perfect for your special lady.

Although traditional engagement rings are generally a solitaire setting with most of the focus lying on the size and sparkle of the diamond but with custom engagement rings, there's nothing holding you back from changing the design and even create a beautiful piece that can sparkle more than any solitaire, no matter how large the stone may be.

Pavé settings are ideal for anyone looking for sparkle on a budget. The smaller stones are arranged in a manner that provides the most sparkle from all sides of the ring. The best part about choosing pavé arrangements is the versatility for creating a unique look regardless of the type of stone that you choose.

This option is ideal for mixing different coloured stone to create patterns or decorative images like flowers or swirls and they create a stunning luxurious look that really makes a statement.

No matter what the style, budget or design that you would like for custom engagement rings this New Year, you are sure to have hundreds of options available for personalizing the perfect ring. Not only will you have the chance to pick and choose the type of band and stones that will be used to accent her lovely hand, but you will also have the option of leaving a sentimental message of love that will stay with her for many years to come.

Original article

Engagement Ring King!

Congratulations on your life long decision to marry! Getting married is an experience to remember and share throughout our lifetime. However, to find the perfect engagement ring is challenging as it was to find snookums, isn't it? But it is OK, we are nice enough to do the research for you by evaluating preferred engagement ring sellers online. Once we feel assured the sites are outstanding, then we browse the sites for proposal rings that define our idea of Superior Quality, Price, and Visage!

Whether this is your first time purchasing an engagement ring or not we need assistance and a second opinion. There are a few steps we must follow before concluding with her engagement ring. We must follow the proceeding steps to find an engagement ring. It is important to find a ring not that we feel is the one but a ring snookums would have picked herself. She is the one who will be wearing the ring the rest of her life so it is vital we meet her standards.

1.) What would look best on her hand? (Marquise, Oval, Round, or Square cut? Consider the size of her hands; a big rock compliments a large hand like a little rock will compliment a small hand.)

2.) Know her likes and dislikes. (Is there a design of ring she would never wear or is she wearing a certain ring occasionally? If there is a ring she wears often, learn the style of that ring!)

3.) Know the style of rings she is wearing now. (Simple or extravagant designs?)

4.) Consider or think of her lifestyle. (Is she Casual, Classy, Professional etc. Match the ring with her lifestyle!)

5.) Keep your budget in mind. (If any)

Once we know the preceding information then we are finally ready to buy her ideal engagement ring.

A popular question is how much should we spend on an engagement ring? It is something us middle class should keep in mind for the sake of the wedding. We recommend two months of our total income for the reason, too cheap of any gift is not a suitable gesture. A proposal ring is not just a ring! With our tradition nowadays, an engagement ring is a symbol of the love we have with her. There is no better physical approach of representing that love (in a woman's point of view) than with a scarce diamond!

Enjoy the whole process even though it is difficult, since it is a once in a lifetime experience to remember and share with our loved ones!

Original article

Designs Incorporating a Season for Custom Engagement Rings

Getting engaged to someone is a life changing event that will stay in both of your memories until the end of time, so why not make it extra special by choosing a beautiful ring that's customized to suit the season of "the big question"?

Custom engagement rings are versatile and can easily be personalized to match any theme, colour scheme, style and budget. From the bands, stones and decorative details, there are virtually endless options available to you.

To get ideas for custom engagement rings for each season, take a look at the following guide to help you out:

Autumn

Autumn is filled with warm colours that are usually reflected beautifully in the gemstones that sparkle with deep reds, golden yellows, spicy oranges and browns. Combine the stones for a warm decorative setting, create autumn themed decorative touches with a leaf-shaped cut stones or vine engraving along the band.

Match these warm tones with gold bands for a tone on tone style or choose to combine the cool white gold with warm coloured stones to make them stand out more.

Red
- Garnet
- Ruby
- Topaz

Yellow
- Canary diamond
- Dolomite
- Magnesite

Orange
- Amber
- Carnelian
- Citrine

Brown
- Tiger's Eye
- Agate

Winter

Winter is a lovely festive season filled with stunning scenery and although there is a lack of diverse colours, they offer a wonderful collection of sparkle and subtle shine for custom engagement rings with a winter cool touch.

Common combinations are white shades, soft blues, purples and even powder rose colours. While some prefer simplistic designs for sleek modern engagement ring designs, some also like to add snowflake details as a memento of the event and the season.

Clear or White
- Diamond
- Pearl
- Moonstone
- Opal
- White Drusy

Blue
- Aquamarine
- Blue Sapphire

Purple
- Alexandrite
- Lavender Jasper
- Charoite
- Opalite

Rose
- Rose Quartz
- Pink diamond

Spring

Spring is known as the season of love and new life. There are many blossoming flowers adding a wonderful splash of colour to the landscape and energies are renewing after a long cold winter.

Since new buds are beginning to show and the snow is slowly melting away, you will notice many pastel colours pop up, which is why many custom engagement rings for spring will have touches of soft pinks, yellows and greens.

Pink
- Rose Quartz
- Rhodochrosite
- Pink diamond

Yellow
- Palm Wood
- Canary diamond
- Dolomite
- Magnesite

Green
- Aventurine
- Emerald
- Peridot
- Gaspeite

Summer

Summer is a vibrant and energetic season filled with hundreds of bold colours found in the rainbow. This is the season where virtually anything goes, as long as it makes a bold statement. Combine one or more colours for a beautiful eye-catching setting.

To add texture and decorative touches on the band, you can engrave floral or leaf designs, create a nautical theme, combine different colours as a bouquet of flowers or keep it simple with a small pavé arrangement that surround one central stone in a bold vibrant colour.

Red and Pink
- Alexandrite
- Garnet
- Rhodochrosite
- Ruby
- Tourmaline

Orange and Yellow
- Coral
- Carnelian
- Citrine
- Topaz
- Beryl

Green and Blue
- Lapis Lazuli
- Sapphire
- Opal
- Larimar
- Turquoise
- Aquamarine
- Amazonite

Multiple Colours
- Spectrolite
- Agate
- Pyrite
- Jasper
- Azurite
- Hematite

Play around with the colours and styles that might suit the season and create a ring that you and your loved one will remember for the rest of your lives.

Original article

How To Choose The Most Unique Engagement Rings

Proposing marriage is the most important thing in a girl's life and the engagement that follows after that is a moment that every girl will cherish. The engagement is that time when the whole relationship is sealed and the two people make a commitment. This is an important occasion, and only the most unique engagement rings would be chosen for this occasion. As the saying goes that the diamond is a girl's best friend so a diamond engagement ring will say it all. It is something that would be cherished for life.

Diamond Engagement Rings

There are many online diamond stores where you can make your selection and choose from the wide array of unique engagement rings. You can even choose the shape of the diamond and design your own ring and present the bride-to-be a custom-made ring that will make her feel overwhelmed. You can also choose the setting of the ring and ensure that you get all the facts right such as the 4 C's which means cut, clarity, color, and carat.

Cost Factor

When you decide on choosing one of the unique engagement rings, you must also bear in mind the cost. Ideally, you must have a budget before you decide to go shopping. Having a budget will narrow down your search and you need not waste time unnecessarily. You can choose the diamond ring according to your budget. However, if you don't really care about the budget, then you may just splurge on the most exotic solitaire if you please.

Diamond Setting

The ideal thing to do would be to take the bride-to-be and ask her to try out various styles, designs, and setting. You may opt for the closed setting or an open setting and you also have a choice of three stone rings, solitaires, antique rings, rings with side stones, etc.

Metal Type

Once you are done with the design and setting, you will have to choose the metal. Ideally, diamond should be set in platinum as this would enhance the shine and brilliance of the stones. However, since platinum is very expensive, there are some people who prefer an 18-carat setting gold setting. You may opt for yellow gold or white gold while choosing the diamond setting.

Diamond Shape

The shape of the diamond is the most important factor while choosing the ring. There are various shapes such as the round cut, emerald cut, pear cut, oval cut, heart cut, marquise cut, princess cut, radiant cut, triangle cut, cushion cut, and Asscher cut diamonds which you may choose from.

By choosing from a range of unique engagement rings, you will have the satisfaction of having given the bride-to-be the best gift. This is also one way of letting her know that she is precious and when you gift her diamonds, it simply says it all. Check online and choose from the innumerable websites that have some of the best offers on diamonds.

My name is Fem Mascenon and I thoroughly research and write about unusual engagement rings. Please visit my site at http://www.pearl-engagement-rings.net/ to find the best engagement ring for your bride-to-be that fits your budget!

Original article

Including a Pole Dancing Performance in Your Stag Weekends

Stag weekends would not be complete without enjoying a stripper going through her moves in a pole dancing routine. Dancing with a pole has completely transformed the stripper's art, making it more acrobatic and more explicit, compared to the slow grind of old-fashioned stripteases.

While not all strippers may perform pole dance routines, it has become routine for strip clubs to feature poles on their main stage for their star dancers. Pole dancing has also become a legitimate form of exercise as an increasing number of women are adopting it as part of their fitness regimen, and many hen parties now also include pole dance lessons in the festivities.

The one important thing to consider when booking a pole dancing performer for stag weekends is that there are many varieties of these acts. For example, a pole dancer may perform totally in the nude, topless or wearing a bikini or panties. And pole dancers have different levels of skill; some dancers may simply twirl around the pole or do simple moves such as squats while others could be more acrobatic, doing splits and even dancing on the pole while upside down. So when choosing a pole dancing performance for stag weekends, make sure to watch them first so that you'll know what you are getting. It's called research, and someone has to do it!

Also, while pole dancing may seem to be more explicit than a simple stripping routine, it does not mean that the dancer is more likely to let you cross boundaries. Like other types of strippers, a pole dancer also has her own set of rules for stag weekends that you have to abide by. Be sure that you familiarise yourself with these rules before booking the dancer, and let the other members of the stag party know about them prior to the start of the routine to avoid any unpleasantness.

Finally, be aware that not every stripper will also offer lap dances as part of the booking, so if you would like for the guest of honour to enjoy a lap dance, you should ask the pole dancer if she is willing. If not, a good alternative may be for the dancer to perform her routine with the guest of honour of stage, in effect treating him as a prop in her act and doing her moves around him. If you follow these guidelines, then a pole dancing routine is sure to be the highlight of the stag party, not just for the groom but for the guests as well.

If you're organising a stag party in Ireland, either for yourself or for a great mate, make sure you visit http://www.strippersdublin.ie/ for great information and ideas to make your stag party a night to remember.

Original article

Awesome Christian Premarital Advice

Do you need Christian premarital advice? They say love is blind but love actually has 20/20 vision. What happens is we sometimes choose not to see the obvious because we're more concerned about not being alone.

Marriage is not a fairytale by any stretch of the imagination, it's a lot of hard work! Sure, it may look like a piece of cake, probably wedding cake from where you're sitting, but trust me it's not.

So, if you're asking yourself, "Should I get married?" or better yet "Should we get married?" It's time for you to take an honest look at your relationship and your motives for wanting to be married:

Why Am I Getting Married? Examine Your Motives...

You should Not get married if you are being driven by a desire not to be alone. If you think you're getting old and you're running out of options, you have the wrong motives. If you are getting married because you feel pressured or even because you're pregnant, again these are the wrong motives.

What about getting married for financial reasons? Your financial situation is temporary; marriage is forever. What about getting married because you're in love? Believe it or not, it will take a lot more than love to make your marriage last a life time.

Do We Really Know Each Other? Go Beyond The Superficial...

If you have not seen the good, the bad, and the ugly, you should NOT get married. You see, during the dating stage the two of you are both putting your best foot forward and trying your hardest to be nice, polite, and easy-going.

But the reality is we all have bad days and bad habits. If the two of you have only seen the good side of each other, then I'm afraid your relationship is merely superficial and does not have the depth it will need in order to survive.

Am I Fulfilling a Fantasy? A Wedding or A Marriage...

If you are more concerned with your wedding colors, and wedding flowers than you are about making sure you have a marriage that's going to last, you should Not get married. You see, the word marriage is not synonymous with the word wedding.

In other words, a beautiful wedding does not guarantee a beautiful marriage. There are plenty of couples who've had fairytale weddings but ended up later with disastrous marriages. So make sure you are preparing for marriage, not just a wedding.

Christian Premarital Advice Questions:

Have you both accepted Christ as Lord and Savior?Do you have marriage mentors or a marriage ministry at your church you can look to for support?Have you each prayed individually about getting married? If so, what is the spirit saying to you about marrying this person? If you're not sure, what do you feel in your gut?Why do you want to be married?Are you fearful of being alone?What is your definition of marriage?What unhealthy images of marriage have you been exposed to growing up that could negatively impact your marriage.Why do you believe this is the right person?Is now the right time to get married? The Bible says there is a season for everything. Is this the right season or are you forcing this to happen?What would be the benefits of waiting?What expectations do you have of your fiance' after you're married?What stereotypes do you hold about males/females?What stereotypes do you hold about marriage?Have you scheduled premarital counseling?Are you comfortable with your fiance's past history? That includes credit history, relationship history, and employment history. Past history is a good predictor of future behavior.How well do you know your fiance'?

If you are uncomfortable with your answers to any of the above questions, then the answer to your question "should I get married" may be no.

Sit down with your fiance' and go over these questions until the two of you are completely satisfied with the answers.

If you feel the need to postpone the wedding, my Christian premarital advice is to do just that. Remember it is better to delay your wedding now, than it is to end up divorced later.

Wanda J. Collins encourages you to seek the heart of God concerning your Christian marriage. When you seek the Lord with all of your heart, you will find Him. When you submit yourself to Him, He will direct your path. He will provide the answers you need to transform your relationship. I invite you to visit Christian Marriage Today where you can receive free marriage advice and the answers to your marital questions.

Original article