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When do I know I’m ready to get married?
Half of Americans in a relationship knew they wanted to marry their partner the moment they met. In fact, that statistic holds up across genders! 46% of women and 47% of men immediately knew that their partner was the one.
What about those who are skeptical of marriage? A third of respondents say that their current partner made them want to get married – that’s a quarter of women and half of men.
What does this mean for you? Well, there doesn’t seem to be much of a correlation between how long a couple dates and the strength of their marriage. Whatever feels right is right for you. It doesn’t particularly matter whether it takes months or years for you two to arrive at the altar. Your journey is your own, but the destination is the same for each married couple.
After the wedding, should I wear my wedding ring, my engagement ring, or both?
If you’re asking yourself, “How should I wear my wedding ring set?” then we’ve got news for you: there are no absolute rules regarding how to wear your rings! After the wedding, most Americans wear their wedding ring closest to their knuckle, paired with their engagement ring just over it.
Other ring options:
- Wear your full wedding set, but swap the order: the engagement ring closest to the knuckle, with the wedding ring further down on your finger.
- Wear only your wedding ring
If you like your wedding ring best, or if your engagement ring tends to get in the way in your day-to-day life, then you may want to wear your wedding ring exclusively.
- Wear only your engagement ring
Do you like your engagement ring more than your wedding band? Then leave your wedding band at home! You’re still celebrating your relationship, just with more emphasis on your sparkling center stone.
- Wear your wedding ring and engagement ring on different hands
This can be a great choice for those whose wedding ring and engagement ring don’t sit flush. Or, on the other hand, your local tradition may dictate this. In Spain, for instance, the engagement ring usually goes on the left hand, while the wedding ring usually goes on the right.
- Wear your wedding ring and engagement ring on different fingers
Other than for style reasons, this choice is common for those whose fingers have changed size, particularly post-pregnancy. If this strikes a chord, remember that James Allen offers free ring resizing either via mail or in select Jared jewelry stores.
- Wear your wedding ring and engagement ring on the right hand
In some cultures, right > left. In fact, Catholic and eastern European tradition dictates that the wedding and engagement ring both be worn on the right hand.
All in all, only about half of respondents constantly wear their wedding rings and engagement rings together. The other half either wear only one ring or forgo wearing rings altogether.
The bottom line: you do you, boo.
How long should I save up for an engagement ring?
This is totally up to you. A quarter of Americans say they don’t believe there’s a set amount of time, while 65% of Americans believe you should save up for a year at maximum.
However, there’s no majority consensus. How do people determine how much a ring should cost?
- You can set your ring budget by the amount of money you can save in a certain number of months
- You can determine a budget independent of time constraints
- You can find your dream ring and save up until you have enough to purchase it
The time necessary to save up money is heavily dependent on both your budget and the price of your desired ring. And if your budget is inflexible, here are some options for lowering the overall cost of your ring!
Important: James Allen offers special financing options if you can’t fully afford your ring right now, but still want to get engaged ASAP!
How much should my engagement ring cost?
Just 15% of Americans believe an engagement ring should cost over $5,000. Why is this important? It means you shouldn’t feel pressured to buy an expensive ring.
If you want to splurge on an impressive ring, go for it! You can always add more diamonds to the basket and shank, upgrade to a more pricey diamond, or choose platinum as your ring metal.
On the other hand, you should know that smaller budgets are extremely common. Additionally, many people’s dream rings fall well within their ring budgets!
If you’re operating within a smaller budget, have a look at our favorite affordable engagement rings. You and your wallet will fall in love!
Is it important to buy an expensive engagement ring?
71% of Americans don’t really care about the cost of the engagement ring.
What seems to be most important is that the ring suits the recipient. If your dream ring is priced higher than your current budget allows, there are plenty of ways to adjust your ring’s cost without compromising on appearance.
Ways to reduce the cost of your engagement ring:
- Choose a lab grown diamond, which can cost up to 50% less than a traditional natural diamond.
- Go for slightly under full carats. For instance, the price difference between a .95 carat diamond and a 1.00 carat diamond is significant, but the size difference is not noticeable to the naked eye.
- Choose an elongated diamond shape, which appears large for its carat weight.
- Want a white jewelry metal? Go for white gold rather than platinum.
- Compromise on color. The less colorless a diamond is, the more affordable it is. Save money on a diamond with a slightly yellow tint, then pair it with a yellow or rose gold setting. The warm jewelry metal will mask the diamond’s color and no one can tell the difference!
Should we share the cost of an engagement ring?
4 out of 10 couples share the cost of their engagement ring. An engagement ring is a big purchase! Not only can sharing the cost be a practical decision (and perhaps one that would allow for a more expensive ring), but taking this important journey together can bring a couple closer to one another.
Whether or not you share the cost of an engagement ring, here’s why we recommend designing your ring together.
Should I get a custom engagement ring or a pre-set engagement ring?
36% of ring shoppers prefer a customized engagement ring, while 26% would rather go with a pre-set ring.
Any of James Allen’s rings can be customized with your unique gemstone and jewelry metal. For additional customization with unique baskets, halos, and shanks, visit the Ring Studio.
What’s the perfect proposal?
Ring in the champagne glass? “Will You Marry Me?” written in the sky? An impromptu proposal at home?
71% of Americans prefer a traditional proposal, in which a partner gets down on one knee and pops the question. It’s traditional, but there are a thousand and one ways to do it! Customize your proposal to your hearts’ content.
Which proposal will suit the two of you?
- Just the two of you vs. alongside friends and family
- A destination proposal vs. a proposal at home
- Simple vs. extravagant
- Impromptu vs. planned
Check out our Engagement Moments for proposal inspiration from real-life James Allen customers. And for some currently relevant inspiration, have a look at our list of 9 COVID-friendly proposal ideas.
More ring-shopping guidance to browse:
- Top Engagement Ring Tips From the Experts
- At-Home Proposal Ideas From TV & Film
- Engagement Ring Advice from Real Couples
- Engagement Ring Etiquette: 5 Big Questions
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