So, over the weekend we had our baby shower. and it was amazing. 

Then we sat down and started opening our gifts (it was a co ed shower). And through out doing that people kept getting up, to get food, or  drinks or to tend to their kids. and the entire time we are opening presents, my boyfriend was looking pretty green. i just figured it was something he ate. So finally about halfway through presents, he noticed that my everyone was outside. So in between gifts, he stopped and stood up and started to thank everyone for coming to the party, Then he reached into his pocket and started saying "you are the most amazing and beautiful woman I have ever met. And you are going to make an amazing mother, (pulls out a box and kneels) would you do me the honor of marrying me?" and i was just bawling my eyes out the entire time. BUT my favorite part was, about a month ago he took my promise ring to his jeweler to have it resized, because my hands were swelling from the pregnancy. and i figured if he proposed, he would use that, because we are very tight on $$. But i had to look at the box twice to realize it was a completely different ring. He and my dad had gone shopping 4 days before the shower and my dad traded in some of his mother's (deceased since i was 11) gold, which also included his wedding ring (parents are divorced), and they came up with enough money to afford a GORGEOUS ring. 

I never had a relationship with my dad's mother. she was always doing her own thing, so she and i never had a real connection. and she died prematurely because of a car accident, otherwise she would still be here today. Knowing that my dad figured out a way for her to have some contribution to everything that was going on, meant the world to me. 

I've been engaged for a few months, and am very happy with my engagement, my fiance, and his proposal.  However, every time I tell someone about it, I get the question "So, was it a complete surprise?!" to which I honestly and happily reply "Nope, I totally knew."  Often, I get responses like "Oh, that's a shame" or "I'm sorry"...and I completely don't get it.  I love my proposal and I"m happy when I tell them that I knew his plans in advance...and they treat it like it's something wrong?  It's so rude...why is it any less wonderful that I knew about it?  It was perfect. Why is everyone else disappointed with something that I love?

So, my question is where did this obsession with proposals being a surprise come from?  Have other brides experienced something similar?  Would you have been disappointed if it WASN"T a surprise, or if it WAS, or neither?

I am trying not to get my hopes up but I have an idea this might be something mjy boyfriend is up to.

We're engaged for... well, almost a month now. It's time to set up a meeting between our families. The parents and sisters haven't met the other side before. My parents live about three hours driving away. Both sets of parents stress out pretty easily, so I'm looking for inspiration.

Tell me your story: did the parents meet yet? Did you do anything special? And how did it go?

Several months ago we had an incident with a roomate, had a falling out, and magically my ring was 'lost' the day he left. We want to get a new ring now and since they don't sell my ring anymore I figured I'd find something different.

Do you know where I could get an antique styled ring? I'd rather not buy online because I'd like to see it in person. I've seen a few small ones, but they weren't my style. I'd like to get a set if possible and I'm in love with sparkle and filigree. My last ring was pretty unique for a wedding ring and I'd still like that feel. 

Thank you so much! 

My name is Elizabeth and my fiance proposed to me almost 2 weeks ago while we were on vacation with my family at the beach.

We've been dating for 7 and 1/2 years and I cannot wait to be married to him!!

We're tentitively planning for an October 2012 wedding in Dallas and right now we're just looking at different venues and photographers. I had no idea how competitive wedding planning would be. A few places I've contacted are alread booked up for all of next October. Crazy.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting to know some of you and finding some great ideas!