Not Engaged Yet

Did I make a mistake?

Hi guys!  I’m new here!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

My boyfriend and I have obviously talked about marriage.  He has told me in the past that he would not go and look at rings w/ me (this discussion came up when I told him my best friend and her then boyfriend were going to look).  I’m not saying my boyfriend doesn’t have style, he does on some things but I had to tell the guy when we started dating not to wear polo shirts and basketball shorts together.    I have a very simple style that really doesn’t include any jewelry at all, save for a necklace he got me for our anniversary, which he did okay picking out.  My mom, my sister and I happened to get out shopping one day (a rare occurrence, since my sister has three children) and decided to go look at rings.  My mom gets a pretty substantial discount at one of the jewelers in the area and we also went to a few that were close to there.  I went w/ the intention of telling my mom what I liked, since I had never tried on any rings before.  I ended up liking one 100 times more than any of the others.  It had a ‘premium cut’ stone in it (similar to a Leo Diamond).   I told my boyfriend if he ever wanted to look at rings to take my mom w/ him not only because she knows what I would want, but also for the discount.  The ring I choose is pretty pricey for us.  He ended up telling me when they went looking because well, he just can’t keep a secret.  I didn’t realize that while they can swap out the stone for a smaller one, they don’t have the premium stone in a smaller size; it would have to be a regular round cut stone.  I also wouldn’t put a band/enhancer with the ring, simply wear it w/o so later on that will save some expense.

The problem is now I feel guilt for the whole thing.  He told my mom “she deserves what she wants” and I know he means it.  The problem is now I feel guilty that he is going to have to come up with the money for it.  On the one hand, I’m going to wear one ring for the rest of my life, and there is a good chance it will be the only ring I ever wear, I want to LOVE it.  On the other hand I feel really guilty for putting pressure on him.  I have made it clear that he can switch the stone for a smaller regular cut stone or that he can choose another one altogether.  I also know there is nothing I can say that would make him believe that this ring with that stone isn’t what I really want.  I can’t help but think I also took away his chance to pick out the ring.  How do I get rid of this guilt?  Honestly, I’m just happy that he wants to propose to me.  I will say that well my boyfriend isn’t selfish, I don’t think he would feel guilty if the shoe were on the other foot.  I’m trying to channel that mentality, I’m just not any good at it.

Re: Did I make a mistake?

  • You need to be talking to him about these feelings.
    "I wish yo azz all tha dopest up in yo' marriages"
  • kl1987kl1987 member
    10 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2013

    I have, I’ve told him it was never my intention to make him buy me that ring, and that I would be happy with a ring pop.  I have let it go at that, because if I continually bring it up then I’m inadvertently putting more pressure on him to propose to me.  I want him to do it when he wants too, not because otherwise I’m going to continue to harp about it.  I know I just need to let it go.  I’m just having a hard time doing that.

  • Do you feel guilty because the cost of the ring is unreasonable or not within budget? I can see how that could happen. He may or may not be able to afford the ring, but it sounds like he knows you went to look with mom and is aware of all of this. If the cost bothers you that much, then maybe you can communicate this to your BF and see if something less costly can be found. Just relax and know that your BF is aware, went shopping and will figure it out! Remember that whatever ring your BF picks will be beautiful in itself as a symbol of your commitment!
  • Your BF knows how much the ring is, if he is responsible with money and won't pick something out of his price range then this shouldn't be an issue. So just relax and don't worry about it.


  • Your BF knows how much the ring is, if he is responsible with money and won't pick something out of his price range then this shouldn't be an issue. So just relax and don't worry about it.
    This!

    Anniversary

  • kl1987 said:

    Hi guys!  I’m new here!

    My boyfriend and I have obviously talked about marriage.  He has told me in the past that he would not go and look at rings w/ me (this discussion came up when I told him my best friend and her then boyfriend were going to look).  I’m not saying my boyfriend doesn’t have style, he does on some things but I had to tell the guy when we started dating not to wear polo shirts and basketball shorts together.    I have a very simple style that really doesn’t include any jewelry at all, save for a necklace he got me for our anniversary, which he did okay picking out.  My mom, my sister and I happened to get out shopping one day (a rare occurrence, since my sister has three children) and decided to go look at rings.  My mom gets a pretty substantial discount at one of the jewelers in the area and we also went to a few that were close to there.  I went w/ the intention of telling my mom what I liked, since I had never tried on any rings before.  I ended up liking one 100 times more than any of the others.  It had a ‘premium cut’ stone in it (similar to a Leo Diamond).   I told my boyfriend if he ever wanted to look at rings to take my mom w/ him not only because she knows what I would want, but also for the discount.  The ring I choose is pretty pricey for us.  He ended up telling me when they went looking because well, he just can’t keep a secret.  I didn’t realize that while they can swap out the stone for a smaller one, they don’t have the premium stone in a smaller size; it would have to be a regular round cut stone.  I also wouldn’t put a band/enhancer with the ring, simply wear it w/o so later on that will save some expense.

    The problem is now I feel guilt for the whole thing.  He told my mom “she deserves what she wants” and I know he means it.  The problem is now I feel guilty that he is going to have to come up with the money for it.  On the one hand, I’m going to wear one ring for the rest of my life, and there is a good chance it will be the only ring I ever wear, I want to LOVE it.  On the other hand I feel really guilty for putting pressure on him.  I have made it clear that he can switch the stone for a smaller regular cut stone or that he can choose another one altogether.  I also know there is nothing I can say that would make him believe that this ring with that stone isn’t what I really want.  I can’t help but think I also took away his chance to pick out the ring.  How do I get rid of this guilt?  Honestly, I’m just happy that he wants to propose to me.  I will say that well my boyfriend isn’t selfish, I don’t think he would feel guilty if the shoe were on the other foot.  I’m trying to channel that mentality, I’m just not any good at it.

    Since you're thinking about joining your lives together, and this is obviously making you feel guilty, maybe you could offer to help save money towards it. That never came up in my situation, but since, like you said, it's a ring I was planning to wear every day for the rest of my life, I would have been happy to pitch in for it.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic

    Daisypath Anniversary tickers

    "You are made of win." -SopChick
    Still here and still fabulous!

  • Your BF knows how much the ring is, if he is responsible with money and won't pick something out of his price range then this shouldn't be an issue. So just relax and don't worry about it.
    This!

    Honestly, based on your BF's attitude, he might have gone over budget even without your input.  My FI did, and I felt guilty for about 0.2 seconds before I realized how proud he was of my ring and how happy he was to give it to me.  If he really can't afford it, he won't buy it.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • I think you should just have an honest conversation with him. "BF, did I make you feel like I took away your chance to pick out the ring? Do you know that I really, really would be happy with a different size/cut ring or a different ring altogether? The important thing is that you ask and I say yes -- I don't want you to break the bank trying to give me what you think I want." Should be pretty easy from there! Or, like Tiger recommended, offer to chip in. It will be all the same money soon anyway!
    Yup, this!

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


  • phiraphira member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Second Anniversary 5 Answers
    My partner and I are going halfsies on my ring. We both wanted something that was out of his price range, and we're counting it as a wedding expense and not a gift he's buying me. Honestly, paying for it and designing it makes it mean a whole lot more to me than it would have if he had just bought a ring on his own.

    For the record, I once had a boyfriend who had TERRIBLE taste in ... pretty much everything. When my birthday was coming up, I mentioned that he could always check in with my mom or my best friend if he wasn't sure what to get me, and he was super offended at the suggestion. He was very proud of what he ended up picking out for me, but ... let's just say that it was the single worst gift I've ever received. The relationship didn't work out for a lot of reasons, but eesh, that was a low point.

    (I don't mean to sound shallow, or to imply that people who give bad gifts are bad people/bad significant others. The gifts he got for me were things that showed he really hadn't put a lot of thought into what to get me. They were all things he really liked, and one of them was something I had explicitly stated--more than once--that I didn't want. It was a downer.)
    Anniversary
    now with ~* INCREASED SASSINESS *~
    image
  • ALOT of people I know get anniversary upgrades on their rings. It definitely is not a one and done. Buy what you can afford now. Someday you won't feel guilty about the price and that's when you upgrade
    Daisypath Wedding tickers
  • My FI and I are having a wonderful lazy Sunday. Just a few minutes ago I exclaimed "Look what I have!" and showed him my ring. I show him every day how much I appreciate it and how it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. And I got it last August.

    I hope I spend the rest of my life showing him how much it means to me. Men love that, and when he becomes your FI he will appreciate your beaming face every time he catches you looking at it and not you complaining that you feel guilty.

    And if you DO bitch about feeling guilty, he's going to feel compelled to try to make you feel better, which he shouldn't have to do after buying you something so wonderful.



    Anniversary
    image

    image
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards