Proposing To Girlfriend

[Anonymous]

I’m proposing to my girlfriend of 1 year soon. I want to make it super special. I haven’t picked out a ring yet. I have a $50k budget for both the ring and proposal. What can I do to make it extra special?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m proposing to my girlfriend of 1 year soon. I want to make it super special. I haven’t picked out a ring yet. I have a $50k budget for both the ring and proposal. What can I do to make it extra special?

I hope you read the recent thread about the guy who bought an engagement ring for his GF which she didn't like, was not to her taste. I hope you know the exact ring she wants.

And with a budget of 50K for both ring and proposal, I seriously would get a beautiful ring, a special, but inexpensive proposal event, and put the rest toward a down payment on a house. Though if you have 50K for this, maybe you have a lot of money, so down payment isn't an issue. If it is, then definitely do not spend a lot of money on some proposal event.

[Anonymous]

You could propose on her birthday. Have a treasure hunt, so that she thinks this is about her birthday. And final stop is engagement ring, which then should be a surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m proposing to my girlfriend of 1 year soon. I want to make it super special. I haven’t picked out a ring yet. I have a $50k budget for both the ring and proposal. What can I do to make it extra special?

I hope you read the recent thread about the guy who bought an engagement ring for his GF which she didn't like, was not to her taste. I hope you know the exact ring she wants.

And with a budget of 50K for both ring and proposal, I seriously would get a beautiful ring, a special, but inexpensive proposal event, and put the rest toward a down payment on a house. Though if you have 50K for this, maybe you have a lot of money, so down payment isn't an issue. If it is, then definitely do not spend a lot of money on some proposal event.

OP here. I have money for a house. I want to get her a very nice ring. I’m thinking 2 carat but not sure of the diamond. I know it will be a solitaire band.

[Anonymous]

Spend half on the ring/proposal.

Half in a money market account for your condo following divorce from a sexless marriage once the kids come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could propose on her birthday. Have a treasure hunt, so that she thinks this is about her birthday. And final stop is engagement ring, which then should be a surprise.

OP here. Her birthday is 7 months away. I will be proposing on New Years Eve. We met a year ago on New Years Eve and instantly fell for each other. We had We have been through a lot - she stayed with me through a very hard time in my life. I want to make it extra special for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spend half on the ring/proposal.

Half in a money market account for your condo following divorce from a sexless marriage once the kids come.

OP here. Not all marriages end up sexless.

[Anonymous]

What is her personality like? Personally, I would not want a showy proposal. I would want a hike or some other low key event (not just hanging out at home). A little speech, but nothing too long. It would be nice to have a photographer, but that’s about it.

I would hate a big to do. However, that may not be your girlfriend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could propose on her birthday. Have a treasure hunt, so that she thinks this is about her birthday. And final stop is engagement ring, which then should be a surprise.

OP here. Her birthday is 7 months away. I will be proposing on New Years Eve. We met a year ago on New Years Eve and instantly fell for each other. We had We have been through a lot - she stayed with me through a very hard time in my life. I want to make it extra special for her.

Great, but don’t spend $50k on a ring and be sure she selects the ring.

[Anonymous]

I would not want a showy, elaborate proposal. If it weren’t Covid, I’d like to be proposed to on a nice vacation. I wouldn’t want elaborate plans for the proposal, maybe watching the sunset on a beach or over a nice dinner. These days, I’d prefer something low-key and meaningful. Do you have a favorite restaurant? You could get takeout from there and have a candlelight dinner. I’d also prefer the money be put into a ring vs. some likely cheesy (if elaborate)
proposal.

You can get a large, quality diamond for $30k. Save the rest for a post/Covid engagement celebration trip.

[Anonymous]

Don't spend $50k on a ring that she doesn't help pick out/design. Honestly, this has a 5% chance of going well and a 95% chance of going terribly, even if you think you know what she likes.

To make the proposal special I'd either do it on a trip or go somewhere that will have fireworks on NYE and do it when the fireworks are going off.

[Anonymous]

And I agree with letting her select the ring. DH told me what he would have chosen and I would have hated it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spend half on the ring/proposal.

Half in a money market account for your condo following divorce from a sexless marriage once the kids come.

OP here. Not all marriages end up sexless.

True, but no one gets married thinking theirs will. Life, kids and age have a way of catching up to most people. It sounds like you haven’t known each other long and have had an intense relationship. These passionate, intense relationships are the ones most likely to crash and burn. I’m not saying yours will, but you should go in with open eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not want a showy, elaborate proposal. If it weren’t Covid, I’d like to be proposed to on a nice vacation. I wouldn’t want elaborate plans for the proposal, maybe watching the sunset on a beach or over a nice dinner. These days, I’d prefer something low-key and meaningful. Do you have a favorite restaurant? You could get takeout from there and have a candlelight dinner. I’d also prefer the money be put into a ring vs. some likely cheesy (if elaborate)
proposal.

You can get a large, quality diamond for $30k. Save the rest for a post/Covid engagement celebration trip.

OP here. I was thinking of dinner. I would normally take her on vacation but we can’t now. I do want to get her a nice ring. I have a good idea of what she will like. Her best friend had been helping me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m proposing to my girlfriend of 1 year soon. I want to make it super special. I haven’t picked out a ring yet. I have a $50k budget for both the ring and proposal. What can I do to make it extra special?

I hope you read the recent thread about the guy who bought an engagement ring for his GF which she didn't like, was not to her taste. I hope you know the exact ring she wants.

And with a budget of 50K for both ring and proposal, I seriously would get a beautiful ring, a special, but inexpensive proposal event, and put the rest toward a down payment on a house. Though if you have 50K for this, maybe you have a lot of money, so down payment isn't an issue. If it is, then definitely do not spend a lot of money on some proposal event.

OP here. I have money for a house. I want to get her a very nice ring. I’m thinking 2 carat but not sure of the diamond. I know it will be a solitaire band.

I would get a diamond. I would not spend 50k, if I could avoid it. 2 carats is big. Mine was 1.5. I think 2 is nice. I would think you could spend around 40k but maybe prices have gone up in 10 years.