"The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret."
- Henny Youngman
But seriously folks, marriage is one of the biggest events in one's life. This is true in most societies in most countries. The traditions may vary from culture to culture but for the most part marriage pretty much starts with getting engaged. Getting engaged is definitely an exciting, fun time. Grooms-to-be go to great lengths to find imaginative ways to ask for their beloved hand in marriage. It can range from the traditional romantic evening on bended knee or a sky diving trip. A friend is going to pop the question while swimming with dolphins! I don't know, something smells fishy to me. His girlfriend can't even swim. Maybe he has a flipper fetish. Anyway, the next step is usually the engagement ring.
"Marriage is a thing, which puts a ring on a woman's finger ...
and two under the man's eyes."
The engagement ring is a very big part of the marriage tradition. Many people say it's the best part... in Hollywood I wonder if it's the only part. Celebs should have to put a million bucks in escrow before they get married and they can get it back if they manage to stay married for at least 5 years. They need to take a lesson from my brother-in-law. When asked what is he and his girlfriend of 25 years waiting for, he says, "We're still getting to know each other."
Marriage is a three ring circus:
engagement ring, wedding ring, and suffer-ring.
- Emo Phillips
 An engagement ring as a visible sign of their love and commitment. A classic, single diamond solitare is traditional but couples are taking cues from celebrities occasionally opt for a ring with other gemstones. For example, Princess Diana's sapphire and diamond ring made a big impact but diamonds remain the most popular choice. They have a timeless look, they maintain great value, if you choose wisely and have always symbolized security and strength.
At the cocktail party, one woman said to another, "
Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?"
The other replied, "Yes, I am, I married the wrong man."
The other trend we see also probably because of celebrity media is size.
Bigger is better, these days. For example: 
Katherine Heigl's ring is a 3 carat pear-shaped diamond flanked by pave diamonds set in platinum and Salma Hayek's ring is an over 5 carats, oval-cut diamond with trillions. In an Us magazine article, Neil Lane estimated its' value at $200,000! Tracey Edmonds was sporting this fancy yellow emerald-cut diamond with white diamond baguettes also set in platinum. Lane estimated this stunner at $400,000. Her marriage to Eddie Murphy didn't even last long enough for the flight back home! One of my personal favorites is Eva Longoria's ring. It's platinum with a 5 carat emerald shaped stone flanked by two smaller stones. How to choose a ring:The best way to go about purchasing an engagement ring is to first set your budget. A reputable jeweler experienced with diamond jewelry can help you choose the best quality diamond for your price range. There are many styles in stock to choose from but if you have a particular design in mind, it's possible to purchase loose diamonds and have them set to way you want. For example, Abazias Diamonds has a great 3D Ring Builder on their website. ------------------------------
As I've mentioned, getting engaged is when you make both a personal and public commitment to get married and to spend the rest of your lives together. So I leave you with this final joke pearl of wisdom:
"Marriage means commitment. Of course, so does insanity."
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Reader Comments (2)
Hi! Marriage also means having to put up with the inlaws for better or worse. Off topic a bit, the mother of the bride and the bridesmaid came into work the other week after an eventful wedding. Both were suffering from intoxication. Their treatment - one brown paper bag to be placed over their heads daily until signs of their embarrassment disappeared. The groom also had his share of problems. He slipped over in the spa from whatever he was doing and hurt his head. Fortunately for him he wasn't required to attend my place of work.
Hi Peter, Funny! Inlaws can be a blessing or big problems. I lucked out, my inlaws are great.