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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Hurt at proposal and ring

264 replies

Ungratefulornot · 25/09/2012 17:02

Hi all

I've NCd..

I need help here as I can't seem to feel better about this, I need some other perspectives.. My partner and I have been talking about marriage for a while and knew it was on the cards. We love each other very much. We're just back from holiday where he proposed (i wasn't expecting it) but nothing was how I imagined it and I'm finding it hard to feel happier about certain things... I'm sure I'm in for a flaming for being an ungrateful cow but here goes.

Firstly the proposal - basically 'why don't we get married?', a hug, then he says (in a nice way) 'I know that's what you want''.. Hmm So basically nothing about him wanting me to be his wife just that it was what I wanted. I immediately said 'isn't it what you want???' and he said of course it was..

He presented me with the ring, which is absolutely nothing like I would pick or expected and, as he told me voluntarily later that night, cheap! Because, as he told the woman in the jewellers, the engagement ring is only a token and it's the wedding ring that really counts Hmm It doesn't even look like an engagement ring, more like an eternity ring, and it's obviously cheap. We have plenty money btw and he'd think nothing of spending loads more than he spent on the ring at the drop of a hat on anything else.. To me an engagement ring is hugely symbolic and it's not about the money, it feels like he just didn't care enough to get something right...

Upshot is, I felt upset with it all, and while I kept it in that night we had a huge argument the next day because he was upset i was annoyed and that he felt I had threw it all back in his face when he'd tried to make me happy.. I then felt bad and backtracked and we had a lovely holiday planning our wedding.. But it was still playing on my mind.

But now we're back and while I've got over the proposal comment (given that I know he's genuinely as excited at marrying as I am) I just can't get over the ring issue. He's very generous to me generally and I can't believe that when it came to something as important as this, that i should be happy to wear every day for the rest of my life, he put so little of anything into it - money or thought.. I wouldnt have been looking for anything too expensive just less cheap than it is!!! Never asked me what I would like as he wanted it to be a surprise.. He's asked me if I wanted to swap ring but I couldn't bring myself to say yes so said no and he was happy with that but he knows I'm not happy with it. I need to get it resized as its a little big but tbh I just don't want to wear it and I feel annoyed every time I think about it. As well as me not liking it and the fact it doesnt look like an engagement ring, I can just imagine the looks it'll get from everyone when we officially announce our engagement - I'm ashamed to say I feel slightly embarrassed at the thought. I just feel I'd rather not wear it and just get a nice wedding ring.

I feel annoyed with him as I have spent my time and effort getting him things which he could value and love for the rest of his life and he hasn't paid me the same courtesy, and for something as symbolic as this.

Thanks in advance for any replies, good and bad. I'm aware this will probably be a controversial one!

OP posts:
Ungratefulornot · 25/09/2012 17:51

Thanks kendodd he really is lovely and I don't want to upset him and I have..

OP posts:
Empusa · 25/09/2012 17:52

"Thanks - I had assumed he'd get either get input before a proposal, or just propose and say we'd pick together..."

How was he to know that either of those would be better than surprising you with a ring though?

Plus if you look at popular culture, it makes out like the normal thing is to surprise the partner with a ring (usually one they know nothing about)

Ungratefulornot · 25/09/2012 17:53

I know Empusa , you're right..

OP posts:
Empusa · 25/09/2012 17:55

Go talk to him about it, and have fun planning your wedding together! Grin

suburbophobe · 25/09/2012 17:56

he proposed ...but nothing was how I imagined it

Are you living in a fairy tale? Hmm

I agree with Doha, you are going to spend the rest of your life with this man, why not be honest about your feelings about the ring?

Some men are just clueless when it comes to buying a present for their nearest and dearest! The ring might not be to your taste but look at the feeling behind it. Is it genuine?

You sound quite materialistic by the way. Marriage is a lot more than what each of you give each other materially....

vintagewarrior · 25/09/2012 17:59

I had a crap proposal & engagement ring with exDH, it always stuff in my throat he'd spent £300 when he could have easily afforded £3000, but the proposal bothered me more. He knew this but did nothing to rectify it. Marraige lasted 2 years.

Current dp could say anything & spend a fiver and I'd be happy, but wants to wait until he can afford what he knows I like (vintage art deco), and what he thinks I am worth.

I'd be honest and ask to change the ring if I were you, before you announce it, communication is so important, if you can't admit & discuss this you are going to struggle with other big issues as they arise in your marraige.

FWIW I now realise important events quite often are not as you'd hoped, not all a disappointment, just different.

monkeyfacegrace · 25/09/2012 17:59

What is fucking wrong with people?

You are going to marry the guy, yet you cant talk to him?

I hated my engagement ring, so I said, 'yes I will marry you, I adore you. However, the ring is shit and I want another. Is now a good time to abuse your credit card?' Or words to that effect.

He was happy as I said yes. I was happy as I got a corker of a diamond.

Jesus, dont over complicate this.

izzyizin · 25/09/2012 17:59

Change the ring or change the bloke... which is your preferred option, OP?

If you don't change the ring now, you'll find yourself wearing a piece of jewellery that you don't like, that you won't want to flash with pride, and which will continue to niggle at you until some point in the future when, divorce statistics being what they are, you change the bloke.

EugenesAxe · 25/09/2012 18:00

I very shallowly told my now DH that the ring he bought would reflect on him. In reality I just wanted a rock...

I love my ring and it feels ALL WRONG that you should be looking at yours with a sinking heart and not a glow of happiness. It's not enough to retract your agreement to marry him, of course... you need to look at the bigger picture, of which the ring is just one brushstroke (?!).

I would own up and say the ring is making you feel down. It's not going to get better and although it IS very shallow of me, I think you need to enjoy making it sparkle and catching sight of it in lifts and windows! For a lot of women marriage time is princess time; I don't think you should feel bad for feeling let down on this.

PorkyandBess · 25/09/2012 18:01

I think I could get over the rubbish proposal but I would definitely change the ring to one that I loved and cost 3 months salary.

Ungratefulornot · 25/09/2012 18:01

Lol monkey I like your style Grin

OP posts:
usualsuspect3 · 25/09/2012 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mum2Fergus · 25/09/2012 18:04

If its that important to you, you should be comfortable enough to have the conversation with him...if not, then poor communication is a bad way to start off a marriage...

Ungratefulornot · 25/09/2012 18:05

Thanks all for good and 'bad' comments. It just upsets me that the ring I may end up with is not the one he picked and proposed with.. Whoever said he can't win is right! Lol But I feel neither can I! Plus I feel cheeky asking him to add money to it.

We're telling our families this week and I won't have the ring on, it's too big anyway.. But I just wouldn't want to wear it anyway. I'm not materialistic, it's all about thought and effort and the importance of it.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 25/09/2012 18:05

Does it really matter? SO he got it wrong but he seems to love and want to marry you and that should be enough.I had lovely restaurant and lovely ring and said no!

Ungratefulornot · 25/09/2012 18:06

You're fit, if I can't communicate this well then we have bigger issues than the ring. I will speak to him I think. I just wish I didn't have to.

OP posts:
Ungratefulornot · 25/09/2012 18:06

*fit =right

OP posts:
garlicnutty · 25/09/2012 18:07

Erm, you probably aren't going to like this, OP, but your feelings seem significant to me. Proposals and rings aren't a big deal, but marriage is. And marriages begin with a proposal. It's the moment when the pair of you decide you're ready to commit to your relationship for life.

If you felt perfectly good about this commitment, you wouldn't give a shit how the agreement was made or what people think of the ring (or lack of same). You just wouldn't. So I don't feel you're completely sure in your own mind about the permanence of this relationship. The crappy communication and lack of mutual understanding shown by this little fiasco indicates there's quite some way to go before you really are ready to share the rest of your lives together.

I realise some people get engaged as a sort of transitional commitment - but you've already booked half your wedding, so you are looking at forever. I'd think again if I were you. Sorry.

Ungratefulornot · 25/09/2012 18:07

noddy my head says you're right but I just can't feel right about it as much as I've tried..

OP posts:
izzyizin · 25/09/2012 18:08

marriage time is princess time I agree with you, EA.

As all the more realistic best fairy stories have it, its a time when the princess kisses the charming prince and shortly thereafter he turns into a frog.

garlicnutty · 25/09/2012 18:08

Cross-posted. How about booking a counsellor session? Or booking a friend you really trust to be insightful?

Ungratefulornot · 25/09/2012 18:09

Don't be sorry garlic , thanks for taking time to post.. I don't think you're right but I do understand why you've made the point.

OP posts:
Offred · 25/09/2012 18:09

You will always have to speak to him about your needs and wants. He is an independent person. The idea of a relationship where the other person always "just knows" about the big stuff would be exhausting. I'd also, while you are at it talk about his beliefs and things he finds important. Don't assume you want and need the same things and that giving him what you need is what he himself wants/needs IYSWIM.

usualsuspect3 · 25/09/2012 18:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lotsofcheese · 25/09/2012 18:11

OP, have you previously communicated the importance of the proposal/ring to your partner? Or did he not listen?

You clearly had high expectations & perhaps fixed ideas about both issues?

A joint shopping trip where you BOTH pick a ring is the way forward.

And you need to communicate better - none of this passive-aggressive pretending to like the ring lark!!

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