Hi Mumsnet,
I've come here as I need great answers from people in the know. Firstly I love my girlfriend, Emma, to pieces. I don't know what I'd do without her and that's why I want to marry her. I've bought a Hearts on Fire ring from Beaverbrooks for around £1,800 and I was going to propose when we go on holiday to the Dominican Republic at sunset on the beach. However, I was thinking about proposing to Emma in Deal, Kent, UK. The reason for that is we're going to Deal to visit her nan who is now 89. Emma loves her nan more than anything as she is the only connection she has to her dad who absconded from his parental responsibilities in her early years.
I was thinking that if we can get her nan in the car and go to the beach for the day, I would then propose to Emma and her nan would be able to share this with us both. Without sounding morbid and somewhat pessimistic, I want to share this with her nan as her health is deteriorating quite fast. She never remembers that we visited the previous year (we visit once a year as we live 300 miles away and can only afford to visit this much). I'm not sure if her nan would be around for the wedding as due to not even being able to afford a house at the moment due to all sorts of factors (you know, working 09:00 till 17:30 getting a nice chunk of tax taken away and then the 2% of the value of the house that our lovely estate agents want to charge now and the great rise in prices) anyway!
Can I get your opinion please?
a) Propose in Deal, share with her nan
or
b) Propose in the Dominican Republic, at sunset.
I think I need to remember that this is special no matter where I propose, but I think I'm stuck in the "Oh, propose on holiday!!!" idea. You know what we men are like.
P.S. I've uploaded 3 pictures of the ring, let me know if you like it, that finger is my friend Gemma's, she helped me pick it out. She's going to be my Best Man, but that's a whole other topic. The ring has a 950 Platinum Band and a Cathedral setting with a 0.23 carat Diamond VS1 clarity, Diamond colour I.
P.P.S. Could you also give me advice on this matter? Does a man get an engagement ring, a wedding ring or both?
Thank you in advance, I will try to reply to all of you as best I can.
Have a great day!