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Relationships

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

Boyfriend felt pressured by ring shopping discussion

259 replies

Autumntimes · 18/01/2025 19:47

Both in our early to mid 30s so I thought a year and a half is plenty of time to be engaged for our age. We are also living together now. We have discussed marriage and kids and I mentioned that I would not like to be together for more than 2 years and still don’t have a solution plan if we would get married. He seemed to be ok with the timeline but he never actively brought up the timeline convo again. I recently started to look at rings and I never try one on before. My friend who just got married recently has been encouraging me to at least start looking and it would take time to find something I like anyways so I should start looking for fun. I expressed to my bf that we should maybe go ring shopping together. He seemed ok to it at first. Today he finally mentioned that I am pressuring him and that I had been talking about it too much. Maybe I had been but I was just excited for the future and the fact that a few of my friends just got married recently made me feel the highs of being engaged. I freaked out and asked what he meant and he said he didn’t mean it in a negative way.
Now my head is all over the place. We had been talking about marriage for a while and he even wrote down the different shapes and cuts of rings that I came across on the Internet. I thought we were on the right direction. I had told him that I just wanted to do ring shopping for fun and did not expect this reaction.
Now I don’t want to even think about marrying him anymore. The relationship has been very good otherwise and he has genuinely been a good partner to me and his family is amazing to me.
Am I being dramatic? I feel dramatic because as the words came out of his mouth, my tears just wouldn’t stop dropping I had to take a cold shower to calm myself down. I can’t quite fantom whether it was the shame of me even asking to go for ring shopping or the fact that someone who I thought loved me would even feel pressured by ring shopping talk.

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 18/01/2025 20:22

We (well mainly I, DH was just there to pay) went ring shopping but only after we were engaged and had already got a venue/church booked for the wedding.

Cynic17 · 18/01/2025 20:23

You're rushing the poor chap way too much, OP. Just back off. You haven't known each other very long, so no need to rush into marriage.
We didn't go "ring shopping" until after the proposal, which is perfectly normal.

Maboscelar · 18/01/2025 20:24

SallyWD · 18/01/2025 19:53

I actually think a year and a half is quite soon to be getting engaged. I do understand that given your age you want to get on with marriage and kids. However, I also feel that it's soon. Dh and I only moved in together after 18 months and didn't consider marriage until a couple of years after that. However, we were (slightly) younger than you.
I think thar instead of getting upset, you need a calm conversation together about whether you're on the same page, whether you both want marriage and children and when. If you get over emotional and cry, you're unlikely to get honest answers from him.

Conversely, DH and were engaged after 3 months, married at 19 months, and has our first baby 13 months after getting married. I was 32 when we got married.

OP I think you've got your answer, your boyfriend doesn't want to marry you. If I were you, I would move on and find someone else.

wassailess · 18/01/2025 20:25

I don't know anyone who has gone ring shopping together.

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 18/01/2025 20:25

iwillfghhjjj · 18/01/2025 20:21

So just to clarify people are agreeing to marry someone without discussing their future plans/goals/expectations?

One explanation why divorce is so high.

💯 this. Bizarre...

I also find it slightly laughable that its oh so pushy of OP to ask for what she wants and look for clarity on commitment when shes almost 2 years in YET women also get slammed on here for "wasting their fertile years not asking for what they want" with some douche who wont commit

Rachmorr57 · 18/01/2025 20:26

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 18/01/2025 20:27

No you don't go looking at rings for fun and if you do - you most certainly don't have your boyfriend with you !!!

He hasn't even proposed to you !!!

PullTheBricksDown · 18/01/2025 20:27

Mrsttcno1 · 18/01/2025 20:09

I don’t know anybody who’s went ring shopping together. My husband proposed, he chose my ring, we didn’t need to go shopping together and he got it when he was ready to propose. You’re trying to force it really and 18 months isn’t long at all.

We did, and our wedding was a long time ago. So I'm not sure why there are posts on here as if ring shopping together is a bit forward for 2025. It's not!

And with 'get engaged then look for a ring' ok but lots of people like to be able to show the ring when they announce they're engaged?

LegoBingo · 18/01/2025 20:28

Why are you discussing going ring shopping? You seem slightly OTT about the ring - he knows all the cuts and stuff you like and then now you've suggested you go with him? He hasn't even proposed! Or was that your way of proposing to him??

Deadringer · 18/01/2025 20:28

Instead of talking about getting engaged and looking at rings you should be discussing marriage. Once you decide together to get married you are engaged, whether you get a ring or not then is up to you. Personally I think 18 months is a little early to be talking getting married but if it's what you want then decide what timeline you want and discuss it with him. He will either be on board or he won't but at least you will know.

Runfaraway · 18/01/2025 20:29

SleepingisanArt · 18/01/2025 20:21

I didn't go ring shopping. I was proposed to with a ring my now husband chose knowing what my 'taste' is. He also chose my eternity ring again based on knowing my taste, our wedding rings and my engagement ring!

I don't know anyone who chose their own ring and the one person I know who effectively nagged her boyfriend into a proposal and wedding within 2.5 years of meeting is divorced as he left her within a year of the wedding as the nagging about children, a bigger house and posher holidays began..... (She's on her 3rd husband....)

Loads of preople get engaged first and then choose a ring together. You don’t need a ring to get engaged…

HeddaGarbled · 18/01/2025 20:31

You’ve got sucked into the world of social media where the ring and the proposal are more important than the relationship.

It’s perfectly reasonable to have a timeline for marriage and children. It’s also perfectly reasonable to look at pictures of rings and wedding dresses and whatnot and think “that’s nice, I’d like one like that”.

It is not reasonable to go ring shopping when you aren’t engaged nor to expect an Instagrammable proposal.

You are putting pressure on him and all that crying in the shower stuff is childish.

Do you want to marry him: him specifically not just any handy man? If you do, drop all this showy nonsense, tell him, plan it together and don’t expect him to turn himself into a fantasy fabulous proposer/ring buyer to meet your unrealistic dreams.

Mrsttcno1 · 18/01/2025 20:33

PullTheBricksDown · 18/01/2025 20:27

We did, and our wedding was a long time ago. So I'm not sure why there are posts on here as if ring shopping together is a bit forward for 2025. It's not!

And with 'get engaged then look for a ring' ok but lots of people like to be able to show the ring when they announce they're engaged?

It is forward when you’re not even engaged!

Bessienol · 18/01/2025 20:33

If you’re not on the same page find someone who is on your page and time frame.

im telling you now when you have to push it with someone it’s not the right relationship

IDontLoveTheWayYouLie · 18/01/2025 20:33

It's been 18 months not 18 years. He might want to marry you but shoving it in his face constantly isn't fun for anyone.

Corinthiana · 18/01/2025 20:33

I used to work in a jeweller's, back in the day. Couples ring shopping was a thing. It was actually a really nice part of the job. More recently it seems to be the ring is the man's choice completely, I don't know if that's an American thing?
Anyway - I saw happy, excited and committed couples, OP - is that where you both are?

BarMonaco · 18/01/2025 20:34

We went ring shopping after we decided to get married. I think 2 years should be enough time to know you'd met the one and you're not far off that. It would be different if you were early 20s. Maybe say you'll drop it but then if he's not mentioning anything by the summer it might be time to say you want to get married as you are early/mid 30s and want kids. (If you do. If you don't then no rush.)
If he doesn't it might be time to end it as you dont want the same thing. At least then you'd have a chance at marrying and having kids with someone else, which you wouldn't if you just waited indefinitely.
It's only been in recent times that men have considered mid 30s too young to commit.

TheTruthHurtsDontIt · 18/01/2025 20:34

How much has he actually enthusiastically agreed and talked to you about marriage and rings and engagement and how much of it has been you talking about these things and him smiling and nodding along? Sounds like you're frothing to get down the aisle and he's not that arsed, to be honest.

FatFiatMultiplaWhopper · 18/01/2025 20:35

Are you excited about marriage, or the engagement and wedding? Take a breath. It sounds like he needs time to get his head round it.

keepingsanity · 18/01/2025 20:35

I agree with @iwillfghhjjj just a communicate.

It does sound like he is on a different page. Maybe he doesn't want to get married yet. Maybe it's a cost thing. It does sound like you are pressuring him to go ring shopping without first being engaged. A conversation about marriage does not necessarily constitute a proposal Confused

Cloney · 18/01/2025 20:36

As a man, I can assure you that if he wanted to marry you, he would. If Margot Robbie was the one asking, do you think he would have cold feet?

People often get suckered into this kind of trap because they don't want to be alone. He would rather continue having sex with a woman than be alone, so he'll say anything to keep the ruse going. You'll tell yourself it's all good, and he'll waste your prime years.

I had absolutely no hesitation about marrying my wife. But I have experienced this kind of hesitation... with women I didn't want to be with.

tigerlily9 · 18/01/2025 20:39

I’m afraid he hasn’t decided to marry you and is happy with the status quo. He doesn’t want to propose and the ring shopping is putting him under pressure as he knows when you have found your ring you will be expecting a proposal shortly after.

You have been clear about your expectations and he’s been keeping quiet in hope you won’t rock the boat. I am afraid he’s not that into you and you probably need to move on to someone who does want to marry you. Sorry

2025willbemytime · 18/01/2025 20:40

One day my boyfriend and I were shopping. I love looking at jewellery so it was normal to stop and look in windows for a few moments then move on. One day I saw one that was a nicer version of one I'd seen in a different shop that I'd told him I liked. For the first time, we went in, tried it on. No messing about or being coy I put it on my wedding finger. I pretended not to notice the assistant giving my boyfriend details on the ring. He did buy the ring, he did propose, we did get married. Looking back, it was the start of me leading everything and thinking he was in charge.

You need to make sure you're not wasting time if ultimately he doesn't want marriage and kids with you. I asked my bf at the end of our first date if he did.

I would decide a time in my head and if he hasn't proposed I'd go. He's not the only man in the world and certainly not worth giving up the chance of a baby.

Anonymcnonomousface · 18/01/2025 20:42

I don’t think he’s sure and all the pushing and talk of ring shopping isn’t going to change that.

Ring shopping 6 months in advance of a proposal which might not even happen is a bit daft - stop listening to your friends and looking at social media. A wise person once said - the only reason to get married is because you can’t not.

Take it from someone who’s been there and done that, the pain of divorce will really make you need a cold shower so cut back on the drama and focus on what you both want.

PlumFairies · 18/01/2025 20:42

Autumntimes · 18/01/2025 20:06

Why do I need to wait for his proposal before I look for rings? I’m talking about engagement ring here. A lot of people I know do ring shopping together months and even a year ahead of the proposal

I’ve never known anyone to go looking at rings before a proposal has occurred. When I became engaged my ring was a complete surprise, I thought that was normal 🤷‍♀️