Here in the United States, it is likely that you will get married at some point in your life, as up to half of all adults in this one country alone have gotten and are currently married. As a matter of fact, most of these people will get married relatively early on in life, with more than 85% of all people who get married tying the knot before they reach the age of 50.
More and more frequently, marriage occurs later in life, however. Gone are the days when many people get married right out of high school or even college. On average, a typical woman will get married around the age of 28. Men tend to get married a little bit older, with the average age of a man getting married sitting at around 30. As men tend to be a couple years older than their partners, this trend makes sense and holds up quite well. This means that people are dating longer before getting married, the average couple dating for around five years (at least) before the date of the wedding. And while some couples will certainly date for shorter periods of time, others will date for even longer ones.
Many couples even now live together before getting married or even engaged. The data that has been gathered on the subject more than supports this claim, showing that this statement is a true one for up to 70% of all couples that go on to get married, at least here in the United States. Living together can be ideal in a number of different ways. For one thing, it saves money, as living together under one roof is certainly less expensive than living separately in different apartments or even houses. Living together also teaches you how to coexist with your partner. This is something that, for many people, has helped to make the transition from dating into marriage all the easier.
Getting married, however, will be the natural progression of most relationships, when both halves of the couple decide that the time is right. To start off the wedding planning process, the proposing half of the couple will need to buy the most ideal engagement ring. Fortunately, there are many different engagement rings out there that this shouldn’t be all that difficult.
For many people, the classic diamond ring is the obvious choice. After all, diamond rings are made from the world’s hardest naturally occurring substance, as diamonds score a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. You can even opt for lab grown diamonds, as these diamonds, not mined 100 feet below the surface of the earth, require much less labor to obtain. Many people find these diamonds to be more sustainable and ethical as well, two things that more and more people are becoming aware of and interested in.
The cut of the ring is also something that should be decided upon. A solitaire cut is particularly popular, with people all throughout the country, as it features a simple single stone set on a simple band. Popular since the 1800s, this classic has endured the test of time.
But in addition to the engagement ring, you’ll have to consider a wedding band as well. Wedding bands will usually be selected later on in the wedding planning process, but selecting wedding bands is still very important indeed. Wedding bands can be bought to be matching or the bride and groom can get separate, individual wedding bands. Ultimately, wedding bands can be simple or lavish much in the same way that engagement rings are. Wedding bands are also hugely customizable, something else that many will consider. You can get wedding bands made of various metals as well, and using various types of stones, from diamonds to birthstones and beyond. Ultimately, wedding bands and their selection are personal to each and every couple.
At the end of the day, there are many things to be considered when you decide to propose, from the proposal itself to the diamond ring or other such engagement ring that you ultimately get. At the ned of the day, however, it is likely that any ring that you select will be well loved indeed.
