Look at your newsfeed. If you’re around the age of 25 then it’s more than likely filled with engagement announcements, baby scan photos and even full on wedding pictures. Your friends are growing up and if you feel like your partner isn’t picking up the slack by not giving you a ring it’s time to take a step back.
Imagine the immense pressure men must feel when they know that their proposal location and the ring they pick out in that local diamond store will be snapped immediately and shared with everyone you know. In this world of selfies and social media we can’t help ourselves when it comes to special moments and announcing them to the world. ‘But I’m sharing it with my friends and family!’ you might protest – but just think about how the person giving you the ring feels.
Social media pressures are having a real effect on men and purchasing engagement rings. With so many options it’s easy to go wrong and there are women out there who are fussy enough to insist they choose their own ring, ignoring the sentimental value behind the jewellery itself.
The Telegraph recently reported that more and more men are picking up pretty ‘holding rings’ which are then swapped for something those receiving the ring prefer. Alternatively, couples are simply coming and picking out engagement rings together with no element of surprise.
Men refraining from buying the engagement ring in secret is spoiling the tradition of a proposal. There is no surprise, no fun elaborate plan to encourage their partner to meet them somewhere special, it’s suddenly turned into a competition for women on who has the biggest, most expensive ring to show off in an Instagram post with a recent manicure.
Let’s go back to the good old days when men fretted for months over the ring and women happily accepted whatever they chose as a symbol of their love and loyalty. Forget about social media, enjoy that special moment, share it in person with your friends and family and then perhaps later snap a picture to post to the rest of the world – aka that girl from secondary school you still dislike but keep on Facebook to show off to…