Weddingbee boards

Okay, so part of me is overwhelmed with excitement and there is a small part of me is feeling a wee bit guilty (though I admit, the excited part is winning).

So, I had posted a little while ago on another ring thread that I had teetered back and forth on whether I wanted a solitaire or a 3 stone engagement ring. I never was convinced one way or the other, I loved both, but we opted for the solitaire because I was trying to be conservative and told FI I didn't want him spending the $ he wanted to spend. We did a lot of research online and we opted to go slightly under 1 ct with a high quality stone. Bought stone seperately, and had it set locally. So, I got my super gorgeous princess solitaire in a platinum setting and I loved her....soooo sparkly, colorless and just beautiful. Sure I sometimes had ring envy, but mostly I loooooved her.

Well, then it happened...we finally set our date (nearly 9 months after getting engaged...we were delayed by our home purchase) and we went shopping for our bands. I know it's premature for most to get their wedding bands so early in the game, but it was fun and it was one more thing we could pay for and not have any debt by the time the big day arrives.

I knew I wanted a band with some bling since my e-ring was so simply. We wound up with a 1ct 5 stone platinum band. I REALLY love the wedding band. Took this snap shot on my finger when we picked it up from the jeweler...

THIS is when the problems started. I created ring envy with my OWN wedding band. Suddenly my desire for the 3 stone came back in full effect. I kept secretly pulling the wedding band out from the drawer and even though I initially liked the effect of the bling next to my solitaire I started to feel like the e-ring was missing something. Something just didn't feel right. I discussed with FI very casually and we talked about upgrading later, and the last week or so we talked some more...I found him searching online for settings and asking which I liked and if "this" or "this" were ones I liked better and I finally confessed that I really had this desire to change the setting on e-ring for a 3 stone.

Today we went out with the intention of doing some Christmas shopping and maybe popping into jeweler to take a "look" (I brought my wedding band with me...just "incase").  Well, after trying on very similar 3 stone settings I finally found one I loved. I knew I wanted round side stones even though my center stone is a princess cut. I didn't want the side stones to be a princess like most three stone rings are (side stones are typically matching cut). The sales woman pulled it out from the back after I told her what I didn't like about the others. I must have lit up like a christmas tree, because I looked back at FI and he nodded his head and said "go ahead" and well...we did!  Left the original ring behind for the stone to be reset in the new platinum 3 stone setting. I feel so naked without my ring...you get so used to wearing it. I keep feeling like I lost it or something. Can't wait to get the NEW version back. She'll be .75 ct heavier.  The basket on the new setting also sits up higher so the band sits much better.

I am SOOOOO excited! And, FI is totally fine with it, he wants me to love the ring and I was the dumb one that picked up the solitaire instead, so it's not as if I am hurting any feelings by making the change. There is a small part of me though that feels like I should have been more grateful for what I had, especially in this economy and all. I just knew this day would come, it was really eating at me and I really wanted to have the "right" ring by our wedding day.

In any case, I'm not sure what was worse, waiting for the first ring, or having it taken away and now waiting to get it back. This is torture. They said it would be 1-2 weeks (getting sized, too). Argh.

Thanks for making me not feel like a royal B*tch! He really is a doll. So laid back and so sweet (most of the time!). He wanted to do more of something like this in the first place, so I don't think he minds at all. It's me having some guilt over it. Though, I really kept trying to tell myself I'd be fine with what I had and I SHOULD be fine with what I had, but I kept pining over those few stones. I can say now though that I will wear it and love it forever.

Hmm....I'm now pondering what kind of very nice Christmas gift I can get for FI!

You are kidding!  What kind of band did you have in mind? Were you thinking more plain, or something equally as sparkly?

Edit: I just noticed we are date twns!

Hehe, Aplusb, I will tell him!

Okqueenbee, your FI sounds like a doll, too! I must admit though, your story made me think to myself, "what if I get the new ring and I wish I had the old solitaire back".  Oh, it's okay, I'd be more likely to jump off a bridge then pull anymore switcheroo nonsense on this poor guy again.

If you have it, can we see photos of the ring with the band?  That is if you already have it int he house and he'll let you near it.

That 2nd picture is beautiful! It seems like the contour would compliment a 3 stone ring very nicely!  Another thing that would be similar is 2 thin eternity bands, though I almost think the picture you posted would be better because it would sit more flush.

Oh bummer. Now you have me curious. BUT your wedding is approaching mighty fast, isn't it! How exciting!!!

KDavis, I think your situation is much harder because there are more feelings involved since FI picked it out himself. We picked mine out together specifically because I had changed my mind multiple times and FI told me he didn't want to pick it and then not have me like it and that I needed to pick it out myself. HA. Well, that was wishful thinking...looks like he couldn't have done any worse that I did!!

If it's really bothering you and you want to see what he'll say without hurting his feelings, just start pointing out settings in jewelry store catalogs when they come in the mail or something or make a comment about someone else's ring and say how much you like it and that it would make a nice anniversary ring or something to upgrade to in the future. If he seems offended, maybe just drop it. I wouldn't have made the change at the expense of my Fi's feelings, but since I'm the idiot that picked it out and changed my mind, I figured I was safe in that regard.

Thanks, I can't wait either. The more I think about it, it was the right decision. I can be more careful with this one as well. When we moved into our house (100 year old colonial we are renovating) I really scratched my setting up cranking screwdrivers, playing with hammers, carrying all sorts of heavy objects, etc. while the platinum doesn't seem to scratch very deep, you could still see the surface scratches and it drove me crazy. I was waiting to have them polished out until right before the wedding. I will take my rings off for projects from now on!

SHE's Baaaaack!  And...the darn camera battery is dead. I have to say... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it and with the wedding band it's fabulous!  Even FI was like "WOW" what a big difference. I feel horrible that we made the change, but definitely feel right about it after getting the "new" ring back.

Thank you. I'm SO happy with it. I tried so hard to get a photo on my hands and just can't take a good shot to save my life. So, the counter shot will have to do. :(

Its Beautiful, so gorgeaous!

Thanks everyone! I hate my hands. I have fat fingers (7/7.25 ring size)...always have and don't know why and I work with my hands so my nails look like crap...but...

Here's a picture on my hand...

Thank you! I am very happy. That photo came out smaller than it looked on photobucket, but I guess you can get the idea.

Ha, Corgi! Thank you. That counter was part of the reason I asked FI to scale back on the ring purchase. We got engaged literally right before we started our home search. We bought a 100 year old colonial (cute with the front porch suitable for rocking chairs and the whole bit) that we are completely renovating. After going for 2 months without a kitchen at all. I mean it, no sink...nothing...we finally have it done (with exception of some trim work around windows, etc.). We ripped the walls down to the studs, put in brand new hardwood floors, 42" cabinets, stainless appliances and granite. I LOOOVE it. Granted, my ring was lackig the "ooomph" factor I was longing for, which is I why we changed the setting, but this darn kitchen is precisely the reason why my ring is more on the modest side. And, let me tell you after 2 months of eating out or bbq-ing...it was WELL worth it to have the nicer kitchen over the bigger rock!!

Oh and I might add that FI is pretty handy as well. He did the whole job himself, with the help of his cousin and the only contractor we had to hire was the granite guy!