Getting engaged is a big milestone in your relationship. And buying an engagement ring for your partner is a powerful gesture that shows you want to spend the rest of your life with them. But nowadays, it’s becoming increasingly common for couples to shop for engagement rings together instead.

What are some reasons for and against doing things this way?

In this article, we’ll explore whether you should pick your engagement rings together.

Pros of picking together

• Less stress

Many people have an image in their head of what they want their engagement ring to look like. Out of the countless variables such as different what band material, what diamond cut, lab-grown vs mined diamonds, and more, the choice needs to be just right. So, there’s a lot of pressure to pick the right ring when one partners shops alone. By contrast, it’s far easier to turn dreams into reality when both partners are involved in the shopping process.

• Lower risk

If you’re unsure of what you want, on the other hand, shopping together can help you decide. You can take your time researching and trying different rings until you find the perfect option, instead of taking the risk of making a less-informed purchase.

• Better sense of costs

It’s good practice to discuss large financial purchases as a couple. And the cost of engagement rings is one of the most significant expenses you’re likely to face together. Shopping together gives you both the opportunity to discuss your budget and decide how much you’d like to spend on your rings.

Cons of picking together

• Less surprise

When you shop together, one partner loses the biggest surprise that would otherwise come with a proposal. That being said, there can still be some surprises – details such as the timing, location and manner of proposing.

• Could take longer

If you and your partner don’t see eye-to-eye on styles, budget or other factors around buying rings together, then the process could take longer than usual. However, if there’s any risk of this, it would probably happen anyway if one partner made the purchase themselves.

• Less gesture

For some people, the best part of a proposal is their partner showing how well they know and love you through their choice. It can feel more meaningful to wear something that someone else has picked out for you, rather than that you have picked for yourself.

What’s best for you?

There are both pros and cons to picking engagement rings together as a couple. If big romantic gestures and surprises are important to you, then you should probably take the traditional route. But if you want to make the process as stress-free and simple as possible, then shopping together could be the perfect solution. But bear in mind that there can be alternatives and compromises too, such as choosing a short-list together before have one partner make the final decision.