Engagement Ring Education

The ring is one of the hardest parts of the proposal planning process. There are so many decisions to make- how to make sure it’s the right size, how to hide it, and how to finally present it. Before any of that, however, the biggest decision of all must be made- what ring to buy, and how much to spend?

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Photo by Petronella Photography

Many believe that bigger is better when it comes to diamonds, but if you’re planning on a traditional diamond ring, there are actually four basic factors to consider. Known as the “4 C’s”, these are: Carats, Clarity, Cut and Color.

Carats

The size is the first thing most people think about when considering a diamond purchase. This is also the greatest factor in the price of the gemstone. Surprisingly, however, the size is not the greatest indicator of beauty- it is only a measure of the weight of the stone, and says nothing about the way the stone looks. It is best to look beyond size and examine the other qualities of each stone.

Clarity

Clarity ranges across a scale from “flawless” to “included”, terms which refer to small imperfections such as specks and small crystals inside the diamond, and small blemishes on the exterior of the stone. While flawless diamonds are most highly prized, many included diamonds look flawless to the naked eye and require magnification for their imperfections to be seen. A diamond with some inclusions may be indistinguishable from a flawless stone (unless you are proposing to a jeweler) or, if the inclusions are visible, it may simply have a little more personality. Don’t restrict yourself to only flawless-grade stones, but consider the gems individually.

Cut

“Cut” here refers not to the shape of the diamond, but to its sparkle. The range for cut extends from “excellent” to “poor”, and a lower grade usually denotes that there are more dark spots in the diamond, which diminishes the shine of the diamond. A smaller diamond of excellent cut will radiate and sparkle much more than a larger, heavier diamond of a poor cut.

Color

The color scale in diamonds is a little arbitrary, ranging from “d” grade diamonds, which are completely colorless, along the rest of the alphabet, to “z” grade diamonds, which are lightly shaded in colors from yellow to brown. As with clarity, many of the supposedly flawed diamonds that are judged to have a faint color are actually perfectly clear to the untutored eye, and still others of darker color will be beautiful in their own right as a colored gemstone. Once more, it is best to judge the stones individually and not immediately discard a less-than-colorless stone before examining it.

Don’t just take a someone’s word on what diamonds are best for you, and especially don’t let anyone pressure you into buying a big stone because ‘bigger is better.’ Instead, make an informed choice about what stones will fit both your budget and your sweetheart best.

Choosing a ring is hard, and making the right choice without alerting your sweetheart is even harder. For specialized and experienced guidance, contact The Heart Bandits. They have been walking others through the proposal planning process for years, and they have the know-how and the resources to help you work with reputable jewelers and find the right ring.  Start your perfect proposal today.

Michele

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Laughlin Proposal Ideas

Laughlin, Nevada is a small port town about a hundred miles south of Las Vegas. While Las Vegas offers more dazzle and glamor, Laughlin is smaller, less crowded, and located on a scenic section of the Colorado River. If you’re planning a Nevada marriage proposal, drifting away from the tourist-laden Las Vegas area will provide with a more personal, peaceful experience.

The Heart Bandits in Laughlin

The Heart Bandits in Laughlin

Lake Mohave

Laughlin is located in the Nevada desert, but its proximity to the Colorado river makes it a destination for water-lovers. Lake Mohave is an enormous, balmy body of water that offers hundreds of miles of sandy shorelines and a wide stretch of warm water that is perfect for boating, water skiing, and even scuba diving. Whether you want a picnic proposal on a secluded stretch of shore, or an adventurous scuba proposal in the wreckage of a sunken boat, Lake Mohave is full of opportunity.

Grapevine Canyon

If you prefer the land to the water, Grapevine Canyon is a prime destination. Nature lovers will be delighted with the many miles of winding hiking paths through the dramatic desert scenery, and history bugs will be fascinated by the many panels of petroglyphs, which date as far back as 800 years ago. Be advised that the canyon is inhospitable in the height of summer, and so this desert oasis is best suited to a spring or fall proposal.

Hoover Dam

Laughlin also boasts one of the most dramatic intersections of man and nature- the Hoover Dam. This huge structure has drawn millions of tourists since its opening in 1936, and thousands still travel there every year. If your sweetheart is an architect or an engineer, then visiting the dam itself may be a powerful experience, but walking the vast span of the dam and looking down into the rushing waters cascading in to Black Canyon hundreds of feet below is the kind of experience that takes your breath away. The edge of the dam, looking over the huge drop-off into the river, is a stunning spot for a proposal.

If you’re working on plans for a Laughlin proposal, then consider contacting The Heart Bandits. They have the experience and the trusted connections to create the perfect proposal, whether that means hiring divers to prepare an underwater adventure or arranging for a private moment at a national landmark. Whatever your perfect proposal may be, they can make it happen.  Contact The Heart Bandits today.

Michele

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String Quartet Flash Mob in Houston

Patrick came to us with an amazing proposal idea.  He wanted to propose to his girlfriend Catherine in a park with a string quartet flash mob, but he wasn’t sure how to execute the idea.  So what is a string quartet flash mob you ask?  Well, as you know, a regular flash mob starts off with one dancer, then a couple more join, until the entire dance team is dancing the routine together.  With a string quartet flash mob, there is one instrumentalist playing, then another joins, then another, until the entire quartet is performing together.  We were so excited to take on this marriage proposal and we knew just the quartet to bring on board.  To up the romance and surprise factor, we came up with the idea to have each member of the quartet wear a shirt that collectively spelled out “Will you marry me?”  Watch how it all went down!


Christine was absolutely blown away by the proposal and couldn’t believe Patrick pulled off such an amazing surprise.  What did Patrick have to say about hiring a Proposal Planner to plan his special day?

“Michele and Co. did a fabulous job planning my proposal!!  She helped me organize a complicated proposal with many different moving parts—she even somehow arranged for the weather to be perfect 🙂  I proposed at the Discovery Green Park in Houston, TX on 3/29/14.  It was a “flash mob” inspired string quartet proposal, where each player came out one by one with T-shirts saying “Will” “You” “Marry” “Me?”  She was very professional, flexible and most of all very obviously passionate about her work.  Every detail was taken care of and I really appreciated how personalized my proposal was.  My fiance and I still get so many compliments on our proposal and we couldn’t be happier.  I really would have been lost without the Heart Bandits.”

Contact The Heart Bandits today if you want to get started on creating the perfect proposal idea.  Or, if you are like Patrick and you already have a great proposal idea but just need help pulling it off, contact us today.

Proposal Planning: The Heart Bandits

String Quartet: Third Floor Strings

Video: Bella Cinema

 

Michele

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Gemstone Engagement Rings

For many years, the diamond has been considered the pinnacle of gemstones, and the go-to for engagement and wedding rings alike. However, in recent years people have been drawn back to other, more colorful stones for their engagement rings.

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Although there have been many ways to choose gemstones in the past, such as the Victorian method of spelling out messages with a gemstone code, there are two main ways to choose stones today: by birthstone, or by color.

 Birthstones:

January’s stone is the deep red Garnet.

February’s stone is the violet Amethyst.

March’s stone is the sky-blue Aquamarine.

Those with April birthdays have been getting their birthstone all along- it’s Diamond.

May’s birthstone is the bright green Emerald.

June has two stones- either Pearls, or Alexandrite, a rare gem which changes from blue-green to purple-red depending on the lighting.

July’s stone is the crimson Ruby.

August’s birthstone is the mossy green Peridot.

September’s stone is the deep blue Sapphire.

October’s stone is a shimmery Opal, or bright pink Tourmaline.

November’s birthstones are Topaz, which is available in both an yellow-gold or a soft blue color, and Citrine, which is a striking amber color.

December has the most birthstones: brilliant blue Tanzanite, diamond-like Zircon (which is available in a wide range of colors), and blue-green Torquoise.

Colors:

Red: Ruby, garnet, spinel, tourmaline, andesine, zircon.

Pink: Tourmaline, spinel, rhodolite garnet, rose quartz, kunzinite, morganite

Blue: Sapphire, tanzanite, topaz, zircon, spinel, aquamarine, apatite, lapis lazuli, tourmaline, moonstone, iolite, kyanite, agate, fluorite

Green: Emerald, tourmaline, chrome diopside, peridote, jade, apatite, aventurine, prehnite, agate

Gold: Citrine, fire opal, tourmaline, sphene, zircon, orthoclase, chrysoberyl, beryl, spodumene, quartz, agate, diamond

Violet: Amethyst, fluorite, spinel, tourmaline, sapphire, chalcedony

Orange: Zircon, fire opal, tourmaline, topaz, moonstone, citrine, andesine

White: Diamond, sapphire, zircon, moonstone, opal, quartz, agate

Once you have the perfect engagement ring,  contact The Heart Bandits to start planning your perfect proposal!  Our team of Proposal Planners will work with you to create the perfect proposal idea and then plan it all for you!

Michele

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Proposal Ideas in the Hamptons

For New York socialites and the upper crust of the Northeast, there’s only one summer destination: the Hamptons. One of the oldest seaside colonies, this has been a summer destination for over two hundred years. If you want a refined and beautiful location for a summer marriage proposal, consider the Hamptons.  Here are some proposal ideas:

hamptons-proposal-idea

Longhouse Reserve

This wooded and secluded property is the former residence of a New York designer with an eye for art, who furnished the land with a stunning array of sculpture and carefully maintained gardens. The estate is now open to the public. Take your sweetheart here for a stroll through the secret gardens and footpaths, and for a chance to appreciate art in nature. The property has no shortage of secluded meadows and idyllic glades, all of which offer beautiful places to pop the question.

Mashomack Preserve

Just offshore, Shelter Island is a destination for nature lovers. Over a third of the small island is devoted to the 2,100 acre Mashomack Preserve, which offers miles of winding trails through wild land filled with eagles, herons, foxes and other untouched wildlife. Kayak tours skirt the shoreline, and the nearby towns of Shelter Island offer fine dining and beaches for evening relaxation after a day in the woods. Start the day with a hike through the preserve, and either find a secluded spot to go down on one knee in the preserve, or make reservations with one of the nearby fine restaurants for a proposal over dinner.

Ponquogue Beach

For a simple and sweet seaside proposal, check out Ponquogue beach. This long stretch of white sand is peaceful, with a sweeping shoreline and a bridge that offers a beautiful vista of the beach and the seaside. It’s a family beach, so you may not have the place to yourself, but it is large enough to set up any preparations you might like. The beach is especially stunning at sunset, so time your proposal right for a beautiful natural display.

Ready to start planning your Hamptons proposal? Contact The Heart Bandits today.  They operate worldwide and will guide you through the planning process and make sure that your proposal is perfect in every way.

 

Michele

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How To Propose In The Summer Rain

When you decide on a summer proposal, it’s usually with the idea of blue skies and clear weather in mind. However, that’s not always the case, and sometimes the clouds will come whether it’s summer or not. If you plan ahead, you can turn this to your advantage and create a charming summer rain proposal.  Here are some ideas on how to propose in the summer rain.

Singing in the Rain

If your sweetheart is a film buff or a musical fan, you may find inspiration in this classic. Whether you hire dancers to create a splashy scene, or create a simpler routine for yourself, a little music in the streets and some fancy footwork will create a charming and unique proposal.

Getting Caught

If you have a good sense of timing and some cooperative weather, you can engineer a surprise wedding proposal in the rain. Pick a likely location- perhaps a charming street conveniently near a café or shop, or a beautiful city park with a gazebo in the center- and suggest a walk. It may take a little persuasion if it’s apparent that rain is threatening, but go anyway. When the downpour starts, race for cover. Duck into the special spot you’ve prepared. Fill it with flowers and friends, or maybe just a bottle of wine and a pair of glasses. Whatever you choose, this is a surefire way to create a breathless, exhilarating proposal.

Send a Message

Rain means umbrellas, and umbrellas are full of opportunity. They are cute, colorful, and discreet, allowing you to rig up any number of surprises with them. Write the big question on the inside of the umbrella, so that it’s the first thing she sees when she pops it open- or arrange ahead of time to have some co-conspirators spell out a message with their umbrellas, like Keith did for Alyssa in this classic proposal from 2012 designed by The Heart Bandits:

However you choose to arrange it, a summer rain proposal is unique and unexpected- but also a little tricky to set up. To make sure your proposal goes off without a hitch, contact The Heart Bandits. They have the experience and the resources necessary to create the ideal proposal without any glitches.  Contact The Heart Bandits today.  Also, our clients are always asking us how to hide their bulky engagement ring box on the day they propose.  The answer is, buy a thin engagement ring box!! Ring Stash, www.ringstash.com offers a .5 inch ring box that will help you keep your proposal a secret until you are ready to reveal it.

 

Michele

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How To Propose: 3 Proposal Myths You Should Ignore

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Proposal Planning: The Heart Bandits, Photo: Kevin Wynn Photography

When people hear you’re planning to propose, they’ll be brimming over with advice and helpful tips. A lot of the tried-and-true advice you receive, however, might not be quite as true as people think. We’ve tackled three common marriage proposal myths here:

Don’t Rely On The Internet

This is nonsense, but only because it’s a good idea taken too far. Some people, given the opportunity to do research on the internet, have just taken someone else’s proposal plan and copied it, detail for detail. This obviously results in a generic, boring, or badly tailored proposal that won’t be a good match for you and your sweetheart.  Feel free, however, to peruse the internet for proposal idea inspiration. Take elements, themes, and ideas from others’ proposals, as well as from articles and how-to guides, but make sure you combine them into something that is personal and meaningful to the two of you.

Get Her Best Friend To Help

Now, this could be a great idea. However, for this to work, she needs to have a best friend who can keep a secret, who actually knows what your lady’s dream proposal looks like, and who has the self-control and wherewithal to plan your sweetheart’s ideal proposal, not her own dream proposal. Additionally, the two of you have to work well together.  If, by some miracle, that dream friend is a part of your lives, then by all means call on her to help. If you have any doubts, it’s best to bring in a Proposal Planner to be your extra hand on deck.

Proposals Must Be Big!! Proposals Must Be Private!!

A lot of people, when they hear that you’re planning a big, fancy proposal, want to tell you that this is a mistake. A lot of people say things like, “My husband proposed to me on the couch and we have been happily married 40 years!” That’s true, of course, and they are an inspiration to us all- but what works for one person does not work for another.

The way you propose is integral to your proposal, not to your marriage. Your marriage will be a strong and loving union all on its own, no matter what sort of proposal you have, so the proposal should be exactly what you want it to be. If a quiet conversation on the couch is what works best for you, then by all means, that is the kind of proposal you should have. However, for a fun loving, social and active couple, a great big proposal party may start their marriage with a splash, just the way they like it. Thank others for their advice, and do what you feel is best.

All of the conflicting advice out there is enough to make your head spin, and planning a proposal is hard enough on its own. For a helping hand, contact The Heart Bandits wedding proposal planners. They have years of experience in the proposal-planning field, and they can give you tested and true guidance on creating the ideal proposal.  Read their 5 star reviews here and contact them today!

Michele

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How To Propose: Make Sure She Looks Her Best

Your proposal will be one of your dearest memories for the rest of your lives. In order to preserve that memory, you may choose to take photographs- either on your own, or with the aid of a professional photographer. However, if your proposal is supposed to be a surprise, there’s a chance that your lady may not show up looking or feeling her best. She’s always beautiful to you, but many women worry about how they look in photographs, and won’t appreciate the surprise if they’re not adequately prepared.  When planning your marriage proposal, the question is, how to give your beloved an adequate chance to look her best, without giving up the surprise?

DC-proposal-planner

Give a Gift

Consider a thoughtful gift: a new dress, chosen by you especially for your sweetheart. If you choose well, she will be delighted- and won’t be able to wait to take it out on the town.

Suit up

If you dress your best, she’ll want to be your match. Put on a sharp suit or a great outfit, and let her choose an outfit that complements you. Just make sure to give her enough time to get ready, because looking good takes time.

Bait and Switch

If you’re going to do a surprise proposal, you’ll need to get her out of the house on some sort of pretense. For best results, choose a plausible scenario that has a similar dress code to your proposal. A charity ball, a formal dinner, a dance or a dinner in a fancy restaurant would all cause her to dress up and look amazing for her proposal.

Special Request

Maybe presents, one-upping, and trickery aren’t even necessary. You are in love, after all. If you give your sweetheart a call and ask her, as a special favor, to wear that dress for your next date, she’ll take the hint. Nothing feels better than looking good for your beloved, and she’ll happily rise to the occasion, while suspecting nothing.

Trying to balance secrecy while pulling together an amazing proposal is difficult; The Heart Bandits can help. Contact them for some expert help in arranging things perfectly, while making sure your sweetheart is none the wiser.  They are the number one resource when figuring out how to propose.  Contact The Heart Bandits today.

Michele

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Which Flowers To Use In Your Proposal

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Photo by Michelle Able Photography

On your first date, did you bring flowers? Flowers are one of the most basic and beloved tokens of affection, and a lavish bouquet is a wonderful addition to an already amazing proposal.

All year round we get requests to include Peonies in our client’s proposal.  Flowers, however, like all other plants, come in and out of season. If you are on a tight budget for your proposal, it is best to choose the flowers that are in season, to keep costs down. On the other hand, if your sweetheart has a favorite flower that simply has to be part of your proposal, you may want to time the proposal itself to coincide with that flower’s season.

To aid in your plans, here is a brief guide on which flowers are in bloom during what season.  This will help you plan your marriage proposal adequately.

Spring

Spring is the best season for most flowers. You have your choice of many of the traditional favorites: Calla lilies, tulips, roses, anemones, Queen Anne’s lace, hydrangea and daffodils are all abundant and radiant this time of year.

Summer

Some varieties of the spring flowers last well into summer, especially roses, but carnations, gardenias and peonies bloom later into the season. Dahlias are the stars of the summer, with hundreds of colors and shapes to choose from, allowing affordable and gorgeous arrangements well into late summer.

Fall

Roses are still available in fall and winter, mostly shipped in from other countries. For fresher and more sustainable flowers, choose sunflowers, carnations, Queen Anne’s lace, baby’s breath, snowberry, or craspidia.

Winter

Winter is a difficult time to find fresh flowers. Your choices are mostly restricted to flowers that are either preserved in other countries and flown in, or are grown in greenhouses or grown from bulbs. Lilies are abundant, as are amaryllis, poinsettias and sweet-smelling narcissus, if you can find a florist that carries them. Orchids are always grown in greenhouses, so they are available year round, making them a vibrant and elegant option for a winter bouquet.

If you want to incorporate flowers into your proposal, but don’t know how contact The Heart Bandits today.  We can help you find unique ways to incorporate flowers into the proposal idea, make suggestions on how to create a floral arrangement that is similar to her favorite flower if her flower is not in season, and more.  Contact us today.

Michele

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Should You Announce Your Proposal on Facebook?

Social media is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, and it can be a real time saver when you’re trying to get news of your marriage proposal out to all of the people you care about. It allows you to send out cute photos and a sweet announcement to your loved ones all around the world, but is it the right way to spread the word?

new-york-luxury-proposal

On the pro side, you can make sure everyone gets the news. If it’s posted publicly to Facebook, then all of your family, friends, and acquaintances will be able to see the invite at the same time, and they can easily pass it on to anyone they want to tell. This makes it a lot easier on the happy couple, and it allows you to field some of the congratulations and questions by answering them where everyone can see, in the comments of the post.

On the con side of things, you may be walking on thin ice if you think you can inform, say, your mother of your proposal via Facebook. It’s an easy way to accidentally offend someone, especially close friends or relatives. It’s a mark of love and respect to tell someone the news in person or by phone, and it may cause disappointment if someone finds themselves demoted to the ‘told by Facebook’ category. Additionally, some people do not use Facebook, or may have an account that they check very rarely. With those people, you risk that they will never find out about your proposal at all!

In the end, all you can do is weigh the upsides and downsides of posting your announcement to Facebook, or any other social media site.

If you need any expert proposal advice, contact The Heart Bandits. They have the resources and expertise to make sure your proposal goes off without a hitch, from start to finish. Contact the Wedding Proposal Planners at The Heart Bandits today.

Michele

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