With wedding season approaching, girlfriends just seem to be non-stop talking about their hopeful upcoming proposals, and we just seemed to be stressed with the pressure of making sure we live up to their expectations. From popping the question to picking out the ring, we need more than just a checklist for help.  Wedding expert and founder of CaratsAndCake.com, Jess Levin, has some great tips to help a guy get through the planning of his proposal:

1. Cost is based on the 4 C’S: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat

The cost of an engagement ring can vary vastly on four components: cut, color, clarity and carat. These components will determine the price of the ring and can be adjusted to your budget. Rare cuts, like oval, can drive up the price. While color can drive up the price of a diamond the colorless diamond is the most coveted and expensive. The clarity of a diamond is measured on a spectrum from flawless to imperfect. Finally, Carat comes down to weight, in this case, the heavier the better.

2. Ensure the ring

While people can spend up to three months of hard earned cash on a piece of jewelry it is extremely important to ensure the ring. If you own a home, you can put your new bling on your current policy, however if you rent you will need to get a separate policy to ensure the ring. You will need to get an appraisal from your jeweler, which you can often get before you pick up the ring so you aren’t flying without coverage.

3. Decide if you want to have an over the top proposal or a simple heartfelt proposal

There are two types of proposals: the over the top and the simple heartfelt. One is not better than the other, it is about what feels right to you and what is personal to you as a couple. If you opt for the over the top route, you might need to enlist some friends for help or better yet you can leave it to the experts and hire a proposal consultant.

For more information visit: CaratsAndCake.com