Not Good Enough
When Laura’s eyes saw the ring Tom was giving her, her happiness immediately drained from her. An extremely thin gold band was attached with a diamond of the tiniest size.
Public Domain
Looking away, she hated that it hurt her feelings. People around her had always given her flashy and expensive gifts, but Tom had never done so. Wouldn’t it have been much better if he made an exception this time?
An Eight-Year Relationship
When Laura agreed to go out with Tom eight years ago, she’d seen someone she wanted to build a life with. He was driven and resourceful, with big dreams for himself and them as a couple.
Reddit – Raedunnlove
Although he’d never mentioned wanting to marry her, she knew that was the end goal. It’d been hers. But when the day finally came, she had to hide the disappointment she felt.
Laura And Tom
Laura and Tom were high school sweethearts. He played in the school band, and she was a cheerleader. Although many of her friends and family expected her to go for players in the football and basketball teams, Laura couldn’t help but choose Tom.
YouTube – Tiece TV
He was everything she wanted in a boyfriend. He was funny and sweet, with excellent grades, musical talent, and a swimmer’s body. So why would he do such a terrible thing eight years later?
Going Back In Time
Laura came from a well-off family with both parents, a great house, and wonderful siblings. A lastborn, everyone treated her like a Fabergé egg, pampering her at every turn.
Reddit – LexArielle
Tom, on the other hand, had things a little different. He was the firstborn in a struggling family that lived on one of the poorest sides of town. He only had his mom and little sister, and he cared for both.
Priorities
For Tom, life had been divided between school and taking care of his family. His mom was in and out of the hospital because of cancer treatment. After a while, Tom and his little sister learned to fend for themselves.
YouTube – Tiece TV
But despite these hardships, Tom always kept his educational career polished. Unlike many kids around his school, he knew what he wanted to do with his life. That’s what drew Laura to him in the first place.
Time Flies
Laura and Tom dated through high school and college. As the years went by, their love grew strong. Laura opened a bar and grill back home, and Tom was in medical school in a different town, looking to be a surgeon. Despite the different worlds they lived in, the two made everything work.
YouTube – Tiece TV
Sadly, Tom’s mom passed away some years back, but his sister was almost done with college and living a happy life. Laura’s family had also stopped pampering her. Everything she had, she’d worked for. Then the event that would threaten to tear them apart would come.
Coming Home
Laura was making dinner one night when Tom called to inform her he’d driven back to town and was at the bar waiting for her. The news caught her off guard since she’d already closed for the night.
YouTube – Tiece TV
But regardless, she gladly threw on a felt coat and drove to the bar. Laura was dumbfounded when she got there. There wasn’t anyone around but a scene that melted everything within her.
A Welcome Surprise
Rows of candles littered the counter before her. Then out of nowhere, her favorite song started playing on the jukebox. She turned around to find Tom on his knees, a bright smile plastered across his face.
YouTube – Tiece TV
Tom would propose that night, and of course, Laura would say yes. But as he put on the engagement ring, something unexpected would fire within her.
A Disappointment
Laura’s happiness immediately leached out of her body as her eyes registered the ring Tom was putting on her. It was a thin golden band with the tiniest diamond attached to it.
She looked away, hating that it rubbed her the wrong way. She’d always received flashy and expensive gifts from everyone around her, but never Tom. She’d expected him to make an exception this time.
More Than A Promise
For many people worldwide, an engagement ring is more than a promise of marriage. It’s a sign that the other person cares enough to get you a rock that will show the world you’re their everything.
YouTube – Tiece TV
As Laura stared at the ring, she wondered if she’d wasted the last eight years of her life with a man who seemingly didn’t care about her outlook. She looked at him as he smiled with tears in his eyes and, for the first time, considered breaking things off with him.
Hiding It Deep Within
Tom got up and hugged Laura before kissing her. She did her best not to recoil and hid her true feelings about the ring. After everything they’d built together, didn’t she deserve a better rock?
YouTube – Tiece TV
Distraught over the matter, she went online with her story. She needed to know if she was overreacting or justified in her stand. Tucked under a warm blanket, she logged onto her social media.
Viral Post
“Fiance proposed and presented me with the ring he’d chosen – a diamond solitaire in white gold. I was so happy and excited to accept but was disappointed when I first saw the ring,” Laura wrote on Reddit.
WomensHealth
She had only written the post to try and gain some other perspectives. But she honestly never expected the responses she got.
Complaining
“The first word that entered my head was ‘small,’ Laura’s post continued. She was only speaking her mind. “There’s nothing to dislike about the type of ring per se…”
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“A diamond solitaire would have been my choice, but it’s the whole thing – the color of the gold, the setting, the small stone, and relatively chunky shoulders,” she complained. But it was what she wrote next that broke the internet.
A Divisive Post
“He’s usually very generous. Having seen the receipt, I know he paid $5,000 for it,” Laura continued, not realizing how she was coming off.
TheStreet
“It is a lot less than I would have imagined he would have spent on such a significant piece of jewelry. He’ll be more disappointed in me for making a fuss over it.” Now that she’d clarified how much the ring cost, netizens would let her have it.
Backlash
“Do I live with a ring forever I’m not that mad about, or do I talk to him about it again?” she asked her fellow Redditors. The replies started coming in thick and fast. And her post was not well-received.
ScaryMommy
“I would try and appreciate the fact he bought you a beautiful engagement ring, and you love each other,” one commenter wrote. “It obviously concerns you a great deal — if you weren’t shallow, it wouldn’t.” Other users wouldn’t be so kind, though.
Not Mincing Words
“You are spoiled and ungrateful, and you have come to the internet in the hope that you will find support in validating your ungrateful, selfish attitude,” one Reddit user spat.
The Economic Times
“Do you not realize how much your attitude would upset your fiancé he SPENT A STUPID AMOUNT of money on a ring, and you are moaning as it’s not big enough and you don’t like it.”
Ungrateful
“You sound extremely ungrateful. It’s a myth about how much should be spent on a ring and that money could have been spent on a mortgage, deposit, etc. So be grateful,” another user chided.
Shutterstock
“Don’t act like such a stuck-up spoilt so and so and either split up or love the ring as much as the person it came from but don’t moan about it. Personally, I think it’s a waste of $5k.” But there were also some people who agreed with Laura.
Agreeing With Her
“I don’t blame you. You can’t help feeling disappointed if it’s not exactly what you expected/fantasized about,” one person agreed.
VectEezy
“Also, you will hopefully be wearing it forever, so it needs to be right,” the Reddit user continued. “Can you take it back and get something else, or has the return period expired? If you can’t, I suggest you reset it, as the setting will make a huge difference.”
Chiming In
“I know all the people giving you a hard time about the size of the diamond and that, like it doesn’t bother me and I get where they are coming from,” Another person chimed in.
WebPresence
“But I also get it from your point of view because I know how I would feel having to live with something I wasn’t keen on.”
Advice
While most people were calling Laura entitled and a few were agreeing with her perspective, others tried to give her some helpful advice.
News24
“I’m a bit confused. It doesn’t sound like you had anything to do with the ring buying/making process. If I were you, I’d take it to a jeweler (preferably the one that made it) and see if there’s anything they can do.”
Overwhelmed
“Your fiancé is bound to feel a bit hurt, but he’ll get over it eventually,” the helpful Redditor advised. Laura was overwhelmed by all the responses – both good and bad.
iDownloadBlog
Now, she felt like she needed to explain herself to the haters. What they were saying about her stung. Surely she wasn’t acting selfish and entitled? Or was she?
Explaining Herself
“I’m not a shallow or fickle person I promise. I’m working class and love my fiancé with all my heart,” she added to the bottom of her Reddit post.
EscuelaSM
“But I’m struggling to get past this and being soul destroyingly honest in the hope someone can give me some good advice.” But she wasn’t done.
Her Point Of View
“I fully agree it represents love and the fact he’s asked me to be his wife — and I absolutely can’t wait to marry him,” Laura continued.
Alamy
“This really is just down to personal taste. If I spent $5k on a watch that I wanted him to wear every day and deep down he wasn’t keen I would feel awful.”
Who Is Right?
“I would want him to wear something he loves and I would feel better knowing I’ve spent the money on something he can cherish and adore, not look at and secretly wish it was something else,” she concluded.
iStock
When Laura puts it like that, her feelings make perfect sense. However, there’s no denying that she was in an extremely awkward position. So, is she right?
Controversy
Laura had no idea how controversial her Reddit post would be. The most common responses she received from netizens were in the region of “marriage isn’t about the ring.”
iStock
“When the ring is more important than the guy. I feel super bad for him,” another user wrote. “I couldn’t imagine telling my partner I hated a ring they chose for me. I’d appreciate the effort and wear it proudly.” But Laura still just didn’t see it that way.
Expectations
“I’m well aware that marriage is more than a ring, a proposal or a wedding,” Laura explained after giving the situation more thought.
Refinery29
“But I think it’s something that women think about for years and years and when it doesn’t go the same way you envision it in your head, naturally, you’re disappointed, just like anything else in life.” And she still didn’t know what to do.
Sharing Her Story
Laura shared her story, and the response she received helped give her more perspective. One side of the reaction assured her she was correct to be mad at Tom.
Public Domain
But the other told her she was focusing on the wrong thing. But as Laura turned in for the night, she realized one thing she’d always missed before.
The Truth Behind It All
It was well past midnight when Laura realized something. She and Tom had built so much in the eight years they’d been together. He’d been the one encouraging and supporting her to pursue everything that she had now.
YouTube – Tiece TV
She remembered when she broke the news to her family that she was opening her bar. No one thought she could do it except Tom. But there was something even more significant than this.
Looking Into It
Laura looked at everything that surrounded her. Their home was warm and beautiful, and she was healthy and comfortable. None of this would be possible without her fiance.
Reddit – LexArielle
Maybe he had the worst taste in rings, but all the decisions that changed their lives for the better were all his suggestions. Tom had gone above and beyond to make sure she led the life she’d always dreamed of. So, would she leave him because of a ring?
Simple And Complex
As she always did when something was bothering her, Laura shook Tom awake and opened up about the ring. Tom’s answer to the matter was simple. He saw their life together as brighter than any diamond money could buy.
Public Domain
But he apologized for the ring’s size, saying he’d asked the jeweler for something antique and regal. He promised to return it for a bigger one, but Laura told him she loved the one she had. It showed her how the simplest things could be the best.
A Different Tale
But Laura and Tom’s story isn’t the only one. A touring family was shocked when their daughter’s boyfriend got down on one knee at Disney World.
Pexels
They expected their daughter to say yes, given how much she loved him. But one look at the ring in his hands and they didn’t know what to think.
Seniors
Elise and Troy began dating in their last year of high school. Elise had been eighteen then, while Troy was nineteen. Despite their tender years, the two loved each other to the moon and back.
Pexels
Like Laura, Elise knew she’d found the love of her life. But would she stick by him when he seemingly gave no thought to the engagement ring he’d offer her?
Different Families
Like Laura and Tom, Elise and Troy came from two distinct families. Elise lived with her mom and twin brother Chase, while Troy lived with his mom and dad.
Pexels
Both families were working class, although working in very different fields. Elise’s mom had made a name for herself as a respected lawyer in the city, while Tom’s parents were farmers on the city’s outskirts. So how could Elise and Troy collide when they came from two very different worlds?
The Twin Brother
The link between Elise and Troy was Elise’s twin brother, who was also Troy’s best friend. Chase and Troy had always had rules between each other, one of the most prominent being sisters were off-limits.
Pexels
But Troy couldn’t help himself no matter what he did. From the moment he laid eyes on Elise, he knew he’d found the one. He would do anything to get and stay by her side.
Where It Started
Before Troy asked Elise out for prom, he talked to his best friend about it. He confessed what Chase already knew, saying he’d loved Elise for the longest while.
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Knowing Troy as a good man and friend, Chase gave him his blessing. He had no clue that a simple prom night would culminate in his sister crying on their road trip to Disney World some years later.
Starting Their Life Together
Troy and Elise went to prom together and quickly realized they had so much in common. They had never been friends before, only greeting each other whenever Troy came to see Chase.
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But now that they were exploring this new part of themselves together, it became clear that they were soulmates. Life was finally perfect.
Moving Foward
High school quickly came to a close, and Elise, Troy, and Chase continued to college. But even then, Elise and Troy’s relationship became stronger.
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They even moved in together in their second year, and Troy became a frequent visitor back home, although he was not coming to hang out with Chase this time. But everything would change soon.
Making Plans
Elise and Troy were both done with college and working when it happened. Elise’s family organized a Disney World trip, and Elise invited Troy.
Pexels
She had been through a lot with him, having dated for more than seven years. She owed him a lot and had built so much with him by her side. She hoped the trip would show him how thankful she was. She didn’t know Troy had his own plans.
Disney World
Elise and her family had been visiting Disney World every year for as long as she could remember. But this year was different because the love of her life was a part of it.
Pexels
She and her family were on their second day at Disney World when her life changed forever. She thought the visit would be simple like the many before, but her boyfriend would prove her wrong.
A Great Family
Elise, her mom, Chase, and Troy were entering EPCOT when Troy stopped them. “Let’s get a quick photo,” he suggested, but even though his voice was steady, Elise could tell from his rigid posture that something was wrong.
Pexels
Regardless, she agreed to Troy’s request, and they all lined up at the Photopass photographer. But that’s when things started taking a different turn.
The First Picture
Elise’s mom was about to go first when Troy stopped her, asking if he and Elise could have the first picture. The request wasn’t that odd, as Elise and Troy usually loved photos and had taken countless in their years together.
Pexels
But Troy seemed on edge even as he made the harmless request. Elise could tell that something was up with him.
Spaceship Earth
He took Elise toward Spaceship Earth, his sweaty fingers firm around her wrist. There was a slight tremble in his arm, and he seemed to struggle to take his steps.
Pexels
Elise meant to stop and barrage him with the many questions in her mind. But as soon as they reached Spaceship Earth, he dropped to one knee.
He Pops The Question
Elise froze as their eyes locked. How could she not have seen this coming? “I love you more than anyone on the planet,” Troy said, and her eyes grew wet with tears. “Will you marry me?”
Pexels
He fished into his pocket and produced a ring. But it was larger than any Elise had ever seen, with a cherry rock on top–a Ring Pop. Elise stepped back.
Yes!
What was happening? Was any of this real? A Ring Pop, she was about to ask when her lips whispered, “yes.” Troy stared at her, internalizing her one-word answer.
Pexels
He dashed forward and hugged her tight, taking everyone by surprise. “Yes?” he asked in disbelief. “Yes,” Elise repeated. She didn’t care about diamond rings or the absence of one. To her, Troy and the love between them was enough.
Spur Of The Moment
Recalling the moment, Elise wrote on Reddit, “It was magical! My mom was so surprised! He didn’t tell a single soul, not even his best friend or parents.”
Pexels
She also shared that Troy hadn’t planned the proposal. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing that felt right. Of course, he bought her a deserving engagement ring afterward but was glad Elise said yes even when he didn’t have one.
Disclaimer: To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.
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