Let's be clear about one thing. Girls LOVE getting engaged. They love the ring, they love the status update, they love the instagram post and they love wedding details. But they especially love the ring. Ask any girl over the age of 23 what kind of ring and she knows. It doesn't mean she knows the cut and clarity, it means she knows how much she wants her boyfriend (or a guy she hasn't met yet) to spend on her ring for maximum brag value.
I'm a girl over 23 so I know what kind of ring I want (a diamond ring from an actual jeweller, not a chain store even tiffanys) and the kind of wedding I want (a cheap one) but I honestly don't get the fixation on getting engaged.
It's not a fixation on the wedding day (even though there is a fixation on that, not to mention a ridiculous amount of money and effort), it's not a fixation on marriage. It's a fixation on that first ring selfie with a hopeful freshish manicure and a stream of congratulatory messages and essays dissecting the ring.
Also, to go slightly off on a tangent, on wedding blogs and instagram and even personal posts about the brides dress, I only ever really hear where its from when its a over a thousand dollar designer (ESPECIALLY if it's Vera Wang)
Anyway, what is it about the engagement that is so exciting? The surprise of it? (although people are printing invitations before even getting engaged lately, so I don't know if there's even surprise involved) Is it the new shiny piece of jewellery? Although I met someone with the largest cubic zircon ring , is it the happiness that you're not going to die a spinster and remain under the glaring judgment of your peers and your parents?
Hmm. I might have just figured this thing out.