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    Engagements

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    One of Hollywood’s favourite actresses, Emma Stone, is ending the decade an engaged woman. The Oscar-winning actress recently said yes to her Saturday Night Live (SNL) writer boyfriend, Dave McCrary.

    The pair first met on set of SNL when Emma was hosting the show back in 2016. They have been together for about two years. The couple is quite private, keeping their relationship under wraps from the beginning, and have been spotted together publicly only a handful of times.

    Taking to Instagram, Dave announced their engagement. Stone’s antique-style engagement ring, one of 2020s biggest ring trends, is in full view.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B5q8jCvBv7O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Congrats to the happy couple!

    Image: Instagram / Dave McCrary

    The year of 2019 has been a wild ride. We’ve seen ‘Old Town Road’ claim the charts for far too many weeks, Game of Thrones finally came to an end (and ruined the entire show but we’re not talking about that), and a host of our favourite celebrities got engaged.

    Before we usher in the new decade, let’s take a look back at some of the biggest, most exciting celebrity engagements of 2019.

    Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez

    Back in March, the baseball star proposed to Jenny from the Block with a whopping 16-carat diamond ring estimated to cost somewhere between $1 million and $4.5 million.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Buzz2LMg92D/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom

    The Pirates of the Carribbean actor proposed to his California Girl On Valentines Day, presenting her with a unique flower-shaped diamond ring.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt5gRBDHNZl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Tim Tebow and Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters

    South Africa’s very own Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters captured the heart of American footballer Tim Tebow, and they got engaged in January 2019. Zavion Khotze will be planning the wedding, so you know it’s going to be stunning.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BsdzW9AB3Xx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

    Who doesn’t love a royal wedding? Back in September, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Princess Beatrice is engaged to property tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The wedding will take place in 2020.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B23uLfvn8Y3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Cassie and Alex Fine

    This couple has had a whirlwind romance. They began dating in late 2018, announced that they are expecting a child in June 2019, and got engaged in August. Their engagement, however, was short lived, and they wed in an intimate ceremony on September 25, a month and one day after they got engaged.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B1rHTYnJ6q9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams

    The Modern Family actress and Bachelorette alum have been giving us ultimate #couplegoals ever since they got together back in 2017 through the power of social media. They became engaged in July, proving that there is indeed love after The Bachelorette.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz_tCLjlAM1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost

    The traditionally private couple got engaged back in May when the Saturday Night Live writer and actor proposed to the Black Widow star with an 11-carat diamond engagement ring worth approximately $400,000.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/By00y6TpVNn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma

    She’ll always be Lizzie McGuire to us, but now she’s all grown up and getting married! Duff became engaged to her singer-songwriter boyfriend, Matthew Koma, in May. The pair became parents to their first child together (and Duff’s second) in October 2018.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BxPrPNtAazt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger

    After just a few months of dating, one of Hollywood’s favourite Chris’s popped the question to Katherine, daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver. Of course, she said yes. The couple surprised us yet again by getting married in June in an intimate ceremony in Montecito, California.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsmy0gUFIt7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Image: Instagram / Jennifer Lopez

    Getting married is a big step. When you enter into a union with someone, you promise to be with them, for better of for worse, for the rest of your lives. Unfortunately, almost of half of marriages today end in divorce.

    Marriage is hard, and many walk into it not understanding that reality. While you cannot always be 100% ready, there are many things you can do to prepare yourself for this new life you plan to enter. If you’re thinking of getting engaged, make sure you know these things about your partner beforehand.

    Financial situation and spending habits:

    Money is a major stress in relationships. Ideally, you need to have a general idea of your significant others financial situation before getting engaged. If someone is in debt or has bad credit, that could impact their partner in the future. You should ideally also know your partners spending habits, so that you’re on the same page about budgeting. This will particularly come in handy when you start planning your wedding.

    How you feel about kids:

    This is the all-important question. As much as many people dream of one day being a parent, there are others who don’t. Wanting or not wanting kids is an important conversation to have with your partner and can cause big problems in your marriage if you’re not on the same page. If you do want kids, also make sure to discuss how many you want, how you would want them to be raised and the kind of parent you want to be.

    Religion/faith/belief systems:

    The topic of religion can sometimes be tricky. Whether you’re Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, or Athiest, the important thing is that your partner knows about your belief system. Its not the particular faith system that is of importance, just how that will impact your relationship. For example, if you follow different faiths and want children, which faith will you raise them in? Will someone be expected to convert?

    Their beliefs can also shape how they see things in the world and their stance on issues such as abortion, same-sex relationships, and gender roles. If these causes are important to you and your partner feels differently, that could cause big issues. While you don’t have to agree, you do have to be tolerant of each others beliefs.

    Living habits:

    If you don’t already live together, you might be in for a shock when you do join homes. It is important to know each others living habits beforehand to prevent future issues. What if your partner loves having people around all the time but you enjoy solitude? Or they’re neat and cannot leave the house in the morning if it’s in a mess while you’re more of a ‘I’ll clean it later’ type of person? Small issues like these can grow into massive arguments if you’re not aware of them beforehand and have established a middle ground.

    Love languages:

    Love is about more than just lust. It’s about making your partner feel seen. Your love language, or how you express love towards others, can cause issues if your partner cannot identify it. If your love is shown through physical affection but your partners is words of affirmation, they could feel overwhelmed by your constant PDA and long for you to use your words more than your body. When you understand each others love language, you understand the meaning behind each others actions, making your actions that much more impactful.

    How to effectively communicate:

    Communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship. If you cannot speak and listen to each other well, your relationship will be fraught with issues.  Fore example, If your partner bottles their feelings, that could cause them to build up resentment towards you because they cannot effectively communicate their needs. You, in turn, could end up feeling guilty about something you didn’t even know was an issue. You need to know how to discuss and resolve conflicts in a healthy way that won’t exacerbate issues.

    Family and friend dynamics:

    Hopefully, if you’re at the point of getting engaged, you’ve met your significant others’ family and friends. These people have known your partner longer than you, and can thus give you greater insights that you might not have known.

    While you might be used to your specific family dynamic, your partner might have a completely different one. For example, if you’re family is the overbearing type, your partner needs to be prepared for them most likely having lots of opinions on your marriage. Understanding family dynamics will allow you to place boundaries on what is acceptable behaviour and what isn’t, making family gatherings much easier.

    Your goals for the future:

    While we can’t predict the future, we can be honest about our desires. If you have specific goals that could make considerable changes to your life, your partner needs to be aware of them. Popular grounds for divorce is that couples want different things. What if you’ve got dreams of relocating to the city while your partner wants a quiet life in the suburbs? Or you want to be a career woman but your partner expects you to become a stay-at-home mom? These differences in life goals can breed resentment if not discussed beforehand in a healthy manner.

    Image: Pexels

    An engagement ring holds a large amount of significance for a couple. For hundreds of years, the classic diamond has been a major trend for engagement rings, often honoured for their simple beauty, shine, and value.

    But with more and more traditions evolving, the classic diamond engagement ring is slowly being replaced with other special stones, materials and designs that value originality, affordability and meaning.

    Take a look at our top picks for alternative engagement rings:

    1. TANZANITE

    The next best thing to diamonds is the striking tanzanite. With its deep blue, this stone can complement a silver, rose gold or white gold band beautifully. As far as cut goes, tanzanite is popular in many shapes. This teardrop ring shows how tanzanite can pair with other jewels as well.

    2. MORGANITE

    With a light, dusty pink tint, morganite is an affordable and stunning stone which signifies unconditional love and compassion – two necessary traits in all marriages. This stone is equally as versatile due to its light shade and works well with all metals.

    3. JEWEL BAND

    If you want to have a more practical and simple engagement ring, then a plain band with a few jewels may be the one for you. Incorporate your favourite stone, or multiple to make a statement. If you opt for a brightly coloured stone such as the ruby or peridot, your band is bound to stand out.

    4.  OPAL

    Opals are a rare and highly sought after stone that adds a touch of glamour to a ring. They can give off a vintage appearance, but if you pair it with a simple silver band surrounded by smaller diamonds, it becomes a modern but still unique ring.

    5. VINTAGE

    Whether it’s an heirloom, has been bought in an antique store, or specially made to appear old-fashioned, vintage rings will always be breathtaking options for engagement rings. The metal is darker and has intricate detail, which is often accompanied by a large and neatly cut stone.

    6. ONYX

    Dare to make a bold statement with a dark and shimmery onyx centrepiece on your engagement ring. This black stone complements yellow gold in a unique and modern way, which has slowly started to pick up attraction on the market.

    7. PEARL

    Having a pearl on your engagement ring definitely adds a touch of vintage elegance. If you are a lover  of all things old-fashioned, opting for these lovely round jewels will bring your dream ring to life.

    8. ROUGH CUT

    The cut of the stone makes a big impact on the overall ring. Just simply using an uncut diamond instead of a neatly cut one can change the look and feel of your ring. A rough cut ring is more rustic and natural-looking, for a more organic finish. In this case, it’s better to seek a specialist for a hand-crafted option.

    9. TURQUOISE

    If you love to be different then this is the stone for you. Choosing a turquoise jewel for your engagement ring is a big step, as this particular stone has a very youthful appearance, especially when paired with a dainty band and smaller stones. But you will have a unique and special ring that you value, which is all that matters.

    10. SMOKY QUARTZ

    This earthy stone is a beautiful and affordable option for an exquisite natural-looking engagement ring and can be paired with silver or yellow gold for complementary tones. Marvel over its sparkle and changing colours when it catches the light.

    Image: Unsplash

    Imagine winning a chance to make a grand gesture at no cost to you. Now you can. This year’s Mzansi Super League tournament is well underway, and the tournament organisers want to make the final match memorable for a special couple. One lucky person will be given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to propose to his or her significant other at the final game on December 16, 2019.

    Now in its second year, the Mzansi Super League aims to make cricket a truly national sport of winners. Cricket fans attending the Mzanzi Super league can witness some of the country’s top athletes in action while also enjoying numerous other activities such as colour tunnels, entertainment areas for kids, braai areas and cool-down pools, as well as chances to win spot prizes through the Lucky Bums competition.

    The league is being held at six stadiums around the country, from Wanderers in Jozi, Supersport Park in Centurion and Boland Park in Paarl, to St George’s in Port Elizabeth, Kingsmead in Durban and Newlands in Cape Town.

    Cricket lovers are encouraged to show their love by entering the Mzansi Super league competition. To stand a chance of being chosen to get down on bended knee, proposal hopefuls need to tell the story of how they met their significant other and why they want to propose at the Mzansi Super League final match.  The best submission will get to propose live at the final game and win a bottle of champagne and hamper to celebrate their good news.

    So, if you’re a sport lover and want to harness the thrill of a cricket final in front of a packed stadium to declare you love to your partner, then this is your chance. All you need to do is email your heartfelt submission to [email protected] by December 11 and the judges will do the rest.

    Image: Unsplash

    From KFC to a Toni Braxton concert, South Africans have a knack for choosing unusual locations to propose. This man dove headfirst into love with a memorable underwater proposal that has since gone viral.

    In a one-minute video posted to Dala U Crew on Facebook, a romantic underwater proposal is captured. The video, currently sitting on 37k views, shows a diver holding a sign that reads “Trish,” before revealing another sign with “Will you marry me?” written on it. The camera then zooms out to reveal a man proposing.

    The crowd breaks out into applause when the presumed Trish says yes.

    Watch the video below:

    https://www.facebook.com/dalaucrew/videos/2534226423326976/

    Image: Facebook / Dala U crew

    South Africans are truly feeling the love this November! Straight off the heels of the KFC proposal that captured everyone’s hearts, yet another public proposal is making the rounds. This time, a man wanted his girlfriend to know she means the world to him and he showed it by proposing on stage at Toni Braxton’s concert.

    The RnB sensation is currently in South Africa as part of her As Long As I Live world tour. Uber driver Moegamad Luddy, from Strandfontien, knew that the concert was the perfect moment to pop the big question. His girlfriend, Camilla Hassan from Lentegeur, was brought on stage under the guise of having the crowd sing ‘happy birthday’ to her.

    The couple danced together on stage as Braxton serenaded them with a rendition of ‘Unbreak my heart’. Mid song, Luddy went down on one knee and proposed to a shocked Hassan.

    Credit: the Daily Voice
    Credit: the Daily Voice

    Speaking to the Daily Voice, Luddy explained that he wanted to go big for his love’s birthday because he had failed to the previous year.

    “Last year I messed up on her birthday, I left her heartbroken,” he said. “This time I just wanted to unbreak her heart, so that there will be no more sad love songs wrecking her brain, for as long as she lives she won’t have to get over me, so that by the end of the night I can hold her in my arms like a Spanish guitar and make her melt like an iceberg in the sea.”

    That’s not the only proposal that has happened on Braxton’s stage. In early November, another lucky South African couple became engaged in Braxton’s presence.

    Image: the Daily Voice

    You always expect your proposal story to be a great one. For some people, a great proposal story would be simple, quiet and intimate. Other people, however, prefer grand romantic gestures – the type that people never forget.

    Going all out for a public proposal is no small task. A lot of planning and co-ordinating is required and there are many moving parts, not to mention all the factors you can’t control.

    Check out this list of five outstanding public proposals.

    -The Skyscraper

    This is a large scale, high tech proposal if we’ve ever seen one. Marzo, the proposer, asked his girlfriend, Lisa, to marry him using the lights of a skyscraper!

    It starts with Marzo filming Lisa as they go on an evening walk. Marzo then has Lisa answer a phone call; on the phone call she needs to say her name and say “Hi”. She does this and the phone cuts off.

    The next thing she knows, the lights of a nearby skyscraper goes off. The lights then come back on spelling her name on the wall. They go off again, and the next time they flash the words “will you” brightly on the side of the building. The next two repetitions of this show the words “marry” and “me”.

    This must have taken some crazy co-ordination skills!

    – Written in the Sky 

    A man proposed to his girlfriend by writing it in the clouds. He hired a professional ‘skywriter’!

    From the video, it seems he and his unsuspecting girlfriend were spending a lovely afternoon in Central Park, when suddenly the words appear in the sky. The girlfriend is sure to never forget this proposal.

    – Like a movie scene 

    Matt put together an entire movie trailer to propose to his girlfriend, Ginny.

    He enlisted the help of Ginny’s brother, Charlie, to take her to see a movie. They’re in the movie theatre and the trailers start to play. Ginny is a little confused when she hears Matt’s voice coming from the speakers. She is brought to tears by the trailer in which he asks her to marry him.

    This one gets extra points for creativity!

    – Puppies in the park 

    This one involves puppies! A man organised to have puppies walk by as he and his girlfriend sat on a bench in Central Park. Each puppy wore a customised vest with a sweet message like “I want u 4 ever”.

    At first his girlfriend didn’t catch on, because the dog walkers were strangers. The third and final puppy’s vest read “will you marry me?”

    His girlfriend didn’t believe it at first. We can’t blame her since it was April Fool’s Day! But when he got down on one knee, she knew it was real.

    – Live Lip-dub 

    Isaac planned and co-ordinated an entire dance number, involving some of their closest family and friends, to propose to his girlfriend, Amy.

    He asked Amy to meet him at his parents’ house. When she arrived, his brother was instructed to seat her in the back of a Honda and give her some headphones.

    As she sat in the back of the slowly moving car, she watched a well co-ordinated lip-sync and dance number. The presence of all their loved ones must have made it so much more special!

    Considering how difficult it can be to organise, these public proposals blew our minds!

    Image: Pexels

    Celebrities, they’re just like us. Or are they? While some of us (A.K.A, the plebeians) spend months and years saving up for an engagement ring, the lucky minority are able to drop millions on a single piece of jewellery. Oh, to be rich and famous.

    While some of these relationships have since ended, diamonds truly are forever and will live on for the years to come. These famous brides have rocked diamonds worth more than most of us will ever earn in our lifetime.

    Blake Lively – $2 million (over R29 million)

    One of Hollywood’s favourite couples makes it onto the list with Lively’s 12-carat, $2 million engagement ring. The ring was designed by Lorraine Schwartz and features an oval-cut stone in a diamond-accented, rose-gold setting.

     

    “My most treasured possession is my engagement ring made by my dear friend Lorraine Schwartz, because of the love and meaning it symbolises,” Lively said in an interview. “No, I didn’t have any hand in its design – I married a gentleman.”

    Anna Kournikova – $2.5 million (over R37 million)

    When Enrique Iglesias popped the big question to tennis star Anna Kournikova back in 2009, he did so with an expensive 11-carat sparkler that set him back $2.5 million. The pair, who met in 2001 on set of Iglesias’s Escape music video, are notoriously private about their relationship.

    Despite getting engaged a decade ago, the couple are in no rush to the altar. Both do not believe that marriage will make a big change in their relationship. In 2018, they welcomed twins Nicholas and Lucy.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BaCrYYAgqnx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Jacqueline Kennedy O’Nassis – $2.59 million (over R38 million)

    Forever the style icon, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is mostly remembered for being one of America’s favourite First Ladies. However, it is her second engagement ring that truly went down in history.

    Five years after JFK’s assassination, Jacqueline found love again with mogul Aristotle Onassis. The Greek shipping magnate proposed to the former First Lady with a 40-carat Marquise-cut Lesotho III diamond ring from Harry Winston. The ring was so valuable that Onassis only wore it twice before leaving it in a bank vault for safe-keeping.

    After her passing in 1996, the ring was auctioned off and fetched a price of $2.59 million.

     

    Grace Kelly – $4-million (over R49 million)

    When Grace Kelly became royalty, she needed a stunning diamond ring to prove it. Prince Rainer III of Monaco proposed to the iconic actress with a stunning 10.4-carat, emerald-cut diamond flanked by two baguettes set in platinum. It is estimated to have cost $4-million (R49.36 million).

    She wore the Cartier ring in her final film High Society, which iconised it as one of the most famous engagement rings in history. At their royal wedding, she paired the sparkler with a delicate eternity band set with rubies and diamonds for the colours of Monaco.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/7MM6_5ow6z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Jennifer Lopez – between $1 million and $4.5 million (over R66 million)

    Her love don’t cost a thing but an expensive ring won’t hurt. J-Lo has had not one, not two, but three engagement rings over the value of $1 million.

    The first notable one, a 6.1-carat pink diamond solitaire Harry Winston ring, came from her third fiancé Ben Affleck and is estimated to have cost between $1.2 and $2.5 million. Following the end of this relationship, she became engaged to Marc Anthony, who proposed with a 8.5-carat blue diamond Harry Winston engagement ring estimated to have cost $4 million.

    Most recently, baseball superstar Alex Rodrigues asked for Jennifer’s hand in marriage with an enormous 16-carat diamond ring. Ajay Anand, CEO of Rare Carat, has estimated to cost around $4.5 million. However, other jewellers give a wide range, stating the ring costs somewhere between $1 million and $4.5 million.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Buzz2LMg92D/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Kim Kardashian – $4 million (over R59 million)

    Love them or hate them, there is no arguing that Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West will go down in history as one of the most iconic celebrity couples. West proposed to the social media star with a 15-carat cushion-cut diamond engagement ring that is estimated to have cost a casual $4 million. Seriously.

    Never one to be outdone, in 2016 Kanye gifted Kim with a 20-carat emerald cut diamond ring for her to wear on her other hand. The second ring was reportedly stolen during an armed robbery in Paris.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BxfhkovgsTa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Beyonce – $5 million (over R74 million)

    Only the best for Queen B. While we know little about this notoriously private couple’s wedding, we can say that Jay-Z presented Beyonce with a 24-carat flawless emerald-cut diamond ring with a split band. The Lorraine Schwartz-designed ring is estimated to be worth a whopping $5 million.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/7ycIolvw2-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Elizabeth Taylor – $8.8 million (over R130 million)

    While she has been presented with many engagement rings in her time, Elizabeth Taylor’s most iconic one comes from Richard Burton. So iconic, in fact, that it was named after her. Burton gifted her with the ring when they remarried for the second time in 1975. Originally named the Krupp diamond, the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond is a generous 33.19 carats.

    Following her death in 2011, her ring was auctioned off for $8.8m. At the time, it was the highest per-carat price ever for any colourless diamond.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BzqZgILhz0H/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Mariah Carey – $10 million (over R148 million)

    Though their engagement was incredibly short lived, Mariah Carey and James Packer will go down in history for owning the most expensive celebrity engagement ring. The iconic singer’s engagement ring, gifted to her by Australian businessman James Packer, was 35-carats and has an estimated value of $10 million. Yes, you read that right.

    However, the wedding was not to be. The couple split a few months after getting engaged and Carey sold the ring for $2.1 million.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BM7-8b_Bsh_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Image: Instagram / Elizabeth Taylor

    Some might devise an elaborate plan to pop the big question, but this man proved that you shouldn’t be chicken to do a humble proposal. His decision to propose in a local fast food restaurant has turned into a social media storm as people across the country come together to give them a wedding beyond their wildest dreams.

    A video of a man proposing in a Vaal KFC outlet was posted to Twitter yesterday afternoon, and quickly caught the attention of social media users. Fast food giant KFC South Africa saw the video of the couple becoming engaged and posted it to their official Twitter. In their tweet, KFC SA appealed to their followers to help identify the couple in the hopes of doing something special for them.

    The couple has since been identified and two Twitter users are meeting with them today to discuss wedding planning. The grooms name is Mr. Kansi, and his financial situation is tough at the moment so he would like to have a small wedding to celebrate their nuptials.

    The video quickly went viral, causing #KFCproposal to trend on Twitter. South Africans are now rallying behind the couple to make their dream wedding come true.

    Takealot has offered a R5000 voucher to the couple to purchase anything on their online store. Vodacom, Total South Africa, Cricket South Africa and Pick ‘n Pay also joined in the hunt to find the newly engaged couple.

    People are offering to support in any way they can, from donating money to supplying cars, outfits, accessories, invites and drinks. Austin Malema has offered to be their photographer free of charge, and Amanda Black is keen to sing at the reception.

    This wedding is sure to be finger lickin’ good.

    Image: Twitter /  KFC South Africa