Traditions change from year to year, especially when it comes to weddings. Looking back, weddings were much different than they are today. Even traditions that lead up to that big day have changed dramatically.

It used to be normal that the man surprised the woman with a ring, got down on one knee and asked, “Will you marry me?” The bride would be thrown totally off guard and very surprised because she had no idea it was coming.

Yeah, maybe she knew it’d happen someday but not the specific time, and she definitely didn’t know what ring he had picked out for her.

Nowadays some brides actually go pick out the ring and say, “This is the one I want.” This is somewhat ridiculous because for one, now you know exactly what you’re getting, there’s no surprising factor anymore and two, she knows it’s coming. She picked out the ring, so it’s obviously happening soon.

This may ruin everything. Now when he finally gets down on one knee — he might not, but he should — she knows what she’s getting. No surprise factor and it’s over. This changes the whole proposal and it would probably drive the bride crazy just waiting, looking for when he’ll actually propose.

I know brides worry about what their hubby will get them and if they don’t like the ring. Then what? Well, you don’t have to pick out the exact ring to show him. Make him do some work, too!

“I showed him what I was looking for and gave him some ideas. But in the end, he picked out the ring and surprised me and he picked the perfect ring for me,” said Jessica Haugo, graduate in elementary education.

Haugo married in June 2010.

It’s OK to tell him what you like and what you want without telling him the exact ring you want. Give him ideas, but don’t be so specific. It’ll be much more exciting if you don’t know exactly when and where it’ll happen and what you’re getting. This will make the proposal better and the engagement announcement much more exciting.

On the other hand, it is nice to know that you’re getting what you want and that you won’t be disappointed. It might ruin the proposal if he whips out this hideous ring that you absolutely hate.

“I picked out my own ring and then he surprised me with the proposal. I was still very surprised when it happened and I picked out a ring that I really like,” said Sheena Rausch, recently engaged and planning her wedding for April 2011.

It’s safe to say that there’s no wrong or right way to go about it. If you’re a very picky person, it might be smart to either give him very specific ideas or just pick it out yourself. On the other hand, if you like the surprise factor, let him do it. He knows you well enough to know what you like. Give him a chance.