Tips on alternative engagement rings for romantic proposal
February 17, 2025
Proposing marriage is one of the greatest moments in a person’s life. Your first idea might be to go buy an engagement ring. But there are other ways to go about this romantic moment. What are those? Find out in this guide to non-traditional engagement rings and alternative ways to express your love, full of their own particular mystery and symbolism - including jewellery engagement flowers that will imbue your engagement with unprecedented meaning and sense of romance. If you’re looking to make your proposal special, then this is the guide for you.
Engagement with an engagement ring
Tradition of engagement rings
Staging a surprise proposal involving an engagement ring is a time-tested move and does have its advantages. The main benefit is the traditional aspect and the well-established symbolism ingrianed in engagement rings.
Types of engagement rings
There are many types of engagement rings. The classical, most favoured and foolproof are made from white gold or platinum, in one of the following styles:
-
Diamond solitaire rings (with a single diamond)
- Diamond rings with three diamonds - trilogy (using the same or different stones)
- Diamond halo-style rings (with one large diamond surrounded by small stones forming a halo)
- Rings with an emerald-cut diamond (a single rectangular diamond).
Engagement with non-traditional engagement rings
Non traditional engagement rings
And then there are engagement rings which can be classified as non-traditional. Those include engagement rings with unusual-colour diamonds (e.g. yellow, pink, or brown), emeralds, sapphires, rubies, or pearls, or rings made in special styles, e.g. Toi et moi rings with two stones (diamonds, emeralds, or sapphires) placed next to one another. In a broad sense, alternatives to an engagement ring can be included in this category of non-traditional engagement rings as well.
Alternative engagement rings
As society and human relationships evolve, so do customs and celebrations. Some survive, others disappear as people seek to forge their own path. Even engagement becomes a matter of personal preference rather than tradition. You can propose in a way that’s the most personal to you. This may include giving your partner a different, charming symbol of your love, other than an engagement ring.
And you have three options to replace the engagement ring and express your love and commitment in a different way:
- pick a different engagement jewel,
- something different altogether, or
- embrace the charm of engagement jewellery flowers.
Why should you consider an engagement without a ring?
There are various reasons. Primarily, you may want to express yourself in a way you and your partner find more intimate, romantic or unique. Or perhaps your partner doesn’t wear rings or has too many already and she wouldn't use another ring, even with this meaning. Or you will find more rings redundant when you will be choosing another one in a short time - a wedding ring.
Diverse jewellery for unique proposals
Diverse jewellery for unique proposals
Types of other engagement jewelry
Instead of an engagement ring, you can choose to gift your partner a different jewel - a necklace, brooch, earrings, anklet, medallion, bracelet, or an antique, family ring or any other jewel you inherited and which is a family heirloom. You can also give a thought to purchasing a watch. Whatever you choose, it should be at least slightly in your partner’s style so that they like to wear it.
Engagement jewelry with symbols of love
Use jewellery’s power to talk; it can come in handy when you’re proposing, in case you run out of words. Pick a jewel which expresses your feelings or even asks the big question for you. Lean towards originality and fresh presentation.
Jewellery employs various symbols for love and engagement - hearts, flowers, locks, or knots. But you can show off your creativity and style and let your non-traditional engagement jewel speak in another way.
Other tips on proposals without ring
Consider also other options which might impress your partner (no matter if your engagement includes a ring or not), along with some of the following alternatives:
- Engagement tattoos (nice symbolism if you like body art—your partner will metaphorically become a part of you)
- Hand binding (originally a Celtic ritual during which the groom and bride’s hands are bound together, symbolising the unification of the two lives and demonstrating the couple’s intention to marry. Some couples perform it as a part of the wedding ceremony, but it can also be done for engagement)
- Engagement letter (write your partner a letter where you lay out your feelings and why you want to get married)
- Make a work of art (paint a picture for your partner, write a book, poem, or compose a piece of music if you have the skill)
- Truly romantic and surprising engagement (stage an engagement that overshadows all material things and makes them redundant)
- Purchase a house (and make a home together or at least its foundation; isn’t that an impressive engagement symbol?)
- Romantic engagement gift (give your partner a special, personal, or romantic present that evokes strong emotion—perhaps an item from your childhood)
- Adventurous trip (plan a shared adventure of your dreams. Celebrate your decision with excitement and time spent together you’ll remember forever).
Engagement bouquet of jewellery
Emphasise your proposal with the beauty of flowers, jewellery, symbolism, and magical experiences
GIYOU engagement flowers
Sometimes, a newcomer appears to present a fresh perspective and enhances people’s lives. GIYOU applies its extraordinary skills and respect to creating a garden of silver and golden flowers, imbuing people’s lives and their festivities with a sense of magic. The story of this extraordinary garden began with two people; learn more on the story of GIYOU here. The flowers are hand-made of silver and gold, using a jewellery-making technique. Soon after being launched they’ve become a new alternative for engagements.
GIYOU flowers combine flowers and jewellery in one object. They’re about love, joy, and attractiveness; a unique romantic symbol that brightens up your engagement and gives you joy for the rest of your life. They are a charming alternative to engagement rings; you may find them more suitable for your big moment than traditional engagement rings.
Why should you choose engagement flowers and what do they contribute?
Natural beauty and romance
GIYOU engagement flowers were born from fascination with nature and follow in the footsteps of traditional flower gifting. They supplement the engagement ritual with elements of beauty and nature, strengthening human connections and reminding us how beautiful the world around is.
Flowers have traditionally been associated with beauty and harmony. From time immemorial, people have used elements of nature as symbols of love, joy, and mutual bonds. Engagement flowers of silver and gold underline subtlety and beauty, and can set the stage for a most romantic proposal.
Symbol of love and attraction
GIYOU engagement flowers are about the dance of love, attraction, and responsible freedom. You may find that the notion of a relationship informed by such values speaks to you.
Unique proposal
Additionally, GIYOU engagement flowers are one of a kind. It’s quite likely you’ve never even herd the term “engagement flowers” before. They’re hand-made in Bohemia, using a unique jewellery-making technique to ensure every single flower is a work of art. Thus they give your engagement a sense of originality and surprise.
Constant joy
If you opt for engagement flowers, there’s no need for you to worry about picking the perfect engagement ring, its size, or consider whether your partner will find it appealing and wear it. Flowers have a universal appeal, aren’t subject to fashion trends, and will provide you with constant joy, as well as memories that will be passed down through the generations.
In a vase after the engagement
Engagement rings are worn on the hand; engagement flowers end up placed in a vase where they’ll decorate your home, freeing you from the dilemma regarding what to do with your engagement ring once the wedding is over.
Proposal with engagement flowers
How to pick a non-traditional engagement ring?
You can pick a single or symbolic two engagement flowers, or bouquet, small or large, of silver or gold. Find our tips on engagement flowers here.
Choose your favourite flower species that has a special meaning for you and your partner, e.g. a forget-me-not of silver or gold. In the context of tomance, forget-me-nots symbolise constancy and loyalty and can be an impressive engagement gift for your partner.
Floral jewellery for grand engagement gestures
Silver and golden flowers open up a space to stage subtle, romantic or grand engagement gestures. The most demanding among you can opt for flowers from our Royal garden or bespoke flowers to stage an extraordinary engagement declaration.
How to present the flowers during a unique proposal?
You can present the flowers to your partner like a bunch of fresh-picked meadow flowers, or in a gift box or a vase. When giving the flowers in person, you can hold them behind your back or present them to your surprised partner in any other original manner. If you choose to place them in a vase or gift box, leave them somewhere for your partner to find and unpack, along with a card from you. We can deliver your engagement bouquet bound, or you can use your flowers unbound.
Instead or alongside a ring
Engagement flowers can replace engagement rings entirely but you can also propose both with flowers and rings. Decide which option best suits better you and your partner’s preferences.
Romantic proposal with Eternity flowers
And if you’d like to make your engagement even more original and romantic, browse our Eternity engagement bouquets. How to use such a bouquet? When proposing, give your partner a single flower of silver, gold or pick any of the engagement bouquets we offer. You can also celebrate the anniversary of engagement or any other day by adding a new flower to the vase.
Eternity engagement bouquets express endless love, declaration, and lasting commitment. Regularly gifting your partner a flower is quite meaningful.
Our special tips for engagement flowers
- You can combine engagement flowers with wedding flowers or a wedding bouquet for the wedding ceremony (supplement the engagement flowers with a wedding bouquet or wedding flowers before the ceremony)
- You can choose any engagement flower or bouquet, composed of any flower species you like
- Browse our line of silver and golden bouquets.
- You don’t have to shy away from silver; it doesn’t deserve to be ignored (our silver flowers are galvanised to maintain long-term shine)
- Your bouquet can also be a mixture of silver and golden flowers
- You can combine different colours of gold (white, yellow, pink)
- You can also have a bouquet arranged from silver and fresh or dry companion flowers
- You can pick a vase for your engagement flowers
- If you need help personalising your flowers or composing a unique engagement bouquet, contact us
- You can also take a look at the flowers in our showroom or GIYOU GARDEN.
We hope you found our guide to the world of non-traditional engagement rings and their alternatives inspiring. We’d love for you to share your experience with staging a unique engagement, with or without a ring. Have the most unique and romantic proposal possible!
GIYOU
info@giyou.cz
