GroomGroove.com interviews a recently engaged groom, Graham McGowen from North Carolina, who commissioned a custom-designed engagement ring instead of picking a ring "off the rack". Here's how he did it.

GroomGroove.com: You eschewed tradition and commissioned a custom-designed engagement ring. Why?

Graham: I've always known I wanted to do a custom-designed engagement ring. In talking with Kristen, my bride, I knew she would prefer a one-of-a-kind ring over the typical solitaire or three stone you see advertised everywhere. Many of our friends are recently engaged or married, so the last thing I wanted was for her to have the same ring as one of her friends. Once I knew I wanted a custom ring, I was able to narrow my focus a bit.

GroomGroove.com: How did you find the right jeweler?

Graham: I asked around at local, well-respected jewelers if they could refer a custom jeweler or goldsmith. Trusting the referral of multiple jewelers seemed like a better idea than just picking one out of a phonebook or an Internet search result.

GroomGroove.com: How far in advance of the proposal did you need to plan your proposal?

Graham: I started this process very early, and met up with a custom goldsmith about five months before the proposal. Definitely the sooner the better for this process. As a world-renowned goldsmith, the artist I chose was in high demand, and traveled to shows around the world to display her work. She was very appreciative of the longer deadline.

GroomGroove.com: How did you budget for the ring?

Graham: After viewing some of her work - and being awestruck - my next concern was over the budget. The advantage of going the custom route was that I could set a budget initially and create a payment plan before any designs were ever made. This helped the goldsmith and I choose materials and determine how extravagant to make the design. Saving for the ring is important, but it's also important to remember that most jewelers and goldsmiths will offer a payment plan. For me, this was a huge help. Spreading the cost over four payments was far easier than waiting until I could save up one large, lump sum, and all the while allowing design work to move forward while I made the payments.

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