By Breanna Howell

Published Jan 31, 2021 at 09:00 AM

Reading time: 3 minutes

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Image by Jamie Coupaud from Unsplash

With couples having more access to wedding ideas and options on social media, tying the knot has never been bolder, fancier, and luxurious than it is now. Celebrities and influencers are dictating trends, making a big impact on the way we buy engagement rings.

From Paris Hilton’s $2 million teardrop diamond ring to Kim Kardashian’s 15-carat diamond ring that reportedly costs Kanye West $8 million—people have officially gone crazy over these ravishing stones! Everyone’s so hooked that modern couples are willing to spend more to buy engagement rings that will shine and make it to hundreds (if not thousands) of likes on social media.

There’s no denying that social media has changed the way we live. What we see on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter has influenced us in many ways. Instagram, in particular, made people (even middle-income earners) travel more and spend more on all things trendy, fashionable, and as they call it; Instagrammable.

So, it’s not surprising that social media has dominated the world of wedding planning and preparation as well. The pressure for soon-to-be-wed couples for an Instagrammable occasion is sky-high. Even if that will cost them several thousand dollars.

In 2020, US couples spent an average of $31,000 on weddings. We might wonder how these people could spend that much in a single day. But that’s the way weddings are now, at least if you look on social media. Aside from giving couples a chance to flaunt their valuable rings as celebrities do, Instagram and social media are dramatically changing the way we shop for engagement rings.

Social media popularised the idea of crowdsourcing. Just post your question on IG and you will have the answers you need, almost instantly. These answers can be from anyone, from your neighbour to your highschool classmate. Expect to get suggestions from strange people too.

Instagram lets customers contact a store directly. Instead of visiting these shops directly, customers can just inquire and see photos of the actual rings. They can also read other people’s opinions and feedback about specific products. Additionally, many couples are taking advantage of Instagram’s Questions feature to get ideas before they buy engagement rings. The IG Question Feature was introduced in 2018 and is available through IG stories.

Instagram has over 1 billion active users per month. With somebody posting about their honeymoon at The Maldives or their marriage proposal on a helicopter, and others flaunting their gleaming diamond engagement ring, others are pressured to do just the same (or even go beyond).

The pursuit of perfection on social media is real, and sadly, unhealthy sometimes. With influencers and celebrities showcasing their Alexander McQueen dress, ordinary people strive to show only the best. This trend forces consumers to spend more on luxury items they can’t afford in the first place.

The pressure to find the perfect engagement ring is real. And that’s not the end. After the proposal comes the wedding and more items need to be perfect—cakes, wedding rings, gowns—the list goes on.

Luckily, social media is also a place for people looking to buy engagement rings at affordable prices. Before Instagram, only a few names of jewellers and designers stood out. These were million-dollar designers only the rich and the famous could afford.

However, Instagram and other social media platforms like Facebook have given modern designers opportunities to showcase their creations to the world. From classic styles with a modern twist to unique rings with personal details, emeralds, and yellow gold, expect a whole new breed of engagement rings on social media, thanks to these designers. Even more exciting is that most of these pieces have price tags that usually won’t break the bank.

The platform has become a major search tool for shoppers. Couples seeking for unique engagement rings can find so much information, ideas, and inspiration from it. The quest for the perfect ring starts with a simple hashtag search. Type #engagementring and you’ll find 5.6 million posts. Many are from actual couples, some are from models, jewellers, designers, influencers, and celebrities.

Wedding planning has significantly changed over the years. Soon-to-be-weds are chasing more unique and creative approaches to tie the knot. Today, over 50 per cent of couples choose to plan their wedding around a theme. From fairytale to rustic weddings, vintage, and destination weddings, there’s always a theme that suits a couple’s taste.

More and more couples also choose to hire wedding planners for their big day. Intimate weddings are popular too, especially during the pandemic. For those who want to DIY their event, wedding planning apps are a big hit. These apps offer an interactive way to style and plan a wedding, giving users access to wedding ideas, checklist, budgeting tools, and many other helpful features.

As couples strive for perfect Instagrammable moments, it is not surprising that the cost of weddings has dramatically increased. Research shows that couples spend nearly double on their wedding today than couples did 10 years ago.

With efforts to make a unique wedding experience, many couples opt for designer dresses, high-value wedding rings, and top-notch receptions, even if that means shelling out their entire savings.

Social media transformed the way we buy engagement rings in both good and bad ways. On the positive side, social media platforms make shopping for affordable engagement rings easy. With a quick hashtag search, shoppers can access thousands if not millions of inspiration and ideas.

On the other hand, the pressure to be Instagram-worthy increases day by day, making it unhealthy. It’s always important to remind ourselves to strive for beautiful memory and meaning, instead of perfection.