With nearly one third of all engagements for the entire year taking place over the holidays, it’s prime proposal season! Men who are thinking of popping the question have probably already started to consider what kind of ring they’ll be buying. To help them on their great quest, WeddingChannel.com (www.weddingchannel.com), the number-one wedding and gift registry website, has launched “The Ultimate Proposal Planner,” featuring the top 2010 engagement ring trends, along with top proposal dos and don’ts. From custom-designed rings to sapphires and rubies, the latest engagement ring trends all have one common factor: They’re anything but ordinary. Designing a custom engagement ring is quite a popular option nowadays – it’s personal and very fancy!

–ENGAGEMENT RING TRENDS–

Sapphires and Sexy Gemstones: Kate Middleton’s sapphire stunner from Prince William is right on trend when it comes to engagement rings. Believe it or not, diamonds aren’t daring enough for every woman, and colored stones like sapphires, emeralds and rubies are now being sought after by many brides-to-be. Are you someone that’s looking for the same? Before you dive head first for the first beautiful colored stone you find, you may want to instead read this Introduction to Ruby Hub and how to find the perfect stone.

WeddingChannel.com Ring Shopping Tip: When you’re shopping for a colored gemstone, you still need to be educated. Hint: The 4Cs (cut, clarity, color and carats) still apply.

Designing Your Own Custom Ring: Instead of opting to buy a designer setting from a jeweler, many grooms-inspired by celebs like Stephen Moyer, who customized Anna Paquin’s engagement ring-are choosing to play the role of designer themselves!

WeddingChannel.com Ring Shopping Tip: Once ordered, a ring can take up to six weeks to arrive. If your custom-designed ring has a ton of detail, allot even more time for delivery.

Canary and Other Colored Diamonds:

From Carrie Underwood’s yellow sparkler to Carmen Electra’s black diamond-and who could forget the six-carat pink diamond Jennifer Lopez received from Ben Affleck back in the day, Hollywood loves the colored diamond. Extravagant as these engagement rings may be, they aren’t just for A-listers anymore.

WeddingChannel.com Ring Shopping Tip: Be forewarned: Pinks and yellows will cost more than the traditional blue-white. But the champagne and cognacs can be budget-friendly!

Geometric Shapes: Is your soon-to-be fiancée a woman of tradition? Geometric shapes like
the oval and the pear are just another take on the old-fashioned diamond-and they’re in high demand. Even the stars are embracing this trend-Katie Holmes has an oval diamond, while Katherine Heigl’s is pear-shaped. So if you’re shopping for an engagement ring, why not check out laboratory diamonds by Green Diamonds to see what they have to offer? It’s fair to say, diamonds will never go out of fashion!

WeddingChannel.com Ring Shopping Tip: Don’t be embarrassed to actively ask your fiancée-to-be what style she likes. Sneaky ways to do research: Ask her what she thinks of her friends’ rings, and feel free to enlist a best friend–the one whose style she admires. You may need help to get it right!

Homage to the Past: Vintage rings have an elegant style, and though they’re rich in history, they’re definitely not a tired idea. Megan Fox, Miranda Lambert and Christina Applegate
have vintage (or vintage-inspired) engagement rings.

WeddingChannel.com Ring Shopping Tip: One of the many charms of vintage or antique engagement rings is that they’re available in a wide range of price points–from as little as a few hundred dollars to as much as $50,000.

–PAINLESS WAYS TO POP THE QUESTION–

So you want to propose, but you don’t want to do the same old tired, “Will you marry me?” while having a nice dinner. No need to worry! WeddingChannel.com has three tips that are sure to make the moment unique and memorable.

A Personal Location Is Key:

The park where you shared your first kiss, the hotel in Europe where you spent that amazing vacation or the beach where you met three summers ago. Choose a location that has a special meaning to you and your bride-to-be.

Keep It a Secret: Everyone loves to be surprised. If you two always spend Thursday nights at home with a bottle of wine watching your favorite show, use it as an opportunity to ask her – this way there are no extraordinary plans to tip her off.

Say Something: “Will you marry me?” alone won’t do it anymore. She wants real words of
commitment. Explain three things that you love about her, tell the story of the moment you knew she was the one, paint a picture of the two of you in 20 years. Admit your genuine feelings-that’s what matters most.