You've made up your mind: you're asking her. She's your true love and best friend, and you can't imagine life without her. You're going to ask her to marry you, and there's only one thing standing in your way: the engagement ring.

While the ring itself is only a symbol of love, men often worry considerably over choosing the right ring. This quick guide to picking the best engagement ring for your future wife should help get you started.

The Price
Cost is a big consideration for most men, and it has little to do with how much you love her. With that said, consider your motivation for seeking a cheap engagement ring - are you a grad student, a struggling artist, or are you just used to being frugal? If it's the latter, buying an engagement ring is actually a good time to splurge, assuming you have the money.

Tradition holds that men spend twice their monthly pay on the diamond, but as men get married later and with much larger salaries, this advice is not so practical anymore. Women rarely expect this type of money to be spent on a wedding engagement ring . This tradition dates back to times when women didn't work and relied solely on their husbands for support. The ring was a symbol that the man was able to take care of his bride financially.

In contemporary times, it makes more sense to be practical about the cost of the ring. Look realistically at your budget and determine how much you can afford to spend. Decrease your upper limit by 10% to allow yourself some wiggle room in case you find something perfect at the top of your price range. (Rings in a blue Tiffany's box are bound to be a hit!) If you still want to show your love with two month's worth of salary, think about taking her on a fun vacation after you pop the question.

The Setting
The setting of a diamond engagement ring refers to how it is placed into the band. With solitaire engagement rings , the diamond can be held in by a 4- or 6-prong setting. The 4-prong setting shows the diamond off and works for women who do not do heavy labor with their hands. For women who use their hands often, the 6-prong is more likely to stay in the setting rather than shaking or pulling loose at some point. Some women prefer an antique style engagement ring where the diamond is set more into the band of the ring. If your fiancée-to-be is an athlete or an artist, this type of setting might be a better choice.

The Cut
Cut is what gives a diamond its sparkle. The most traditional cut of diamond for an engagement ring is the princess cut diamond . This petite cut is cute and works nicely in a solitaire, but oval, marquise , and square or rectangular emerald cuts now are common as well.

The Stone
Some women prefer engagement ring stones instead of diamonds; sapphires, rubies and emeralds can also be good choices these days. Try to get a sense of which type of stone your partner prefers before ordering the ring. When in doubt, go for a diamond. Check the diamond's origin and see if you can get one that's Kimberley Process certified-these are more popular nowadays allaying concerns over conflict diamonds. It's also not a bad idea to get a separate jeweler to evaluate the diamond's quality for you, particularly if you are spending a lot of money. Some rings, particularly some vintage styles , incorporate multiple stones into their design.

The Band
Women with petite hands often prefer a thinner, solid band for an engagement ring as it will complement their natural sizing. For women who use their hands often, such as in sewing or other manual labor, or who have larger hands, a thicker band is better suited. If you are unsure, you should check out her other rings to get an idea of what she likes. If she doesn't wear any rings, chances are she'd prefer a simple ring rather than an elaborate designer engagement ring . If she's a girl who likes to wear vintage clothes, a vintage engagement ring might be just the thing; if she's very minimalist and modern in her style, choose the ring accordingly.

Similarly, you'll need to know her ring size. The best way is, of course, to secretly "borrow" one of her rings. Since fingers are different sizes, even that may not be ideal. Choose one a little larger than you think is the right size, as it's easier to size down than up.

Most engagement rings are yellow gold. While gold is malleable, it is considered appropriate and traditional. Now more than ever though, a greater percent of women prefer silver over gold because it is less expensive but looks very elegant. Platinum is a more durable metal than gold and has become a popular band option for engagement rings. White gold is also a good choice, with all the advantages of gold but an appearance that many women prefer.

Diamond Size
The size of the diamond for jewelers refers to the carats, or the weight of the diamond. For women, though, the size of the diamond often more of a concern related to the way the diamond looks in the band. Some women want a beautiful diamond that sparkles and they can show to their friends. These diamonds may be smaller in carat , but still look beautiful. Other women do not like large diamond solitaires as these gems are easy to get caught on clothing and other items. Instead some women will want a diamond setting that is designed to accommodate their daily wear.

Historically, picking an engagement ring was something a man did by himself. Today, few men go it alone. They may seek assistance from their mothers, future mothers-in-law, or even from their future bride's friends to get something that will match her taste. Men also may include their future wife in the decision. Many women want to be involved so they are choosing a ring they will enjoy wearing for many years to come-and who knows, she might even surprise you with a men's engagement ring . Depending on your partner, having the ring at the moment of engagement is not as important as making sure the engagement goes perfectly. On the other hand, nothing tells a woman that you're truly ready to make the leap like buying a beautiful engagement ring. After the perfect engagement, the planning begins, choosing everything from the wedding rings to the bridesmaid dresses and the mother of the bride dresses. Click here to start planning the wedding.