My boyfriend and I decided to get married a couple of weeks ago, and ever since, we have been bombarded by people who keep suggesting what kind of diamond ring we should buy.

I've never bought into the idea of a Western wedding. I don't want to wear a white dress and veil, I don't want a ceremony in a church and I certainly don't want a diamond ring.

For one thing, diamonds are very expensive. I will never wear something that costs thousands of dollars every day. What if I lose it while washing my hands? I just want two simple, platinum bands. 

But friends who are already married, vehemently object to my protestations.

A friend flew to Hong Kong to buy her diamond ring.

Her boyfriend researched the matter months in advance, examining the color, brightness and quality of the diamond with an expert's eye.

They spent a fortune on the ring. My friend didn't end up wearing the ring much, because it cost about six months' salary.

But her fiancé insisted it was worth it.

"You should have what all other women have before they get married," he said at the time. 

While touched at their expression of love, I can't help wondering whether that's for me. I don't want to be forced into buying something that I don't think is worth it.

But buying a simple ring is difficult as well.

My boyfriend and I went to a couple of foreign luxury jewelry stores.

But their salespeople always  recommended diamond rings.

When I asked for simple rings, their expressions changed slightly, and they pointed to a less attractive counter, less shiny, less expensive, and a lot less attended to.

Even my mom was unhappy when I said I don't want a diamond ring.

"What will people think of you?" she asked. "They must be saying your boyfriend is cheap to not buy you a diamond ring."

Since when has there been all this propaganda around a ring?

From "diamonds are a girl's best friend" to "diamonds last forever, all you need is one for your legacy."

Shops claim that only diamond rings represent one's love, as if only something shiny can match the fire of love inside your hearts.

There's also a lot of hype around hosting the wedding of the century.

Everything needs to be perfect and the betrothed couple and their families should spend a fortune.

But for me, they are all over-elaborate details.

I shouldn't need to demonstrate anything to other people, and I certainly don't need to buy into the hype.

This article was published on the Global Times Metropolitan section Two Cents page, a space for reader submissions, including opinion, humor and satire. The ideas expressed are those of the author alone, and do not represent the position of the Global Times.