Now that you’ve decided to propose with the classic but interesting three-stone engagement rings, you’re almost ready to click "purchase" and have the ring delivered to your doorstep. These easy steps will take you from here to "Will you marry me?" as painlessly as possible.

1. Determine your budget, and decide how to divide it between the center stone and the setting. The current estimated guideline is that you can expect to spend about two month’s salary on an engagement ring, but that will of course vary depending on your situation. With a solitaire ring, you can expect to devote most of your budget to the stone itself, but three-stone engagement rings are more evenly divided between the center stone and the setting. Because the setting is intricate and sparkly itself, the center stone can be more modest and still look great—alternatively, a dramatic center stone in a three-stone engagement ring can look fabulous.

2. Decide on the shape and the 4 C’s for your center stone. The center stone is the focal point and most important aspect of any ring, even a three-stone setting. You may eventually choose to reset the stone, so it is important to invest in a quality stone now that can last a lifetime. The shape of your center stone will influence your style choices for the rest of the three-stone engagement ring.

3. Choose between the classic three-stone engagement ring formats. In the most popular arrangement, the center stone is slightly larger than the two side stones, but the other common settings feature three stones the same size or a center stone that is dramatically larger than the side stones.

4. Once you have a center stone picked out, use its design to influence your decision when it comes to picking out a three-stone setting. If the stone is round, you may want smaller round stones to accent the traditional brilliance, or baguettes to contrast with the round stone’s symmetry. An emerald stone pairs beautifully with emerald-cut side stones, and a princess-cut stone can work with more unusual side stone shapes. Consider colored gemstones as a bright accent to the simple diamond center stone.

5. Now that you have a basic idea of what you want your three-stone engagement ring to look like, you can browse the hundreds of varieties with ease. Look for styles that match the ring you envisioned, and then choose between white and yellow gold, shiny or matte finish, decorative or simple ring shank, and all the other factors involved in your perfect three-stone engagement ring. Line up a few possible contenders and then may the best ring win! Good luck!