This story originally appeared at Do You Remember by Lauren Stewart.

In November 2016, Ariel Desiree McRae’s post on Facebook went viral. She was defending her $130 engagement ring after a jewelry store employee made a negative comment about it. The post has been shared over 100,000 times.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1493816687314588&set=a.259182397444696&type=3

Together they picked out rings from Pandora Jewelry that were $130. She explained that her husband thought she would be upset he couldn’t afford an expensive piece of jewelry, but she didn’t care. They got married in a court-house and used the $130 ring set and she is as happy as ever.

According to Today.com, Ariel said, “My husband doesn’t have a lot, neither of us do,” the 22-year-old, who is in school to become a teacher, wrote in the post. “We scrape and scrape to pay bills and put food in our bellies, but after almost 2 years of dating we decided that we couldn’t wait anymore, so we didn’t.”

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1487338161295774&set=a.259182397444696&type=3

Ariel wrote that while in the store, the sales clerk said, “Y’all can you believe that some men get these as engagement rings? How pathetic.”

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1487338347962422&set=a.259182397444696&type=3

Ariel said she watched her husband’s face when the salesperson spoke and knew he was upset by the comment. She went on to write that it doesn’t matter how much the ring was or how flashy it was, it is their love for each other that truly matters.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1599550580074531&set=a.150755221620748&type=3

She also said she would have still married him if he gave her a 25 cent engagement ring from a bubblegum machine and that an expensive piece of jewelry shouldn’t prove your love to each other. “Why do material possessions equal love?” she asks.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1487339081295682&set=a.259182397444696&type=3

Ariel finished her post by saying, “People shouldn’t have to go into debt for love. It’s the love that’s important. You can get married without rings. It’s just material.” What a sweet story!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1517973574898899&set=a.259182397444696&type=3

What do you think about engagement rings and their prices? Did you love this story? If you enjoyed this article, share with a friend!

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