Ring in 2018

Jennifer Lopez is headed down the aisle with husband No. 4 (!), Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez picks out the perfect engagement bling for a holiday proposal to Jennifer Lopez.

Alex Rodriguez made up his mind about Jennifer Lopez awfully fast. “He knew J. Lo was ‘the one’ just weeks after they started dating [in February],” says a source. “J. Lo was wary of his intentions at first, especially given his reputation as a ladies’ man. But he’s proven himself. They are so in love.”

And he’s determined to make her his bride as soon as possible. In the days leading up to the holidays, Life & Style has exclusively learned, Alex picked out an engagement ring and was busy finalizing plans to propose. “He wants to start the New Year knowing Jennifer will be his wife,” says an insider. “He didn’t have to do it, but A-rod asked Jen’s mom [Guadalupe] and dad [David] for permission to marry their daughter. Of course they said yes.” Naturally, that’s Jennifer’s answer, too. Even with three marriages behind her, “she’s never given up on love,” notes the insider. “She says A-rod is everything she’s looking for. He feels the same way. He says he wants to treat her like the queen that she is.”

OVER-THE-TOP ROMANCE

He’s pulling out all the stops. “A- Rod dropped $ 3 million on a custom 15-carat diamond engagement ring,” the source reveals. Though he didn’t consult her about it, “He knows her style,” the insider adds. “Big stone, lots of little bling on the band.” When it came to the proposal itself, the source says the former baseball star was planning something super romantic, even considering a surprise trip to her favorite city, Paris, “so he could get down on one knee and pop the question there.”

Alex, 42, and Jennifer, 48, have been together only about 10 months, but that’s practically a lifetime compared to some of J. Lo’s relationships (see box, right). And Alex decided the holidays were the perfect time to make things official. “The holidays are Jennifer’s favorite time of year — the lights, the presents, her kids are happy and everyone is in a good mood,” says the insider. “Saying yes to the man of her dreams is going to make this a time she’ll never forget.”

Their lives have already come together beautifully. A-rod has two children from a previous marriage, Natasha, 13, and Ella, 9, while J. Lo has 9-year-old twins, Emme and Max, with Marc Anthony. “The kids adore each other,” says the source. “J. Lo is at her happiest when everyone is together and they’re like one big, happy family, and he feels the same way.”

The duo intend to have a short engagement and get married in the spring. “The wedding will be out of this world,” says the insider. “A-rod wants a nice, quiet proposal, but they both agree that their wedding is going to be a huge, blowout affair!”