Continue on my journey to find what is the best thing that my bride can do to be up to date and fashionable and yet elegant and simple without any over dues (and any regret few years down the road) so I purchased a few of my favorite bridal magazines… Town and Country Weddings, of course “Martha Stewart Weddings” and “Well Wed” and head home to start writing.
Going through my notes to put this blog together I realized they all have one thing in common and that is “The glitz of the new fancy big bulky fashion jewelry” … Read Full Article
Did you get the ring yet? Gentlemen, I will not kid you: purchasing an engagement ring is a daunting task, never mind the emotion that comes from the actual proposal. Finding the right ring for your bride to be can be overwhelming. But armed with a little knowledge and the right resources, you’ll be an expert in no time!
Did you get the ring yet? Gentlemen, I will not kid you: purchasing an engagement ring is a daunting task, never mind the emotion that comes from the actual proposal. Finding the right ring for your bride to be can be overwhelming. But armed with a little knowledge and the right resources, you’ll be an expert in no time!
Before you launch in to the hunt for the perfect ring, make sure you have an idea of what she may like. What is the style of the jewelery she already wears? Does she wear a lot of gold, or does she stay on the silver or platinum side of the fence? (Not sure? Make not of her watch band or her bracelets and necklace chains.) Is she a modern girl, into classic or traditional design, or can she claim to have one foot firmly placed into a different era? This might give you a hint of the design of the ring: clean lines in a platinum setting, a solitaire stone in a white gold, or perhaps an art deco etched ring with side stone settings. When in doubt, ask a trusted friend or family member (and swear them to secrecy if you must!)
You know the song made famous by Marilyn Monroe, “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” from the classic movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes? While we are not all lucky enough to be draped and dripping with diamonds like my girl Marilyn was, some look-alikes can absolutely do the job! Adding some dazzle to your gown with accessories is a way to turn up the volume. After all, if ever there was a way to rock it out, your wedding day is it! Plus, any of the jewelry you buy can be worn post-wedding – sparkle goes with everything!
For a more regal look, this necklace from Forever 21 (via Refinery 29) is stunning and the price can’t be beat! Paired with an elegant, simple gown, you could channel Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
People ask us all the time about diamond jewelry for the wedding. There are some companies that actually specialize in renting high-end jewelry for weddings, like Adornbrides.com.
When thinking about jewelry for the wedding, consider the other parties as well–your mother, your sister, your grandmother, etc. What will they be wearing? Do they need to get their diamond studs polished and cleaned up? And what about yourself? Is there a diamond necklace in the family that you’d want to wear or will you splurge and buy something new? Maybe a relative will want to sponsor such a gift.
I know some bridal jewelry companies like Tacori have their own bridal jewelry, tiaras, and hair pieces. Most of our designers like Ritani or Verragio don’t, however, so I would suggest asking your bridal retailer about what jewelry they’d recommend.
The soaps and lotions that your hands encounter on a daily basis will cloud and dull your engagement ring, and it should be cleaned periodically to keep it brilliant.
The easiest way to clean a diamond ring is with solution of water and mild liquid detergent. A soft bristled brush can loosen dirt and a soft, lint-free cloth should be used for drying. Store-bought jewelry solutions may also be used for soaking diamond rings as well as solutions of ammonia and ethyl alcohol. Ammonia (in a mild solution with three parts water) is particularly good for brightening yellow gold, but should never be used with fracture-filled diamonds , as it may cause the diamonds to become cloudy or discolored. If you don’t know if your diamond is fracture-filled, look at the certificate. It should be clearly noted if it has indeed been fracture filled. (Most diamonds are not fracture-filled and if it is not mentioned anywhere on the certificate, the diamond is probably fine.)
Brides today tend to stray from traditional weddings by making sure all aspects of their wedding have hints of their own personal style. From the color combos to the music played to the choreographed dance numbers, brides bring the flare and they bring it in a big way. Your wedding jewelry is one of the best ways to show what kind of bride you want to be. Here are 4 hot trends for fall 2009:
1. Cuff Bracelets: Larger cuff bracelets are bold, daring, and adventurous. Today’s’ bride isn’t a demure little flower – our ladies scream ‘Look at Me! I’m beautiful!’ Cuffs add vaa-vaa-voom to any bridal outfit. The best part is they are made for all wrist sizes – thin or thick. So go out and get one!
2. Colors other than White: We all love diamonds and pearls but sometimes a girl needs a little something different. Colored gems and yellow diamonds are hot right now. Channel your inner Lady Di and wear sapphires to your wedding. I’m serious – you will look positively stunning.
If you can afford it, platinum is the way to go. It’s a pure substance. White gold is a man-made metal. There’s no such thing coming out of the ground as white gold. You take yellow gold and mix it with some white alloys like nickel and that’s what’s called white gold.
Over time, the yellowness of the gold will begin to shine through. In about 2 years, you can expect to take your ring to a jeweler to have it re-coated in rhodium. That will make it white again.
Of platinum rings, by the way, there’s different levels of purity. 950 platinum means that its 95% pure platinum. There’s also variations that are 55%, and probably everything in between.
The most important thing about choosing a wedding band is that you like it and it’s comfortable. So while I can talk on and on about why platinum is better, really if you’re in love and can’t afford it, then don’t worry. You can get married with a wooden ring or one made of cheese! You’ll be just as happy if you’ve found the right person and you’re making a life together!
This past Friday we ran what is surely one of our nuttier promotions. Our company, Mervis Diamond Importers is a direct importer of diamonds with our roots at the diamond mines. We thought it would be fun to bring a little of the mining excitement to our customers here in Virginia. Soooo… we set up a huge sandpit, and buried 100 real diamonds for our customers to find.
Of course, most of the diamonds were small, but a few of them were bigger, about a half a carat each. We had a great turnout for the event and all in all everyone was really excited.
Yesterday we introduced our newest bloggers, The Feds, a photography couple from Boston. Keep checking back for their 1st post! Today, we have another new addition!
We are excited to introduce our newest blogger, Laura Carrington, co-founder and chief stylist of Adorn Brides. Adorn Brides is an online retailer from which brides can rent beautiful jewelry for their wedding day! Laura is full of wonderful advice for all brides who want to feel a little extra special on their wedding day.
What is the name of your business?
Adorn Brides
How many years have you been involved in the wedding industry?
I’ve been involved in the wedding industry for 4 years now, but it seems more like 15! I’m one of the Co-Founders and the Chief Stylist at Adorn Brides.
Manzanita branches, found naturally in the chaparral regions of western North America, are commonly used decoratively because of their beauty, unique shape, and strength when dried. As wedding décor, manzanita branches are hot! I have had many brides come in asking for manzanita branches for their centerpieces. These branches go well in
There’s that word again. Chignon. Do they choose fancy french words just to embarrass us??
Relax. No, its really not all about you… (hahaha…bet cha haven’t heard that one since you started planning your wedding!). The word chignon, pronounced “sheen-yon,” is actually derived from the French phrase “chignon du cou,” which translates to “nape of the
Our exploration of orchids available as cut flowers continues with the more luxurious and extravagant orchids.
Phalaenopsis
phalaenopsis orchid
Phalaneopsis orchids are everywhere in bridal magazines! They are the typical “moth orchid” plant you might see at Trader Joe’s or any other shop selling plants. As cut flowers, they are no longer that Home Depot plant,
For many people, their dog is as much a member of the family as any sister or brother. Since weddings are about (among other things) celebrating an important moment with loved ones, it’s natural to want to include Fido. Think what you may about including pooches in weddings, but try to remember that, for many, [...]
Today’s bride is tech-savvy, armed with the latest and greatest in social media frenzies, electronic gadgets, and digitalized weddings. With everything right at their fingertips, the weddings have the capacity to take on futuristic forms. Here’s a look at what’s next in the way of bridal tech:
Networking on the Net: In addition to blogging, brides [...]
Maui is amazing. Its lush slopes are home to some of the rarest wildlife and exotic birds on the planet. But it’s the island’s rewarding balance of seclusion and sophistication that will confirm your decision to visit Maui was the right one. The crystal clear waters have their allure as well, with surfers and watersport [...]
Alex Soldier Collection
People ask us all the time about 
