The following post is from @gift_girl’s blog, Girly Wedding.
Very Vintage Engagement Rings. Ever since i can recall I’ve wanted my mother’s engagement ring set. She can attest to me wearing it whenever she wasn’t looking. (Which did result in a few close calls of almost dropping it down the sink) But I won’t tell if you don’t.
Vintage engagement rings are a great choice! They are not only an eco-friendly choice but they are beautiful. But don’t be fooled vintage doesn’t mean inexpensive. Some of these vintage engament rings will run as high and higher as a new ring. Despite this it is hard to replace the craftsmanship and the uniqueness of a vintage ring. Which probably explains their popularity.
I would definetly consider getting a vintage engagement ring. I’ve collected examples of all the reasons why. Vintage engagement rings can come in platinum, 18 kt and 14 kt white gold.
designer engagement ringsThese rings are from Weston Fine Jewelry and they are located in Seattle. If you want to read more on Weston, Ruffled Blog does a post on antique engagement rings.
vintage style engagement rings
These rings are from Doyle and Doyle. My favorite is the one in the middle, or the right, or the left.
edwardian engagement rings
These rings are from Sylvia’s antique jewelry. I love the center one, and ever since the royal wedding there has been a surge in the popularity of saphire rings. That just might be another post.
unique engagement rings
These ones are from Erie Basin and even though I prefer white gold or platinum there is something charming about the gold one on the left.
art deco engagement rings
Dover Jewelry has a beautiful assortment of art deco engagement rings, which are my all time fave.
antique engagement ringsAnd these are from another Seattle gem, Alexandria Rossoff, located right in Pike Place market. Wouldn’t they look perfect with a vintage wedding dress?
I asked my Twitter followers for suggestions on where to find antique engagement rings and above is what they came up with. Thank you Twitter followers.
Anyone else know any good places?
The following post was taken from the girlywedding blog, written by Wishpot’s own @gift_girl!
vintage rhinestone tiara
If I could, I’d wear a tiara every day. I’m kidding. Well maybe not. But who doesn’t love a little bling as a hair accessory? Vintage rhinestone tiaras are fun on the wedding day and even better for the bachlorette party
fashion rhinestone jewelry
I love big and bold jewelry, especially when paired with a softer color palette. This fashion rhinestone jewelry would work great for a night out on the town or for a bride who is a little on the offbeat side. Vintage rhinestone bracelets can be worn solo and they work great with jeans.
vintage rhinestones
Vintage Rhinestones breathe life into this classic silver clutch. And the feather accent is well, perfect.
vintage rhinestone necklace
A rhinestone necklace is a defining accessory for any outfit, but especailly for your wedding dress. Many brides today chose to go with just a single accessory, such as a bolder vintage rhinestone necklace like the one above. I heart the bow.
vintage bridal jewelry
And if you want more bling these chandelier and drop earrings from Tejani are beautiful. They would be the perfect vintage bridal jewelry for a romantic or classic look.
The great part about all of these rocking rhinestones is they are all around $100.
1) Men’s Handwoven Wedding Ring in 14k Two-Tone White and Yellow Gold $495
2) Two Tone Hammered Wedding Band in 14k White & Yellow Gold $655
3) Slightly Flat 4mm Wedding Band in 14k White Gold $295
4) Beveled Design Men’s Wedding Ring in 14k Yellow Gold $565
5) Men’s Stone Finish Wedding Band in 14k White Gold $790
These days, men’s wedding rings come in an astounding array of styles and designs, from etched and engraved bands to simple smooth wedding bands, wedding rings set with diamonds and other precious gemstones to uncounted wedding rings, two and three toned bands to classic yellow gold bands, and the list goes on and on. Some men may prefer a flashier, eye catching wedding ring, while others like to keep it simple with a more classic wedding ring design. Here are some of the most timeless and classic men’s wedding rings:
Diamond Solitaire Wedding Ring
Perhaps the most popular men’s wedding ring design in today’s jewelry
market, solitaire diamond men’s rings are the epitome of sophistication.
Known for their tasteful, understated, yet graceful aesthetics, this
wedding ring design is a truly classic. Traditionally set with a round cut
diamond center stone complemented by a high karat yellow gold band, this
ring design is sure to amaze even the most reluctant of men, who is not
prone to wearing diamond jewelry.
Plain Banded Wedding Rings
Known for their simple elegance, plain banded men’s rings are favored by
those who prefer to avoid, flashier, diamond and/or precious gemstone set
wedding rings. The plain smooth band is versatile when it comes to its
incorporated precious metals. Plain banded men’s wedding rings can be made
with virtually any type of precious or semi-precious metal, from platinum to
white gold, silver to colorful gold. The most traditional precious metal
used in plain banded men’s rings is high karat yellow gold, however, there
is no rule against using other, equally alluring, precious metals. In fact,
this year, plain banded platinum set men’s wedding rings are at the height
of their popularity, surpassing the plain banded yellow gold ring in
popularity.
Eternity Wedding Rings
Eternity wedding rings are classic when it comes to men’s rings. Mounted
with pave or channel set small sized diamonds, this particular ring design
exudes style and elegance. The small set diamonds add a definite touch of
sophistication to an otherwise plain banded wedding ring, making this
glittering men’s wedding ring a truly magnificent piece.
Journey Wedding Ring
Popular for both men’s and women’s wedding rings, this ring design is imbued
with sentimentality and deeper meaning. Featuring three consecutively set
diamonds meant to represent the past, present and future stages in a
couple’s relationship, this wedding ring design is a beautiful symbol of
your unwavering devotion to your loved one. The diamonds mounted onto a
journey wedding ring may vary in size and shape, although classic wedding
rings usually feature more traditional diamond cuts such as the round
brilliant cut diamond or the princess cut diamond.
The Holiday’s have always been a romantic time for any love birds wanting to give the gift of love to each other! The air is crisp, Holiday lights set the mood, and a warm embrace not only warms the body but the soul too! So no wonder so many couples get engaged during these wintery months; tis’ the season!
When considering the engagement ring that will set the tone for the rest of your marriage, take a minute and consider what she wants. There are several ways to find out what ‘you think‘ she would like by asking her friends or family, or even by comparing rings to jewelry she already owns, but the best way is by asking her.
Have her point out the ring she would love to be given! A good way to do this without being so obvious is to take her to a jewelry store while your waiting for the nights events to take place and just browse. When you come across the engagement rings, point out some you think she would like and then ask her if you got it right. She won’t be shy about telling you which one was on her wish list! 
The Bridal Beauty has put together an excellent list of 25 gorgeous engagement rings for under $5000
14k white gold ring with princess-cut solitaire diamond, $499.99 Helzberg
-The Wishpot Team
@wishpotwedding
The last of the bubbly is gone, your wedding dress actually has a little wear and you can’t believe your wedding is over. What now?
As a bride (besides being extremely happy and exhausted) you are overflowing with gratitude. How many times can you say “Thank you for coming”, “Thank you for being here” or “Thank you so much” and keep sounding genuine? This is where amazing thank-you’s come in.
The wedding is where all your planning and hard work pays off, so it’s tempting to take a break and stop all things wedding right then and there. Take the time to revel and relax, but don’t forget to follow up with your loved ones.
Let’s start with the wedding party!
Keep the good times rollin' with wonderful ways to say THANK YOU! (Courtesy of SweetLifePhoto.com)
Bridesmaids: You know your girls. And you know they’re not going to want a non-personal, cheesy gift. Think of what you would want as a bridesmaid gift if you were in their wedding. My favorites are thank you gifts that are unique to each person.
Here are some monogrammed ideas (designed to put together in a gift basket):
Monogrammed items in a cute tote? Yes, please! All gifts from beaucoup.com
More adorable personalized gifts! (From WhereBridesGo.com)
Here are some single item gift ideas:
Courtesy of Tiffany.com
Beautiful and timeless: Tiffany and Co. bracelet, $125
Courtesy of SpaFinder.com
Thoughtful and convenient: Spa Gift Certificate (For set dollar amount or spa package)
Courtesy of Purseblog.com
Trendy and adorable: Coach wristlet, range from $38-$100 on Coach.com
Groomsmen: Obviously your new husband will have a better take (and maybe more of a say) on what to get the guys in your wedding, but take a gander at these ideas:
A more manly way of personalizing items (All gifts from GroomStand.com --discount given for items bought in multiples!)
The most important aspect of your thank-you’s is to make sure they’re thoughtful and from the heart. Really reflect on what it means for each person to be in your wedding party. Show them why they were selected and show them why they’re special.
What gift ideas were you inspired by? What gift ideas are you thinking about for your wedding party?
-Stephanie
@wishpotwedding
Once the question has been popped, all immediate attention goes to one object: the engagement ring.
The engagement ring is indeed the ring with all the bling. It’s the show-stopper– the grand, symbolic way to show you’re excited, in love and getting married! With the new addition to your hand, all the attention is on you, and rightfully so. (Commence the ooh’s and aww’s here).
Wedding bands however, exchanged in the ceremony itself, are more subdued. It’s the “Oh, that’s nice” ring next to the “Omigosh, wow!” ring. I definitely understand the idea of making your wedding band simpler so it doesn’t clash with the wow factor of the engagement ring bling, but this doesn’t mean your wedding band should be blah.
In its own way, the wedding band is more special and sentimental. It represents the actual moment you exchange vows and rings to become husband and wife. This idea lends itself well to the idea of really personalizing your ring with your husband’s.
Remember your ring etiquette and consider these “wow!” trends to make sure your wedding band gets some attention too.
Fingerprints: Engraving (the date, initials, I love you, etc.) on the inside of your wedding bands is very common. To take it a step further, consider imprinting each others’ fingerprints on the inside of the bands. What can be more personal than that? The best part (besides the unique look) is being involved in the process of creating the bands.
Different versions of the fingerprint wedding band trend. (Courtesy of BrentWilliamsDesign.com, onestylishbride.com & lovelovemedo.com)
Interlocking: Intertwine your wedding band and engagement ring into one ring. This gives you the power to design your own one-of-a-kind hybrid band–you can literally sketch what you want and have a jeweler create your design–that highlights your style and engagement ring perfectly. (A quick how-to for your design.)
See how the engagement ring and wedding band blend nicely to create a distinct design. (Courtesy of jewelryadviser.biz, ringoblog.com, squidoo.com & viatouch.com)
Etching & Puzzle: Create a ring-union with your hubby! Instead of fusing together your engagement ring with your wedding band, coordinate your wedding band with your husband’s so the two bands match up. This can be done in several ways:
Puzzle: Mokume Puzzle Ring #1 by krikawa.com
Puzzle: Modern Scaffolding Ring by krikawa.com
The groom's band on the left has an inlay that mimics the bride's wavy band closest to her knuckle.
Be creative with your designs! Using these ideas, the wedding band will no longer go unnoticed. Make sure the bands are a solid representation of you and they are sure to wow.
-Stephanie
@wishpotwedding
These lovely necklaces from White Owl were all over the blogs last year, but when Cyd wrote about them again recently it reminded me to share them with all of you. The materials are repurposed lace and fabric from flea markets, estate sales, etc. These would certainly make a statement with a bridesmaids dress (or even a wedding dress)!
Please welcome Turtle Love Committee as one of our newest wedding experts. Interested in getting to know them a bit better? Check out the latest guest blog post:
Even in this tight economy, people are still getting engaged. But these days, couples are looking for value and timelessness, and it has become tacky to flaunt “bling.” As a result, non-diamond engagement rings are gaining popularity.
Our company, Turtle Love Committee, sells unconventional eco-friendly and affordable artisan jewelery that’s good for you and for the planet.
TLC was founded in 2008 by Adrianne Zahner, an attorney who was alarmed by her colleagues’ subtle competition to have the best or the biggest diamond engagement ring. While working at a large Boston law firm, she also noticed that most of the women she worked with had nearly identical engagement rings. When she looked for a place to get truly unusual and inspiring engagement rings, she couldn’t find one, so she decided to make it.
An engagement ring from Turtle Love Committee’s collection is priceless - it represents a huge emotional commitment, not a huge financial commitment. After all, marriage is about the unique commitment that two individuals make to each other, a concept that can get lost in preparing for and talking about weddings. TLC’s founding belief was that the rings people choose should symbolize that commitment, should honor chosen lifestyles and honor the relationship being cultivated, and not be some weird calculus of how much to spend or how big the stone should be.
In the beginning, TLC focused exclusively on non-diamond engagement rings and wedding bands at prices between $100 and $200, offering a wide range of styles, all in sterling silver, including vintage replicas, classic solitaires, organic designs, modern pieces, and rings made from recycled metals.
Turtle Love Committee also started a website called “A Diamond is Expensive” which is a spoof of the “Diamonds are Forever” ads. You can check that out at: http://www.adiamondisexpensive.com!
Our eco-friendly commitment is an equally important part of our company. We are constantly working to reduce our environmental impact. People should feel good about buying jewelery from TLC because it was selected and packaged with an eye towards protecting and preserving our planet. We search high and low to bring our customers jewelry that’s made in small workshops using recycled metals and/or environmentally-conscious practices. We’re working hard to get responsibly-sourced stones. We’re making our packaging smaller and smaller, and we use the United States Postal Service to take advantage of existing delivery routes. Even the address labels on our shipping boxes are made with recycled paper.
Beyond collecting awesome jewelry, we give 5% of our sales to Cultivating Community, an awesome organization in our hometown of Portland, Maine, that works to empower and train youth while providing fresh organic produce for needy families. It’s good for the kids, it’s good for the hungry, it’s good for the planet. It’s awesome, and we’re thrilled to be able to contribute.
Finally, we believe in the importance of supporting artists. Buying stuff made by independent artisans means that you’ll have awesome stuff that’s not like everybody else’s. You’ll look as cool and creative and independent as you really are! And you’re supporting artists, and the arts. So today’s artists will have something to eat, and so kids can consider making art as a profession. That’s good for them. Good for the world. Good for you.
For more information you check us out on Wishpot or on our website at www.TurtleLoveCommittee.com
photo courtesy of conroy & wilox
Hello
My name is Liv Lundelius, I am a fashion designer and blogger specialising in avantgarde and non traditional bridal and evening wear.
Liv is a real jewelry addict. BUT did you know that the production of just one gold ring generates 30 tons of waste? Ooops, no-neither did I. So lets go glamorous green again!
There are a lot of great designers out there that create wonderful, green and ethical jewelry. Here are my favorites for stunning engagement and wedding rings:
- The rings pictured above are from the ethical jewelry designers of Conroy & Wilcox, elegantly minimal designs made in New York City.
- The TURTLE LOVE COMITTEE they think you are cool! (it says so on their website)
- Bario-Neal uses reclaimed metals, ethically sourced stones and low-impact practices.
- London based design duo ORIA : Ethically sourced stones, conflict free materials, classical and beautiful designs
- Farrah Dragon, creates Eco-conscious jewelry, made of 100% recycled metals, and lab-grown gemstones.
- Monique Péan , Eco-friendly, sustainable, recycled, and conflict-free materials, plus great design.
I am constantly posting more great jewelry finds on my wishpot list , check it out from time to time here .
And if your interested in learning more about ethical jewelry, check out this blog! It was founded to create a more transparent jewelry manufacturing industry.
Hi there wishpot readers… I’m super stoked to be guest blogging today!
I know during the process of planning a wedding so many decisions must be made, such as: your budget, your overall style and color scheme, and even the minor detail of which bridesmaid will walk down the aisle with which groomsmen… and the list of to-do’s seems to go on! Another consideration when planning a wedding is the personalization factor, these days it seems you can personalize just about every aspect of your wedding. Where I come in is helping personalize and customize the wedding party’s jewelry, accessories, and paper goods… some may be wondering what those things have to do with personalizing your wedding, well I’ll tell you!
Last year while we were planning our own wedding, we decided we wanted to add special, personalized touches to our day for our guests to enjoy. It was during the planning process that the inspiration and motivation to assist brides with their own weddings became a goal for me. Now, my main focus is to help design and create jewelry that can be customized to their wedding color scheme, personal preference, and it’s ability to worn as everyday pieces long after the couple has said “I do.” Some brides opt for just a great pair of earrings, and others may want the whole shootin’ match - bracelet, earrings, and necklace. Whatever they’re looking to do I work with each bride to determine a style {even if it’s one not currently offered in my shop}, then we talk color, and of course budget. Being a budget bride myself, I can totally sympathize, and I really work to provide unique and sophisticated jewelry without the department store price tag!
Here are some real weddings where my jewelry has made an appearance =)
For this wedding, the bride told me they were having a rustic, yet elegant, sea-side affair… so we used light pink quartz and czech glass teardrops, along with bronze pearls to pick up on the chocolate, pink, and ivory wedding colors. Erin {the bride} chose the jardin bon bon earrings and bonne chance bracelet to give to her ladies.
For Lindsay’s wedding, we were working with a great color palette - perfect for a Southern California summer event - fuchia, deep purple, and lime green. She chose three pieces for her girls: the bonne chance bracelet with a citrine teardrop, bon bon earrings with the same colored stone, and one of my most popular of necklace choices - the grand eternite necklace in gold. She gave her gals the jewelry the weekend prior to her wedding and told them not to wear it till the big day… well, she caught two of them wearing it a few days in advance of the wedding day, they said they just couldn’t wait to wear their goodies!
It only took this next bride, Emily a few minutes of looking through my designs to know that she wanted the champagne earrings for herself and her gals - she asked for an ivory pair to compliment her dress, and bronze pairs for her bridesmaids… she added the petite eternite necklace for the ladies to wear as well.
And this wedding is the lovely and talented Blair herself. Simple elegance simply beautiful.
Wonderdul wedding inspiration for your wish list from Joydeviejewelry and be sure to check out her blog too. Talented girl makes headbands too. I included my fave which is yours?
gift girl
source: http://joiedeviejewelry.blogspot.com/
