Mrs. Honey, Durango, COAge and Occupation: 28, Financial AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Lab Tech/PhlebotomistEngagement Date: August 1, 2010Wedding Date: January 2012Venue: Vallecito LakeAbout Me: I am a Colorado girl through and through, marrying an adrenaline-fueled Alabama boy. We love the outdoors just about as much as we love spoiling our dog and three cats. On any given weekend you can find us being adventurous, doing anything from rafting to snowboarding, and everything in between. We live in an outdoor mecca and truly believe in "Work Hard, Play Harder." I'm an optimist to the core, a crafter wannabe, a Southern food cook-in-training and a big time believer in girls nights. We met, fell in love and got engaged in eight short months and are now knee-deep in planning what we hope to be a super-fun, very us wedding celebration. Join us as we plan a rustic meets whimsical, Colorado winter wedding with loads of personal touches and good food!
This is a story of diamonds; the old, the new, and the newer.
My “Something Old” came to me six years ago in the form of the most spectacular ring I’ve ever laid my eyes on. It’s a piece of jewelry that I’ve always ogled over, and something that brings back very fond memories of two incredibly special women in my life: my great-grandma and my grandma, so affectionately called Big Nana and Little Nana.
My Little Papa, Big Nana’s husband (are you following?), gave her a ring for an anniversary gift a very long time ago. We are thinking it was sometime in the ’40s. Because they were so poor when they got married in the ’20s, he couldn’t provide her with a diamond ring, but more than made up for that 20 years later. I remember the ring on my Big Nana’s finger when I was younger; the light would hit the diamonds and easily catch anyone’s attention. My Big Nana passed away when I was in high school and it was naturally passed down to her daughter, my Little Nana.
Little Nana was a fan of jewelry and her husband, my Papa, spoiled her with rubys and diamonds. Read more…
Miss Doe, Northern CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 24, Real Estate AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Recycling ManagerEngagement Date: December 25, 2010Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: Monte Verde InnAbout Me: I’m a Rat Pack fan and a Christmas nut that loves to read, good wine, cheesy ’80s movies and ’90s sitcoms. My wiener dog with an attitude problem and lazy basset hound are my constant source of entertainment. He's a hunter and I like cooking so it's not rare to see wild game on our dinner menu. Both of us were born and raised in a small historic farming town where our feet are still firmly planted. We have been together for nearly a decade and have shared many life experiences together, including birthdays that are only one day apart. We are two old souls that are creating our long-awaited wedding with loads of tradition that blends our two styles into rustic elegance in the foothills of Northern California.
I know I haven’t talked at all about where we are going on our honeymoon, but let’s just say it is out of the country. Let’s also just say that every time I go on vacation, I lose something, such as my favorite Juicy Couture jacket that I had found for $20 at Marshall’s that I am convinced got stolen. (Obviously I am still a little upset about that one.) Also jewelry, favorite makeup products…you name it. I don’t know what it is, I must have a hole in my suitcase or something.
This got me thinking (read: freaking out) that something would happen to my wedding ring while on our honeymoon. I wouldn’t be able to wear my ring while we are out snorkeling or swimming. I also wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving it in our hotel room. This is quite the conundrum…what do I do to keep my ring safe?
The easy answer is to not bring it at all on our honeymoon. However, I’m not really down with not wearing my wedding ring as a brand new newlywed.
Miss Kettle, Chicago, ILAge and Occupation: 26, Non-Profit Donor Resource CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Musician & TeacherEngagement Date: May 29, 2011Wedding Date: February 2012Venue: Patrick C. Haley Mansion, Joliet, ILAbout Me: I'm a city girl who loves a good escape, so I'm planning a Chicago wedding outside of the city. I've been described as a quirky yet down-to-earth drama queen who loves fiercely. I used to be a scientist, but now I'm learning to navigate the world of non-profit organizations. I love cooking, blogging, shopping, and music, and movies (Hans Zimmer is my favorite movie composer). Mr. Kettle and I had a short courtship and now we have a happy home with our cat-who-thinks-she's-people, Belle. We spend our days and nights with good food, live music, video games, family, and friends. Our wedding has become this wonderful excuse to bring together hundreds of people we can't bear to be without.
I love my engagement ring, and I’ve never regretted the choice for such a unique ring. There’s only one issue: I want to wear my engagement ring and wedding band on the same finger, and I didn’t want a gap between the rings.
Miss Petit Four, San Antonio/Isla MujeresAge and Occupation: 25, Technology teacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Math Teacher and Football CoachEngagement Date: Feb 13, 2010Wedding Date: March 2012Venue: Zama Beach Club, Isla Mujeres, MexicoAbout Me: I am a polka-dot obsessed, destination wedding diva living and loving in the great state of Texas. I am an island girl at heart and I visit the beach as often as I can. I am a wannabe DIY goddess, but that doesn’t mean I won’t give it my best shot. I love pearl earrings, the color pink, and ruffles are a part of my everyday wardrobe. My wonderful fiance and I are planning a destination wedding with our closest family and friends and we’re leaving a trail of glitter in our path!
Miss Turkey, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 29, Brand ManagementFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, ConsultantEngagement Date: February 2011Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: The Rittenhouse HotelAbout Me: I'm a marketer who loves a good glass of wine, anything pumpkin-flavored, every crime drama on TV and, of course, Mr. Turkey. It's funny to say out loud, but we're former coworkers turned betrothed---now planning a wedding in the city of Brotherly Love. For three years, we've been eating our way through Philadelphia, playing tourist at home, and cheering for every sports team in the 215. Although we've hit some unplanned snags along the way, we're determined to have a rocking party this spring with our loud, fun families and friends.
After the “How’d he do it?” question often comes a violent grabbing of your hand for a look at the sparkly* ring upon your finger. Oohs and ahhs naturally follow.
Besides the obligatory “thank you” after someone looks at my ring, though, I feel the need to tell a more detailed story…one that gives Mr. Turkey extra kudos (more than those necessary for making such a large purchase/commitment). Focus group of one, but I think he did a pretty amazing job and went a bit above and beyond. Like with the proposal story, I think it’s his to tell, so I’ll turn over the keyboard…
Hi all—it’s Mr. Turkey. I’m back again. This is not going to be a regular thing, though. I’m going to leave wedding blogging to the experts. As for sports blogging, hmmm…I might have something there. But I digress.
Mrs. Funnel Cake, Zürich, Switzerland/Columbus, OhioAge and Occupation: 24, Visual Communication DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Application EngineerEngagement Date: May 30, 2010Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: Catholic church followed by a botanical conservatoryAbout Me: I'm an American designer who moved to Switzerland for love after a fairytale beginning at the top of the Eiffel Tower. I love travel, photography, museums, learning German so I can speak with my mother-in-law, cooking (eating), cuddling, and I'm not afraid to try something new even if it terrifies me. My Swiss/Brazilian man and I are both down to earth people planning a traditional Catholic wedding in my hometown with some quirky cultural exceptions to reflect our different backgrounds. We look forward to celebrating with friends and family from all over the world in a classic, sophisticated fusion of heritage and love.
OK hive, I’ve gone on long enough about the lengthy search for my wedding ring. You are probably wondering what the heck I ended up choosing, so I present to you my shiny treasure!
After weeks of revisiting the jewelry store to recheck if this was reeeaaaaally the ring I wanted, Mr. Funnel Cake purchased it last Christmas and shortly after New Year I was bringing my precious home to wait for ten months until our wedding would arrive. I may or may not have tried the ring on several thousand times before the wedding. But only to make sure it still fit, you know?
Mrs. Funnel Cake, Zürich, Switzerland/Columbus, OhioAge and Occupation: 24, Visual Communication DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Application EngineerEngagement Date: May 30, 2010Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: Catholic church followed by a botanical conservatoryAbout Me: I'm an American designer who moved to Switzerland for love after a fairytale beginning at the top of the Eiffel Tower. I love travel, photography, museums, learning German so I can speak with my mother-in-law, cooking (eating), cuddling, and I'm not afraid to try something new even if it terrifies me. My Swiss/Brazilian man and I are both down to earth people planning a traditional Catholic wedding in my hometown with some quirky cultural exceptions to reflect our different backgrounds. We look forward to celebrating with friends and family from all over the world in a classic, sophisticated fusion of heritage and love.
After I had maxed out my online searching, it was time to look at some physical rings. But even with our ring drama out of the way, I wondered if searching for wedding rings with Mr. Funnel Cake would be just as awkward as when we looked for engagement rings. Visiting the jewelry stores in Switzerland had been more tense than enjoyable.
I offered again to help pay for the rings because I was worried that money would still be an issue, but Mr. FC was still adamant about wanting to give the rings as a gift. I thought about insisting on helping to pay, but as I dealt with my new tax debts from our civil marriage on my lower income, I conceded that Mr. FC really was in a much better financial position to make jewelry purchases than I was. I decided it would be better to respect Mr. FC’s traditional stance and be grateful that he wanted to cover this cost. I made a mental note that I would try and do something really special for him later on as a thank you. (Which I’ll share later!)
To my surprise, ring shopping was actually very different the second time around!
Miss Fox, Washington DC/Havre de Grace, MDAge and Occupation: 26, Massage TherapistFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Field Support EngineerEngagement Date: April 18, 2010Wedding Date: June 2012Venue: Vandiver InnAbout Me: I’m a dancer turned massage therapist who was born and raised in New York. Alas, true love has brought me “south” where I still maintain my penchants for pretty shoes, wine, crossword puzzles, cherry blossoms, and the Mets. I own more sunglasses than a normal person should and don’t eat red meat (though I make up for it by eating my weight in sushi). I tend to be a big planner who likes to get things started early, but generally end up being indecisive and procrastinating when it comes down to it. I have a (not so) secret crush on Chris Carrabba, but my loyalty and love ultimately goes to the future hubs, of course! Together, my Foxy man and I love to discuss (read: debate) politics and current events, have Mario Kart and Scrabble duels, and just laugh. A lot. We’re hoping and planning for a laid back, fun, summery, rustic vibe to our June wedding that will be genuinely “us” – that is, if we finally make some decisions. Huzzah!
Remember when I said that we got started on the wedding band process? And that I should have my engagement ring back by early November?
Well. Helloooo late November/early December. Nice to see you. And not my ring.
Here’s the ish: way back in October, Foxy and I headed to Jared’s (yep,he we went to Jared’s) to discuss options for our wedding bands. His was incredibly easy - I think we debated over a few different choices for five minutes, then decided. Wham bam think you ma’am. Done.
Then we explored choices for my ring; I explained my vision (the crisscross band) to our consultant, Luka (coolest name ever, IMO). She had a perfect idea of what I was imagining, and just happened to be the main custom ring designer at the store. We talked, pulled similar ring examples, drew pictures.
Mrs. Funnel Cake, Zürich, Switzerland/Columbus, OhioAge and Occupation: 24, Visual Communication DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Application EngineerEngagement Date: May 30, 2010Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: Catholic church followed by a botanical conservatoryAbout Me: I'm an American designer who moved to Switzerland for love after a fairytale beginning at the top of the Eiffel Tower. I love travel, photography, museums, learning German so I can speak with my mother-in-law, cooking (eating), cuddling, and I'm not afraid to try something new even if it terrifies me. My Swiss/Brazilian man and I are both down to earth people planning a traditional Catholic wedding in my hometown with some quirky cultural exceptions to reflect our different backgrounds. We look forward to celebrating with friends and family from all over the world in a classic, sophisticated fusion of heritage and love.
Part of what sparked the whole ring drama with Mr. Funnel Cake was that after I chose my beautiful engagement ring, I went online to search for wedding band ideas and had NO idea what would match with it. I just knew that I really didn’t care to have a band like this on my finger:
Do you recognise my original engagement ring up there? (It’s the one Mr. Funnel Cake proposed with the first time.) I thought it would be really sweet if I decided to use the silver band FC proposed with as my actual wedding ring, but I still did not like the ring that much.
Mrs. Funnel Cake, Zürich, Switzerland/Columbus, OhioAge and Occupation: 24, Visual Communication DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Application EngineerEngagement Date: May 30, 2010Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: Catholic church followed by a botanical conservatoryAbout Me: I'm an American designer who moved to Switzerland for love after a fairytale beginning at the top of the Eiffel Tower. I love travel, photography, museums, learning German so I can speak with my mother-in-law, cooking (eating), cuddling, and I'm not afraid to try something new even if it terrifies me. My Swiss/Brazilian man and I are both down to earth people planning a traditional Catholic wedding in my hometown with some quirky cultural exceptions to reflect our different backgrounds. We look forward to celebrating with friends and family from all over the world in a classic, sophisticated fusion of heritage and love.
Mr. Funnel Cake presented my (personally picked out) engagement ring to me in late June, 2010, and the next week I was flying to the US for my brother’s wedding where I excitedly showed off my new status symbol to my family and friends. My parents commended me for choosing such a modest ring and I was told several times what a great choice my dainty ring was.
MOH checking out the ring at SIL FC’s wedding!
(Personal photo)
I loved my ring, and still do, but when I started looking for wedding band ideas on Weddingbee later that summer, I couldn’t help but notice everyone’s very large engagement rings paired with their wedding bands.
Miss Mink, Charlottesville, VirginiaAge and Occupation: 34, College AdministratorFiance's Age and Occupation: 40, Craft Beer ConsultantEngagement Date: November 26, 2010Wedding Date: June 2012Venue: Pippin Hill Farm & VineyardsAbout Me: I left a pre-war brownstone in Boston six years ago to live in a funky, Southern city where Thomas Jefferson, Dave Matthews, and urban chicken keepers enjoy equal social standing. I still love my Patriots and Red Sox, but have fallen in love with Virginia. I work in education and specialize in integrating technology into my work to improve the student experience. I’m a diehard blogger, animal lover, jamband follower, and DIYer. I paint to relax and have transferred by energy from home projects to wedding projects in recent months. When Mr. Mink and I started talking about marriage, we knew our wedding would be outdoors, that my golden retriever would be part of the day, and that the music would be fantastic. We’ve taken a few risks during our planning process and we’ve been enjoying the process immensely!
Miss Fox, Washington DC/Havre de Grace, MDAge and Occupation: 26, Massage TherapistFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Field Support EngineerEngagement Date: April 18, 2010Wedding Date: June 2012Venue: Vandiver InnAbout Me: I’m a dancer turned massage therapist who was born and raised in New York. Alas, true love has brought me “south” where I still maintain my penchants for pretty shoes, wine, crossword puzzles, cherry blossoms, and the Mets. I own more sunglasses than a normal person should and don’t eat red meat (though I make up for it by eating my weight in sushi). I tend to be a big planner who likes to get things started early, but generally end up being indecisive and procrastinating when it comes down to it. I have a (not so) secret crush on Chris Carrabba, but my loyalty and love ultimately goes to the future hubs, of course! Together, my Foxy man and I love to discuss (read: debate) politics and current events, have Mario Kart and Scrabble duels, and just laugh. A lot. We’re hoping and planning for a laid back, fun, summery, rustic vibe to our June wedding that will be genuinely “us” – that is, if we finally make some decisions. Huzzah!
Since I was a wee newbee and just started checking out the community boards, I’ve noticed and taken part in several threads about how (in)frequently people wear their engagement rings (most recently, this one). As for me? I generally keep mine on as much as possible, except when cooking with raw meat, eating messy food (like crabs!), and when I shampoo my hair (since it’s slightly loose and I’m afraid of watching it disappear from my life forever down the drain). I’ll wear it 99% of the other times, though. Oh, except for work (I guess that’s a big chunk of time, huh?) since I don’t think my massage clients would appreciate a pointy ol’ rock in their back. Or maybe they would. Who knows.
Well I have to tell you, I’ve been a bit thrown off these past few weeks. Foxy and I decided to get started on the wedding band process(!), which for me means giving the jeweler my ring so they can 1. clean it, 2. redip it (darn you, white gold), and 3. take an imprint and make a wax copy of it to create my band. SO exciting (more on that soon!) but SO sad at the same time. I’ve been sans e-ring since early October-ish, and I feel naked. I always find myself trying to feel for the ring with my left thumb and…it’s just not there.
What to do besides get a replacement band? Read more…
Miss Doe, Northern CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 24, Real Estate AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Recycling ManagerEngagement Date: December 25, 2010Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: Monte Verde InnAbout Me: I’m a Rat Pack fan and a Christmas nut that loves to read, good wine, cheesy ’80s movies and ’90s sitcoms. My wiener dog with an attitude problem and lazy basset hound are my constant source of entertainment. He's a hunter and I like cooking so it's not rare to see wild game on our dinner menu. Both of us were born and raised in a small historic farming town where our feet are still firmly planted. We have been together for nearly a decade and have shared many life experiences together, including birthdays that are only one day apart. We are two old souls that are creating our long-awaited wedding with loads of tradition that blends our two styles into rustic elegance in the foothills of Northern California.
Like I said in my last post, we really didn’t have a set timeline of when we would purchase our wedding bands. I had somewhat assumed we would do that sometime early next year. Honestly though, who am I kidding? That’s not how I roll—I like to get things done with plenty of time to spare. It only made sense that I would get my wedding band when Mr. Buck did.
I promised myself though that I would not buy a wedding band just to buy a wedding band. I needed to find one that was perfect, and if I didn’t, then I would wait. Seriously though, who doesn’t walk into a store filled with diamonds and not find something that they like?
I tried on everything within our price range. The cheaper ones, all the way up to the ones that pushed our price limit. I surprised myself though that I actually did not like the look of the bigger ones next to my engagement ring. Just because it is bigger doesn’t always mean it is better, right?
Then I was introduced to the contour band, and at first I said it wasn’t going to work. A contour with a 3 stone ring? That isn’t going to look right. Well, I was wrong. Read more…
Miss Doe, Northern CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 24, Real Estate AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Recycling ManagerEngagement Date: December 25, 2010Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: Monte Verde InnAbout Me: I’m a Rat Pack fan and a Christmas nut that loves to read, good wine, cheesy ’80s movies and ’90s sitcoms. My wiener dog with an attitude problem and lazy basset hound are my constant source of entertainment. He's a hunter and I like cooking so it's not rare to see wild game on our dinner menu. Both of us were born and raised in a small historic farming town where our feet are still firmly planted. We have been together for nearly a decade and have shared many life experiences together, including birthdays that are only one day apart. We are two old souls that are creating our long-awaited wedding with loads of tradition that blends our two styles into rustic elegance in the foothills of Northern California.
A few weeks ago Mr. Buck and I were at Shane Co getting my engagement ring cleaned and inspected. Since we were there, we decided to go ahead and try on some wedding bands. We didn’t have an exact timeline of when we were going to purchase wedding bands. We figured when we found ones we liked, we would buy them.
Mr. Buck does not wear any type of jewelry…not even a watch. The salesman told him that he doesn’t like to wear jewelry either, only a watch and his wedding band. Mr. Buck proceeded to tell him that the only jewelry he wears is his sunglasses. Sorry Mr. Buck, sunglasses don’t count as jewelry! This means that we needed to find a wedding band for him that was comfortable and not flashy.
His first question to the salesman was, “what ring is lowest on the conductivity rating?” Read more…
Mrs. Mole, Los Angeles/Las VegasAge and Occupation: 29, Test Prep InstructorFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, User Experience ArchitectEngagement Date: April 2011Wedding Date: January 2012Venue: Wynn Las Vegas/Bouchon BistroAbout Me: I’m a Wisconsinite-turned-Angeleno who is planning a destination wedding in Las Vegas. I am passionate about education: I spent 23 (!) consecutive years in school, and now I work to help other people get into graduate programs. I love running on the treadmill, buying bath products from Lush, learning new moves in step aerobics, and exploring my neighborhood on foot. I am sometimes snobby about food, but I am rarely snobby about books. I read everything from Geoffrey Chaucer to Iris Murdoch to Chuck Klosterman to Candace Bushnell. My fiance and I are getting married on our third anniversary!
For someone who never wears jewelry, Mr. Mole had a pretty definite idea of what he wanted in a wedding ring. He wanted something lightweight, durable, and inexpensive. Now, the last quality is not necessarily something people typically search out in a piece of jewelry that is supposed to signify forever: “Nah, babe, just get me the cheapest ring possible. Whatevs.” However, Mr. Mole, who grew up hearing the story about how his father lost his wedding band within a few weeks of owning it, wanted something that could be replaced if necessary.
We debated tungsten for a while before ultimately deciding on titanium. Like Mr. Pashima, Mr. Mole was excited about wearing a metal that is used in space shuttles. We went into some traditional jewelry stores, only to get the runaround. The sales clerks kept steering us toward white gold or platinum. They told us that titanium couldn’t be made in Mr. Mole’s quarter-size (not true). They even told us that titanium could cause Mr. Mole’s fingers to have to be amputated in an accident (really not true, but this was probably my favorite wedding-related sales tactic). So we walked away from brick-and-mortar stores and turned to Etsy.
Titanium rings!
On Etsy, we found the shop Titanium Knights. Mr. Mole fell in love with a satin-finish ring that had an inlay of white gold. He explained that he wanted our rings to match in some way. I was sold. We ordered it in his quarter-size and everything.
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
