Month: August 2017

The question of how to buy an engagement ring is one is an important one. It’s something that is only done once, and it is a serious decision, not to mention the significant financial outlay.

I chose my own engagement ring, and until recently I actually thought I was the exception.  It turns out, I’m not – while out “researching” this article last week I spoke to Dan Robinson of The Diamond Shop about whether more men came in and bought the ring alone, or if couples came in together.  Not only was the answer the latter, but even when men do buy the ring themselves, usually the woman has had a significant part to play in his decision.  It’s a big expectation on men to make it alone, so whether you’re helping to nudge your partner along, or you’re choosing the ring together, here’s everything you need to know about buying a diamond engagement ring.

I hope you find this article useful, once you’re planning your wedding, pick up a little white book wedding planner to help you every step of the way.

The first question you both might be asking yourselves, is how much should I spend on an engagement ring?

 

The De Beers Slogan  ‘How can you make two months’ salary last forever”

In the 1930’s DeBeers started a marketing campaign that suggested the perfect diamond engagement ring spend was a month’s salary, by the 1980’s it was up to two months salary!

Dan said:

The greater portion of your budget will be the diamond as opposed to the ring.  The diamond’s value is based on its size and quality known as the ‘Four C’s’.  I suggest you learn about the four C’s to make an informed decision with your diamond selection.

Of course, you should only spend as much as you can comfortably afford.

The most popular diamond shape is the round brilliant cut due do its pleasing shape and outstanding brilliance.  It is my experience that most women aspire to a one carat diamond, which can range from NZ$7,000 up to NZ$27,000 depending on the quality.  If this is above your budget, half carat diamonds range from NZ$2,000 up to NZ$5,000.”

Personally, I’d prefer a good quality ‘sparkly’ diamond, than a larger poor quality one.  Reputable jewellers will only sell high-quality diamonds, so be aware of what you are investing in, and shop around.

Once you have a budget in mind

All loose diamonds are graded and certified by an independent laboratory.  Their grade is given based on a scale, and it is the grade of diamond that affects how much you will pay for it, and therefore what you can purchase with your budget.

“The Four C’s”stand for Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat.

The way a diamond is cut determines its brilliance (its sparkle and shine).  Cut well, a diamond can also appear larger.  When cut to the proper proportions, light shines through the diamond and returns through the top.  If the diamond is “shallow” the light leaks.  The GIA cut scale is “Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor”

A diamond’s “colour” is actually a bit misleading, as it’s actually the lack of colour which determines a diamond’s quality.  D is the highest grade, and from K down to Z, diamonds have noticeable colour/discolouration.

Clarity refers to the tiny imperfections or “inclusions” which are in almost every diamond.  Diamonds with the fewest microscopic imperfections receive the highest grades.

The best known of the four C’s is Carat, which most people think refects only the visual size of the diamond, but it’s actually a diamond’s weight.  One carat is equal to 200mg in weight.  If cut shallow, for example, a diamond may appear larger, but have lost much of its sparkle due to the light being lost.  On the contrary, if a diamond is badly cut, much of its carat is wasted in the bottom.  Size is not everything –a diamond of superior cut, clarity and colour will always look better than one that is large but dull.

Besides the four C’s, you’ll have to choose a shape. Shape comes down to personal preference.  If you’ve ever pinned away ring inspo on Pinterest, or browsed #shesaidyes on Instagram, you’ve probably already identified your preferred shape, but you may find this changes when you try them on.

The round brilliant cut is the most popular shape.  There’s plenty of inspiration on pinterest if you have no idea where to start.

If you do want to surprise your partner (or be surprised) with the complete ring, I recommend some research to determine what she’d like.  When a friend recently got engaged, her partner turned to Pinterest to see what she had previously pinned, I’d taken photos on my phone of rings I liked, or you might like to put a post-it in a magazine or leave a printed page lying around, to give a bit of a hint.  Men, if you’re reading and she hasn’t given you a hint, you could also ask her best friend.

Ring Size

Use another ring of your partner’s to estimate the size, but if you can’t do that, keep in mind it is easier to downsize a ring rather than make it larger. See also Choosing the right engagement ring for your hand shape.

Duty Free

As many will wait for an overseas trip to “Pop the question”, a duty-free purchase is an ideal way to save money.  Be aware that you’ll have to divert their attention at the airport and hide the ring in your bag (and then protect it with your life) until you propose, but it may be worth it for the 15% GST saving.

Remember, if there’s an engagement ring on your finger, you need the little white book in your hands, undoubtedly the best wedding planner book for keeping you on track all the way down the aisle.

Have you been awaiting the magical proposal a while, and now you’re thinking about dropping a few engagement ring hints? Or perhaps the proposal came with the promise of your choice of engagement ring (lucky you!). While many people know about the “4 Cs” of choosing a diamond, (Cut, Clarity, Colour and Cut) you also need to think about the style of your new ring, and engagement ring will best suit your hand shape too. 

Just like your wedding attire, you want your engagement ring to accentuate your hand’s best features. The most important thing is to balance the length and width of your fingers against the shape and size of the diamond or other gemstones, and the style of the ring.

Once there’s a ring on your fingers, you need the little white book in your hands too, make sure to visit us again for all your wedding planning advice!

Knowing your hand shape helps to choose the perfect engagement ring

Think about the shape, size and length of your hands and fingers. This will  make deciding on your ideal engagement ring that much easier, choosing the cut of the diamond and width of the band to suit your hands best. Even if you do have your heart set on one particular aspect such as the shape of the stone, you can select your band width and design the ring to complement your hand shape.

Flattering engagement rings for short fingers

The right engagement ring can really accentuate shorter fingers into appearing longer and leaner, whether they are slim or wide. The best choice for someone with short fingers are diamond shapes that extend the fingers optically.

• Diamonds with an elongated shape: the baguette, the marquise, the pear shape and the oval cut diamond are the ideal stones to elongate short fingers while also being proportionate. 
• A narrower band is ideal for short fingers because helps create a balance between the ring, fingers and hand and create the illusion of long fingers.. A thicker band can make your fingers seem shorter than what they are, akin to wearing thick ankle straps on short legs (like mine).

 

Best engagement rings for long fingers

As if you weren’t already blessed, long fingers suit the motto ‘the bigger, the better”. Being able to carry and pull off bold, larger styles is something long fingered ladies are lucky to suit!

• Princess-cut diamonds and rounded stones are the perfectly suited for longer fingers, and will flatter your lovely hand shape.
• A wider band tends to complement the length of long fingers, as a narrower band can make the stone look large and imbalanced.
• Long fingers also look amazing with more extravagant rings, set with coloured diamonds and gems.

 

Engagement ring shapes for slim fingers (Short or Long)

Choosing your engagement ring to suit slim fingers, you need to keep in mind not to overload the diamond. Small diamonds in combination with a slightly wider band help make your fingers look less slim. This makes everything a bit more proportionate.

• A round cut or cushion cut diamond is perfect for slim fingers, while not looking as though it is overbearing on your finger.
• If you have short and slim fingers, consider a marquise cut – ideal as it makes your fingers appear longer.
• For slimmer fingers, it is generally recommended to go with a thicker band. This is to help create the illusion of width with your fingers.

 

Slimming styles for wide fingers

To avoid making your fingers look wider with your engagement ring, try to avoid narrow stones or rings that show skin on either side.

• To create a more slimming look, the emerald and rectangular cuts are for you.
• Think of the trilogy engagement ring. The bigger and more conspicuous the engagement ring, the better. Small diamonds tend to make wide fingers look even wider.
• Slim to medium width bands allow for the stone to be the main – and best – feature on your hand.

Small Hands

For smaller hands delicate, quality diamond cuts are key. You may like to avoid very large diamonds, opting for a smaller carat but better quality clarity and colour.  Wider bands may also look out of proportion and overbearing on your small hands.

•  A fine ring set with a small diamond (brilliant, princess cut, oval or heart shaped) is perfect for someone with small hands.
• For smaller hands, thin to medium width bands are ideal as they don’t overbear your fingers and make your hand look smaller.

 

Engagement rings to suit bigger hands

For those of you who have larger hands, it’s time to be also be big and bold with your choices. Rather than select a ring which is small (and may appear ‘lost’), design your engagement ring with a halo of diamonds to accentuate the size of the diamond for a larger appearance. As a halo of diamonds contains much smaller stones, this is a cost-effective way of maximising the effect of your engagement ring.

• Clusters and Asscherr cuts are the best options for bigger hands as they all are able to be bold cuts that are in proportion to your hands.
• Depending on the cut of the stone, medium to wide bands are also best.

P.S. When you’re not wearing your engagement ring, keep it in one of these divine Velvet Ring Boxes.

When you’re planning what possibly feels like the biggest day of your life so far, of course you want to be able to look back on it forever. Photos are such an important part of your memories – the day goes so incredibly fast, and it’s so special being able to relive it from another vantage.

Determining who should be your wedding photographer may be one of the most important decisions in the lead up to your wedding. Here are some insider tips on working out which photographer is the best fit for you and your future spouse.

Research your Wedding Photographer

Have you looked through their portfolio? Do you know what it is that you like about their work? Do you have a rough idea of their style? (i.e. are they documentary, or traditional, or are they serious or are they silly?) You don’t need to have an expert knowledge of photography, but pay attention to the vibe of your potential photographer, the moods that they capture, and their approach to weddings.

As a wedding photographer, meeting with clients who want something vastly different to what I offer can be one of the most frustrating experiences, and quickly dampens my enthusiasm for working with a particular couple. If you don’t know anything about my work, it’s probably wasting both of our time for me to meet with you.

I would strongly recommend meeting with your wedding photographer before you book them – even if it’s a zoom call, you want to ensure you feel really comfortable with them, and have a good vibe from the outset.

Just as you’re trying to decide if they’re the perfect photographer for you, they may also be trying to decide if you’re the right client for them.

A good photographer won’t accept a booking from someone they clash with.

Ask the Wedding Photographer Lots of Questions

OK, so you’ve done your homework. But you still have some questions about how the photographer works on the day. This is great!

Some ideas of questions to ask include:

–       What kind of techniques do you use to make us feel comfortable? If they can’t answer this question, my guess is they haven’t been shooting weddings for very long.

–       What are your thoughts on other people taking photos as well? Some photographers insist on ‘unplugged ceremonies’ some don’t. You need to know this as early as possible.

–       What format do my photos come in? Most photographers I know only hand out JPEG images, which are after the photos have been edited. It’s important to know if they’ll be edited, or if they’re giving you RAW files. (RAW is exactly what it sounds like: unedited, high quality photos.)

Don’t rush your decision

Too often, I meet with couples who have already booked a photographer and then regret their choice. Rushing to choose, or feeling pressured to commit, doesn’t lead to great decisions. Talk together in private, think of any new questions that might come up – even take the opportunity to meet other photographers for a comparison.

If you’ve already paid a non-refundable deposit or retainer but you know you’re unhappy with the photographer you have booked, don’t settle for something that you will regret twenty years from now. Your wedding photos are priceless, don’t undervalue them.

And finally…

Once you’ve chosen a photographer you’re really happy with, give your partner a high-five! You can relax knowing that you are going to have stunning photos of your magical day.

Henry Paul is an award-winning, Australian based wedding photographer. He has a unique ability to capture both the playful and the heartfelt moments experienced on any wedding day, and translate it into something artistically beautiful, and emotionally raw. For more information regarding Henry and his work, visit henrypaul.com.au.

When things were feeling a little hectic leading up to my wedding day (not that anyone other than Blair knew about it) I remember turning to google to find out  ‘how to de-stress before the big day’.  What I found was not in the least bit surprising,  yet I was a little disappointed by the money I would need to spend to simply relax (Debt  = Stress… hello!?). And so today I have come up with 5 wedding budget friendly ways to de-stress. DIY style…

Have a Girls Night In

You know how this goes. Your favourite ladies, check. Delicious platter, check. Nail polish and toe separators, check. Sex and the City (all of them), Confessions of a Shopaholic, Bridesmaids, The Notebook and P.S I love you, check. Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, check. Girls just want to have fun… so why not make a night of it?

If your girls are far from home, sometimes even a little face time (and possibly wine) is enough to calm your mind. Create a relaxing setting, book in a time that suits you both/all, and spend an hour chatting, laughing, and possibly crying – you’ll feel better afterwards regardless.

Write it all down – the Best Free Therapy you can get

When you feeling stressed, often the best thing you can do to help process what your brain is going through, is to get it out of your head and onto paper. Write down everything you’re thinking about: worries, anxieties and also the things that you are looking forward to. Turn to the things that are troubling you, and make a note of all those things which are out of your control. If you have no way of altering the course of action of those, then you need to find a way to move past them. Sometimes this comes in the form of writing down all the possible scenarios that could result, preparing for the best and the worst, and other times, simply having it written down will help.

Journalling is incredibly therapeutic in times of stress – that’s one reason our wedding planner book is not only an organisation tool, but contains a 12 month diary to recor every thought, feeling and worry you have in the lead up to your wedding. It really helps to spill your soul into the private pages of a book. Of course, you don’t need our wedding planner just for this – take any little book or journal which feels like a safe space to you, and give yourself some privacy to write.

Take a long, relaxing bath

I’m not talking about an in and out, body wash under the tap (guilty!) 5 minute soak. I’m talking about lighting scented candles, sorting out some tunes, even some meditation music (I have a great 10 minute FREE mediation phone app I listen to most Saturday nights), then get your biggest fluffiest towel, some pretty soap and get some YOU time in the tub. If you like to read in the bath, then take your favourite book with you (leave your phone in the lounge) and spent some quality time alone.

Get back to nature – glamping, camping or a romantic little cabin (No Wifi!)

Nature can be relaxing, but it’s the idea of packing up the truck with nothing more than a tent, sleeping bags, a chilly bin, and a bottle of red wine that really gets me going.

There is something liberating about sneaking away for a mini break, especially when it involves sand, sea, fireside snuggles and the odd curious possum (or fiance!) Bliss. Depending on your resources, this might be free (or almost free) or you might have a small accommodation fee, but you can definitely find something cute and cosy to suit your budget.

Spend time with Animals

If you have some, make some time to hang out. Animals are amazingly therapeutic, and will never judge your current state of being (I love that!) If you don’t own any, then find some to hang out with. Offer to take a friends dog for a walk, go offer your services at the SPCA, or simply visit your local animal park.

Animals are the perfect reminder that the simple things in life are beautiful… and that love is unconditional.

Watch the Sunset (or Sunrise)

This goes hand in hand with getting back to nature or camping. Again with the nooky, again with the natur, and again with remembering that the simple things in life are beautiful. Mother nature rules, and the sight of the sun rising, or the sun setting is always magical. Make it more special with blankets, hot drinks with marshmallows (go the flask!) and of course your soul mate (or soul sisters!)

Happy relaxing beautiful people xox