Before I get into the actual wedding planning part, lets start with the engagement! This one is for all of you thinking about or looking at engagement rings.
So much sparkle! When I was looking at rings, I saw them everywhere. Every jewelry store I walked past I would feel this automatic pull to walk in. Strangers would pass and I would stare at their left hand. One time, I was at brunch with some friends and we stopped a random person to complement her ring!
Engagements have grown and expanded in so many ways. Some are intimate at home and others are extravagant flash mobs. There may be a ring or a plane ticket for an engagement trip. However you decide to get engaged, it should be meaningful to you. It is a significant moment in your relationship where you are expressing a commitment to a future together.
If a ring is involved, be sure to learn about how to choose one. Research different stones and colors. No matter if you are deciding on a diamond or not, it can be overwhelming.
A few months after Cody and I started dating I moved across the country from Colorado back to Georgia. He and I made it into a road trip and stopped in many new cities along the way. While waiting to be seated at a restaurant in Nashville, TN we wandered through the shopping center. Soon we came across Tiffanys. Before I could even realize, Cody had whisked me in and said to have a look around. Here we were, about to start at least one to two years of long distance after a short period of dating and he was bringing me in to the classic engagement ring store. I was terrified that if I even looked at one that I would jinx our relationship, so I made him walk away as I tried on a few for fun.
As cute and magical as it would have been for me to have known right then and there what I wanted for when the time would come, it took multiple trips with my friends and family to various stores in numerous states until I knew exactly what I wanted. I was actually by myself at the mall picking up a baby shower gift. I ended up with a flat tire and needed to call AAA for help. While I waited, I wandered through the fine jewelry department. That is when I saw almost exactly what I wanted!! A few hours later, my mom and sister went to their local branch to see it in person.
I called up our extraordinarily talented jewelry designer Brandon of Brandon Knaster Jewelry and described to him what I fell in love with and what changes I would want, to make it perfect for me. A couple of weeks later I had a mockup in bright red plastic in my (physical) mail box. Having the prototype helped me feel so confident in this design.
Cody knew it would be important for me to be involved in the final ring choice. As he said, "you are the one wearing it every day and I want you to be happy." Also adding in, "but, I did make a slight change that I will keep as a surprise." My heart stopped for a brief moment! Oh gosh. What was he going to do to this ring that I love?!
Well, the day he proposed I learned of that special change. At first I was confused because it looked exactly the same. I had to take it off to find that on the inside of the band he had one of his mom's side stones from her engagement ring inserted. He tried to include one of my mom's as well, but it didn't work out.
I have loved my ring ever since. It turned out exactly as we wanted and was within the price and four C's that we agreed on. I really do hope that you can have exactly what you want for this special moment. And remember, you can always upgrade later in life!
Now that story time is over, here is my quick reference sheet on picking the right ring for you.
Learn the Language
Carat
Size is what we mostly think of when choosing an engagement ring. Carat is the weight measurement of a diamond, in other words, it is the size. It is easy to be focused on the size, but I really believe the quality is so much more important. I would rather a nicer stone than a larger one. So how do you decide on quality? That is where the other C’s come into play.
Cut
The Cut has two parts, the shape and the underbelly of the stone. There are so many shapes! I suggested trying on various shaped so you know what you like and feel comfortable with on your own hand.
The underbelly cut is just as important. The same carat of a stone can have two different size appearances because it can have a deeper or shallower cut. Also, how it is cut can impact how much sparkle the stone has.
Color
The color gradient will vary based on the category of diamond. The standard white diamond has one scale and colored diamonds have another. Once you know if you want a white or colored diamond, look up what the different scales are.
The metal that the stone is set in will also impact the color. The same diamond can appear to be a different color when set in white (platinum), yellow, or rose gold. I would suggest steering away from silver because it tarnishes and dents more easily.
Clarity
When someone says they want a flawless diamond, they usually are referring to the carbon particles that are left behind during the process of a diamond forming. Most stones will have black (or white) specks in it. Depending on the location, you will or will not be able or unable to see these imperfection with the naked eye, impacting cost.
Where Does it Come From
Companies should have a record of where their stones come from. If you want a conflict free ring (meaning ethically sourced), look the stone up. There are also manmade/lab grown options. They are just as beautiful and may be more cost effective. There are also now man made stones in various colors and stone types. You could repurpose a family stone or one from an antique store.
Choose a Setting
This is the fun part! You have your own unique personality and flair and want this to reflect in the style of your ring. Look at past designs. Maybe you will love the antique style from the late 1800’s or the art deco appearance of the mid 1900’s. Compare these to the modern styles to decide if you want to buy from a store or get it custom made.
Don’t forget the wedding bands! When choosing a setting, consider what you want your wedding band to look like next to it. You will be wearing these two (or more) bands together more often than not and want them to look paired well together. I ended up designing two bands, one for each side to enhance the design.
Size
This one is something that I think gets lost in the process all too often. I have very small hands, so trying on rings was a bit challenging because the band and setting were usually too large for me to imagine what the ring would look like when tailored to fit me. What made it even harder was that every store I went into told me that I needed a different size. I realized that the thickness of the sizer, temperature inside the store, season, time of day, and altitude all made a difference. Even with sizing down, I ended up sizing one of my wedding bands down even smaller to hold the ring in place.
Cost
These are all key elements when deciding on a stone, but I recommend first deciding on a budget. This will allow you to prioritize what you value the most in these categories. There are so any options out there and you can find a stunning ring within the budget that you are comfortable with.
This is such an exciting time! Have fun with it.
xoxo,
Shana Bryn
Photography by: Christine Pienaar Photography
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