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Ring Twisty Action

December 28th, 2009

I love my engagement ring, I think it’s gorgeous. But one complaint I have is that there’s this ring-twisty-action where the ring gets spun, especially when I’m in the shower. I wish that I could size the ring smaller and be done with it, but then it wouldn’t fit over my knuckle. I wondered if there was a solution so I went to Mervis where Scott got the engagement ring and wedding rings. There are several options that were presented to me:

Add sizing balls to the ring – Little balls (resisting crude joke here) get added to the inside of the ring. I read on forums that folks with bony fingers will find it painful but those folks who have some flesh will find discomfort for only a couple of days. This solution doesn’t work for me anyways because of my chunky knuckles. Here’s a thread from PriceScope about it (also where I got the photo below):

Source: travl4me1

Horseshoe sizer – A spring the shape of a horseshoe is added to the inside of the ring. This solution would be ideal for me since it would go over a big knuckle and stay put on a skinny finger. However, someone at Mervis looked at my ring and said there wasn’t enough space for me to add a horseshoe sizer. If the ring size was bigger, I would be able to:

Source: jazmine

Tension bar – A ring guard or tension bar can be added to the inside:

Source: Sardis

There’s also an arthritis shank where the ring opens up over the knuckle and then you snap it back into place. I wouldn’t go for this option because I think about how the ring could break. Here’s a thread that talks about the ring guard and arthritis shank (where I also got the pictures from ).

Another option Mervis presented to me was the solder the engagement and wedding rings together. It would minimize the twisting but wouldn’t solve it.
The last option is to decrease the size of the diamond to make it less top-heavy. But I don’t want to do that. :O)

It’s a lot of options, most of them shared by Mervis and some I read from forums. I’m leaning towards soldering but it’s so much commitment to do that (ironic, I know).

Have you experienced the same dilemma? What did you decide?

by Christine | posted in Accessories, Engagement, Vendors | 5 Comments »

Engagement Photos

December 2nd, 2009

I love engagement photos because the bride and groom can really be themselves and express who they are as a couple. They are often in more of a relaxed setting and the couple can be more playful with the pictures compared to on their wedding day. The couple can get really creative with scenery, props, and attire to show off their personalities and announce to all their family and friends that they’re getting married! I’ve known couples who have gotten professional pictures taken as well as couples that have had family members or friends take pictures for them. A lot of photographers even include engagement photos in some of their wedding packages. Engagement photos can be used for save the dates, sending pics into local newspapers, posting on personal wedding websites, creating guestbooks, and of course having them as meaningful keepsakes. Here are some adorable engagement photo ideas from onadaphotography.net:

Source: onadaphotography.net

Do you plan on taking engagement photos?? Or how did yours turn out if you already did??

by Caitlin | posted in Engagement | 1 Comment »

Changing Your Name After Marriage?

November 5th, 2009

Source: www.oprah.com

I was just browsing through cnn during my lunch and came across this article from oprah.com that I thought was pretty a funny take on changing your last name. This has been a topic of discussion long before my wedding but it’s definitely worth disucssion with your fiance prior to taking the plunge!

by Joleen | posted in Engagement, Relationships | No Comments »

Favorite Registry Gifts

October 20th, 2009

One thing I did love about being engaged was putting things on our registry! I was rooming with a friend at the time, and whenever I used something of hers in the kitchen that I liked, I promptly went to my computer and added it to my registry. Now that I’ve been married almost a year (!) I thought I’d share some of the things from our registry that we use most frequently (and some we never use).

I love my Kitchen-aid! We registered for it at BedBathandBeyond, but since they don't stock the green mixers in their stores, we didn't end up receiving it. Hubby and I trekked to the outlets after our honeymoon and picked it up for about $200 at William Sonoma Outlet! I love a good deal! We also registered for the pasta attachments which I use all the time (I do love to cook, so if you're not really into cooking, those attachments probably aren't worth it for you).

Everyone needs a great set of saucepans! We registered for these at BBB and used the giftcards we received to buy it after our wedding. We took in our 20% off everything coupon that we got from BBB when we bought our house (best deal ever!) and also got a $50 BBB giftcard for spending over $300 on Calphalon. Since it was on our registry, we also got an extra frypan, wok, and knife via redemption.

Everyone has one of these little babies in Australia, so I was shocked to find how many people used stove top kettles here in the US. For making pasta, tea, or coffee, this is a definite must for me!

This blender actually isnt one of my favorite things, but my husband uses it *all* the time. (Smoothies are one of his favorite things)

This blender actually isn't one of my favorite things, but my husband uses it *all* the time. (He's a big smoothie fan)

I don't drink coffee, so since our kitchen is small, and my husband doesn't drink it at home all that much, we got a Bodum French Press. Hubby is a big fan (and so am I, since it doesn't clutter things up!)

Ok, THIS is my all-time favorite thing. Seriously, Microplane should employ me! This zester produces the best parmesan cheese, orange, lime, and lemon zest - EVER.

This is one of my most multi-purpose things: it doubles as both a really compact clothes drying rack, and also a drying rack for my fresh pasta ;-)

This is one of my most multi-purpose things: it doubles as both a really compact clothes airer, and also a drying rack for my fresh pasta

We entertain guests a lot, so this ice bucket is used quite frequently.

It's worth getting a really good quality set of flatware/cutlery. We originally registered for some cheap stuff, but ended up adding this set from Crate and Barrel instead. I love it! It looks sleek, has a great polish, and never gets bent out of shape.

We added a table runner and various placemats to our registry, rather than table cloths. This one is a bit of a pain to clean, but it looks fabulous.

So many people register for expensive dinnerware sets (and often, 1 cheap, 1 expensive), but I just didn't see the point. I just stuck with one set that I liked, and we also got a great deal on it ($12.50 for each 4pc set) from Macy's. And if a piece breaks, I won't be crying!

We registered for a set of 6 chairs and a table from Crate and Barrel, figuring that no one would purchase them, but we'd at least be able to get 10% off them after our wedding. Well we really lucked out - on our trip to the outlets after our wedding, we found the table and chairs we'd registered for all at half price since they were ex-floor models and a little scratched. SCORE!

So there you have it – my favorite registry items! But I did mention that I had things we never used too. Those items (which I still do love btw!) are our napkin rings (this is because I had planned to make cloth napkins rather than buy them, but still haven’t done it), and our juicer (which is currently a glorified tv antenna stand…).

What are your favorite registry items? If you’re already married, did you register for anything that you just never use?

by auschick | posted in Engagement, General Planning | 2 Comments »

Reader Question – Tips For Throwing a Bridal Shower

October 8th, 2009

Question?

Reader Question:

How do I throw a bridal shower? Some basic guidelines would be nice. I’m clueless, thanks.

Source: www.1weddingsource.com

First off, unless you’re dead set on throwing a surprise shower, consult the bride before making any plans and plan early. A bridal shower should be thrown approximately 2 months before the wedding and you should give guests around 4 weeks to respond to the invitation. So work backwards on your timeline and talk to the bride about anything she had in mind about the shower. Or maybe something small or just a spa trip with the bridesmaids? Possibly just family and bridesmaids? I have also heard of some bridal showers inviting all of the female guests that are being invited to the wedding. I would like to say this is up to the planner but ideally this shower should be what the bride wants. Make sure to ask about any family consideration or traditions. Most recently my friend discovered that there is a family tradition (on her groom’s side) that the groom attends the shower. During this conversation make sure to find out where the bride and groom have registered. Try to ensure they have registered for a wide variety of gifts ranging in price.

Source: www.blisstree.com

After you get the basic thoughts from the bride, get the bridesmaids together and make some decisions. Who is going to pay for the shower? This can sometimes be split by the bridesmaids or in my case where my sister was my bridesmaid my mother and my sister picked up the tab although this is of course depending on the size of the shower. Make sure to discuss location and venue as these can be important to determine the exact date. Holding the shower in someone’s home and having the bridal power bring the food can be low cost option. Also some places have a low cost brunch/lunch menu so sometimes looking at a caterer or restaurant can still be an option even if you have a tight budget.

Source: www.projectwedding.com

Once the basics are determined, make a task list of who is bringing what, or doing what, along with a high level schedule of the event. Also make sure to order favors for each guest. These can be something that is related to a theme of the bridal shower (if you chose to do so) or something as small as a bag of candy. Unlike the wedding favors, bridal shower favors can be fun items that only women will be enjoying!

Source: www.ehow.com

Like any event bridal showers can be as formal or as relaxed as you decide. Other nice to haves are place cards, centerpieces, pictures of the bride and groom, music (if desired). After my bridal shower my friends and I decided to try some karaoke. It definitely made for a great after party!

by Joleen | posted in Engagement, Favors, Questions from Audience | No Comments »

Celebrity Rings!!!

September 3rd, 2009

Source: engagement101mag.wordpress.com

Well I’m not sure if those of you shopping for wedding rings maybe celebrity gossip followers but I am!!! A good People or Us Weekly magazine can keep me entertained for a least most of cardio work out at the gym and I love catching up on the latest weddings!!!

When I was shopping for rings I was obviously interested to see celebrity rings so I thought I would share a few of the ones that I really liked! (and one I didn’t). Above is the very recently married Katherine Heigl’s wedding ring. Now despite the rumors of her diva personality on set, her 3 carat ring is somewhat conservative in the Hollywood world – and I love it!!! My coworker has one of my most favorite weddings rings, it is a pear cut and it definitely stands out among the princess and round cut engagement rings of her friends. Her husband actually picked it all out on his own and I think he did a fabulous job!!!!

Here are a few more really enjoyed.

Below is Eva Longoria’s ring. I absolutely love the style of the wedding band. I don’t wear a lot of jewelry and I think the band is beautiful as a stand alone. Not sure the whole fitting with the engagement ring but she’s Eva… she can do whatever she wants.

Souce: kourouma.wordpress.com

Who doesn’t love Alyssa Milano? Her ring (below) is beautiful. I thought the recent photos of her wedding showed her style to be cute and down to earth; I think this is reflected in her ring.

Source: jamesallen.com

And now to my most hated wedding ring of recent celeb weddings…..

Source: rapinterview.com

It’s Mariah’s!!!!!! Don’t get me wrong I love her and I love her new song “Obsessed” but really!!! This 17 carat ring is beyond obnoxious. I guess if you made a movie called “Glitter” you should probably have something like this but since only 10 people saw the movie she probably could have gotten away with something a little more life-size. I always ask myself, did Nick Cannon really earn enough money from Drumline that he was able to afford this?

by Joleen | posted in Attire, Engagement | 1 Comment »

Ask a friend with a camera

June 28th, 2009

Running around the empty streets of soho, courtesy of Kevin Boon

You know how they say every cloud has a silver lining. Well it was unfortunate for us that our photographer’s package didn’t include engagement photos. However, luckily for us, many of our friends have a great interest and talent in photography. With SLR’s being so affordable and user friendly these days, anyone can pick up a camera and capture professional-like photographs.

My good friend Kevin is a lawyer by day and an extremely talented photographer by night (and weekends). At every snowboard trip, dinner party, or casual picnic in the park, he is snapping away at our friends. So when we were brainstorming on what to do about our engagement photos, it was obvious when a suggestion was made to ask a friend.

If you don’t have friends who are photographers, ask about their friends. You’re bound to find someone who just got a new camera and looking for an opportunity to use it on some eager models.

by Mel | posted in Budget, Engagement, General Planning | 4 Comments »

He asked, you said “Yes!” Now what?

May 1st, 2009

He got down on one knee, looked deep into your eyes, and asked you to spend the rest of your life with him. You didn’t hear the rest because you were blinded by the dazzling brilliance of the bling he put on your finger. It’s soooo pretty!

Artist: Anne Taintor

“So what’s your answer?”

Huh? What? Blinking the tears away (your eyes hurt – the rock is sparkly! ), you find your voice and shout “YES!”

After calling everyone in both of your address books, uploading pics of the big moment to your Flickr account and posting your new status to Facebook and Twitter, you realize you’re going to have a wedding! Yay!

So….where do you start? Do you pick a date first? Or do you decide on a venue? Definitely at the church you went to growing up, right? Or maybe on the beach in North Carolina, or better yet – a tropical destination wedding on a secluded island. Planning a wedding is a HUGE thing – there are a zillion moving parts to coordinate, and at times, it can be overwhelming. I’m not married, but I’ve agonized over choosing colors, flowers, putting together invitations, etc. – it’s exhausting!

To spare your sanity and ensure you don’t turn into the dreaded “Bridezilla,” organization is key. If you’ve been the bride, chances are you have a binder, folder, or some other sort of system you used to keep track of everything. You can buy pre-made kits, but like anything remotely related to a wedding, there’s that mysterious 20% extra charge. Save yourself some money – all you really need is to create a spreadsheet in Excel and to purchase a binder and tab dividers from an office supply store. Me? I would also make sure to color code everything (I have this thing with sorting by color, I can’t help it) and visit an art supply store for a few extra goodies to make my planner pretty. If that means sparkly stickers and ribbon, then so be it.

Credit: Zela (www.sxc.hu)

After you get yourself organized and color coded, make sure to check the interwebz for advice. Best place to start? Why, right here, at BigFatCake.com!

Remember – you’re planning a wedding, but even more importantly, you’re getting married. Don’t let the little details overwhelm you!

So ladies and gentlemen, veterans of The Big Day, share your wisdom. Where did you start when planning your wedding – date, venue, flowers, etc.? Who did most of the planning (there are some guys who are quite involved!) What would you have done differently?

by Anna G | posted in Engagement, General Planning, Time Management | 1 Comment »

Always a Bridesmaid?

April 24th, 2009

I have a lot of experience with weddings.

I’ve never been married, but I’ve been part of enough special days to know how the lucky couple got to that point. Other than say “I do,” I’ve done it all – from choosing the venue, music, and flowers to serving as the make-up artist, calligrapher and nervous-bride-soother. Some of you might be envisioning the movie 27 Dresses, but thankfully, I’m not there…yet. I still have room in my closet for more poofy/strapless/chiffon dresses that I’ll wear again, some day. Definitely. Right? 27-dresses

One of my favorite wedding memories is of the first wedding I was in, my older sister’s. She was married in an English castle in the summer of 2001, and I was one of three bridesmaids. On the flight over, we were alerted that my sister’s maid of honor wouldn’t be able to make the trip. Five minutes later, I received a field commission and was promoted to MOH, pledging to fulfill all expectations. Talk about pressure! I was called upon to perform the necessary duties moments before my sister walked down the aisle, and did what I had to do – I blew on her face to cool her down, and, as requested (rather, ordered), ran and got her an adult beverage. After a quick swig, she was ready to get the show on the road and practically ran down the aisle. They’re still happily married, now with two rug rats and a fat lazy dog.

In addition to some of my memorable experiences, I’ll be sharing tips, tricks and advice with you from a slightly different perspective. In fact, I’ll start now. Brides-to-be: Do not, I repeat, do NOT, under any circumstances, subject your bridal party to this attire. bad-bridesmaids-dresses

Not because you’d face certain mutiny, but because really, what couple wants to look back at their wedding photos and wonder why it looks like the Peeps factory threw up on their bridesmaids?

(Faces have been changed to protect the innocent.)

Fortunately, every wedding I’ve been a part of was with my great friends and family (no crazy bridezillas or horrendous dresses), but I know not everyone has been as lucky. What are some of your scary stories? What questions do you have for a semi-pro bridesmaid? Have any of you ever worn your bridesmaid dresses again?

by Anna G | posted in Engagement, General Planning, Wedding Watching | 5 Comments »

Ring Twisty Action

Engagement Photos

Changing Your Name After Marriage?

Favorite Registry Gifts

Reader Question – Tips For Throwing a Bridal Shower

Celebrity Rings!!!

Ask a friend with a camera

He asked, you said “Yes!” Now what?

Always a Bridesmaid?

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