For The Boys: Engagement Ring Basics {Guest Post}

We recently have become apprised {and a little surprised} about how many men read our blog. Most of our posts are targeted towards the ladies in Utah, the brides to be more specific. But the grooms, well they deserve a post or two right?! And those posts could easily serve as a helping hand to the ladies in waiting! So ladies send a nondescript link to the man of your choosing, and grooms pick up some great advice here from a reputable online jeweler about that purchase your considering!

Engagement Ring Basics

Engagement rings are available in a variety of styles and price ranges. What do you need to know when shopping for one?

Metals: Gold and platinum are the most popular choices. Platinum is more dense and durable, and thus more expensive than gold. The most common shades of gold are yellow and white gold, with white gold being a popular, less expensive alternative to platinum.

The 4C’s: These are a universal grading system for rating and comparing the quality of diamonds. The 4C’s are Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut. Keep in mind that carat size is just one aspect of a diamond and that each of the 4C’s is important. Choosing an engagement ring involves finding a balance between the four criteria. Diamonds also come in a variety of shapes—the most requested diamond shapes for engagement rings are the round cut and the princess cut.

Settings: The right ring setting will showcase a diamond or gemstone in its best light. Some settings, such as the solitaire, showcase one central stone, whereas others, like the channel setting, accommodate a row of smaller diamonds. Ring setting is a very personal choice, as the setting defines the overall look of the ring.

Acquiring an Engagement Ring
There are three basic ways a bride acquires an engagement ring:

Inherit a Ring: Some brides-to-be don’t end up buying an engagement ring at all. They inherit a beautiful family heirloom jewel from their mother, grandmother, or other relative. These rings are often of an older or antique style and symbolize family bonds and family legacy. Inherited or passed down rings offer an obvious economic advantage: you don’t have to buy a ring! Keep in mind, however, that inherited rings often need to be resized, repaired, or adjusted to properly accommodate a new wearer.

In-Store: The advantage of buying a ring at a brick-and-mortar jewelry store is you receive personal attention from a sales rep and that you can try rings on see how they look and feel right away.

Also, jewelers who have been in business for many years or decades, such as McKay Diamonds in Salt Lake City, which has been serving the community for over 60 years, usually have a solid reputation and you can feel confident buying from them.

When you purchase a ring from a retail store, it’s best to have already familiarized yourself with the basics of ring settings and diamonds and to have a budget in mind so you don’t get swayed by salespeople to go beyond your comfort zone. Keep in mind that jewelry stores offer less flexibility in letting your design your own ring and their selection is usually limited.

On-Line: A great way to buy a rings and bridal jewelry these days is to shop online. Online retailers have a much lower overhead than brick-and-mortar stores, and as a result are able to pass on the savings to their customers. Online retailers also offer a larger selection than retail stores and popular Design-Your-Own Ring features that let you customize a ring from start to finish. When ring shopping online, you can expect to pay up to 50% less than what you would in-store.

Reputable online jewelers such as James Allen and Blue Nile offer a positive and reliable shopping experience. For example, James Allen offers free shipping to Utah (and anywhere in North America), a 60 day return policy, and actual diamond photos (you see a magnified photo of the specific diamond you are purchasing, not a stock photo). Buying from a reputable online jeweler will offer you the peace of mind you would get from shopping at the best of jewelry stores. A reputable online jeweler will also provide quality customer service via phone, email, and online chat.

The ability to design your own ring to your specifications from the comfort of your own home lets you bypass having to deal with sales people. You can design a classic solitaire ring, for example, using actual diamond photos to find the perfect diamond. You can explore different types of metals, settings, and diamonds and easily stay within your budget.

It pays to do some research before your purchase an engagement ring. It’s always a good idea to ask questions. Don’t be shy! Sales people and customer service reps are there to help you. Buying an engagement ring is a journey. Once you have completed the journey, you’ll have a small treasure to cherish for years to come.

Writing credentials: Shira B. @ www.jamesallen.com

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Wedding Freature: Britta & Michael

This lovely wedding comes to us via two of our favorite preferred vendors, Saucy & Kitsch and David Newkirk Photography. The result equates to stunning photography and perfectly planned details. The bride herself Britta Ameel shares with us some insight surrounding her event.

Michael and Britta’s wedding planning began over local aquavit at a Scandinavian bar in Seattle. Engaged for almost a year, the two writers hoped to throw the kind of wedding they had just attended—endless attention to detail that represented their relationship and values, a do-it-yourself spirit, and without a doubt, a super-fun-rockin’-kick-off-your-shoes good time. After stints in Ann Arbor, Austin, San Francisco, and Oregon, these two hoped to bring together their disparate groups of friends in their unique taste to meet each other and dance together. The actual pledge and ceremony, however, was a more intimate affair—both had hoped their individual families would get to know each other better and decided that what better occasion than their children’s wedding to do just that. They got married on a March day at City Hall in San Francisco with 5 people in attendance: the bride’s parents and sister, the groom’s parents, sister, and her partner. (Okay, 6! Judge Mary presided over the 10-minute affair with the same grace and poise of the stately architecture.) Afterward, some local friends surprised them with rice and cheers, some tourists snapped photos with the bride (so tall!), and the two families came together on the rooftop veranda of a boutique hotel on the water.

For their reception, Michael and Britta called upon the same spirit that motivates their daily life. From brewing their own beer, roasting their own coffee, and making their own stationary, Michael and Britta wanted their touch on each part of what they envisioned as “The Friend Summit,” an event that was more than just a celebration of their pairing, but the good people they’ve met along the way. After moving to Salt Lake City, they began printing the invitations on vintage library cards and collecting vintage laboratory glassware, both of which would serve to anchor the décor and atmosphere. Some might call their taste and interests disparate; Michael and Britta called it, well, “them.” Books, vintage library goods, succulents, light, paper goods, dictionaries, homemade food and drink, fonts, laboratory glassware, science and poetry ephemera—the boxes of possible wedding reception goods filled faster than they could define what they were planning, but with close attention to who they are: two poets, one scientist, a couple in love with each other’s varied and endless curiosities.

And then they met Lauren {Saucy & Kitsch}, the three of them collaborated to create a wedding reception that was equally about the couple at its heart—two artists—as it was about the people who filled the seats and their diverse interests, more artists and thinkers and good friends. And so it happened: handmade table runners from Michael’s junior-high dictionary; home-brewed beer with custom labels for each book/album/work of art of the attendees; bride-made bouquets, personals, table succulents; vintage light bulbs and vacuum tubes, laboratory glassware, hand-picked lavender from the couple’s backyard; vintage letterpress letter necklaces for the bridal party; local gluten-free and organic dinner and dessert; the dessert maiden/bookmaker’s vintage library detailed guest-book; hand-stamped party flags and napkins from a stamp made for the couple in Michigan. As the details came together, the atmosphere took shape as a vintage cabinet of curiosities, and the Fort Douglas Commander’s House from the late 1800s provided the warm and familiar setting for October.


The leaves changed the colors of the bouquet flowers that weekend; several of the guests remarked that it felt like Britta and Michael had painted the leave themselves. The couple’s friends and family came from as far as France and as near as the house next door. The proof was in the pudding: Michael and Britta were written all over the event and have not stopped talking about it ever since…

Photography: David Newkirk, UT
Event Styling & Design/Flowers/Coordination: Saucy & Kitsch. UT
Wedding Ceremony Site: San Francisco City Hall, Ca
Reception Site: Commanders House Salt Lake City UT
Gown: Stephanie Madesh, CA
Catering: The Blended Table, UT
Deserts: The honey House, UT
Hair: Dreamers & Make Believers, CA/ Landis Salon, UT
Guest Book: The Rookery

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Laundromat Engagements {Madisyn & Nate}

Good morning and Happy Monday! We are back at it with this unique retro engagement session by Lindsey Shaun Photography! We love how different the style of this shoot is and love how Lindsey captured it with a more modernized approach. What is it about laundromats that make them slightly romantic?! As always have fun with your engagement sessions and work with your photographer to come up with ideas that are unique and reflect your style!

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Flower Friday: Color Blocking {Guest Post}

Color blocking is a fashion design term referring to outfits that contain large blocks of solid color. These styles let fashion experts mix and match hues without risking ugly mistakes.

Everyone has seen clothes that simply don’t match and improper color mixing is often the culprit. When patterns mix colors without space breaking them up, the result is often unbearable. Surprisingly, however, there’s really no limit to the number of colors one can mix. As long as they’ve been put together correctly, any combination of colors can look great. This quick primer will ensure that your flowers look great anywhere you decide to place them.

Why One Must Be Careful With Color

Basic color wheel theory reveals that the visible spectrum is arranged in an orderly fashion. Colors on the opposite sides of this scheme, such as red and green, are referred to as compliments, meaning that when mixed together, they cancel each other out, creating murky blacks and dull greys. When these colors are simply juxtaposed, however, they appear more vibrant.

Stick to color blocking. Create large fields of like colors and offset them with common borders. A white bouquet, for instance, looks better when it’s put next to a similar yellow one than it does if the two are mixed together in the same grouping. This is simply because weak colors like white and yellow tend to bleed into each other, with the stronger overwhelming the other.

Following Natural Trends and Establishing Backgrounds

Use a naturalistic theme as your style guide. Your flowers are certainly sure to include a great deal of green tones, so be mindful of this when choosing backgrounds and other elements. Picking backdrops that mimic the same greens your flower stems and leaves display is a great way to establish a sort of weightless, floating effect. In addition, using this technique along with color blocking brings more definition to the groups you’re trying to establish, ensuring they aren’t washed away by their surroundings.

Also remember that unconventional combinations can look good when you respect different hues and tones. Floral decorators traditionally rely on classic combinations that use flower species associated by their symbolic meaning or shape. While these techniques have their place, they are definitely more detailed and harder to master. Avoid flower arrangements that look sloppy by using color to determine what goes together.

Finally, be mindful of the fact that you only have an instant to grab someone’s attention. Large solid blocks of distinct color set against subtle, regular backgrounds are far more arresting than the same colors mixed together. No matter which flowers you buy online, color blocking is the best way to combine them.

About the Author
Patricia Hall works part-time for a florist but loves to surround herself with flowers at any given point of time. Even in her free time she loves to involve herself with everything flora and fauna. She works for an online company that can be found here.

Sources: myhomeideas.com . North West Florist . Beyond Blossoms . Design Detroit

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2012 Bridal Fashion Trends {Guest Post}

It’s always a good day her on the Utah Bride Blog when we have the honor of a guest post from the lovely Tessa Woolf, editor of Salt Lake/Park City Bride and Groom Magazine. Today she is sharing the 2012 Bridal Fashion Trends which are sure to impress! What look fits your style?

With each new season comes a crop of fresh, new wedding dresses, and today I’m sharing eight of my favorite bridal fashion trends to emerge from recent bridal collections. From glimmering gold gowns to sweet floral details to cool capelets and sheer overlays, check out the looks that currently top my best dressed list.


The Illusionists

Illusion details, from necklines to sleeves to backs, are one of this year’s biggest bridal fashion trends. The look is pretty, pretty, pretty, and I can’t get enough of these magical gowns. Get the look: Elizabeth Fillmore, Marchesa, Monique Lhuillier, and Pronovias. {Image credit: Gowns by
Elizabeth Fillmore and Pronovias}



Caped Crusaders
Dozens of designers topped their dresses with lace capelets and sheer overlays. These delicate accents offer a light dose of coverage and provide two looks in one: wear the capelet for your ceremony, then ditch it for your reception and bare your arms. Get the look: Alfred Angelo, Alvina Valenta, Enzoani, and
Pronovias.
{Image credit: Gowns by Pronovias and Alvina Valenta}



Cut Above

Love your legs? You’re in luck! Designers were sweet on thigh-high side slits in recent collections, creating sexy gowns that show off stems. My advice for wearing this silhouette? Plenty of squats, a bronze glow, and lots of lotion. Get the Look: Angel Sanchez, Ines Di Santo, and
Monique Lhuillier.
{Image credit: Gowns by
Ines Di Santo and Monique Lhuillier}



In Bloom

Spring fashion always seems to include a crop of floral designs, and the spring 2012 bridal collections were no exception. From hand-painted petals to oversized shoulder blooms, these dresses are anything but wallflowers. Get the look:
Angel Sanchez, Blush by Jim Hjelm, Dennis Basso, and Reem Acra.
{Image credit: Gowns by
Angel Sanchez and Blush by Jim Hjelm}



Go for the Gold

Glittering, gleaming, gold-hued gowns are a glamorous upgrade from cream and taupe styles. Get the look: Anne Barge, Badgley Mischka, Claire Pettibone, and Romona Keveza.
{Image credit: Gowns by
Badgley Mischka and Anne Barge}



Shine On

Following in the footsteps of spring’s golden girls, high-shine gowns stole the spotlight on the spring and fall bridal fashion runways. You’ll be a shining star at your nuptials in high-wattage satins and silvery silks. Get the look: Amsale, Jenny Packham, Kenneth Pool, and Lazaro.
{Image credit: Gowns by
Amsale and Lazaro}



Sleeves, Please

Kate Middleton proved long sleeves can be stylish and chic with her Alexander McQueen wedding gown, and designers took note. Sleeves continue to gain momentum in the world of wedding dresses (good news for many Utah brides!). Popular designs for spring are accompanied by regal high necklines and classic lace. Get the look:
Claire Pettibone, Monique Lhuillier, and Pronovias.
{Image credit: Gowns by
Claire Pettibone and Monique Lhuillier}



Color Me Mine

Off-white gowns seem to be growing in popularity among modern brides, but I’m not talking about shades of cream, beige, and blush. This season’s hot hues? Blue, berry, and black. Get the look: Rivini, Romona Keveza, and Vera Wang.
{Image credit: Gowns by
Rivini and Romona Keveza}

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Tiffany & Co {Coming to Utah!}

Attention brides {and grooms}! Tiffany & Co. will be opening its first store in Utah at the new City Creek Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March, 21, 2012! The new store will offer a variety of men’s and women’s fashion jewelry, gifts and pieces for the home, crystal and china, accessories, baby gifts and timepieces. Utah brides will have the opportunity to shop for engagement rings and family members may shop for the Utah bride-to-be.

We are thrilled that UBB will be among the first group to get to go inside the new store and check at all of the amazing pretties! Check back because we will be sharing the inside scoop of the new shop in March!

Tiffany & Co. is also gearing up for Valentine’s Day which is coming up quick! If you are still needing a gift for your sweetheart check out more from their Valentines offerings here. Think Tiffany Hearts Lockets and pink gemstones! Swoon!

Who is excited for the new store and to have some Tiffany & Co in Utah?!

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A Carnival Date: Kirsten & Austin

Digital Memorys Video Production sent us over this charming date video of this gorgeous to be wed couple. Who doesn’t like a good carnival every now and then? Especially with a handsome fellow! The lights, the colors, the people, the rides, the food … on and on! All nostalgic with a romantic twist.

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One Dress – Three Inspiration Shoots {The Boho}

We are going to wrap up this day and this fun 3 part inspiration shoot with the Boho look! In case you missed it earlier we posted 2 other stylized looks to fit this dress, the Jackie and the Mod {scroll down to check them out}. How fun has it been to see how a simple dress can be transformed into so many different looks which plays a huge part in the style of the event as well. So after seeing all three shoots… which style do you love the most? What bride style do you relate to?

Thank you so much to Brittany Cascio for putting together all three of these inspiration shoots and sharing her vision with us!


Photography: Cascio Photography
Venue/Locations: Private Owners
Florist/Event Planner/Rentals: Ella Bella Floral
Hair/Makeup: Carrie Purser Makeup and Hair Artistry
Invitations/Signage: Ruffled Ink Designs
Jewelry: The Diamond Gallery
Hair Flower: Riley Lane Creations
Models: Whitney Jo Sant & Chris Koch (Chris Koch Films)

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One Dress – Three Inspiration Shoots {The Mod}

This morning we featured the Jackie styled shoot {scroll down if you missed it} wearing this same dress and now we are going to show you how it can transform into a mod look! If you are into a more modern look with bold and bright colors, geometric patterns and more edgy accessories then this is the style for you! We adore the use of the tangerine tights and the big bow!

We will be back again this afternoon to show you the final look… the boho!


Photography: Cascio Photography
Venue/Location: USU Performance Hall
Florist/Event Planner: Sego Event Planning and Floral Design
Hair/Makeup: Carrie Purser Makeup and Hair Artistry
Invitations: Pink Piggy Design
Cake: Sweet On You Cake Shop
Jewelry: The Diamond Gallery
Hair bow: Riley Lane Creations
Tux: Men’s Warehouse
Linens: Marcie Taylor Events
Scooter: Taylor Ballam
Models: Caroline Reale & Grady Smith

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One Dress – Three Inspiration Shoots {The Jackie}

Today we have a really fun and exciting inspiration feature to share with everyone! We will be posting three different inspiration shoots today that involve a vintage dress and how it can be accessorized to fit into three very different styles. Brittany Cascio found this classic dress at the Sock Monkey’n Around Antique store in Ogden, Utah and bought it for $9! This dress inspired her to show how it can be worn for any kind of bride, the Jackie bride, the mod bride and the boho bride. Make sure to check back during the day because we will be showing off all three shoots for day full of inspiration!

Lets start the day off with the Jackie!


Photography: Cascio Photography
Venue/Location: The Whittier Center Logan, UT AND Alpine Church Logan, UT
Rentals: Embellish the Moment
Florist: Blooms and Blossoms
Hair/Makeup: Carrie Purser Makeup and Hair Artistry
Invitation/Signage: Peter Love Jane
Cake: Sweet On You Cake Shop
Jewelry: The Diamond Gallery
Vintage Car-:Private Owner
Hat: Ebay
WWII Uniform Jacket: Hidden Treasures Antique store in Logan, UT
Models: Lindsay Bangerter & Daren Yates

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