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How to Purchase the Perfect Men’s Ring

we navigate ring selection with our friends at Mens Rings Online

There is such an enormous amount of energy required to make a wedding perfect in every way.  Of course there are always little hiccups and trials along the way, but all too often these are forgotten; the memories are wonderful, and the little malfunctions are later laughed at (we hope)!  We all know planning is the key to making the day go as smoothly as possible, whether you engage a wedding planner, or you and your bridal party have what it takes to account for every detail, leaving no stone unturned.

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Much of the focus is on the bride and rightly so, but the groom is also an essential ingredient and with that in mind I thought this a timely opportunity to discuss the topic of Men’s Rings.  If you are preparing for your special day and working your way through the myriad of things that must be done, your list will no doubt feature what your man needs at some point.  One of the essentials is a ring – and in today’s world rings are not just the plain gold that once all men use to wear. Below are a few things that you should consider:

  • Your Groom’s personality:Is he the traditional or conservative type or is he a little more contemporary or perhaps even flashy. Perhaps he has a unique and outrageous style – nothing mediocre for him! You see where I’m going with this.  Before anything else, the ring you choose must suit his personal style. If not, he most likely won’t feel comfortable wearing it and the wedding band is a jewellery accessory to be worn everyday so he needs to be comfortable.

  • The colour and type of metal: So once you have decided on the style that suits, target your searches to take into account whether you want it to be gold or silver or some other precious metal.  Do you want it two toned or perhaps to include some precious gem stones and what type of metal will suit with his everyday living environment. Does he spend a lot of time working with his hands?  If so, you want something scratch resistant and tough; think about a Tungsten ring – the strongest metal in the world!  Or, for a metal that is still strong but not so heavy there are some very happy grooms out there now who are wearing titanium rings. This metal is great for those who want to wear their ring effortlessly, barely noticing it due to the lightness of this durable metal.  And if that isn’t enough to choose from, how about some bold inner bands in blue or bronze with black outer band – these are stunning and will be noticed by everyone (perfect for Mr Not Mediocre!)

  • Custom designs and sizing: If you find something you really love, but you can’t get it in the size you want, try somewhere that offers custom designsand sizing.  This ensures that your ring is perfectly suited to your man and you will have the pleasure of knowing that it is uniquely his.  Allow some extra time for custom designs; they generally take a little longer than others.
  • Quality, Quality, Quality: And lastly, make sure that you buy quality, for this ring will last a lifetime!

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Inspiration Shoots and Boards:

Coral Blooms on a desert Ranch inspiration

featuring Elyse Alexandria Photography

Hidden in the heart of Desert Las Vegas is Legends Ranch—a gem of greenery, stone walls, and stunning light that will make you feel like you’ve been transported into another world. Combine that with luscious florals, vintage furniture, and gorgeous bridal styling and you’ve got this dreamy shoot captured by Elyse Alexandria Photography. Tailored Events styled thethe look with a focus on the colorful and rich blooms of dahlias, garden roses, and ranunculus created by City Blossoms set against the stone and greenery that covered the ranch. Berry pies and macaron treats are a nod to warm summer days and romantic calligraphy is by Ebb and Flow Ink. We’re loving the coral palette and it’s captured perfectly in these gorgeous images by Elyse Alexandria Photography .

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Photography: Elyse Alexandria Photography // Coordinator & Stylist: Tailored Events // Florals: City Blossoms // Calligraphy & Stationery Design: Ebb and Flow Ink // Venue: Legends Ranch // Vintage Rentals: Dogwood Rentals // Ring: Jeff White Custom Jewelry // Ring box: The Mrs. Box // Linen: Silk & Willow // Plates: Anthropologie

 

Real Weddings:

Darcy and Brad’s Backyard Wedding

photography by Kelsey and Michael Cowley

Darcy and Brad’s adorable backyard wedding took place at the bride’s family home. The couple enlisted Moody Blooms to design and transform the home into a venue filled with big, vibrant blooms and lots of love. Florist Cargo-Creative made all of Darcy’s floral dreams come including the photo backdrop wall of blooms and greenery dripping from an industrial light installation. Other personalized details include the couple’s favorite foods and a series of darling cakes by Society Sweets. You can check it all out in these happy images of the day captured by Kelsey and Michael Cowley.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

What made our wedding special and unique is that it was in my own family’s home. I had this idea and I was nervous about how it would turn out. I didn’t want it to look like a house with some decor, I wanted it to look like a venue. It was so fun to design every detail and pick every item of food for the whole event because we didn’t have any venue restrictions. It also just made it so special to have such an important day in my own family’s home.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

I got my gown from The Perfect Dress in Holladay, UT. I always imagined wearing a really tight dress. When I finally went to pick my dress I didn’t feel very “bridal” in any of the tight dresses! I tried on this dress, with its massive tulle skirt, and I knew it was THE one. It looked completely different on top at the bridal store and I wanted to change it to add a fluttery-lace-sleeve. The process of adding the sleeves took about 4 months, but my seamstress, Lydia, was incredible. She made it exactly how I’d envisioned it.

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?

Most of the personal touches were in the design and things I hand-picked. The X and O on the barn doors were something I really wanted and my amazing florist made it HAPPEN. So amazing. The wood wall with flowers was something I had dreamed up for a photo booth backdrop and it turned out even better than I imagined. My absolute favorite touch was the dessert room. I have been obsessed with the hanging light bulb fixture with greenery dripping from it forEVER. This was my one dream, to have the hanging light and my three amazing custom wedding cakes made by my own mom through her company, Society Sweets. It turned out even better than I hoped.

What was the most memorable part of the day?

I think the most memorable part of the day for me was the dinner. It was our favorite foods, our closest friends and family, Brad’s and my song choices, and exactly what we’d envisioned. It was so cool to all be at the one huge table together and celebrating such a big day. My favorite part of the dinner was the toasts. I love the pictures from the dinner and all of the memories they hold for us. It was so intimate and stunning.

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Brad and I met in 2014 when we were both freshman at BYU in Provo, UT. We had a class together and became friends. Brad asked me on a “date”, but didn’t call it a date, so I brought a couple of my girlfriends, ha! From then on we were pretty established as “just friends”. We both went on service missions for our church after our freshman year of school. Brad went to Brazil for two years, and I went to Alabama for 18 months. We stayed in touch here and there, and reconnected the Halloween after we both got home at a party. We talked for a long time and I just felt a spark with him. More time passed and after NYE, Brad asked last minute if I could pick him up from the airport. We talked the whole way home, and the next night we kissed!! The rest was history and we got married 6 months later.

Brad + Darcy from Ben and Bluebird on Vimeo.

// Photography: Kelsey and Michael Cowley // Wedding Coordinator: Moody Blooms // Florist: Cargo-Creative // Stationery and Desserts: Society Sweets // Venue: Bride’s family home // HMUA: Swell Beauty // Videography: Ben Thompson // DJ: Hayden Davis // Rentals: Archive Rentals // Catering: Tender Greens

 

Real Weddings:

Chelsea and Chase’s Nashville Wedding

photography by Davy Whitener

Chelsea and Chase were married in Nashville, the bride’s hometown. The outdoor ceremony at The Manor House at the Grove overlooked the 18th hole—a sweet nod the avid golfer groom—and was followed by an elegant, tented reception. A pared-back palette of whites and neutrals tied the details of the day together while subtle pops of lush greens in the florals by The Tulip Tree and invitations by Mariée Ami added a fresh feel. Wedding planner bride, Chelsea, was overwhelmed as she looked around her beautiful day realizing “wait, I planned this one for me.” Lucky for us the fabulous Davy Whitener  was on hand to capture it all in these stunning images.

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What made the wedding special and unique?

Our wedding was in Nashville at my parent’s Manor House. It was always important to me to get married in my favorite city that I called home for so long, so I was happy to have that checked off the list. While there were always those ‘musts’ for me, I had to put aside my planning mind and ask myself what Chase wanted. For as long as I can remember, my stepdad told me I’d marry a golfer. Through my many stages of life I always laughed at that, and then I met Chase! Chase loves golf, so from the beginning I always knew he’d ask if our wedding could somehow involve golf. Never would I have guessed that we’d have the 18th hole at The Grove as our ceremony backdrop, but there we were! I think very often the groom’s say gets a bit overlooked, so it was special to me to include the sport my groom loves most.

Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!

My dress is from Ivory & White in Birmingham, AL. I had always known I wanted a sweetheart neckline and mermaid body style. I went for a sample sale and ended up not buying one at the sale, but it was exactly what I wanted! Simple, yet the closer you get, the more detail is revealed. It was maybe the 6th dress I tried on, but I knew if I kept going I would have gotten lost in the trends and my fear of not being set apart from the many brides I’ve had in the past few years. I’m very happy (and a little surprised) to have stayed true to what I always had envisioned!

What were some touches added to make the wedding personal? 

I think the wedding as a whole was personal on a different level than most, because being a wedding planner, I do this every weekend. It was overwhelming to look around and realize ‘wait, I planned this one for me’. Even the small details were personal because I knew the people behind them; my paper suite designed by my co-workers turned friends, the lighting and drapery done by my sweet office-mate & her incredible crew, the support behind the other planners in the office, etc. It was all very humbling to know how much hard work these people put in every weekend, and this time it was for me. The linens and flowers I chose were just out of design standpoint; the personality of the wedding were the people behind it!

What was the most memorable part of the day? 

Honestly, the heat. I have never sweated so much in my life. But it almost made it even more meaningful that we had guests travel in from afar to celebrate us in the debilitating heat. As our wedding album progresses, the more sweaty everyone gets. It really is a treat to see everyone having fun while celebrating us, and it didn’t rain so that’s a perk!

Tell us how you met and became engaged.

Chase and I met in college during a pretty hard time in my life. He was my neighbor in our rental homes. I lived in a sun room made of 17 windows, so in the beginning, I despised the boys that kept me up all night next door. Fast forward a few years and one of them is asking me to be their wife! If anyone would have told me that one of those noisy boys was going to be my husband- I would never have believed it!

Chase proposed on a September afternoon. He and my boss planned a fake team photoshoot and as I turned the corner to meet the ‘photographer’, I see Chase standing there. The best part about it was that I had just gotten back in town from a huge outdoor wedding with what we in the industry call a ‘wedding hangover’, and the last thing I wanted to do was get dolled up for a team photo, ha! Thank goodness I did!

Photographer: Davy Whitener // Planning and Paper: Mariée Ami // Florist: The Tulip Tree // Venue & Catering: The Manor House at the Grove // Hair and makeup: Hunter Paige by Parlour 3 // Dress: Pronovias from Ivory and White // Cake: Barbs Cakes // Tent and Dance Floor: Music City Tent // Rentals: 12th Table // Linens: LaTavola and Nuage // Strings: College Grove Strings // Band: Eric Blue Band

 

Inspiration Shoots and Boards:

Etherial Inspiration in an Iris field

photography by Mariel Hannah

Take us to where photographer Mariel Hannah roams—to tea parties in fields of irises! Today we bring you some much needed spring inspiration in the form of this lovely shoot envisioned, planned and styled by Reagan Lauren. Inspired simply by nature—bees, butterflies, birds, and flowers—the team created this lovely editorial filled with ethereal charm set against a field of blooms at the foot of the mountains in Mariel’s own backyard. The whimsical mood is introduced by handwritten invitations by Kelsey Malie Calligraphy and adorned with silk butterflies. Captured beautifully by Mariel Hannah, this sweet shoot provides the perfect dose of inspiration for a garden wedding or lunch with your dearest ladies.

 

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Photography: Mariel Hannah // Planning, Creative Vision, Florals & Styling: Reagan Lauren // Calligraphy: Kelsey Malie Calligraphy // Botanical Prints: Matinae Design Studio // Hair: Onyx Styling Co // Makeup: Finding True Beauty // Models: Kaitlynn Garrison // Cake: Ghila Dolci Bakery