The Wedding Ring Blog

The Buzz about Mayan Marriage of Many 12-12-12 weddings!

I love it! The Mayan Marriage of Many will bring together 36 lucky couples to be married on 12-12-12 in Belize. This unique wedding package really is one of a kind. And recently Bridal Buzz gave this event some very cool coverage. Dallas residents may attend a special cocktail party to help a lucky couple celebrate winning a trip to Belize for this once in a lifetime event. Sounds great!

When Blushing Bride Boutique in Frisco was asked by Influency Group to locate a couple to participate in their contest to win a wedding in the Mayan Mountains of Belize they jumped at the chance.  And now, that couple has either won the grand prize or a runner-up package and the world will find out which it is on the morning of February 13.

So, what does all this have to do with you? Well, to celebrate the couple, Romantic Travel Belize is hosting a cocktail reception event from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the evening of February 13 at the historic Frisco Heritage Center Depot and it is open to the public.

Read - You’re Cordially Invited to the “Unbelizeably in Love Cocktail Reception.”

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Mayan Marriage of Many on 12-12-12.

Will the world really end near the completion of 2012? Or will there be a series of catastrophic events that will illustrate that the end is near for all of mankind? Well, if you believe how many interpret the meaning behind the Mayan calendar, and you are thinking about getting married, now is the time to think about a wedding that is once in a lifetime. In fact, you may consider Belize as the wedding destination of your choice. After all, if something REALLY bad is going to happen, then you may as well go out with style. Or at least having recently have had the time of your life!

Supposedly December 2012 will mark the end of the 5,126 year era in the Mayan Calendar. But instead of it being a sign of mortal finality and/or destruction, it actually can be thought of as a time of renewal, rebirth, renaissance and new beginnings. In honor of this historic and spiritual moment, thirty-six adventurous, fortunate and spiritually motivated couples along with two hundred and eighteen of their closest friends and family will partake in the unique Mayan Marriage of Many wedding celebration in Belize. This grand wedding event will be staged on an ancient Maya Temple at the 3200 year old Mayan City of Cahal Pech on December 12, 2012 (that’s 12-12-12).  At the same time, in five other exotic resort locations in Ambergris Caye, five additional couples will each hold their own separate full court fairytale wedding nuptials event as well.

Package for the group weddings in Cahal Pech range from $14,030 to $24,030 for the Bridal Couple (depending on their chosen hotel and other add-on options) and includes a 5-night Mini-Moon, all receptions, day tours, etc. Packages for guest couples start at $5,030 for December 9-13, 2012, with custom mini-cations also available.

While in Belize, brides, grooms and guests will be able to enjoy an exciting choice of activities that the land has to offer including zip lining, Maya massage and other healing, arts medicine trails with Maya shaman, horseback riding, Caracol and other Maya site exploration, bird watching, kayaking, cave tubing, exploring ancient caves with human remains, museums, botanical gardens, a world class zoo, repelling, spelunking, scuba diving or snorkeling around the second largest barrier reef in the world, helicopter tours, mountain biking, yoga and more.

Wow! There’s a lot do in Belize! For additional information on wedding events, packages and resort accommodations go to www.2012weddingsbelize.com.

The Mayan Marriage of Many has recently been mentioned on FoxNews.com - Cashing in on the 'end of the world' tourism.

Images: Jose Luis Zapata Photography

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Buk-Mark Directory

The Wedding Ring Book’s free ring eBook.

Need help with your wedding ring purchase, but don’t know where to start? If you are in a bind, and need a little help, then start with The Wedding Ring Book, which is available as a free download.

Free? That’s right, it’s free!

The Wedding Ring Book is the destination for all of your wedding ring designs and information. They have created a beautiful eBook to educate and showcase the latest and best designs in the bridal industry.  All the prospective bride and groom need do is to click on an image or ad and be directed to that designer's website.
 
Beautiful designer wedding rings, education and selection is all at your fingertips!
 
Featured wedding ring and jewelry designers include:

Asscher Cut Princess, Benchmark, Charles Krypell, Coast Diamond, Gem Platinum,  Gumuchian, Jack Abraham, Jack Kelege, JB Star, John Buechner, Katharine James, Memoire, Norman Silverman, Novell, Platinum Guild, Precision Set, Rudolf Friedmann, and Sholdt Designs.

Please also visit www.theweddingringbook.com to see additional brands and styles as well.

Download The Wedding Ring Book today.

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Diamond scavenger hunt - find a diamond in Hoboken!

New Jersey wedding ring retailer Hoboken Gold & Diamonds is conducting their "Jewel of the Mile" scavenger hunt, which allows up to fifty lucky couples the chance to discover a hidden diamond worth more than $10,000.

Couples have until February 4, 2011 to register for Hoboken Gold & Diamonds’ diamond scavenger hunt, and the contest takes place February 12. Participants are randomly selected, and will need to use their knowledge of Hoboken to decipher clues leading them to the location of the hidden diamond. Hoboken Gold & Diamond will then offer to use the diamond to produce an engagement ring for the winning couple.

Hoboken Gold & Diamond also partners with other Hoboken businesses for additional contest prizes; Madison Bar & Grill, Spa Aura, Creative Groove Studio and Carlo's Bake Shop all provide discounts and services for the winning couple’s wedding day.

For more information about registering, please read Jeweler Teases Couples with Diamond Scavenger Hunt.

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Wedding ring trends for 2012.

Should the economy stay relatively the same in 2012, two precious metals for wedding rings bridal jewelry will be more prominent due to their price points.

Palladium is a naturally white precious metal that has been around for years and years. In fact, my Grandmother’s wedding ring was created in palladium, and she was married during World War II. Not a lot of consumers realize that palladium is a less expensive white metal option, and that wedding rings created with palladium are closer in price to 14kt white gold designs (which are not naturally white and eventually develop a yellow hue if not rhodium plated). However, the benefits of palladium far outweigh the benefits of white gold. Palladium rings are lightweight, hypoallergenic, retain their color, and can be sized, which is something that can not be said about much cheaper alternative metal styles.

Another precious metal that should become more popular is Argentium Silver. Argentium Silver is more pure than standard sterling silver, is tarnish resistant, and Argentium alloys are nickel-free, so those with a reaction to nickel have noting to fear. Rings created with Argentium Silver also fill in a price point that falls in between cheaper alternative metal designs and that of 14kt gold. They can also be sized, while titanium and tungsten can not. All in all, Argentium Silver sounds like a great deal.

Novell Design Studio has been a leader in palladium wedding ring manufacturing, and has recently introduced a new collection of In Union wedding rings. In Union rings are made by pairing a very thin layer of 14kt gold and Argentium Silver with a very unique bonding technology.  A light-weight gold band is designed, finished, and carefully fused to a strong Argentium Silver liner.  This results in a wonderfully resilient product with great potential for color, design, and flexibility. In Union wedding rings are priced to be the precious metal answer to alternative metal products – a need that jewelry stores have been asking about!

By the way, Novell uses pink and yellow gold as the outside layer of In Union rings strictly for fashion. Rings that are all white are 100% Argentium Silver through and through.

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Check out The Wedding Ring Book.

Are you looking for some great wedding ring ideas and shopping tips? Well, look no further than The Wedding Ring Book, a free online publication dedicated to bridal jewelry.

The Wedding Ring Book is a great place to start for anyone looking for shopping ideas. You can download the issue as a PDF file for easy printing. Choosing the right wedding rings can be tough, and we typically only do it once in a lifetime (if you are lucky). So if you are looking for a great place to start for wedding ring ideas and a basic wedding ring education, download The Wedding Ring Book for free!

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Top 10 Men Wedding Bands of 2011.

Leading online wedding portal YourEngagement101.com presents the selections for the Top 10 Men Wedding Bands of 2011. Chosen by both consumers and editors, interesting designs created by Chris Ploof (with a palladium wedding band), Novell (one of their TATU rings) and Wright & Lato (an alternative metal design) were featured.

See the Top 10 Men Wedding Bands of 2011.

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Vote for your favorite UK wedding vendor.

The Bridal Magazine, the United Kingdom’s leading online wedding portal for brides-to-be, is conducting their 2011 Wedding Supplier Awards. UK residents can complete the entry form to register their vote for the wedding business of choice. Please make sure to wait for the confirmation page before leaving the page or votes will not be sent!

Vote for your favorite wedding vendor for Bridal Magazine’s 2011 Wedding Supplier Award.

LIKE The Bridal Magazine on Facebook.

Siebke Hoyt’s Las Vegas giveaway!

Iowanians – listen up!

Wedding ring retailer Siebke Hoyt (Des Moines, Iowa) wants to send you to Las Vegas. Just make an in-store purchase of at least $1,800 and while supplies last, Siebke Hoyt will give you a trip to Las Vegas!  So, what’s included in the Las Vegas giveaway?

*Round trip tickets for two people departing out of Des Moines.
*Two night hotel stay (hotel varies based on availability when you choose to travel).

Now is the perfect time to get engaged, celebrate an anniversary or treat yourself to some nice jewelry - and get a trip for two to Las Vegas! It’s a nice little weekend or short stay getaway. And with today’s metal prices, $1,800 is very reasonable.

Visit Siebke Hoyt’s jewelry website for more information. This contest ends October 31, 2011, or until promotion vouchers run out – whatever comes first!

LIKE Siebke Hoyt on Facebook.

Siebke Hoyt’s contest fine print: 

- Recipients MUST be at least 21 years old to claim certificate, and will be responsible for any taxes charged from the airline or hotel.   
- Flights are out of the Des Moines International Airport. 
- The certificates must be registered within 6 months of taking possession, and are valid for travel within two years.
- This offer is only good on purchases made from October 1-31, 2011
- Quantities are limited and the promotion will end when vouchers are exhausted.

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QR Codes becoming mainstream for marketing.

Recently the company that I work for began using a QR code in our engagement ring advertising. In case you didn’t know, a QR code is a funky little square thing that sorta looks like a barcode, only it isn’t, but at the same time it is. In technical terms, a QR code is a 2-dimensional barcode, and is similar in concept to the very familiar UPC code that gets scanned at almost any retailer today. “QR” is an abbreviation for "Quick Response". When read by a special QR code reader on a smart phone (iPhone, Android, etc.), the phone's browser will be directed to the programmed information embedded within the code. In my case, the consumer is delivered to a mobile webpage especially created for platinum bridal jewelry merchandise. In essence, it allows someone who is interested in seeing more engagement rings to actually see more products without having to locate a computer; platinum designs are at your fingertips and literally in the palm of your hand. It’s also easy to share information with a friend or future bride or groom-to-be. Ya just gotta love it!

Here are more examples of how QR codes are being used in the wedding industry:

SometimeS you have to look at things in another way, or through other eyes. PRISSAM is very cool gift company with unique gifts for amazing people, and uses a QR code to direct interested consumers its website. PRISSAM's glass and crystal gifts are about looking at life in a different perspective, and like a prism, each art gift symbolizes an emotion, a feeling, a sentiment between the giver and the recipient, whether it is for a mother, a father, a graduate, the wedding couple or a friend. This Internet-based company was founded by three sisters whose parents (Priscilla & Sam - hence the name PRISSAM) taught them to look at life like a prism -  keeping the pluses positive, turning the negatives into pluses, the obstacles into opportunities and the plain glass into a prism. A gift that inspires you to look at life differently certainly requires a different method of promotion – like a QR code!

Camille Victoria Weddings offers full service planning for a wedding day, but also provides partial planning services, wedding day coordination, and candy buffets for couples in the greater Chicago area. When hosting informational wedding planning-related events, such as throwing tea parties for the engaged, Camille Victoria Weddings distributes wedding planning kits featuring a QR code in plain view. Their QR code for bridal shows provides quick supplemental information about who they are and what they offer. With a simple scan*, a potential customer can see more information, and this helps get a leg up on the competition. No more scribbling a URL on the back of a napkin!  A few clicks give the potential customer more information fast!

QR codes are even being utilized in health care. Many brides-to-be may be concerned with stress management during wedding planning or even about losing weight for their wedding. And let’s face it - wedding planning is as stressful as it is exciting. Health and Wellness Counseling Associates offers health coaching to help address both these issues with bridal clients. Counseling sessions can be conducted in person if you are a resident of the Chicago-area, over the phone, or on Skype. If you mention The Wedding Ring Blog, Health and Wellness Counseling Associates will give you a special discount (as per Psychotherapist and Certified Holistic Health Coach Heather Shannon). So scan their featured QR code today!

Invitation Consultants is an online invitation, stationery and gift retailer which recently began using QR code on cards which are sent along with customer orders and link to a specific website page of directions explaining how to assemble your wedding invitation order. Invitation Consultants also has had requests from brides to add QR codes to their printed save-the-date notifications and shower invitations as well. When included on an invitation, a QR code can be linked to registries, venue information, travel details or accommodation particulars. What a great idea! The above QR code actually scans to a You Tube video, so you can link it to almost any type of Internet-based promotional channel (mobile page, specific landing page, contest, etc.).

Imagine a world with no paper, no printing and no ink! QR Devices brings you the future of ID – NOW! They specialize in laser engraving QR codes directly into almost anything. QR Devices has heart-shaped pins made from red polymer clay that should be perfect for weddings. The featured QR code could link to the couple's online photo album or wedding website, and the company has also utilized this technology in biz card cases, key chains, and more. QR Devices can create a code of any size, including those small enough for clandestine applications.

In addition to being Music Director and drummer for the B.B. King All Star Band, NaturalPhil provides all types of music for corporate events and weddings. NaturalPhil can assemble a band that’s right for the sounds that you want for your wedding day or event, whether if you desire a group featuring a full rack of horn players, or perhaps a rocking electric guitarist, or even big band jazz sounds. NaturalPhil’s featured QR code drives traffic to his Facebook page, and uses others that will land you on his corporate website or relevant marketing message.

Below are additional QR codes for jewelry websites. If you can't tell by the graphics used for this article, you can actually scan them from a computer screen, so have some fun learning about useful companies via your cell phone. Save a featured landing page in your cell phone browsing history to easily dial it up when discussing your wedding planning, showing a ring to your jeweler, and so on. The possibilities for sharing are endless!

Blue Star Bazaar wedding products

Novell jewelry

 

Red Square Visual Arts (photography and more)

Please note: This is just one part of The Wedding Ring Blog’s series about QR codes. This article was written with shared information provided by the featured companies.

*You can find free scanning software for your phone HERE.

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Exclusively Weddings.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) (also known as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month [NBCAM]) is in full swing, as it takes place every year during the month of October. It is an annual international health campaign organized by several of the major breast cancer charities with the goal of increasing awareness of this dreadful disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. Breast Cancer Awareness Month also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, online wedding retailer ExclusivelyWeddings.com offers 15% off orders that are $75.00 or more (just use coupon code AAJRG). At ExclusivelyWeddings.com, future brides and grooms brides can browse through an extensive selection of upscale wedding accessories, invitations, wedding party gifts, and favors.

Visit ExclusivelyWeddings.com for your wedding needs today.

LIKE Exclusively Weddings on Facebook.

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Three reasons to attend a Wedding Salon event.

                                   

The reality of wedding planning is that brides and grooms need resources. Years ago, those who were soon-to-be-wed flocked to the book store for armfuls of bridal magazines. These days, websites and blogs have taken those many magazines’ place, as titles such as Modern Bride, Elegant Bride and In Style Weddings have all disappeared. Now there are fantastic regional events hosted by The Wedding Salon in New York, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles (see The Wedding Salon website for more information). Instead of flipping through pages, or clicking through website after website (or blog after blog), The Wedding Salon makes vendor research a snap in a very comfortable and very cool setting.

Here are three reasons to attend a Wedding Salon event:

Vendors, vendors and the right vendors -You will meet the best of the best vendors in the wedding industry who will exceed your expectations and provide you with only the best quality product!

It’s all about SWAG, baby! – The Wedding Salon makes sure that attendees walk away with some truly amazing VIP gift bags.

The cream of the wedding planning crop - Best place to find all the latest trends and learn them first hand from the top leaders in the wedding industry.

Learn more about The Wedding Salon by watching their online video brochure. You can also LIKE The Wedding Salon on Facebook.

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7 New Wedding Ring Trends on Engagement101.com.

YourEngagement101.com, a leading wedding portal devoted to dispensing THE best bridal-related advice online, just released a new Engagement101 TV “webisode” devoted to seven of the latest wedding ring trends.

This brief and informative video cuts to the chase with practical tidbits about the following wedding ring-related topics:

1. Gold wedding rings (illustrates the artistry of gold)
2. Multi-textured wedding rings (talks about different finishes and more)
3. Platinum wedding rings (tells why platinum is a better choice for rings)
4. Hammered wedding rings (with demonstration)
5. Hidden secrets wedding rings
6. His and her’s wedding rings
7. Contemporary metal wedding rings (explains how alternative metals offer more design flexibility)

Watch 7 New Wedding Band Trends.

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Larson Jewelers offers military discount for wedding rings.

Leading online wedding ring retailer Larson Jewelers understands the tremendous personal sacrifice made by America’s brave men and women in the armed forces throughout the world. To show their appreciation, Larson Jewelers gives all active duty military personnel a special military discount of an additional 5% off the lowest available prices for their online wedding rings. This military discount is not available to the non-military general public. To learn more about the Larson Jewelers military discount, please contact them directly via their wedding ring website.

LIKE Larson Jewelers on Facebook.

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The Brode Ass Bride wedding blog wins 123 Print wedding award.

A little while ago, I mentioned a great wedding promotion – The 123Print Wedding Invitation Giveaway. In addition to giving away $1,000 worth of printed wedding invitations to a lucky bride and groom, 123Print was also awarding $500 to the blog that provided the most referrals to the contest. And a great wedding blog won – The Broke-Ass-Bride. So congrats to all at The Broke-Ass Bride wedding blog!

LIKE The Broke Ass Bride on Facebook.

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Coming soon - the new Engagement 101 Magazine!

THE wedding ring resource - Engagement 101 Magazine - has arrived and is about to hit your favorite bookstore or newsstand! The Fall 2011 issue of Engagement 101 Magazine will be available by July 26, and it’s packed with engagement rings, wedding rings, all sorts of jewelry trends, wedding dresses and much more. This brand new edition of Engagement 101 Magazine is all about wedding inspiration, and they also do the “Celebrity Wedding” aspect very well. You WILL be INSPIRED – I promise!

Learn more about the latest issue of Engagement 101 Magazine.

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$99 per-night Bahamas honeymoon deal – limited time only!

 

You hear it on the news almost every day – the economy is affecting nearly everyone, so planning an affordable wedding can be challenging. With wedding season currently in full swing, many couples might be searching for last minute deals to book that dream honeymoon destination without breaking their bank. If an affordable vacation to Grand Bahama Island sounds like a great idea – especially at $99 a night – the Radisson Our Lucaya Resort might just be for you!

Through the end of July, 2011, the Radisson Our Lucaya Resort is offering a $99 per-night, per-person honeymoon deal. This too good to be true honeymoon deal is available for those who can travel during August only. The Radisson Our Lucaya Resort is the perfect location for couples looking to get away to see the largest dolphin facility in the world, as well as enjoy the island’s famously gorgeous beaches and fantastic Bahamian cuisine.

  

This $99 per person/per night honeymoon deal at the Radisson Our Lucaya Resort includes:

• Luxurious room at the resort
• Daily breakfast buffet
• Beach and pool amenities
• All taxes, gratuities and resort fees 

Book online at www.ourlucaya.com or call 1-800-693-1404.

LIKE Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort on Facebook.

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Give her a marriage proposal written in the sand at One Atlantic.

 
 A memorable marriage proposal is a story that lasts a lifetime, and can often be shared from generation to generation.  Imagine her surprise after she (or maybe even he) notices "Will You Marry Me" written on the beach while you are overlooking a tremendous view of the Atlantic Ocean. The staff at Atlantic City’s One Atlantic, an over-the-water venue located on the top of the Pier Shops at Caesars, can help make such a great proposal idea a reality.

 

One Atlantic extends out 100 yards over the sea, which makes it the perfect setting for a romantic evening of champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, and fine cuisine. This beautiful wedding venue is nestled among the luxury boutiques, gourmet restaurants, glittering casinos and world-class entertainment that line the East Coast’s most famous resort. And because One Atlantic is a top-of-the-line catering facility, you can actually get married near the same spot where you popped the question!

Contact One Atlantic to arrange your unique proposal today.

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Hangover cures - avoiding the wedding hangover.

 

Nobody likes to feel crappy and cruddy after a few days of wedding celebrations. Drinking at the rehearsal dinner and reception can take its toll, and even the most casual drinkers can feel a little hung-over after all is said and done. So how do you avoid a wedding-related hangover? Well, I have a method that works very well for me, but please keep in mind that it may not work for everybody, or even be right for everyone (especially if you are on a low sodium diet).

How I avoid hangovers is very simple. Aside from drinking water before bedtime, I hit the refrigerator for the pickle jar. That’s right – the pickle jar! Pickles and pickle juice have a high salt and electrolyte content. Medical professionals believe that salt plays the major role in preventing the dehydration, and in sports that really tax your body, this will prevent cramping as well.

Sports and pickle juice? Right again – that’s exactly what I said! There is a connection with hydrating while playing sports and pickle juice.

If you don’t want to crunch on pickles, then check out Pickle Juice Sport, which you can find in the sport drink section of H-E-B, Brookshire's Grocery, United Supermarkets, Academy Sports and Outdoors, and Hibbett Sporting Goods. This is the first drink designed and packaged for the sole purpose of preventing and or stopping muscle cramps. I also recall reading about the benefits of pickle juice in Sports Illustrated years ago. Pickle Juice Sport is sold and endorsed by NFL and College programs as a hydration system to be used in combination with other sport drinks. Should you live out of range from the mentioned retailers, you can buy Pickle Juice Sport directly at www.picklepower.com.

Still skeptical? You can read about a pickle juice study on Vanderbilt University’s Health Psychology Page.

And by the way, the pickles pictured at the top of this post are one of my favorites. They’re McClure’s Garlic Dill Pickles, and while they are a little on the expensive side, they are worth every penny. Their Spicy Pickles are also fantastic. Actually, the spicy one's are the absolute greatest, but can be very bold. Buy McClure's at a location near you.

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Wedding Adventure Giveaway to the Rocky Mountains!

 

The Rocky Mountains have an atmosphere of mystique, romance and adventure all rolled up into one. If you’ve never really thought of a Rocky Mountain destination wedding, then maybe it’s time that you do. Colorado’s Hotel Madeline Telluride, along with its sister property Inn at Lost Creek, has just the contest to help put you in a Rocky Mountain mood better than John Denver’s Greatest Hits ever could! Their Wedding Adventure Giveaway takes the planning out of one lucky couple’s destination wedding by providing everything from invitations to the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony to the wedding cake, VIP services and more. Available exclusively through the Hotel Madeline Telluride Facebook page, participating couples are invited to video their answer the following question - “what adventure brought you together?” The winning future bride and groom’s next journey will be the ultimate Rocky Mountain wedding on October 1, 2011.

The Wedding Adventure Giveaway package includes:

• Rehearsal Dinner: To be held at the newly re-launched 9545 Restaurant & Bar with “Mexi-terranean” cuisine by Culinary Director Chef Jake Linzinmeir (for up to 20 guests). 
• Wedding: Ceremony for up to 80 guests--including one pet if desired--to be a part of the proceedings.
• Reception: Hosted at Hotel Madeline Telluride’s Grand Ballroom for dinner and reception with farm-to-table cuisine including complimentary cake cutting and Champagne toast.
• Wedding Cake: A three-tiered custom wedding cake provided by Hotel Madeline Telluride.
• Flowers: A bouquet for the bride, boutonnière for the groom, up to six additional bouquets and six additional boutonniere’s, two altar pieces, and additional floral arrangements.
• Photography: Photography services provided by award-winning photographer Andrew Clark.
• Bridal Spa Linnea Luncheon: A manicure/pedicure in Hotel Madeline Telluride’s new Spa Linnea with mimosas and a light lunch for up to six of the bride’s VIPs. 
• Groomsmen Golf Outing: Up to six of the groom’s VIPs invited to play 18 holes at 9,500 feet above sea level.
• Invitations: 120 wedding invitations to be sent to friends and family, including postage.
• Accommodations: A Bridal Suite at the Hotel Madeline Telluride for the Wedding Couple, as well as an additional four guest rooms for the couples’ VIPs.
• Transportation: Transportation to and from the Telluride Airport provided for all guests staying at the Hotel Madeline Telluride.
• Morning After: Sunday morning Champagne breakfast-in-bed for the new couple.

And to add even more spice to the giveaway pot, the chosen couple will also receive a two-night stay at Hotel Madeline Telluride on the first-year anniversary of their wedding adventure.

To enter Hotel Madeline Telluride’s Wedding Adventure Giveaway, simply fill out the online application form, supply a photo and a short two-minute video describing the adventure that brought you and your fiancée together. Fans will then have a chance to vote for their favorite videos. But hurry! You have until July 25, 2011 to enter, and we all know how fast times goes by when planning an unforgettable wedding experience. Voting for Wedding Adventure Giveaway’s favorite video will be open on Facebook until August 15, with the winner announced on August 17, 2011. A Rocky Mountain wedding is truly a magnificent experience.

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The $1,000 wedding invitations giveaway from 123 Print!

 

Okay – let’s face it! Almost everything involved with planning a wedding can be expensive, and aside from the wedding rings most of your wedding items will only be used on that day, and then put aside as a keepsake. Or as with an ice sculpture, it will just melt away. And in today’s economy, that can have a profound affect on your bank account. A good wedding sweepstakes or giveaway is always welcomed among most future brides and grooms.

123 Print will be giving away $1,000 worth of wedding invitations to a lucky soon-to-be-wedded couple. As of this post (June 23, 2011), there are about three weeks left for a chance to win this offer, so head over to the 123 Print website today and enter the Wedding Invitations Giveaway (there’s just a simple sign-up process)!

Here’s what I like best about 123 Print – they want you to be happy and totally satisfied upon receiving your order, and stand behind their products with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If you don’t like your wedding invitations, cards, postcards, etc., just send them back within thirty days for a full refund.

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The Wedding Report wedding resource survey.

 

The Wedding Report, a leading wedding resource that researches consumer trends in the wedding industry, recently released a very interesting survey/report about how savvy brides are utilizing the Internet as one of their primary sources for their wedding research to find wedding brands and vendors. It’s a no brainer that online is the way to go for many, but also it’s interesting to see that reliance on national and local bridal publications is way down.

Primary sources couples use to find wedding vendors**:

Internet search engines - 61%
Friend recommendation - 60%
Family recommendation - 50%
Local Internet wedding websites - 48%
Bridal show or event - 34%
Local magazines - 29%
National Internet wedding websites - 29%
National magazines - 18%
Phone book - 15%
Radio - 4%
TV - 8%
Other Sources- 5%

But here’s a thought to ponder – as a bride or groom searches general terms for wedding rings, the primary results direct them to online wedding ring retailers. But what if they don’t want to shop online and their jewelry store of choice has a limited selection? It’s still surprising to see that most manufacturers and designers lay low when it comes to Internet visibility. I view this as surrendering to websites like Blue Nile, or even to combination retailers that have both online and retail options such as Zales and Kays. Keep in mind that the last retailers mentioned do not necessarily carry or promote brand names, so for those in the jewelry industry with a “designer” mentality, it would pay off to increase their presence on the Internet.

LIKE The Wedding Report on Facebook.

* Percents add up to more than 100% because couples were allowed to select more than one source.
**Source: The Wedding Report's Proprietary survey from 2010.

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Tapper’s Ultimate Wedding Ring - Wedding Band Weekend.

 

Michigan wedding ring retailer Tapper’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry offers you a great opportunity to find the wedding ring or wedding band that you’ve been looking for, and you can do so during their great weekend event. For only just two days in June, all three Tapper’s locations will feature stunning, unique and distinctive wedding rings and wedding bands of all shapes, sizes and prices. The jewelry industry’s leading wedding ring and wedding band designers will be showing off their latest collections and most popular designs - each backed by the legendary Tapper’s Peace of Mind Guarantee. It’s the perfect place and time to do all of your bridal jewelry shopping.

Before you attend Tapper’s Ultimate Wedding Band Weekend, be sure to research the popular metals that are available for wedding rings and wedding bands today – platinum, palladium, gold, tungsten and titanium. You can download the free PDF brochure – Choosing the Right Metal for Your Bridal Jewelry.

Are you not quite sure if the timing is right to buy a wedding ring because of finances? Then don’t forget to ask Tapper’s about their special financing offer, which is only available during this Ultimate Wedding Band Weekend.  The Ultimate Wedding Band Weekend takes place on June 25th and June 26th, 2011 at all the following Tapper’s locations:

6337 Orchard Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Tel: 248-932-7700

2800 West Big Beaver Road
Troy, MI 48084
Tel: 248-649-2000

27716 Novi Road,
Novi, MI 48377
Tel: 248-465-1800

Also visit Tapper's on Facebook.

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The Wedding Ring Blog reaches 700th post!

The Wedding Ring Blog has just surpassed its 700th post! Thanks to the readers that find The Wedding Ring Blog through image searches and when searching for “wedding ring blogs” for stopping by, and thanks to the many that return multiple times during their shopping research. What started as a lark has developed into something that’s a lot of fun. I look forward to many more posts in the future.

Like The Wedding Ring blog on Facebook.

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Wedding song story - real wedding song by Marci Geller.

 

Okay, let’s face it – I am a sucker for a self-penned wedding song that’s specifically written for that wedding day. A few years ago, I came across Jacqui Naylor’s “Celebrate Early and Often,” and the romantic guy inside me was deeply touched. Recently I have come across Marci Geller’s “First Dance.” A music industry veteran whose creations are featured regularly on television (and more), Marci married her best friend and co-writer Gian DiMauro. The couple will be celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary this coming Saturday, May 7th, 2011.
 
“We co-wrote our wedding song because we met while working on a writing project together,” Marci told me. “At the time, I was working on a modern day rock musical and had decided to write each of the characters with a different person. A mutual friend suggested I work with Gian.”
 
Marci and Gian convened at his recording studio to collaborate on a song that they never ended up quite finishing. Two weeks later Gian proposed, and after a healthy engagement period, the two married in 1995.  They decided that since their intended composition was never finished, then they might as well write one for the wedding - and that’s exactly what happened!
 
Listen to “First Dance.”
 
Buy Marci’s music at her website store.
 
Here are some upcoming tour dates for Marci Geller:
 
MAY 22 - Franklin Houseconcert Series, Franklin, MA - 1pm
JUNE 5 - First Sundays For Jack @ Living Room, NYC - Time TBA
JUNE 10 - Happenings On Main, Northport, NY  - Details TBA
JUNE 11 - Homegrown Music Cafe, Port Jefferson Station, NY - 8pm
JUNE 12 -  Just for Judy @ Passport Cafe, West Milford, NJ - Time TBA
JUNE 21 -  Banjo Jim's, New York, NY  - 7-9pm
JULY 15 - Beanberry Caffe, Miller Place, NY - 8pm
JULY 21-23 - Falcon Ride Festival, Hillsdale, NY - Check website for times
AUGUST 3 - Grafton Concerts on the Commons, Grafton, MA - 6:00pm
AUGUST 4 - Sally O'Brien's, Somerset, MA - 8:00pm
AUGUST 12 - Cinema Arts Center "Music in the Garden" - Details TBA
DECEMBER 4 - Port Washington Library*, Port Washington, NY - 3:00pm 
 
* This is a tribute to Carole King and Carly Simon with Gathering Times’ Hillary Foxsong and Former Lucky 13 band mate Cathy Kreger!

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For jewelry stores – trade your old precious metals in for new platinum bridal jewelry.

In recent years, many jewelry stores may have found themselves to be reluctant to reorder platinum designs that were sold from their inventory due to platinum’s premium price. But as the price of gold keeps creeping closer and closer to that of platinum, this no longer makes as much sense; if two items are relatively close in cost, but one has much greater benefits (i.e. platinum), wouldn’t it make sense for the consumer to pay a little more at the counter but get a lifetime of benefits?

If you are a jewelry store with a lot of unused and unwanted jewelry, then Novell’s Great American Metal Exchange (GAME) is right up your alley. Instead of scrapping out your old stock, trade it to Novell for new platinum bridal jewelry that has much greater retail value. Sound interesting? Well, it should. Read on!

Novell’s GAME Puts Platinum Back in Jewelry Stores

(Rahway, New Jersey – April 20, 2011) Novell Design Studio’s Great American Metal Exchange (GAME) program allows qualified jewelry stores to trade in unusable precious metals for Novell’s new Studio Platinum bridal-classics collection. It's a weight exchange with a minimal program fee. Acceptable precious metals for this special opportunity are platinum, gold, and palladium.  Is there a better way and time to profit from your under-performing, broken, and damaged merchandise? The GAME is a meticulously planned and executed bridal jewelry stimulus package. It meets the challenges of the hard economy head on!

 
How Do You Qualify for the GAME?
Qualifying for Novell’s GAME is easy. You must be a retail jewelry store with a strong bridal presence,   or  at the very least have a commitment to strengthen your bridal business. Candidates should have an active account with Novell Design Studio, but those that do not can apply for an account with a GAME facilitator.  GAME participants have to comply with a few very reasonable terms and conditions as well. Interested jewelry stores also need to have enough platinum, gold, or palladium to complete the trade.  Just call or e-mail any one of Novell’s GAME facilitators listed at www.novellsgame.com/game-facilitators.html, and they will make the confirmation process very easy for you.

Introducing Studio Platinum
Novell’s Studio Platinum collection is specifically designed for the Great American Metal Exchange. Studio Platinum is a registered and branded Novell Design Studio creation.  The new-product line will be wholly marketed to the consumers and trade. Studio Platinum’s styling targets the nouveau-classic tastes of today's bride.  It is a collection of the traditional bridal jewelry standards, made to be most relevant for your customers.  All designs are artfully crafted to be affordable in the best metal the world has to offer - platinum.  Although Studio Platinum samples will feature platinum, styles will be available in other precious metals by special order.  Customization is easy through Novell’s Custom Shop representatives. Novell manufactures the entire collection in their 24,000 square foot New Jersey facility. Their reputation for flexibility, quality, and serviceability is unequaled.

Why Tout Platinum Bridal Jewelry?
The new social-network consumers, both male and female, conduct extensive online research before committing their hearts and dollars to their bridal jewelry purchases.  But during this discovery phase, what do they find out about platinum?  They find out that as a setting, no other precious metal will be as durable or as protective of diamonds. Platinum is the only precious metal that doesn’t wear down and decrease in content over time.  Consumer research tells us that 81% of women about to be engaged want platinum,* while the primary reason consumers purchase something other than platinum is because the product was not available at the store.** The GAME solves this problem by positioning your store to make your customers' dreams come true - and earn you a more profitable sale in the process. Please visit www.novellsgame.com for more information. But act now, as Novell’s GAME is for a limited time only!

*Condé Nast Bridal Group Wedding Study
** Platinum Guild International’s Mystery Shopping Research

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Awesome Groupon Wedding Salon Deal - for one day only!

 

For a VERY limited time (April 19, 2011 ONLY), Groupon features a $20 admission deal for you and a guest to The Wedding Salon bridal show. This bridal show takes place on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at the Manhattan Center Studios from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Your Groupon deal also includes a gift bag, which has an estimated $50 value.

The Wedding Salon brings futures brides and grooms-to-be the latest in matrimonial “gotta have” items. Visit with some of the industry's leading experts, as well as enjoy great food, style advice, and more. Featured wedding designers and brands include David Tutera for Disney's Fairytale Weddings, Sylvia Weinstock, wedding specialists from The Knot and Madame Paulette, and couture bridal gowns by Carolina Herrera, Amsale, Jenny Packham and more. Guests can also consider photographers, florists, venue representatives, gown and formalwear vendors, caterers, videographers, and wedding-night choreographers. Need extensive makeover or make-up advice for the BIG DAY? A VIP beauty suite with manicures, eyelash applications, and celebrity makeup artists are also on premise.

Get the Groupon deal: $20 for Two Admissions to The Wedding Salon Bridal Show Plus One Gift Bag ($50 Value) .

Hurry – it’s a one day deal only!

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Welcome to the Lego version of the Royal Wedding.

 

Charlton Heston once exclaimed in a movie – “Soylent Green is made out of people!”

But in this case, Legos make up the setting and guests of the upcoming Royal nuptials between Prince William and Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey (on Friday, April 29, 2011). The legendary toy makers have created what they think will represent Will and Kate’s big day.  So the Royal Wedding is made out of Legos! Legos!

View the video about the Lego Royal Wedding.

Here's a related story - The Royal Wedding Is Underway In Legoland.

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Wedding ring show at Boston's Freedman Jewelers.

 

The Wedding Season has officially begun! So it's time to get serious about buying your his and her's wedding rings for the very big day!  And what better way to see a lot of wedding rings in one place than at a bridal jewelry event? When a jewelry store has one of these events, they bring in representatives for the brands that they carry. You may potentialy be able to see hundreds - if not thousands - of wedding ring designs in addition to what the jewelry store may carry. It literally can be a shopping for wedding rings jackpot!

For those of you that may live in New England, Freedman Jewelers of Boston cordially invites you to attend their 9th Annual Wedding Ring and Engagement Ring Show. Come take a look at Freedman Jewelers’ HUGE selection of diamond, platinum, gold, palladium, titanium and tungsten wedding rings. And if you are looking for rings that you can customize, there will be a great selection of new Novell wedding rings for you to view and try on your finger!  Freedman's is also featuring a $100 discount off any new wedding purchase over $500.  This offer is valid until March 26th, 2011. 

Dates: March 24 -26th, 2011

Hours: The 9th Annual Wedding Ring and Engagement Ring Show will be open on the following days - Thursday March 24th (9:30am - 8pm), Friday March 25th (9:30am -6pm) and Saturday March 26th (9:30am - 5pm).

Location: 333 Washington Street (Suite 408) in Boston, Massachusetts.

Freedman Jewelers also conveniently validates parking for the nearby 33 Arch St. Garage.  If you have any questions, please call Freedman Jewelers directly at 617-227-4294. Or e-mail them via info@freedmandiamonds.com.

 
Novell wedding bands

 
Buy flowers at Marks and Spencer

Angelica Studios captures beauty and fun in bridal photography.

 

Let’s face it – it’s not every day that you see a stunning bride on a pair of water-skis, and actually in the water. But I have to say that this image got my attention. The concept was captured by the eye of Mark Kauffman’s Angelica Studios. Mark’s work illustrates that bridal photography can be beautiful, atypical, fun and playful – all rolled into one!

Angelica Studios has been doing spontaneous wedding photography with two photographers in the New York Metro and Long Island areas since 1989. Angelica Studios combines a traditional approach to bridal photography with a journalistic coverage style to create an exciting record of your special wedding day, individually personalized for each bride and groom's marriage. Any bride can stand there and smile pretty, but the brides in Angelica Studios’ photography look alive and vibrant. Great stuff! Check out these gorgeous images from Jessica and Mike’s wedding.

Visit the Angelica Studios photography website today.

 
Buy flowers at Marks and Spencer

A list of wedding blogs for your wedding planning.

Wedding planning can be a long and arduous process. And these days, there are less bridal magazines on the shelf at book stores and supermarkets, so future brides and grooms have to turn to the Internet for their wedding planning help. But where to start? Here’s a list of over 100 leading bridal blogs online today. Happy wedding planning!

Wedding Blogs

100 Layer Cake
A Mountain Bride
A Practical Wedding
Adventures In Wedding Planning
African-American Brides
Aisle Say
Always A Blogsmaid
Amour Amour
Anti-Bride
Austin Wedding Blog
Beau-Coup Wedding Blog
Bellissima Vita Blog
Big Fat Cake
Big Mouth Bride
Blogger Brides
Boho Wedding Blog
Borrowed & Bleu
Branco Prata
Brenda's Wedding Blog
Bridal Buds
Bridal Rehab
Bridal Snob
Bridal Tweet
BridalEase
Bridalhood
Bride Chic
Bride On A Budget
Bridesmaid.com Blog
Bridezilla
Brooklyn Bride
Bustled Blog
Cap Classique
Classic Bride
Clover & Bee Weddings
Cynthia Martyn Events
Dallas Wedding Planner Blog
Dandelion and Grey
Delightfully Engaged
DIY Bride
Dolce Sposa
Earth Friendly Weddings
Eco-Beautiful Weddings
Elegance & Simplicity
Elizabeth Anne Designs
Elizabeth Dye
ellyB Events
Emmaline Bride
Engaging Bride
Erin Ever After
Ethical Weddings
Every Last Detail
Forget Me Knot Weddings
Frolic
Glamour and Grace Weddings
Green Wedding Shoes
Green Weddings
Grey Likes Weddings
Groom Groove
Grooms Advice
Here Comes The Blog
Hindsight Bride
Hot Pink Brides
I Love You Much
Inspired Goodness
Intimate Weddings
It's A Jaime Thing
Janay A Handmade
Junebug Weddings
Kiss The Groom
La Belle Bride
Landlocked Bride
Love and Lavender
Love My Dress
Luna and Chloe Weddings
Magnolia Rouge
Manolo For The Brides
MODblog
My Personal Artist
Niche White
Offbeat Bride
Oh Lovely Day
OK, Now What Bride
OMG I'm Getting Married
Once Wed
One Lovely Day
OneWed's Savvy Scoop
Pearls Events
Peonies & Pearls
Perfect Bound
Polka Dot Bride
Postcards and Pretties
Prepare to Wed
Recycled Bride
Rice Ink
Ritzy Bee
Rock My Wedding
Rock n' Roll Bride
Ruffled
Santa Barbara Chic
Smartbride Boutique Blog
Snippet & Ink
So You're Engayged
Something Old, Something New
Southern Weddings
Sparkle & Hay
Sparkliatti
Staggered
Style Me Pretty
Swoonoverit
The Bowie Bride
The Bridal Bar
The Bride's Cafe
Martha Stewart - The Bride's Guide
The Broke-Ass Bride
The Budget Savvy Bride
The Cinderella Project
The Inspired Bride
The Knotty Bride
The Loveliest Day
The Perfect Palette
The Plunge
The Relentless Bride
The Sweetest Occasion
The Third Coast Bride
The Wedding Vine
TheKnot Blog
Tried and True Weddings
Truly Engaging
TweetMyWedding
Valley & Co.
Victoria With Roses
Walking Barefoot
Wedding Aces
Wedding Belles Online
Wedding Channel Blog
Wedding Chicks
Wedding Paper Divas
Wedding Rumors
Weddingbee
Weddingistas
Weddings Unveiled
Weddzilla Blog
Wedloft
Whimsical Wonderland Weddings
Wish Special Events
Wishpot Blog
With This Ring
YesBride Blog

 

Single? In a relationship? Married? Facebook tracks your status!

 

With about 600 million members today, Facebook has seen plenty of relationship status drama over the last year. Facebook has the ability to literally track the amount of users that have changed their status from “single” to “in a relationship” and vice-versa. Over the course of 2010, 43,869,800 people changed their relationship status to “single,” while 28,460,516 other lovebirds changed their status to "in a relationship.” 5,974,574 changed their status to "engaged," and a whopping 36,774,801 got married. That’s a lot of engagement rings and wedding rings. And it’s all spelled out on Facebook. Big Brother is watching, indeed. Well, Facebook is watching or at least keeping track.

Read - Facebook Sees Millions of Broken Hearts (and Weddings).

 

Wedding ring event at Diamond Cutters (New York).

It's that time of year again. Those of you who are getting married in early 2011 need to start thinking about buying your wedding rings and/or bridal jewelry. For future brides and grooms in upstate New York, authorized Novell wedding ring retailer Diamond Cutters of Western New York will be holding a special bridal event on Friday, November 5th and Saturday, November 6th. See some of the latest Novell wedding ring designs.

Bridal event information:

Diamond Cutters of Western New York

1805 Abbott Rd. - Lackawanna, New York 14218

www.wnydiamonds.com

Friday Nov 5th - 10AM until 7PM

Saturday 6th - 10AM until 6PM

 

 

Enagagement ring and wedding planning on your mind?

Thinking of proposing? Shopping for an engagement ring? If so, then please keep the following in mind:

Maryland's Boone and Sons Jewelers teams with Hyatt Regency for your wedding day!

 

The perfect engagement ring leads to the perfect proposal, and the perfect proposal deserves the perfect celebration. Let Chevy Chase, Maryland’s Boone and Sons Jewelers take care of your engagement ring and wedding bands, and let Hyatt Regency take care of the rest. You have their promise that no detail will go overlooked.

For the wedding day that you’ve always dreamed of, please contact Hyatt Regency Bethesda’s Wedding Specialists at 301.657.640, and reference the code Boone and Sons.

Visit Boone and Sons Jewelry website to see their vast selection of wedding bands and loose diamonds. Become a fan of Boone and Sons on Facebook.

 

Engagement ring from the future.

 

Doctor! Doctor! Will you marry me? Oh, yeah – what’s my temperature? And do you have the time?

Thanks to this engagement ring, you can ask all of the above questions seamlessly.  Well, I am just pulling your leg. But I did do a double-take when I saw this post one the YourEngagement101.com wedding blog.

Read Engagement Ring Tells Time and Temperature.

WeddingDresses.com launches new website!

 

Long standing wedding dress website WeddingDresses.com is getting a face lift! The online home for Wedding Dresses magazine has been redesigned for its September launch date. WeddingDresses.com currently earns a first-page ranking for the keyword "wedding dresses," and the website is dedicated solely to bridal fashion. As bridal designers all over the world get more creative, more brides have developed a taste for high fashion, which drives their selection of wedding dresses and accessories.

"Print has been our platform of choice for more than 19 years," says editor-in-chief Severine Ferrari. "But our new generation of readers are born of the Internet age, and they're dropping print material in favor for online magazines, e-readers and other mobile devices, especially when it comes to wedding planning.”

Visit WeddingDresses.com for a new kind of wedding planning experience.

Source: E-mail sent by WeddingDresses.com.

Stainless steel ring with a tattoo-tribal theme.

 

Novell recently unveiled a new collection of stainless steel rings inspired by actual tattoo and tribal themes. Because the ring is created with stainless steel, it is easy to care for and is very affordable. Novell’s TATU rings are the alternative to the other alternative metals out there today.

Learn more about stainless steel.

View this stainless steel ring from another angle.

New York jewelry store holds bridal jewelry event.

Want a chance to see a huge amount of wedding rings in one place? Or want to win a free wedding ring? Visit  Frassanito Jewelers (located in Huntington Village, New York) for this week’s special bridal event and view an expanded selection of engagement rings and wedding rings by the jewelry industry’s leading designers – including Novell, Scott Kay and more. But don’t delay, as this special expanded collection of bridal jewelry will only be available for viewing from Monday, September 20th until Saturday, September 25th.

Wedding ring event hours: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and by special appointment. Call (631) 427-5498 for a personal bridal jewelry consultation.

Frassanito Jewelers
346 New York Ave.
Huntington Village, NY 11743
www.frassanitojewelers.com

New wedding iPhone – iPad app to launch.

I wrote about this wedding app the other day, and I have to say that I am very impressed with the overall concept for the new Inspiration Engine iPad app. It should be released in the iTunes store in mid-October. The Inspiration Engine app will be available worldwide to brides and vendors alike. Here’s a preview video - My Wedding Concierge Inspiration Engine iPad App Wedding Marketing.

Learn more at My Wedding Concierge – Inspiration Engine iPhone and iPad App.

Novell wedding bands

Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

iPods over wedding rings as most treasured item!

Palladium wedding ring by Novell 

Sad but true! A recent survey of Facebook users conducted by gadget insurers Protect Your Bubble found that people value their iPods over cats and (insert GASP noise HERE) wedding rings! iPods came out top with 12% of the 500 respondents voting for it as their most treasured possession, while wedding rings seemed to come in pretty low-down with only 1% of the vote. Alas, just as an iPod has a shuffle function, so do many people’s love lives!

Read iPods over Wedding Rings as most treasured possessions of Generation Facebook.

Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

Wedding search engine app to launch.

Okay, so you’ve heard (well READ) my ramblings about how difficult it is to find quality wedding-related topics using Google blog search. And let’s face it; it’s even tough at times with the search engines. Well, hallelujah! My prayers have been answered!

My Wedding Concierge is helping to revolutionize the way brides find wedding vendors online. Their new phone app utilizes cutting edge mobile and blog aggregation technology. One key feature involves geo-location abilities that allow brides to find wedding vendors immediately and interactively on their iPhone, iPad  or Android.

Interested? View the demonstration video - My Wedding Concierge Wedding Search Engine iPhone iPad Apps.

Vote to ban bad wedding songs and win a prize.

 

Online wedding ring retailer Larson Jewelers wants to ban bad wedding songs. Well, they want your opinion as to what songs that are played at weddings should be banned forever. That way, you can enjoy your wedding without doing The Chicken Dance, Macarena or Livin’ La Vida Loco.

Just make a comment on Larson’s jewelry blog about the wedding song you want banned. Couples are encouraged to submit the song they despise the most for a chance to win, but single guys and gals (like myself) are invited to enter too! If the song of your choice receives the most votes to be BANNED, you will win a $100 Apple gift card to fill up your iPod with more of your favorite tunes and obviously superior music selection ! If your song does not get chosen, you still have a chance to win a pair of tungsten rings and an iPod Touch for being a part of the contest.

Read Worst Wedding Song Contest – Ban the Ballad and Win Big for contest rules and more about how to enter.

Big and bold engagement rings.

YourEngagement101.com features some big and bold engagement rings from some of the leading jewelry designers today. Designers featured are Natalie K, Mark Schneider, Michael Beaudry, Sylvie Collection, Prisma Express and Vanna K (that's two K's for the price of one!).

Read Innovative, dramatic engagement rings at YourEngagement101.com.

More tattoo wedding ring insanity!

Another article  illustrating how people today are getting actually tattoos on their fingers in place of a wedding ring. It’s a pretty interesting concept, but considering how the divorce rate remains steady at 50%, a future booming business might be specializing in wedding ring tattoo removal.

Read Tattoo Ideas: Wedding Ring Tattoos.

WeddingRings.net offers practical ring buying advice.

 

I just read the following on WeddingRings.net

Unless you plan to ask your girlfriend to marry you unexpectedly, you may want to consider taking her along with you when shopping for that engagement ring.  While it is always nice to be able to surprise her with a stunning ring, it is often more practical to buy women’s wedding rings in sets. 

The author goes on to say that you may be able to save money but making the engagement ring and wedding ring purchase together. While this is good advice for some, it may not be good advice for all. Why? You may want to consider that many brides lose weight for their weddings, so the ring that was purchased a year ago just may not fit when it comes time to slip it on her finger. But I do agree that couples should really start thinking about their wedding rings in advance, even if they wait until closer to the wedding to buy them. Most couples buy their wedding rings through a source that is different from where they bought the engagement ring. Sometimes with jewelry, a relationship can be leveraged. Couples that have spent thousands on an engagement ring may get a discount on their wedding rings, so be sure to ask the jeweler what they can do for you.

Read Make Sure Your Engagement Ring and Wedding Ring is a Match.

Brilliant Earth’s Eco-Rings on TODAY Show.

Brilliant Earth’s ethically crafted wedding rings could wind up on the fingers of the winners of the TODAY Show’s wedding contest. The wedding contest has been a show feature for about 11 years, yet this is the very first time that rings of verified ethical origin are being considered for the nationally televised broadcast.

Read Help Put Brilliant Earth’s Eco-Rings on TODAY Show’s On-Air Wedding.

Related article - Brilliant Earth Wedding Rings Featured in “Today” Show Contest.

Breaking news: Bret Michaels MIGHT be getting engaged.

 

Okay, so according to OneWed.com (and also featured on TheOtherHairMetalBlog.com), news is circulating that Bret Michaels MIGHT be getting engaged. That’s right – he MIGHT. Tomorrow, I MIGHT wear brown socks and boxer briefs, so I’ll make sure to announce on Twitter what my decision is.

I’ve been a casual Poison fan for a long time now. But instead of releasing new music or adding different songs to the band’s concert set list, Bret Michaels decides to announce that he MIGHT be getting engaged in the near future. And this is news? Really?

Read Bret Michaels to (maybe) give Kristi Gibson an engagement ring.

Another useful article about palladium wedding rings.

Palladium wedding ring 

Palladium is a better choice over white gold if platinum is not an option due to price. While I envision a platinum-oriented world, not everyone can afford the most premium metal used for wedding rings and jewelry. So yes – palladium has its place in the jewelry industry. And I do think it it should be much more popular. But since it didn’t really take off like it should have (partially due to the folding of Palladium Alliance International), a lot of retailers have been reluctant to readily stock palladium wedding rings. But as this article (Are Palladium Wedding Rings Better Than Gold Or Platinum?) points out, a few very popular wedding ring manufacturers offer palladium wedding rings, and one company is ahead of the pack!

Proof of palladium’s acceptance by the market and its growing popularity can be measured by the number of jewelry makers that are producing their styles in palladium, which were traditionally reserved for platinum and white gold. The nation’s finest bridal jewelry makers (Frederick Goldman, Benchmark Rings and Novell Design Studio) all produce a palladium wedding ring line. In fact, the designer with the largest selection of wedding ring styles, Novell Design Studio, can make all their styles in all metals including Palladium. If you are shopping on-line, Larson Jewelers is an authorized dealer of Novell’s products which you can buy all their palladium rings styles from. To see Novell’s styles, simply go to visit Novell Design Studio’s website. Larson Jewelers does not display all of Novell’s styles on their site because they have hundreds of styles to choose from, but you can simply ask them for a quote by giving them Novell’s style number.

Read Are Palladium Wedding Rings Better Than Gold Or Platinum?

 

Yes, millennial brides WILL wait for the right wedding ring!

Today's bride is NOT a monster. 

Throughout my ten years in the jewelry industry, I have discovered that some jewelry stores sound afraid if they are told that their customer’s wedding ring is a special order, and the ring won’t be completed for about ten business days. Most are worried that they will lose that customer.  Stuller is a well established company that can ship merchandise to jewelry stores by the next business day. They have built their business on their stocking and quick turnaround abilities. And while I have heard countless times a store say “my customer won’t wait,” I always believed that people will wait for what they truly want. To back up my claim, here’s part of an article that’s featured on NationalJeweler.com (Here comes the millennial bride):

Jewelers just need to understand how these young adults think. For example, individuals in this age group tend to reject items that they feel everybody else has and, raised in an age of Internet shopping, they are not averse to waiting if it means getting exactly what they want.

Read Here comes the millennial bride.

More about tattoo wedding rings.

 

Here’s another article about how more and more people are tattooing their wedding ring on their finger. Sure – it seems risky since a lot a marriages never go the distance. My parents have been married for 52 years, and my Dad has never taken his ring off since I have known him (it’s a wide gold ring).

Read Wedding Band Tattoo-Stylert.com.