Maybe it’s because I’m a big ring wearer myself, but I absolutely love how many creative options there are for alternative wedding rings these days. I’m so intrigued by the amazingly talented designers who carefully craft each piece, and by the fabulous style of the women who will fall in love with them.
Here are a few faves I found just peeking around online today. So cool, and so pretty!
Delicate gold bands with wonderfully shaped stones…
Top row left to right:
Annette Ferdinandsen Blue Chalcedony Egg Ring from Persimmon.com
L. Frank Stacked Cognac Diamond Ring from Twistonline.com
Brooke Gregson Circle Pave White Gold Ring from Persimmon.com
Bottom row left to right:
Jamie Joseph 14k Yellow Gold Small Wisteria Circle Ring with Diamonds from ElizaPage.com
Melissa Joy Manning White Diamond Oval Ring from MelissaJoyManning.com
Me & Ro Triple Diamond Ring from Twistonline.com
Playful, fun and funky rings from Junebug local favorite Fancy Jewels…
Gorgeous rough cut diamonds in larger than life sizes and settings…
Melissa Joy Manning Natural Grey Pear Shaped Diamond and 18k Gold Ring from MelissaJoyManning.com
Pippa Small Herkimer Diamond and 18k Gold Tibetan Ring from Twistonline.com
Melissa Joy Manning 18k Gold Diamond Slice Ring from MelissaJoyManning.com
In December we were thrilled to learn that What Junebug Loves had been named at the top of the list of the Top 10 Wedding Blogs of 2007 by the UK’s Shiny Media and its own fabulous wedding blog, Bridalwave. Hooray! What a wonderful holiday gift to us! We are so honored by their recognition, as Bridalwave has always been a favorite read of ours. Editor Camilla Chafer and writer Keris Stainton cover all the wedding planning basics as well as some thoroughly entertaining blog topics like “Daily Frock”, “Yay or Nay Wednesday”, “Cheap vs Chic”, “Frock Horror”, and the “Weekly Wedding Roundup”. We love their take on everything wedding, and the sneak peek it gives us into the wedding world in the UK. Thanks Shiny Media and Bridalwave!
Here is their top 10 list…
1. What Junebug Loves
Seattle-based wedding planners Junebug are behind this stylish site with lots of ideas that will inspire and lots of photographs from real weddings. Look out for tasters from their Fashion Reports too.
2. Martha Stewart’s wedding blog
Darcy Miller of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine pens this Brides Guide which is a newcomer to the blogging scene. Expect lots of insider tips from the magazine, with gorgeous tips for dresses, shoes and all the other little details.
3. The Misadventures of a DIY Bride
Charming DIY bride Phoebe takes us through her wedding planning, via Brides magazine, in the lead up to her 5 April 2008 nuptials. Read about everything from finding her antique pearl engagement ring, meeting her dressmaker, the food and hen nightmares.
4. Weddingbee
Originally a personal blog created by Bee Kim, the site now has a plethora of brides across the US and Canada in various stages of wedding plan. It’s a great read for tips across the pond and for a good ol’ nosey inspiration into what other brides are planning.
5. From “I Will” to “I Do”
Wedding journalist Anne Chertoff tips off US readers to sample sales and dispenses advice on ring buying and more alongside anecdotes from her own life and that of her friends in this iVillage.com blog.
6. Pink Cake Box
Ok, it’s not strictly a wedding blog but there are enough delicious and enterprising cakes to make me include this yummy blog. You’ll also find pictures of the fantastic creations that include grooms cakes, cookies, birthday cakes and more cupcakes than you can shake a stick at.
7. Eco Chic Weddings
We like to champion the greener side of life and so does Emily Anderson, the brains behind this eco fabulous site where recycling is hot and green is gorgeous.
8. Something Old, Something New
Cool, modern ideas suited to contemporary brides with stylish, funky finds. The writer Mackenzie Sala is also an accomplished stationery designer with her own range that is well worth taking a look at.
9. Manolo for the Brides
Primarily written by ‘Never the Bride’ (sic), this blog picks up on plenty of weird and quirky things in the wedding world. The caption competition is a regular fun feature with a wacky picture that you can apply your wit to.
10. Wedaholic
Bursting with etiquette know-how, Elle Brown solves your wedding dilemmas whether you want to know how to plan a great dessert buffet or are planning your first dance. Hasn’t been updated in a while, so, where’dya go, Elle?
Shiny Media also runs other fantastically girly blogs like Catwalk Queen– covering fashion, The Bag Lady– covering bags and accessories, Shoewawa– covering, what else, shoes, Kiss and Makeup– for all the product lovers out there, Trashionista– covering books and authors, and Nollie– covering women’s extreme sports. I love their Shiny Fashion TV segments where the different girls in the Shiny offices show us the latest style trends. Who wouldn’t love to listen to sweet and funny British girls talk about their favorite things? (I’m a sucker for that accent!) New to their lineup are two blogs specifically for U.S. readers, Shiny Gloss and Shiny Style. Check them out and enjoy!
Planning a green wedding is much easier than most couples think and its a great way to let your family, friends, and community know that youre committed to reducing global warming and caring for the earth. Junebug was recently interviewed by Newstalk 710 KIRO Radio for a series about “Living the Green Life” which included, of course, the exciting topic of green wedding planning. We want to share with you what we shared with them, so here are our top-ten suggestions for planning a celebration that shows your love for each other as well as the world we live in!
1. Choose a caterer and cake designer who emphasize organic, locally grown produce and who are set-up to compost your leftovers for you. Seattle is blessed to have numerous companies that follow these guidelines, but no matter where you live, eco-friendly businesses are available. Plus, fresh locally grown food is always delicious!
2. Pick seasonal flowers grown without pesticides. Instead of choosing blooms that are forced in a greenhouse or imported from warmer climates, try locally grown flowers at the height of their season. When your anniversary arrives the following year, youll be pleasantly reminded of your wedding day by the flowers that are in bloom around you.
3. Work with an invitation designer who offers 100% post consumer recycled products or paper supplied from carbon neutral companies. Creative opportunities abound to create truly gorgeous invitations that are environmentally friendly. You can also create your own wedding website and use it for most of your wedding correspondence to help cut down on excess paper consumption.
4. Cut back on packaging surrounding the wedding favors you give your guests, or choose ones that promote environmental consciousness. These days the marketplace is full of fun products to choose from!
5. Consider having your ceremony and reception at the same location to reduce the amount of travel required of your guests. Its easier on the environment, and easier on the days busy schedule!
6. Buy your diamond from a reputable jeweler and ask to see their company policy on conflict free diamonds. Thanks to consumer awareness and the U.N. mandated Kimberley Process and System of Warranties over 99% of all diamonds sold today are certified conflict-free. Any reputable jeweler should be well educated on this process. Other popular green jewelry options are to choose an antique ring, or have one custom made using a family owned stone or gold recycled from a special family heirloom.
7. Buy your dress or have it custom made by a local designer so you know where its production has taken place. Wear your mother or grandmothers wedding gown or other vintage dress, or choose a dress made out of one of the many new kinds of fabrics made from renewable sources like hemp or bamboo. If none of those options work for you, by all means wear the dress of your dreams and consider donating it to a worthy cause when youre finished. Even though trashing the dress has been in vogue of late, we dont encourage it as an environmentally friendly option.
8. Join a carbon-offsetting program to offset the carbon emissions produced by your wedding and honeymoon travel. Better yet, sign up to offset all your carbon emissions, at home, on the road, and at your wedding. We suggest using a well certified organization like http://www.carbonfund.org/, one that offers multiple options for carbon offsetting. We love Carbon Fund’s Zero Carbon Wedding Program with its easy to use calculator. Youll be delighted to find that even large weddings can be offset for under $100.
9. Encourage your guests to donate to an environmentally conscious charity on your behalf, or encourage them buy eco-friendly gifts locally and bring them to your wedding rather than having them shipped, to cut down on excess packaging waste. This may go against yesterdays rules of etiquette but once people realize theyre helping the environment theyll be happy to participate.
10. Rent rather than buy. Almost anything you desire for your wedding is available to rent, so look into those options before buying items you may not use again.
Remember to reduce, re-use, recycle, and rejoice! Send us your great green wedding tips and help us spread the word about planning a green wedding thats fun and stress-free!
Planning a Seattle wedding? Use the Junebug Weddings hot-list to find trusted recommendations and environmentally friendly companies.
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