Loading...

Vintage Rings Versus Lab-Grown Diamonds

November 6, 2020 | riley

Taylor and Hart Engagement Ring

When you’re ready to purchase an engagement ring, one quick online search will provide more information than you’ll ever need. Whether you’re looking for how to purchase, where to find the ring, or what the perfect ring looks like, the information and options are endless. Your research can quickly get out of hand but you’ve come to the right place. Wedding and engagement planning are sort of our thing. So, take a deep breath and don’t get overwhelmed. We’re here to help you navigate all of the latest engagement ring trends—including vintage rings and lab-grown diamonds.

Taylor and Hart Vintage Ring

There’s a lot of buzz about vintage rings and lab-grown diamonds. That’s why our friends at Taylor & Hart teamed up with us to help set the record straight. Are these simply buzz words, or does your future spouse need one of these special options?

Taylor and Hart Vintage rings

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Lab-grown diamonds are on the rise with many companies utilizing this strategy to create diamonds ethically and with immense care. Their special growing process means they cost slightly less than classically mined diamonds. Which means you can get a larger diamond for less. 

Diamonds mined from the Earth are sometimes referred to as ‘natural diamonds’ but don’t let that name fool you. Lab-grown diamonds carry an identical crystal structure as mined diamonds and are both real, natural diamonds. These aren’t the synthetic gemstones or zirconia often found on department store jewelry shelves, these are gorgeous diamonds.

Taylor and Hart Lab Grown Diamond Ring

Vintage Rings Aren’t Just Grandma’s Jewelry

After hearing the phrase “vintage rings” you’re likely picturing a family heirloom steeped in history, passed down through generations. In reality, it’s much more than that—we promise. Just ask celebrities like Olivia Wilde and Jennifer Aniston

Taylor and Hart Vintage Ring

Vintage rings can be aesthetically similar to antique rings but jewelers like Taylor & Hart allow you to create your own unique vintage look with your favorite aspects of design through history. On top of that, many vintage or antique rings weren’t built using modern quality techniques. The updates to ring making techniques make vintage rings crafted with real life activities in mind.

The most special aspect of vintage rings? They never go out of style! Vintage ring styles benefit from carrying a timeless look forever.

Taylor and Hart Engagement Vintage Rings

Why Taylor & Hart

Taylor & Hart is a radically transparent company. It’s important to know what you’re looking for in an engagement ring and many companies don’t make this information as readily available as our friends at Taylor and Hart do:

  • Find honest companies. There is no structural difference between lab-grown diamonds and mined diamonds. Some companies take advantage of this by selling lab-grown diamonds for mined-diamond prices to make a higher profit.
  • Earth-grown diamonds often get a bad rap for having negative impacts on their local ecosystem, but lab-grown diamonds aren’t all roses either. Growing a diamond in a lab takes a lot of energy—meaning their carbon footprints can be huge. 

Taylor and Hard Engagement Vintage Ring

Taylor and Hart engagement ring

The other thing we love about Taylor & Hart? Their process to create your engagement ring is only five steps. Whether you start with a ring from their collection or design it from scratch, their simple process will create the perfect ring to ask the most important question of your life with.

Taylor and Hart lab grown diamond

Getting down on one knee is exhilarating—make sure you’re doing it with the right ring in your hand. Congratulations from Junebug Weddings and Taylor & Hart! Our team can’t wait to help you plan your dream wedding.

taylor and hart

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings

Elegant Connecticut Wedding at Harkness Memorial State Park

November 6, 2020 | riley

Grace and Steven described their Connecticut wedding at Harkness Memorial State Park as “classically elegant,” and we agree. The couple wanted a day that felt personal to them–and from private vows at the first look to gorgeous pink and white florals from Floral Designs by Justine to invites with a watercolor portrait of their pup Georgia created by Cat Wilcox–we think they pulled it off beautifully.

Not only did Junebug member Elizabeth Grant Photography do an incredible job of capturing all of the special moments of the day, but we also love what she had to say about Grace and Steven’s love!

Elizabeth Grant’s Take on Their Special Day

Eolia Mansion is a beautiful historic property–with gorgeous gardens, a breathtaking beach, and a simple interior lending itself to personalization by the couple to make a wedding of any size feel intimate. Grace and Steven are the sweetest couple, too. Steven supports Grace in everything that she does, and you can see how proud he is of her when he looks at her. Grace is soft yet strong and has found her soulmate in Steven. They exchanged private vows before seeing each other for the first time. Then, a beautiful church ceremony and reception buzzing with love and energy followed. The two of them floated on cloud nine all day as they celebrated their union with their closest friends and family. 

The Couple:

Grace and Steven

The Wedding:

Eolia Mansion, Harkness Memorial State Park, Connecticut

Why Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park

Eolia Mansion was right in our backyard in Waterford and combined the elegance we were seeking with our love for the water. It was the only venue we visited and—being so close to home—a place we knew we could visit and remember the day for years to come.

Wedding Advice From The Bride

The best advice I can offer is to have a conversation or meeting with vendors before hiring them. There were many photographers, for instance, whose style I loved, but the connection wasn’t there when we spoke. When I met Elizabeth over the phone, I knew immediately that she would be perfect for us. Also, enjoy it!

Adding Personal Touches

We were aiming for a classically elegant vibe. I wanted a lot of whites, pale pinks, and greens. I also wanted it to be personal and meaningful. To add a personal aspect, my mom worked with our invitation designer to watercolor our venue for the invites, and our designer included a watercolor of our beloved dog, Georgie.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Elizabeth Grant Photography
Ceremony Venue – St Joseph Church
Reception Venue – Eolia Mansion
Floral Design – Floral Designs by Justine
Catering – Coastal Gourmet
Cake – Cakes by Donna
Videography – Elizabeth Eve Productions
Invitation Design – Cat Wilcox
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – Infinity Hair
Wedding Dress – Made with Love Bridal
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – BHLDN
Groom’s Apparel – Jos A Bank
Rentals – Spin Enterprise

 

Congratulations again to Grace and Steven on their elegant Connecticut wedding at Eolia Mansion in Harkness Memorial State Park! Big thank you to Junebug member Elizabeth Grant Photography for capturing and sharing their special day with us. To see more of her work, check out her profile in our directory of best wedding photographers in the world!

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings

Intimate Telluride Wedding With a Touch of Simplicity and Class

November 5, 2020 | riley

After drooling over San Sophia Overlook for years, Dee got the day of her dreams when she married Joe at their intimate Telluride wedding. With the help of planner Elevation Weddings and Events, the couple hosted a romantic ceremony with sweeping mountain views and minimal decor. They moved the party inside for a cozy reception featuring greenery and floral arrangements from Dahlia Floral Design and four different wedding cakes from Fig and Bloom Cakes. Now that’s our favorite kind of party!

Not only did photographers Jason and Daris capture the elegant day beautifully, but we also love what they had to say about the couple.

Jason and Daris Photocinema Love This Couple

At first impression, you might think Dee and Joe are an unlikely pair, but when you get to know them, you find they are a perfect match. Dee is such a lively person who easily connects with all kinds of people. Joe is super observant, insightful, and will catch you off guard with a well-timed joke. They are both incredibly kind, caring, and empathetic people. Anyone can tell right away that they are meant for each other.

Their wedding day was one for the books! Anticipation and excitement were in the air, especially as we drove off-road up to the top of the mountain with Dee egging us on while we bounced off the switchbacks! The ceremony at the top of San Sophia Overlook was perfect in every way, as they said their vows above Telluride.

The Couple:

Dee and Joe

The Wedding:

San Sophia Overlook, Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado

 

The Pronovias Gown

I always knew I wanted a lace dress. My dream designer was Pronovias but I didn’t want to pay an outrageous amount for a dress. Never in a million years did I think I would find my exact dress during a random sample sale with my mother-in-law. I went to Emma & Grace after work and tried on three dresses–not knowing my third option was a Pronovias dress. The first one was a hard no, and the second one could have easily been my wedding gown. Then, I tried on the last one and the rest is history. It was the perfect fit, design, and style. When I saw the label and price I couldn’t believe it. I’d found my dress.

Intimate Telluride Wedding Vibes 

I wanted an intimate feel with a touch of class. Generally, I prefer simplicity versus trendy. As for the design, I relied heavily on the vendors for their opinions. I trusted my wedding planner, florist, and event coordinator to finalize my dream wedding. I’ve been in love with San Sophia Overlook since 2015 when I saw it on Instagram. I’m a huge fan of mountain top weddings. And, our first date was a 14er, so this was full circle for us.

A Wedding Surprise For The Bride

I had no idea where San Sophia was located. We paid our deposit without ever seeing the location. We were pleasantly surprised to find out Telluride was six hours from Denver. Given that I was a new transplant, I had no idea and thought it was only a short two hours away. However, I wouldn’t change a thing. The scenic drive was worth it.

 

The Wedding Team:

Photography & Videography – Jason and Daris Photocinema
Event Planning – Elevation Weddings and Events
Ceremony Venue – Telluride Ski Resort
Reception Venue – Tomboy Tavern
Floral Design – Dahlia Floral Design
Cake – Fig and Bloom Cakes
Invitation Design – With Joy
Makeup Artist – Tatiana Artistry
Hair Styling – Hollewood Hair
Wedding Dress – Pronovias
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Azazie
Rings – Brilliant Earth
Favors – Mile Hi Popcorn

 

Congratulations again to Dee and Joe on their intimate Telluride wedding! We’re so glad that Jason and Daris Photocinema shared their special day with us. If you’re planning your own fall affair–and you love Dee’s long-sleeve Pronovias gown as much as we do–check out our favorite long-sleeve wedding dresses that are perfect for fall or winter!

Sponsors
Email [email protected] to advertise on Junebug Weddings