Happy 2013!

What will New Year’s Eve look like for you? We’re keeping it a little more intimate this year, but it wouldn’t be New Year’s without a little sparkle.

Looking back on 2012…

Go on, we dare you. Check out the Polar Bear Club’s Coney Island dip, by Brooklyn photographer/designer Jenna Park.

We’re loving the New York Times’ slideshow of 2012’s best book covers, selected by book cover designers.

And speaking of slideshows, Food & Wine’s Champagne cocktails look so pretty, we can’t settle on just one!

Looking forward to 2013…

Planning a wedding? Check out this New Year’s Eve wedding inspiration.

A bold New Year’s resolution for brides to be.

And finally, from one of our Facebook friends, a vintage reminder that beautiful songs and beautiful ideas endure.

Auld Lang Syne, my friends. See you next year!

Photo: Tatiana Round Eternity Set

We Love: Castle Wedding Venues

The last Friday of the year! This picture from photographer Pete Souza’s ‘Portrait of a Presidency’ series sums up our feelings pretty perfectly. We’re reflecting on the past, hopeful for the future, and excited about now. Here’s our weekly list of cool ideas and fun diversions. Enjoy!

Wow. So romantic, and it involves our brand!

These wedding photos are so fresh and understated. Not what we expected for a castle wedding!

We love this rosé colored party theme from Design Sponge. Just perfect for a baby or wedding shower.

Also loving Beyonce’s tumblr. So posh and so adorable at the same time.

On Miracles.

If you cook or want to, here’s Bon Appetit’s list of 50 kitchen essentials.

There’s a New Year’s resolution in here somewhere. Crunchy, salty kale chips.

And in here, too. It’s a documentary that explores happiness, perfect to watch on New Year’s Day, and available instantly on Netflix!

Photo by Pete Souza for Time Magazine.

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We Love: Wedding Dress Sleeves

After years of strapless wedding dresses dominating, we’re seeing chic brides in wedding dresses with sleeves. Fresh takes on classic styles are kind of our thing, so of course we’re loving this trend so much.

Molly Sims wore Marchesa’s romantic appliqueéd cascade sleeves for a demure, daytime look.

Nicole Richie and Kate Middleton went for glamorous, Grace Kelly-inspired long sleeves by Marchesa and Alexander McQueen, respectively.

And Anne Hathaway and Ivanka Trump kept the trend young and body conscious with form-fitting short sleeves to show off their arms.

Click through our gallery above to see some of our favorite sleeved wedding dresses.

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Ivanka Trump Photo: Getty Images
Anne Hathaway Photo: Vogue
Molly Sims Photo: Flynet Pictures
Kate Middleton Photo: The Palace / Flynet Pictures
Nicole Richie Photo: celebritybrideguide.com

We Love: Acts of Kindness

The past couple of months, we’re feeling more grateful than ever for family, friends and gratitude itself. Here’s our weekly list of comforts and joys to share.

We’re so inspired by so many good people. Join us in performing 26 acts of kindness.

Citymeals. A truly great local food charity for more than 30 years.

Support this small business in the hard-hit Rockaways and get something amazing to share or give.

Need a breather? Take a moment with these photos from this year’s Tour de France.

Then, cozy up at home with Barefoot Contessa’s classic comfort food...

And check out La Buena Vida. We’re loving Nicole Franzen’s aesthetic, her food and her gorgeous photography.

Feel like making a memory? This would be an unforgettable date or family outing. Read more here.

Photo by Mark Leary.

 

Jeff Cooper Rings: A Love Story

Hearing from ‘our’ couples is the best! Our awesome Facebook friend Ramiro recently shared this magical photo of his wife’s bridal bouquet and their Jeff Cooper wedding rings. He wrote, “Just wanted to share a picture of our rings. We got married on 9-29-12. Thank you for making such beautiful rings.” Thank you so much for sharing your love!

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Ask Jeff Cooper: The Push Present

What are Push Presents?
The push present or baby bauble is a celebrity trend that’s definitely reached the rest of us. Babycenter.com revealed that 38% of new moms received a push present. As one mom told Babyzone.com, “Was it necessary? No. Was it an unbelievably special gift that oftentimes will help me recall one of the most beautiful and amazing experiences of my life? Absolutely.”

According to Tori Spelling, “a push present is supposed to be something you wear forever, as a token of your child.” Her husband Dean McDermott once gave her a Balenciaga bag as a push present. For Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, it was a gold bracelet. Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Garner a classic diamond ring.

Some Daddies give creative push presents, like the four pairs of biker boots Tim Burton gave Helena Bonham Carter. Some are more thoughtful than glamorous. One mom came home to a new king-size bedroom set she’d wanted for months. Others are totally extravagant. Marc Anthony showed his appreciation by giving Jennifer Lopez a $300,000 canary diamond ring and $2.5 million earrings!

How to Pick a Push Present
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Rachel Zoe with a 10-karat cushion-cut diamond, surrounded by a halo of many more diamonds in a platinum setting. Her husband Rodger must have had some help coming up with a push present that reflected her style so perfectly, right?

An element of surprise is fabulous, but it’s okay to get some guidance from Mama on what would make the best gift. Sometimes the new mom chooses the gift and the husband puts a personal touch by engraving an inscription that makes it a keepsake.

In Hollywood, the standard is something sparkly, and it’s hard to go wrong with precious jewelry. Mathew Broderick went relatively subtle with his charm bracelet for Sarah Jessica Parker. Liev Schrieber gave Naomi Watts a platinum and diamond locket. Gifts that can be personalized make memorable push presents.

Personalized Push Presents
Jay-Z gave Beyonce a blue jeweled ring for the birth of their daughter Blue Ivy. Jessica Simpson’s fiancé Eric Johnson imported a collection of bracelets, necklaces and rings from Jessica’s favorite jewelry designer in Capri. Nick Cannon gave Mariah Carey a necklace that spelled the names of their twins in diamonds and pink sapphires. Special, right?

Keith Urban gave Nicole Kidman a cross necklace after their daughter Faith was born. We love meaningful push presents, and we’re doing a series of pendants with initials and spiritual symbols, based on a custom push present we made for Mike Rubendall’s wife.

Ultimately, the best push presents are personal, they last forever, and they make a new Mom feel special and loved. If you’re in the market for a push present, CONGRATULATIONS! The best part of what we do is getting to be a part of your special milestones.

Photo by Sean Taylor Photography

We Love: Wedding Music & Red Dresses

Winters on Long Island remind us of Milton Avery’s late seascapes. Quiet, muted colors with a subtle shimmer, and his trademark simple composition.

According to Mark Rothko, Milton Avery’s artistic repertoire was a lot like ours: his living room, Central Park, his wife Sally, his daughter March, the beaches and mountains where they summered. We totally identify. This winter it’s all about things that are close to our hearts and close to home.

Here’s our weekly snapshot of fun from around the web.

‘Tis the season for red dresses.

‘Tis also the season for reindeer cookies!

Yet another way to be everyone’s favorite guest? These great New York wines have the best labels. Especially the winter-chic 2010 Clones.

If you’re putting together a wedding playlist, check out the 50 greatest hip hop songs of all time.

We’re also loving these fabulous sashes to accessorize a wedding dress.

Here’s another good one for wedding planning. Champagne’s less-expensive, just-as-sparkly cousins.

Of a Kind is so much fun to browse. Every single thing on the site is a crazy cool limited edition.

How cute and funny are these?

Stay warm this weekend! See you Monday.

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We Love: NYC Wedding Photographers

If you’re following our blog, you may have already picked up on this, but we’re obsessed with New York style. Our jewelry’s been designed and crafted here forever, and from the beach to the city to the mountains, New York is our constant inspiration.

As avid followers of wedding photography trends, we’ve seen a lot of urban motifs, but Christian Oth’s New York City is the real deal. He captures the city’s energy, and the sophisticated, timeless personality we know and love.

To check out his NYC slideshow, go here and click “New York.”

Photo by Christian Oth Studio.

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We Love: A Simple Wedding

We love a great wedding, and this one is straight out of our wildest Ralph Lauren dreams. NYC couple Laurie & Brendan decided to keep it simple and romantic, with a heartfelt elopement in the Adirondacks at Lake Placid Lodge. Read their interview with one of our favorite bloggers, Joanna Goddard from A Cup of Jo. The pictures by Jon Zander Photography are crazy good and their love story was even better. Happy Monday!

Photo, by Jon Zander Photography, reblogged from A Cup of Jo.

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