Month: February 2013

Ask Jeff Cooper: The Right Hand Ring

So who’s wearing right hand rings, and why?

Madonna and Mariah Carey, for starters. And Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Julia Roberts, Halle Berry, Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Ashanti, Minnie Driver and Eve are just some of the famous women who’ve sported an incredible ring on their right hands.

What does it mean? It depends.

When Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor the 69 carat “Burton-Taylor Diamond” for her 40th birthday, she moved her engagement ring to her right hand and wore both. Why wouldn’t she?

And Jeff Cooper rings aren’t just for getting engaged and married. We see a lot of our eternity bands given as anniversary gifts or push presents. And some of our bolder designs make great statement or cocktail rings to wear on occasion or all the time. This custom design we created would be a perfect right hand ring.

Then there’s the old saying ” the left hand is for thee, the right hand is for me.” For some women, right hand rings are a celebration of independence and happiness. Why wait around to fall in love when you have the means to enjoy yourself now?

While we tend to associate simple solitaire rings with engagements, and minimal platinum or gold bands with wedding rings, there really are no rules. When it comes to right hand rings, just do what you love!

What’s your ideal right hand ring? Leave us a comment!

And don’t forget to Like us on Facebook.

Photo Elizabeth Taylor via the AP.

We Love: Peter Som for BHLDN

So many things we love this week, mostly wedding-related links and Academy Awards fun. Enjoy, and have a beautiful weekend!

So gorgeous! BHLDN is making Peter Som wedding gowns! Click through our slideshow above for the first 2 looks!

These dresses from the RED Valentino fall-winter collection would make the most legendary, high fashion bridesmaids ever. Via 79 ideas.

Got 6 minutes for a sweet, Oscar-nominated romcom?

Years ago, we read in the NY Times that the secret to hangover-free celebrations is cocktails that combine clear spirits with a vitamin C mixer. It works! For an Oscar night signature cocktail, we want to try this. (It’s bright and beautiful for a spring wedding, too.)

Ever watch wedding dances on YouTube? We do. This one’s a classic. So much love.

How cool is this? Fair trade site 7 Hopes United now has a gift registry.

Want to go somewhere totally different for your honeymoon? Prague looks like a photographer’s paradise.

And here’s every single item we’d want for the trousseau on Stripes & Sequins. The perfect little collection to make a bride feel beautiful.

Thanks to Forbes Magazine for mentioning us!  They picked 22 jewelry designs for 2013, including our Tilly Engagement Ring!

Like us on Facebook, where we’ve added a new tab where you can browse our collections. And feel free to talk back in the comments!

 

 

 

We Love: Ombre Weddings

Keeping tabs on wedding trends is one of our favorite things, and ombre is one trend that clearly isn’t going anywhere. When done well, that subtle shift from deep to pale, or hue to hue is the loveliest. Maybe ombre hair is on its way out, but ombre wedding dresses, ombre wedding cakes and ombre bouquets? Still awesome.

Here are some perfect ombre flower arrangements via Grey Likes Weddings.

Gwen Stefani’s ombre gown is considered one of the best wedding dresses of all time.

And here come the (less famous, still gorgeous) ombre wedding dresses, via The Bold Bride.

Wouldn’t these make great ombre wedding favors?

Click through our slideshow above for some of the prettiest ombre wedding cakes. (Photos via Green Wedding Shoes and Brooklyn Bride.)

Want more? These ombre wedding cakes look pretty amazing, too.

So, are you still loving ombre? What do you think the next big wedding trend will be? Tell it in the comments!

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Ask Jeff Cooper: Wedding Ring Inscriptions

Looking for wedding ring inscription ideas can be a challenge. You want unique, charming and perfect. You don’t want generic, dated or cheesy. Here are a few ideas to spark up your inspiration, and guide you to a wedding inscription you’ll love forever.

Biblical

The Song of Solomon, or Song of Songs, is the most romantic part of the bible. Translations online vary wildly, so you may scan a bunch to find something that speaks to you. Here are three lines we love, that work for modern couples.

Take Me With You

How Beautiful You Are

My Lover Is Mine

Cheeky

Lots of couples inscribe a little humor into their wedding bands with nicknames, inside jokes or “Put it Back On.” We like funny wedding ring engravings when they make the wearer feel special and loved every time they look at it. Here are some sweet ones.

You’re a Gem

You Are So Mine

Wink Wink

Song Lyrics

We like this approach for couples who want to express themselves, and like to be a bit different. Keep looking (and listening) till you find a phrase that expresses your feelings. Here are some cool, not obvious ones to get you started.

If You Will Dare, I Will Dare (The Replacements)

Nothing Else Matters (Metallica)

Satisfy My Soul (Bob Marley)

What do you think of these? Got your own wedding ring inscriptions to share with the world? Tell us in the comments!

Photo via Shahir Zag.

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We Love: Colorful Dresses & Greta Garbo

The colors! That dress! Check out Summer & Adam’s gorgeous wedding photos on Brooklyn Bride.

First, we love when the bride’s dress really stands out from her bridesmaids. It’s natural to want the maids to look incredible, but when their colors and silhouettes are too similar, it can steal a little attention from the bride.

Summer’s “Garbo” gown by Elizabeth Fillmore is so glamorous! We found pictures of it from every angle, but the mannequin can’t do it justice after seeing it on a beautiful, real bride.

Summer said two things about planning a wedding that we love.

On her vision:
I wanted it to be bright, beautiful, and full of color, music, love, and joy.

Her advice to couples:
Focus on what matters, which is the two of you.  Stick together, enjoy every second, and it will be perfect in all the ways that matter.

Have a bright, beautiful, colorful, musical, loving and joyful weekend! Here’s our links list of the week.

Check out this inspiring slideshow from talented wedding photographers Our Labor of Love. We’ve been following their work for a while, and they also shot Summer & Adam’s beautiful pictures!

Doing your own wedding makeup? Emily from Cupcakes & Cashmere has been guest blogging at Estee Lauder, and we finally understand concealer! Check out her tutorial here.

Wow. Check out Danish designer Naja Munthe’s Copenhagen home. Natural, neutral, special and sophisticated, all at once. It also looks like the most calming, centered place to be in a busy city.

Let’s stay connected! Share your thoughts in the comments & Like us on Facebook!

Photo, via Our Labor of Love.

 

 

We Love: Valentines Day! Plus, Win a Diamond Pendant!

We love these easy-to-make giant valentine posters! (If you make one, we want to see pictures!) So cute.

And don’t buy any chocolate caramels till you’ve done the proper research!

Have you checked out Vogue’s lovely lingerie guide for 2013? You should!

We posted about it before, but we don’t want anyone to miss this! Like us on Facebook, then enter to win this new design. We decided to debut our Heirloom Pendant by giving the first one to one of our fans, before they’re available to buy. Today’s the last day to enter.

Got a brilliant Valentine’s idea? Leave us a comment!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Yellow Gold Engagement Rings

Lovely Kate Winslet has revealed the slightest peek at her wedding rings and surprise! She wears a traditional yellow gold wedding ring set. Are gold rings the next big thing?

When Miley Cyrus unveiled her new engagement ring, ring watchers were surprised to see her bold yellow gold band. Then Halle Berry wore a regal looking gold and emerald ring, and we started to wonder if gold wedding rings are the next major engagement ring trend.

We blogged about colored stones being a trend to watch in 2013, and we’re starting to think yellow gold might be poised for a comeback in 2014! What do you think? Does yellow look dated or are you ready for a sunny new hue?

If you’re feeling the big, bold gold, click here to see what our custom made, double halo Jeff Cooper Tara Engagement Ring looks like in yellow gold.

Like us on Facebook, we’re giving away a diamond necklace this week!

Photo from Pinterest.

We Love: Polka Dots & Engagement Photography

With epic winter storm Nemo on its way, we’re planning a  perfect storm of productivity and cozy bliss at home this weekend. What’s your plan? Here’s our weekly list of readables, in case it involves relaxing with a good blog. Think warm thoughts, and we’ll see you Monday!

How cool would one of these be for a wedding venue or photo backdrop? These crazy colorful exteriors by the artist Hense are a great antidote to the winter blahs.

And here’s another good one for winter brides. How to wear bronzer in the winter!

Want your engagement portraits to look like the ones in the trendy wedding inspiration blogs? Here’s a handy guide to styling your own engagement shoot, and it doesn’t look too hard.

Are you a DIY kind of couple? This looks so fun and easy. You could polka-dot anything!

Wow. Alec Baldwin is the best interviewer! Let’s nominate him for the next Oprah!

What diet? New York Times insists that making a fine pot of polenta is well within your grasp, even if you’re not an Italian grandmother. We want to believe!

And above, the photo’s from an Italian wedding shoot by Cinzia Bruschini, via Green Wedding Shoes.

Like us on Facebook, we’re giving away a diamond necklace for Valentine’s Day!

 

 

We Love: Channel Set Rings & Happy Brides

We love reading Jeff Cooper love stories on message boards.

Check out our slideshow up top! A lucky bride in Philadelphia shared some playful pictures of her princess cut Emma Engagement Ring, and we love the story that goes with them!

“The engagement was a surprise but we did discuss preferences. I told him I always loved Jeff Cooper but didn’t need his setting necessarily – just something to be inspired by. Lucky me, he decided to stick with what I love!”

Her fiancé also had a great experience with our Authorized Retailer, A.R. Morris Jewelers in Wilmington, Delaware.

“He really felt like they listened, were patient, and went above and beyond in their customer service.”

We’re so thrilled to hear about another happy Jeff Cooper bride! Do you have a story to share? Tell us in the comments.

For more authorized Jeff Cooper retailers, look here.

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Olivia Wilde & Jason Sudeikis Engaged

We’re so happy for our favorite SNL actor Jason Sudeikis, and the gorgeous actress Olivia Wilde!

We got a sneak peek at Olivia’s antique engagement ring, when she was photographed on set in Rome. Look at her little Mona Lisa smile! Pictures are a little blurry, but it looks like a massive, round diamond in an antique setting.

Congratulations, you two!

Want to read more about celebrities’ round cut diamonds?

Do you love Olivia’s antique style with a big round diamond? Try our Tamara and Tara Engagement Rings!

Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook and enter our diamond necklace giveaway!

Comment away, we’d love to hear from you!