Category: Ask Jeff Cooper

Ask Jeff cooper: Engagement Season

Did you know that 33% of all proposals take place between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day?

December is the most popular month for engagements, and the term “engagement season” is suddenly in the media because of this hilarious web meme that’s going around. Guess somebody is experiencing “engagement fatigue.”

All kidding aside, this time of year can be perfect for a romantic proposal.

Do you love the idea of giving the season a little extra sparkle and fire? Here’s Mariah to get you in the mood for planning (or dreaming of) a beautiful holiday engagement.

Featured image via.

Stay warm and cozy, everyone!

ask jeff cooper: holiday proposal ideas

December is the most popular month for engagements, so what are you waiting for?

If you decide to get engaged for the holidays, congratulations! Here are a few ideas to inspire you.

The Knot has a list of cute proposal ideas here. And right here are 50 more. Still not sure how to go about it?

The most important part of a great proposal is finding a way to make it special and exciting, whatever that means to you and your love.

You don’t need a gimmick, but you’ll tell the story again and again, so think it over before you pop the question. You’ll know you have the right idea when it’s completely personal and unique to you and your partner.

Prince William popped the question on African Safari. Kanye West rented out a stadium. You might return to the place where you first met, or do what one of our customers did, and attach the ring to a beloved pet.

Whatever you decide, have a ring picked out, wait for the right moment, and feel free to be as over the top romantic as you want.

Good luck! And don’t forget to share your proposals with us, we love them!

Featured image is the Anneliese Engagement Ring, from our Arabesque Collection.

 

Ask Jeff Cooper: Vintage Look Engagement Rings

We talked about amazing pavé diamonds last week, so what else is trendy in wedding ring fashion right now?

Trend #2 is The Vintage Look! The Knot had this to say:

What’s old is decidedly new this season. The subtle and delicate look of vintage-inspired rings is in. Stones on these rings are recognizable for their Old European round center cut, but you’ll also see gorgeous Asscher cuts and others too. The defining details: minimal scroll-like engraving, microset (tiny, half-point) diamonds, delicate milgrain work (raised beaded edges), and filigree.

And we have this, our vintage-inspired Heirloom Collection, with millgrain edges and a feminine, antique sensibility.

So is heirloom style your style?

The featured image is our Henna Rose Engagement ring, shown in cozy and intimate surroundings.

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Ask Jeff Cooper: Pavé Diamonds

What’s trendy in wedding ring fashion right now? We blogged our predictions for the year here, but our friends over at The Knot posted an article where they picked 4 top trends in wedding rings, and they’re all trends we design for! Can you guess what they are?

Trend #1 is Pavé Diamonds! The Knot had this to say:

In the elegant pavé setting, tiny, faceted, fully cut stones are set as close together as possible so you can’t see the metal around them (see picture above). Think of it as if the metal band has been paved with diamonds. The pavé look offers bling without being outlandish. We’re seeing pavé in metals from yellow gold to platinum.

And here are a few favorites from our dazzling, but refined Tandem Collection.

Do you love it, or do you love it? We think pavé diamonds are so chic and glamorous.

So, what do you think the other three ring trends will be? Stay tuned!

ask jeff cooper: wedding day rain & cool umbrellas

Rain on your wedding day is actually considered good luck, according to Hindu tradition!

In Italian they say, Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata, or Wet bride, happy bride. So why are we so worried about it? The hair, the makeup, the dress, the pictures.

Outdoor weddings are so beautiful and trendy, but there’s a great deal left to chance!

We were inspired to write this by the incredible wedding photographer Heather Jagger, who shot a friend’s wedding recently and she wrote, ” It rained all day but it only seemed to make it better somehow.”

So before we get any further, look at this. Beautiful, right? Your wedding will be, too!

Just prepare a little, then don’t worry. Like the Beatles said, Love is all you need. That is what makes or breaks a wedding, not a little (or a lot of) rain!

First tip: Wedding day makeup is a special genre and has to be danceproof, cryproof, hugproof and cakeproof, anyway. Everyday makeup doesn’t always cut it, so be prepared, and be a good sport, and all they’ll notice is you.

Second tip: Do your research.

Third tip: Rain (or potential rain) is a great excuse to express your style. There are cheeky umbrellas. Umbrellas that create an amazing pop of color in your pictures. And statement umbrellas like this or this.

Fourth tip: You may as well splurge on some chic boots, too! The blue gloss would make an amazing “something blue.”

Tip five is really the only tip you need: If it rains on your wedding day, own it!

Featured Image via Jagger Photography.

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ask jeff cooper: How to get great wedding pictures

We’re avid fans of weddings and great photography, and wedding photography is one of the most important, but mysterious parts of planning a wedding.

We attended a wedding this weekend where the photographer looked down on shooting a still life of the bride’s dress and shoes! So it pays to discuss these things in advance, and to have a list of shots that you have your heart set on.

That said, be open and spontaneous. When you find a photographer you love, trust them to cover all the candid moments that make your day special.

One of our favorite shoots is this series by Sean Taylor Photography, where the couple is clearly playful and comfortable. Trust your gut. If you don’t feel uninhibited when you interview your photographer, you won’t feel that way on the day of the wedding.

A great photographer listens, inspires trust, and is a consummate professional. Spend what you can to hire someone really special!

For more ideas, we like this guide from The Knot, with 85 great wedding photo suggestions.

And this one from Celebrity Bride Guide, ‘How to get great wedding photos.“

Featured photo by: Joel Chapman, a Bath, UK wedding photographer, via Moment Junkie.

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ask jeff cooper: buy me a ring

The question we hear most often from our clients is, “How do I pick a ring?”

The next most frequently asked question is, “How to do I get him to pick a ring I love?”

There’s some sound advice with a sense of humor over at East Side Bride, but we thought we’d offer some sensible advice from our experience.

If you want your love to propose, just nurture your relationship. Be thoughtful, be affectionate, be a great listener, but also have a life of your own so there’s some intrigue and mystery there.

Most people can’t gracefully come out and say “here’s what ring to get me.” But there are some ways to subtly influence your partner’s choice. If someone is thinking of proposing, they will take notice when your taste in rings comes up.

1. Tell your mom, sisters and all your girlfriends what you like. “I really love princess solitaires. No yellow gold. I love anything by Jeff Cooper.” Keep it simple and they’re sure to remember when he comes to them for advice.

2. Compliment rings you love in his presence, and be specific. “Your solitaire engagement ring is fabulous! What brand is it?”

3. Use language that helps your partner describe your personal style. You could say, “I love old fashioned jewelry. Or, “My style is really sleek and simple.”

4. And finally, if you don’t mind being a little more obvious, Like’ and ‘Share’ rings you love on Facebook, and repin them on Pinterest.

If you get a ring that’s not what you have in mind, you have two choices. Make the best of it, or ask to exchange it. As with any gift, graciousness is key. Be positive and grateful. We’ve known many brides who’ve said something like, “This ring is so beautiful I want to cry. You are the best fiance a girl could ever want. It is a little fancy for me though, how would you feel about us picking our something simpler?”

Your partner proposed to make you happy, so compromising on a ring is only as big a deal as you make it.

Love our featured image? It’s the Heidi Cushion Eternity Set from our vintage inspired Heirloom Collection.

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ask jeff cooper: the halo engagement ring trend

We predicted that halo rings would be big this year, and how right we were!

When we wrote about the adorable and lovely Alexis Bledel’s engagement to Vincent Kartheiser here, she wasn’t yet wearing a ring.

Now she’s stepped out in a vintage-inspired octogonal halo style, similar to our Tate Octet Ring.

Halo rings got some attention on TV when Catherine Giudici accepted ‘Bachelor’ Sean Lowe’s proposal with a square halo ring similar to Tallulah. ‘Bachelorette’ Emily Maynard wears a halo engagement ring, too.

The singer Brandy, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Wilde and Kate Middleton are but a few of the stunning celebrity brides who light up the room in halo rings.

Name a few more? Natalie Portman, Jennifer Hudson, Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Clarkson, Gwyneth Paltrow… it’s easier to name who’s not wearing a sparkly halo!

What say you? Are you on board with the halo trend?

The featured image is our Heather Engagement Ring.

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Ask Jeff Cooper: Wedding Planning

Since so many of our friends and fans are engaged and planning weddings, we’re aware of the pressure on couples to please others. Everyone has an opinion on the food. The dress. The officiant. And family members who contribute financially are even more invested.

These days, couples are expected to contribute creatively to the celebration too, putting a unique, or at least trendy spin on the day. It’s a lot to think about.

We came across this Andy Warhol quote that gets to the heart of the issue.

“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”
– Andy Warhol

In other words, trust your instincts and do what inspires you.

For more Ask Jeff Cooper posts, click here.

Photo via Jagger Photography.

Ask Jeff Cooper: Engagement Rings How To

It’s the question almost every groom-to-be faces. ‘How do I choose an engagement ring?’

We went over the finer points of how to recognize quality here, but most of us still need help picking the perfect style for her personality.

Conventional wisdom says to ask the bride’s mother, sister or a close friend to come look at rings. That’s not necessarily the advice we’d give you.

FIRST, if you’re sincerely worried she won’t love the ring, just ask her what she likes. You can always pretend you’re researching a birthday or holiday gift.

If you want the ring to be a total surprise, the key to understanding (and conveying) her personal style is Hard Evidence. And the proof is in the pictures.

Here’s a short list of snapshots that will help your salesperson pinpoint the ring of her dreams. (You could bring them on your phone, but it’s way better to print out these pictures and bring them to the store.)

1. Pictures of her in her favorite outfits.

2. Snapshots of her favorite jewelry, that show the metals, stones, and styles she likes.

3. Pictures of her handbags, perfumes, or any brand names she likes may give valuable clues to her taste. If her bag, signature fragrance and coat are all classic, trendy or super feminine, you’ll probably want her ring to match.

4. Does she subscribe to any magazines? Whether she reads Town & Country or Real Simple, her reading material has the potential to be very revealing when it comes to the personal style she aspires to.

5. And last, but not least, does she have a Pinterest account? This is a goldmine of clues about her personal style, and you may actually find ring pictures in there. Take screenshots of anything you think is relevant.

SECOND. to get an idea how a bride’s personal style might translate into her wedding style, we like Brooklyn Bride’s “Phi Style” mood boards.

For example, if her Pinterest is filled with black and white pictures of movie stars and glamorous dress up outfits, she might dream of being an Old Hollywood Bride, who’d probably love an Ava Engagement Ring.

Is she an independent, sophisticated art lover? Does she collect images of modern, funky interiors and fashion? The Sculptural Bride might love the Estella Engagement Ring.

Or would you say she’s a bohemian flower child? Does she love nature, vintage style, or ethereal, romantic dress designs and photography? The Lily Engagement Ring is one to consider for the Kate Moss-inspired 1920s garden bride.

As you begin your search, just remember to be prepared, patient and relaxed. The perfect ring is out there!

Pictured above, a brand new design from our Laurel Collection.

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