Aug 02 2008
Wedding Bands - Bands of Gold, Bonds of Love
There are more styles of wedding bands available today than there are engaged couples. Yet, what is symbolized by these precious metal and gem rings remains what it has always been. A wedding band says: you are the one, and deserve nothing less than the finest possible.
Plain wedding bands can say that as well as the most elaborate design. Classic styles remain the choice of millions because they need nothing beyond themselves. With the sheen of gold and little or no ornamentation, they can convey the same message as any other ring. They adorn with simplicity and bond a couple together as strongly as the most flawless diamond.
Contemporary styles show the restless imagination of the world’s finest jewelry designers. Experiments with tungsten, titanium and other alternative metals have all proven extremely successful. These bands incorporate the latest ideas in ring making, but are destined to become new classics themselves.
Gold wedding bands remain a popular choice, beyond the impetus of tradition. White, yellow or rose, they are strong, beautiful, and last forever. That makes them the perfect representative of a relationship that is aiming for the utmost.
Platinum is preferred by many. No finer choice could be made. Some metals are called ‘precious’ for more reasons than their rarity in the Earth. This silvery metal is ultra-durable, heavy and stunning to the eye. Its heft betrays the gravity that the engaged couple feel when approaching their commitment. Its beauty symbolizes that of their devotion.
Add to that platinum band a single or set of diamonds. You’ve now reached the pinnacle of wedding rings. A single stone may form a centerpiece of stellar clarity and dazzling color. Whether pure white or deep yellow, or any of the hundreds of other colors available, a diamond set in a platinum band says it all.
All of these possibilities can be carried to the limit by the master craftsman who creates a hand crafted wedding band or engagement ring. With designs as individual as the artist and the ultimate recipient, these pieces of jewelry become fine works of art to wear.
But there are practical aspects to the choice of an engagement ring or wedding band, as well. Beyond the need to scratch resistance, durability of shape and surface, and other attributes they still need to wear well.
Sizing is a basic element to meet this need, of course. But the design itself can greatly aid in achieving that goal. A comfort fit ring assists the wearer to want to wear it always. With beveled interior and exterior edges, rounded arcs and other features incorporated in the ring one can truly want never to take it off.
All these features are equally true of men’s rings as they are of women’s. Men want a choice of styles, excellent wear characteristics and a ring that is truly fine to look at. They want something distinctive. Modern rings surpass these goals easily.
But the engagement and wedding ceremony don’t end the possibilities in ring selection.
Anniversary bands celebrate the well-deserved success of keeping that long-term commitment. Whether celebrating the 1st, the 10th or the 100th anniversary of a marriage, there’s a ring to suit.
Many couples will want to increase still further the celebration of their devotion to one another. Renewing their vows - whether after five years or fifty - is a superb way to do just that. And for each of those possibilities there is an anniversary wedding band to help them do so.
Selecting wedding bands is one of the happiest of occasions. The purpose that drives the choice is one of joy. The options available to fulfill that choice are as boundless as the feelings they symbolize.
Good news for brides inspired by Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, classic is back. Fabrics, silhouettes and accessories borrowed from the 1940s through 1960s offer brides the opportunity to start with the basics and enhance them with luxurious finishing touches.
The Dress
Eschewing large, modern swags of fabrics, designers are embracing the hourglass figure. Waists are nipped [...]
From flowers to guest lists, engaged couples spend months planning the perfect wedding. After the vows are said and the reception is complete, most newlyweds are ready to relax. But there are several steps newlyweds should take before their happily ever after can begin.
“Settling into life as a married couple takes some work,” says Lindsey [...]
Money can be a complicated aspect of marriage, especially when it comes to merging finances. Finding a system that works for both individuals can help couples achieve financial harmony.
“Figuring out a fair and comfortable way to share responsibilities and expenses can be challenging,” says Sam Goller, award-winning author of “Yes, You Can… Achieve Financial Harmony” [...]
There are a million things to think about when you begin planning a wedding. There are the big things like booking the reception site, the church, the DJ, and, of course, finding the dress. But once those are out of the way, there are little details to think about, such as a theme, the flowers, [...]
This spring, it will be difficult to tell if a bride is walking down the aisle or making her way down the red carpet. After a year-long love affair with the boxy trapeze dress, designers are emphasizing the waist and adding elegant details.
“This focus on the feminine calls for glamorous bridal jewelry fit for a [...]