Suffering slightly from snow blindess after gazing at wedding gowns for hours, it seemed like the best antidote was to turn to shoes. (Of course!) Here are some of my current favourite sparkly wedding shoes for brides who demand a little (or a lot) of bling in their step.

Izzie bu Touch Ups £79

Campari by Gina £470

Or if Gina shoes aren’t quite in your wedding budget, then Faith (available at Debenhams) have quite a few similar designs…

Faith £65

I am also loving these Faith shoes, in a warm shade of natural gold, which are just £50 from Debenhams…

I do worry about where my shoes are made. I hate the thought of enjoying fancy shoes that have been created by tiny little underage, underfed, underpaid hands somewhere. Gina, and the maker of the shoe below, Paradox ensure that all shoes are crafted here in the UK.

Bermuda from Belle for Paradox of London

Benjamin Adams is far and away my favourite wedding shoe brand right now, and I am determined to buy myself a pair for the wedding.

Dita by Benjamin Adams, roughly £180

or if, like me, you really love the bling…

Gaga by Benjamin Adams £250

Or go totally crystal mad and have a pair of custom, Swarovski-encrusted shoes made for you and your bridesmaids. There are lots of people who do a great job of these, so no need to break out your glue gun!

Look on Etsy for shoes like these…

Moonbeam from Parisxox on Etsy

£140 from Etsy seller Sylldi

Which are your favourites?

With spring on its way you and your boyfriend might be considering getting engaged just in time for the warmer weather and Valentine’s Day.  If you need to give him any ideas in regards to engagement rings that you really love, you might want to consider Jean Dousset Diamonds.

This elegant and luxurious jewelry company was founded by Los Angeles based jeweler Jean Dousset, who is also a descendent of the famed Louis Cartier.  The brand aims to design stunning engagement rings that bring together the best of historic and timeless styles with cutting edge (pardon the pun) trends.

If you’ve been curious as to what some of the spring 2012 ring trends will be, you’ll be happy to know that the classic raised diamond center stone will continue to be popular.

Vintage rings that steal anyone’s breath away with their intricate details are also still touted as a hot trend.   Look out for pave set bands, halo surrounds and large solitaires in round and cushion cuts.

What are a few sophisticated rings from Jean Dousset Diamonds to consider? Well, besides all of them (because let’s face it…all of them are gorgeous,) here are few of my favourites:

Nina was inspired by the time era of the 30s through the 50s and is a timeless engagement ring with just the right amount of vintage glamour. Pull up the ring online or show your boyfriend this blog article and he’ll be impressed with the fabulous design and how much it makes you smile!

Sasha is another gorgeous ring from this designer that’s both trendy and very stylish. It is designed with a lovely diamond center stone and also features sparkly diamonds that surround the center stone and band. This classic engagement ring might suit you if you love the vintage look.

The founder Jean Dousset prides himself in having a zero-tolerance policy toward conflict diamonds. This means that they only purchase diamonds through the largest suppliers who stick to and enforce the strict ethical standards established by the Kimberley Process.

If you are on the hunt for a ring that will last you a lifetime with your love, check out ultra-feminine engagement rings, wedding bands, and more at Jean Dousset Diamonds’ website.

So are you impressed by the Jean Dousset Diamonds’ sparklers?  Let us know on Facebook.

If you’ve recently become engaged or desire to upgrade your wedding ring, Celtic
wedding rings are a beautiful way to convey the love you have for your spouse and also
contain a piece of tradition on your finger at the same time. Even if you aren’t Irish you
can still wear a Celtic ring and love it not only for its beauty, but the meaning behind the
ring. If you’ve often wondered where Celtic rings have originated and what makes them
so unique, you’ll be excited to learn about the history behind them.

Celtic Tradition – Where it All Started

Lovely Celtic wedding rings have one of the strongest symbols of marriage that exist
today. They came from an ancient culture full of traditions dating back from the 1st
Century BC. During the Middle Ages the Celts moved to the British Isles, where most
people today recognize their traditions, culture, and art. In Medieval times, however, the
Celtic tradition was more dispersed and was located in a variety of locations, such as
Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and some parts of France.

History as to Where Celtic Rings Originated

Here’s a little bit more history to explain how the Celtic rings came to be. The
main element you should understand about the rings is their meaning of faith and
Christianity. The Christian faith was well-known in Britain by the 4th century AD
and after the Saxons invaded Britain, the Celtic people moved to Wales and the
surrounding areas. That is where the Celtic designs came to be. You can see Christian
thought conveyed on Celtic wedding bands. The designs were thought up by Christian
missionaries and the Irish church when they migrated out of mainland Britain.

A Combination of Christianity and Celtic Culture

Even though it is known that Celtic myth and druid priests were a huge part of the
Celtic people, later Christianity became the main influence. Wedding rings with
Christianity were co-mingled with primeval Celtic culture. Together, Christianity and
Celtic culture created what would become a diverse ring design that’s embraced by
people in many cultures today.

Examples of Celtic Ring Designs and Their Meaning

There are several ring designs that you can choose for your wedding ring. One
example is the Celtic trinity knot. It is an example of Celtic Christianity, and the three
interwoven strands symbolize the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the Christian faith.
This makes sense for this ring pattern because marriage is supposed to be never ending,
lasting forever. Find a trinity knot ring on the House of Williams website, where they
have the Open Celtic Plait Wedding Ring.

If you love, admire, or even understand the Celtic language, a ring with engraved
wording may be another beautiful option. The House of Williams Ladies Celtic Wedding
Ring comes engraved with “”mo anam cara” meaning, “my soul mate.” Whatever you
decide for your wedding ring, Celtic rings are not only unique, they symbolize the true
meaning of love combined from tradition and Christianity.

All images courtesy of WWW.HOWWEDDINGRINGS.CO.UK

Needless to say, a wedding is one of the, if not the, biggest day of any woman’s life and it is
imperative that they get their outfit right from head to toe. Obviously, it is the choice of wedding
dress that is likely to take top billing on their to do list but the fashion accessories they opt for on
their big day won’t be too far behind – with ladies watches often being a big consideration for those
walking down the aisle.

Many brides forego wearing a watch on their wedding day, only to ask about a hundred times in the day “What time is it?”

Generally speaking, most brides will want their choice of watch to complement the wedding
dress that they have chosen and given the fact that there are some world class fashion designers
releasing watches nowadays (such as Vivienne Westwood, Chanel and DKNY) – this is something that
shouldn’t be too difficult to accomplish.
If it’s an understated yet undeniably luxurious timepiece
that the bride is after for her big day, then Chanel watches could be the ideal selection. They offer
an elegance and sophistication which is perfect for any style of wedding and taste but you will need
to have fairly deep pockets if you want to make a Chanel watch part of your wedding day as they
typically come in at between £2,000 and £6,000.

Another brand of luxury ladies watches that is synonymous with high fashion, thus making it the
perfect choice for wedding days, is that of Vivienne Westwood watches. Few fashion designers have
had more of a say in the world of top end style than Vivienne Westwood (culminating in one of her
wedding dresses featuring in the Sex and the City movie) and it is fair to say that the eye-catching
watches that she has created are perfect for any bride-to-be. Again, the cost of Vivienne Westwood
watches will vary but they are unquestionably amongst the most affordable fashion watches on the
market, with most coming in under £200.

Last but no means least, there is Gucci watches – which combine exceptionally beautiful Italian
designs with Swiss precision watch making techniques which culminates in one of the most
impressive designer watches on the marketplace. Gucci is famed for the quality of their clothing
and they have managed to bring this immense quality to their watchmaking and infused their luxury
watches with a level of inimitable style that elevates them to the upper echelons when it comes to
picking which watch is right for a wedding day.

As mentioned, a wedding is a once in a lifetime experience and whilst nothing should detract from
the bride, things can certainly be used to compliment her choice of wedding dress, hair-style, make
up and fashion accessories and the luxury ladies watches mentioned above would make a welcome
addition to any wedding.
Guest Post by Mariana

Quartz Vermeil Earrings

I truly believe that you can love more than one person at a time.  For example, I love my finace and wouldn’t choose to spend the rest of my life with anyone else, however I have fallen head over heels for Kristen Amato.  Or at least her beautiful gold jewelry!

Flower-shaped cocktail rings, chunky cuffs, delicate cascading earrings… the entire range is a visual fiesta of fashion-forward highlights.  Her gold jewelry is trendy, unique and stylish and pairs gemstones with gold that shows real flair.

I particularly love the incorporation of chain into many of the designs, which adds a freely moving aspect to the jewelry.  Wrapping large, juicy gems with delicate strands of gold chain is an innovative technique that I haven’t come across before and is suprisingly effective.

Part of ShopNBC’s United Jewlery Designer program, Kristen was chosen as an up and coming designer and presented to a global audience.   Her designs are already sold in over 200 boutiques around the world, and with jewelry being featured in magazines such as People, InStyle, Glamour and RedBook, the Kristen Amato brand is a rising star in the celebrity world too.

If you love the rich warmth of gold and the sparkle of colored gemstones, then feast your eyes on this sumptous collection.  Using coloured gemstones including Tourmaline, which is one of my favorite stones, these beauties are sure to make a statement when paired with a pristine white gown.   Too daring for the traditional?  OK, then treat yourself for the rehearsal dinner.

Images from http://www.shopnbc.com

I will try not to overflow the blog with winter wedding ideas now that I am planning my own, but since we are headed into that season anyway perhaps you can excuse my fixation on all things white and glittery.  And speaking of white and glittery,  I absolutely love this collection of pearl jewellery.

Each design is so  simple, which tends to be the way that I like pearls as it showcases their natural sheen and lustre.  A few sparkling touches really add some glam though.  I adore these pearl necklaces.  The addition of diamonds complement the pearl and add a touch of elegant sparkle without overwhelming, and how unusual and lovely is the gold chain?

If you like your pearl necklaces with a bit more drama, then you will love this triple strand design.  The word “luscious” sprang to mind as soon as I saw this.

A few pearl jewellery care notes:

• Do NOT store in an airtight container (e.g. a plastic bag) as pearls need to “breathe”
• Never spray perfume or hairspray over your pearl jewellery as this can damage the lustre
• Wrap in a piece of soft leather or velvet to prevent other jewellery in your box from scratching the surface
• Clean with a soft cloth and a diluted soapy solution using a gentle cleanser that is free from harsh chemicals, fragrances or colouring
• NEVER use any cleanser with ammonia or bleach with pearls, or any cleanser meant for silver or gold
• Do not immerse your pearls in a jewellery cleaning solution unless it is marked safe for pearls

I am also drooling over this long pearl necklace, made with baroque tahitian pearls, although perhaps not ideal for my wedding it would sure look nice on my honeymoon!

Add a pair of simple pearl earrings, or if you want to bling it up a little more opt for designs with diamonds to add a touch of sparkle.

When buying pearl jewellery it’s worth taking your time to look around and buy quality pearls by an experienced jewellery. Pearls are a temperamental and delicate gem to work with and you want to invest in bridal pieces that will last for years to come and give you an heirloom to cherish and pass on to future generations.

Plastic pearls just ain’t gonna cut it here girls!

Images from Winterson.co.uk

Gorgeous, affordable and from a family-run UK business; do bridal bags come any better?

Each one of these bags has been handpicked by the folks at Stardust Evening Bags, and judging by the collection they have a great eye for what brides want and need.

Take a look at some of these great bridal bags.  Which is your favourite?

How cool is this idea?  The traditional elegance of pearl with the sparkle of a diamond.  Ideal for wedding jewellery.

I love unusual twists on traditional elements of weddings, so these designs really appeal to me.  What do you think?

All images from http://diamondinapearl.com

I got engaged this weekend!  After looking at literally hundreds of diamond rings, I realized that I kept being drawn to rings with coloured stones.  In a sea of white, a touch of colour made these rings stand out.  In the end, I got a stunning Aquamarine and diamond design that made me cry as soon as I put it on my finger. … a clear sign it is the right one!  So here is a little round up of some of my favourite coloured engagement rings.

Aquamarine

A beautiful water coloured stone, aquamarine adds a touch of subtle colour.

Harriet Kelsall

Apples of Gold

Tanzanite

A gorgeous, rare gem that has a beautiful purple-blue hue.

Tanzanite and Diamond Ring

Unusual setting

Heirloom ring

Morganite

The soft pink of this stone makes it an ideal romantic choice.

Harriet Kelsall

Firenze Jewels

And here is the photo of my own ring:

flickr.com/artisrams

When you picture the traditional bride, she’s wearing a long white dress and a wedding veil. The wedding veil holds a lot of history and tradition and oftentimes, it’s simply expected that you’ll purchase a wedding veil when you buy your dress; or that you’ll wear a veil that’s been passed down in your family. But not all brides are a fan of the wedding veil. Luckily, there’s no wedding rulebook that states you have to wear a wedding veil on your big day. In fact, there are many fabulous and fashionable alternatives to the veil that will have you feeling like more of a modern bride than a page ripped out of history. Now, you just have to tell Mom you won’t be using her old veil as your “something borrowed.”

Fashionable Alternatives to the Wedding Veil:

Davidsbridal.com

Veil Headpiece- If you’re not interested in wearing a veil, but don’t want to shun the tradition all together, opt for a veil headpiece. These are basically clips or headbands that have a short piece of lace or netting veil attached to them, often with some other decoration. You still have the bridal look, but not the whole long veil to go along with it.

Lovethebride.com

Tiara- Your wedding day is the one day where you will be treated like a Princess, so you may as well look the part. Many brides choose to wear tiaras on their wedding days instead of a veil (though you can still attach a veil to most of them if you choose). Tiaras come in a huge variety, from simple silver ones, to diamond-studded ones.

Lovealwaysannemarie.com

Headband- We love bridal headbands because they give you all the glamour of a tiara without as much of a statement that you’re dying to be royalty. If you’re a headband-wearing girl anyway, this look might suit you perfectly. Like tiaras, you can find a wide variety of headbands from plain ones to diamond-studded ones. Again, you can easily attach a veil to a headband if you change your mind later.

DavidsBridal.com

Fascinator- They’ve been around forever, but fascinators have never gotten so much attention as they have since the Royal Wedding (where every lady guest is required to wear either a hat or a fascinator). A fascinator is a head decoration that is often attached to the side of the head with a hair comb or clip. There are tons of different types of fascinators, but many are made with feathers, flowers, or other finery. You can wear an outrageous fascinator to make quite the statement or you can keep it more discrete with a smaller, sophisticated fascinator. Fascinators also often come with a short piece of veil attached.

flickr.com/SAN_DRINO

Flowers or barrettes- Style your hair into an up-do or a bun and stick a few flowers or jeweled barrettes in it. These sophisticated accessories never go out of style and can make a stunning look on a very low budget.

Nothing- Who says you need to wear anything on your head as you walk down the aisle? Maybe you just want to show off your gorgeous locks and totally expensive up-do. Don’t feel like you need to sport a wedding day headpiece. And if you really feel the need to wear something, make it a flower behind your ear.