Choosing a Diamond

October 15, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Jewelry, Wedding Planning

If you are looking to buy that special someone an engagement ring or a ring to show how much you care you should first be knowledgeable about diamonds. By knowing some basics about diamonds you can make a smart choice which will also fit into your budget. The more you know about diamonds the better you will be at the finding a high quality diamond at a reasonable price. The first thing you should be aware of is what jewelers call the 4 C’s; which are cut, color, clarity and carat weight. These are the things they use to obtain the value of the diamond.

One thing to consider is the brilliance of the diamond depends heavily on its cut. The cut give a diamond the brightness that makes it shine. The diamond cut is on a grading scale which is; Ideal, Very Good, Good and Fair/Poor cuts. The Ideal cut gives maximum brilliance and is more expensive. Very Good cut diamonds let in a lot of the light and have a good deal of brilliance. The Good cut diamond offers quality and beauty for a reasonable price. Fair to Poor cuts only reflect a small portion of light and most reputable jewelers to do not carry this cut.

It is normal for diamonds to contain some type of flaw or inclusions that happened when they were formed in the earth. The clarity of a diamond takes into account the number, size and visibility of the flaws. The less   flawed diamond will create more brilliance and therefore are highly prized and pricier. It is possible to find a diamond with some imperfections that still has brilliance and sparkle.

No color is the most desirable in a diamond because it allows the most reflection of light. Jewelers refer to a professional color scale to grade the color of a diamond. The highest rating is the letter “D” for colorless and the color scale goes to Z. Diamonds that are graded J through M may have a very faint hint of yellow in the diamond and look stunning in a gold setting.

The unit of weight a diamond is measured by is called a carat. Large diamonds are higher priced because they are less common than small diamonds. The standard is usually the larger the diamond is, the higher the price will be. Your budget will help determine the size of diamond you will want to choose. If you compare diamonds you will find one that is the size and quality you desire.

When you are looking for diamonds it is in your best interest to look for ones with a Diamond Certificate. The Diamond Certificate will give you all the information about the diamond. It will have the specifications of the 4C’s and also a diagram explaining all aspects of the diamond. If you buy an uncertified diamond you are not going to know exactly what you’re getting. The Diamond Certificate is like a blue print on the diamond and will have all the properties listed. An appraisal is not the same as a certificate; an appraisal gives the approximate retail replacement value of the diamond.

A diamond engagement ring can be a substantial investment and you should choose carefully and wisely. If you use the information provided you will be able to make a knowledgeable decision. By being informed you will be able to get the best quality diamond that will fit within your budget.

Get Married at A Golf Destination

A marriage at a golf resort should be as straightforward or as complex as you wish. Just because you share a love of golf, doesn’t mean that you have to give up the drama of the white gown. It means that the traditional long flowing train and a full skirt is probably not a very good choice. Rather, a simple straight elegant white dress that allows you to easily move with a detachable train would be the best possible choice for your gown, especially if you’re going to swing a club as part of your ceremony. Use special bridal jewelry to enhance the simple elegance of your dress. Picture crystal glistening in the sun, or pearls to accessorize the gown.

Perhaps, you want to have your wedding be more informal, and then the choice of clothing is simple. Simple white golf clothes for the bride and her bridesmaids can that compliment the wedding colors are a great choice. Enhance a white visor with some beads and a lace veil and you will be ready for the ceremony. The clothes of the groom should distinguish him from the crowd, possibly with a special tie or hat as an addition to his golf clothes. Don’t forget to add elegance by donning  special crystal wedding jewelry purchased just for this special day. The money you saved on your dress should allow you to treat the entire wedding party to stunning jewelry for your wedding.

The wedding can be on the course, if it’s allowed, and the reception right in the clubhouse. Choose a nice vacation site at a higher price to increase the luxury of your golf wedding. Las Vegas golf courses offer a vast array of prices for your wedding that closely resemble the traditional cost of any other type of wedding. Some have packages that often save you a considerable amount of money. If you want to up the ante, consider places like the hotel at Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, Banff, Canada. The beautiful setting of the greens against the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies is set off by a hotel that has looks like a Scottish castle. It is nearly impossible to find a comparable setting with such a scenic impact. If your guests don’t golf, there are side trips like a visit to the glacier or a trip on the gondola to the top of the mountain, an especially beautiful event when the wild flowers are in bloom.

The reception can be the most fun to plan for this type of wedding. Why not choose special golf gifts for the guests? They will add to the theme. A golf ball with your names and wedding date is one way to catch the eye of everyone that walks through the door. Golf tees with your names and the date is also a great way to have everyone have a remembrance of the event that they will appreciate. Giving candy golf balls of chocolate and special golf themed cans containing mints are another way to make your wedding unforgettable for your guests.

If you have the reception at the club, normally they handle the food. A catered outside reception is also another way to keep with the theme of the game. Decide whether you would like to have a regular meal or just provide snack food that your guests can take with them when they go on the course. It would be a shame to waste the pleasure of playing golf on a beautiful day when the golf is only a short distance away. If you are serving alcoholic drinks, you should have a special champagne punch and a few drinks a lot of people will like as well as some beer. Be sure to remember to save enough Champagne for toasts to the bride and groom. Use a couple of golfers as a topping on your wedding cake or have a topping that has a golf club or golf bag. Have fun with your reception and enjoy a round of golf as husband and wife.

Keep Your Wedding Costs Under A Thosand Dollars

April 8, 2011 by  
Filed under Wedding Planning

People frequently complain about being engaged forever because they don’t have the money to get married. Not only is this misleading, it is far from the truth because it is really easy to get married very cheaply. In fact, you can get married at the courthouse and not pay very much money at all! On the other hand if a reception is important to you and you would like to celebrate your wedding with family and friends it will take a few more dollars to have one. For as little as a thousand dollars you can have the wedding you have always dreamed of. Sure, you might not have the bridal jewelry made of diamonds and platinum. You can have a wonderful wedding that you will always remember and you won’t need expensive limousines to do it.

Let’s start off saving money by getting a bargain on a dress and pay less than $100. There are many bridal shops that sell off the rack wedding gowns for as little as $99. Shop around and find a dress you love. Remember, too, that your bridal jewelry will make your dress even more beautiful and special. If possible, shop for dresses with your bridal jewelry so you can get the full effect.

The next way to save money is to buy plain, gold bands for the bride and groom. Bridal jewelry that is simple can be affordable. You can buy both bridal jewelry bands for as little as $250 and sometimes less if you shop around. You can add more extravagant bands later on when you have more money. You can always give bridal jewelry as a gift for a special occasion like an anniversary.

Find a photography student willing to shoot your wedding for $100. Many will be delighted at the opportunity to make a little money and practice their craft. The priest or pastor will also cost around $100. You will need to serve refreshments of some sort and the easiest way to save money here is to have family members and friends each bring something. You can ask for menu items to get what you want and many people will be willing to help you find ways to save money. You may want to buy a wedding cake and if you choose a simple one from a bakery it will cost around $100.

If you get married on your own property, that will be free. A church can be very low cost-sometimes as little as one hundred dollars and if you are a member sometimes nothing for members. So, if you are a member of a church get married there!

Flowers add a tremendous value to the wedding. Believe it or not but you can buy some beautiful flowers at your local super center and then arrange them yourself. Less than one hundred dollars will be enough to buy the flowers for a lovely wedding. Have family or friends contribute green leaves or other green plant cuttings.

Even after buying everything so far you will have only spent about 75 percent of your budget. Take the rest and brainstorm on choosing something else to add to make the day even more special-perhaps ballons or butterflies. Choose real invitations or take the free route and invite by email. Now that you can see how easy to have a nice wedding for a very low cost spend some time coming up with some more fun ways to spend the money.