Men’s wedding rings: How to choose your perfect style

Men’s wedding rings: How to choose your perfect style

Image for illustration purposes only


If your big day is not too far away, then you might be searching for the perfect wedding ring that you’ll love to wear every day. In this article, Jack Jahan from
Ramsdens Jewellery shares five top tips for choosing a band that suits you and matches your personal style.

Over the years, most of the attention when it comes to wedding jewellery has been directed toward the bride. After all, everyone wants to see the engagement ring first, then the focus is well and truly on what beautiful pieces the bridal party are all wearing for the occasion. The groom’s wedding band has typically been something chosen to match or to be as plain as possible.

In more recent times, the groom’s wedding ring has gained more importance as couples have started to pick out ones that don’t match each other. This has opened up the possibilities for men, who now have more freedom to research and shop for a unique design that suits them and that they’ll love wearing for the decades to come.

However, if you’re a groom-to-be looking to find that perfect wedding ring, you may be a little overwhelmed by the range of choices available, especially if you’re not a regular jewellery buyer. To help you out, I’ve put together my top tips for narrowing down the search.

Consider what you want in a ring

As a wedding ring is such a significant item of jewellery, it’s worth stopping and having a think about what you actually want and what will suit your needs. Doing so will make sure that you have a much clearer picture of what you’re looking for before you start shopping around.

For instance, you need to think about what your tastes are, as you want a wedding band that truly reflects your personal style and doesn’t begin to grate on you one or even ten years down the line. If you wear jewellery regularly, then it’s often a good idea to pick something that won’t look totally out of place among the rest of your collection. Or, if you aren’t a big jewellery wearer, then a design that is more timeless and understated may be a better choice.

You should also consider what impact your lifestyle will have on your choice of ring. Someone who is very active or works with their hands might prefer a ring in a more hardwearing metal, like tungsten or titanium, as this will withstand any wear and tear. A sleeker design without any decoration might also be a better choice, as it will reduce the chances of the band catching on something.

Shopping for your ring will be a lot easier if you know what size you’ll be looking for, particularly if you are looking at pre-owned, vintage, or one-off pieces that may be limited in sizing options. It’s a good idea to get measured by a jeweller, or, if you’re shopping online, using a printable size guide.

Get familiar with the styles of wedding ring

Due to the limited nature of men’s wedding rings in the past, many grooms are surprised to find the range of options available to them when they actually come to choose a ring.

With this in mind, you should familiarise yourself with some of the most popular styles:

  • Classic rings: The classic wedding ring is the traditional choice you’re probably fairly used to seeing. It’s very understated style with a plain yet sleek and timeless look. They still remain a very popular choice among grooms.
  • Carved rings: A carved ring is very much like a classic ring in its understated design, but has a bevelled edge that changes the look of the piece to something a lot broader.
  • Diamond rings: Commonly associated with engagements and anniversaries, diamonds can also be found on many wedding rings. You can choose a just one stone for simple luxury or several for something more ostentatious. However, bear in mind that adding diamonds will increase the price tag significantly.
  • Alternative rings: If you’re looking to stand out from the crowd, an alternative style ring is the choice for you. These bands don’t have any traditional hallmarks and make use of other metals, shapes, and design features for a unique look.

Alongside the various styles available, you will also find rings with different profiles. Domed bands are formed like a letter “D”, with a rounded outer, while flat rings have almost no curvature to their shape. There is a whole scale of variance between these two extremes, so you should be able to find a profile that suits your tastes. As a general rule, domed rings are considered more traditional and tend to suit thicker fingers, while flat rings are more contemporary and sit better on thin fingers.

You can also vary the width of your wedding band, with wide to thin, and various measurements in between, available. Some grooms prefer to choose a wider band as they think it looks masculine, but I’d advise you not to prioritise this over how the ring feels on your finger. You’ll need to try potential rings on, and you should always try to balance looks and comfort to get the ideal ring.

Lastly, you may find that a ring you have your eye on is available in both a traditional and comfort fit. A traditional fit has a flat inner band that doesn’t conform to your finger, while you’ll find a curve on a comfort band that ensures it sits easier. Again, you’ll need to try each version on before you pick.

Decide on a metal for your ring

You’ll also need to decide what type of metal you would prefer for your wedding ring. Some factors to consider when making this decision may include what colour you’d like your ring to be, what your budget is, and whether you need your ring to be extra durable.

Some of the most popular metals for wedding rings are:

  • Yellow gold: Yellow gold is created when gold is mixed with another metal. It comes in two varieties: 9-carat and 18-carat, with 9-carat being the cheaper but more hardwearing of the two as it has a greater amount of blended metals. Yellow gold is the traditional metal choice for wedding bands, and it is a timeless choice.
  • White gold: White gold is made by mixing yellow gold with a white metal to create a silvery shine that isn’t dissimilar from platinum. It can be plated with rhodium to ensure it keeps its lustre, but must be replated every few years if so.
  • Rose gold: Gold is mixed with copper alloys and silver to create rose gold, a metal with a pink hue. It’s a very on-trend metal that is popular in contemporary ring designs.
  • Platinum: Platinum is the strongest, rarest, and most expensive precious metal. It delivers a lustrous white shine that is highly sought after — most rings are a 95% mix with another metal due to its scarcity.
  • Palladium: Palladium is an increasingly popular metal with grooms that has a dark grey shine to it. It is from the platinum family, sharing its durability and consistent shine, but is more common and therefore much more affordable.
  • Silver: Silver is the most common and affordable of the precious metals but still has a lovely shine and timeless look to it.

Follow my advice and you will be able to choose the ideal wedding ring in a style that suits you. With a band that has the right design, shape, colour, and feel, you’ll love wearing it every day.

4 Novel Games for Your Lake Como Wedding Reception

4 Novel Games for Your Lake Como Wedding Reception

4 Novel Games for Your Lake Como Wedding Reception

If you’re looking for new ways to make your wedding in Lake Como extra memorable, why not play some new games during the reception? A wedding in Lake Como will not be complete without some fun – especially when it involves the participation of as many guests as possible. The trick is to make the games easy and non-discriminative. Gone are the days when you ask your Italian wedding planner to round up the single ladies and have them play Trip to Jerusalem with the single best man. Today’s lineup of reception merriment is fresh and entertaining!

Game 1: Ultimate Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenge

Ask your Lake Como wedding planner to have some money exchanged in local coins, with a one-coin-per-guest ratio. At the party, give each guest one coin and then have them play rock, paper, scissors among themselves (giving the coin to each winner as a result) until there is only one winner left. Next, have all the winners from each table go up front and play a semi-final elimination round among themselves. The last two players will battle it out to win all the coins, which is a neat prize that they can use as extra shopping money after your wedding in Lake Como!

Game 2: Mystery Guest

Have your guests stand up and listen for any categories that apply to them, upon which they will need to sit down. For example, the first category is “a guest that is the eldest sibling in the family” – everyone who is not the eldest will have to sit down. The second category can be “a guest who’s travelled outside the country for the first time” Keep playing the game until there is only one person standing up, and that person is the mystery guest who gets to win a prize!

Game 3: I Spy (Wedding Edition)

Give each guest a copy of things they need to watch out for and take a photo of using their smartphone: the bride and groom sharing a kiss, a kid eating a dessert, three girlfriends dancing together, etc. Make sure that the guests will have to go around the Lake Como wedding venues (ex. a photo of a couple posing with the lake in the background) and the first person to complete the set of photos will win a token prize!

Game 4: Water Balloon Toss

If your guests are really game and don’t mind that they might get soaked, invite enough guests to form two teams that will stand facing each other. Have them toss water balloons to the person in front of them, with the two teams stepping further away from each other after each round. The team with the least number of soaked players will win the game.

For fun the whole night long, you can choose to play all games at the wedding reception to give as many people as possible the chance to participate in one that they like. These four games will surely make for a lot of hilarious photos, loads of belly laughs, and a ton of unforgettable memories that will make your wedding reception extra-festive.

Wedding shoes to dance down the aisle in

Wedding shoes to dance down the aisle in

Renè Caovilla Jeweled Lace Halter Pump

With wedding season fast approaching, it is time for your Lake Como wedding planners to share the top Wedding Shoes trends of 2018.  It is no longer about “no-pain, no-gain” nor about played out satin pumps. The latest wedding shoes are all about style meets comfort. From the Rene Caovilla bejeweled gems to trendy colors of black or purple to put a twist to a timeless choice with the affordable but sexy Embellished Black Evening Shoes from Florence Black to pretty flower chiffon wedding booties available online at Bella Belle Shoes to help express a bride’s personality freely.  A bride will have her choices of nude wedding shoes versatile in colors which are quite popular these days, always with a touch of comfort and elegance. A bride will only have to choose from nude Christian Louboutin or Elie Saab flats to exquisite Badgley Mischka hills to add sparkle to the bid day. There are plenty of choices for a bride in the new year. Now, who is as excited as we are to see what Megan Markle will wear on her royal wedding in May?

Christian Louboutin Wedding Shoes

Hiring a Wedding Planning Service

Hiring a Wedding Planning Service

Hiring a Wedding Planning Service – What You Need to Look for in Your Wedding Planner

One of the bigger decisions that a couple has to make for their upcoming wedding is whether or not to get wedding planning services. There are many benefits to hiring a Lake Como wedding planner, and what is perhaps the most important one is the amount of planning and coordination that they can delegate to someone who has the expertise in dealing with without batting an eyelash. Here are some things that you may want to consider when evaluating wedding planning services for your special day!

  1. Method for and frequency of communication. If your wedding in Lake Como will be mostly planned out for overseas, you will want an Italian wedding planner who can easily get in touch with you from both your country of residence as well as your wedding venue. Professional wedding planning services usually have local representatives who can meet with you in person within days’ notice, armed with all the information you need to proceed with the important details of wedding planning. Plus points go to wedding planners who are accessible via different means: in person, text, online, and through video – and make it a point to get in touch with you first.
  2. Extent of services. A good Lake Como wedding planner is always one that has a wide range of services – from pre- to post-wedding planning, on the day service, in-city or overseas, etc. The more offerings a one has for you to choose from, the higher your confidence should be with this individual in terms of meeting your needs. It is usually the ones who have more men on the ground that can pull off a variety of wedding planning services!
  3. Connections and Discounts for Service Providers. Another advantage of hiring a wedding planner for your Italian wedding is that a good one will always have a ready team of service providers for you to choose from. The wedding planning industry may be a big one, but those who have experience in the business will naturally form good working relationships with reputable vendors. Make it a point to inquire if a particular planner can provide a good rate from a reputable supplier, which will indicate how much clout she really has in her field.
  4. Extensive knowledge of legalities. Planning an out of the country wedding will naturally subject you to the legal terms of that country, so it is important that you have someone who can walk you through every step of filing the right papers and getting the necessary permits and approvals. A dream wedding in Lake Como is definitely worth the hassle, but it is so much better for you if you know that a professional is guiding you in making the right decision until everything is perfectly ironed out.

There are many wedding planners out there all eager to lend a hand in order to plan your wedding, but you will want one that meets the right balance of professionalism and warmth. It is never easy to plan a wedding with someone who isn’t genuinely into it. If you meet an Italian wedding planner who meets these conditions and gives you a good feeling inside chances are you’ve struck gold – so strike up a deal, stat!

2018 Wedding Trends for the 2018 Bride

2018 Wedding Trends for the 2018 Bride

Getting married this year? If so, you’re most likely in the middle of planning for your destination wedding in Lake Como. There’s still time to infuse a few trends that are going to be big this year – trends that will certainly make your big day contemporary and in the now while still keeping true to your own taste and style!

Wedding Trend 1: Using Ultraviolet as your wedding theme color.

Your Lake Como wedding planner may already be doing away with all things green, which is what 2017 was all about. This year though, ultraviolet is the name of the game. This color of the year can be included in many details of your wedding motif. It can be a) as bold as the colors of your wedding party, or b) cleverly introduced by way of accents, such as napkins and linens or the color of the bouquets.
“Fiori di Barbara Botta”

Wedding Trend 2: Dessert Table 2.0

Dessert tables have been around for quite some time, but you and your Italian wedding planner can do things differently, the 2018 way: by introducing other dessert items that are not already used and abused (we’re looking at you, M&Ms). One example is to have a cheesecake-themed dessert table, with around six variants to choose from and ranging from whole cheesecakes to cheesecake pops.

 

Wedding Trend 3: The Floral Paper Rainforest

If you’re so used to seeing flowers strewn on aisles and tables, the next biggest thing this time is to have them hanging from the ceiling. Take it up a notch by using exquisite paper flowers – either laser cut in a vine style or intricately crafted by hand. Ask your wedding planning services provider for artists that can pull this off and create the lush, paper floral rainforest at your reception that will certainly leave your guests in awe.
“Fiori di Barbara Botta”

Wedding Trend 4: Copper-colored accents

Things take a turn for the soft as we say goodbye to everything rose gold and give a nice, warm welcome to this year’s favorite new metallic: copper. Discuss with your Lake Como wedding planner how you can introduce a few copper elements into your wedding to give it that 2018 vibe. One example is to use copper Moscow mule mugs to everyone for the toasting, instead of the usual wine (and fill ‘er up with some Moscow mules, of course).

Wedding Trend 5: Alternative Cuisine

Filet mignons as the main dish is over and done with: this year, it’s all about something new or something common yet with a twist. For your destination wedding in Lake Como, nothing will surprise your guests more than a cleverly crafted menu of old favorites that are dressed up in new digs. Think Japanese nori tacos, exquisite pizza toppings, guava shakes, and the like! Another thing is for sure, though – your taste-testing session will certainly be fun!

These five new wedding trends for 2018 will really do a lot to liven things up at your special day. While many people often know the drill when it comes to the standard wedding, one or more of these elements will give them that unexpected yet pleasant surprise that will surely delight them to no end.

Bridal Makeup Trends to Try, Stat

Bridal Makeup Trends to Try, Stat

Bridal Makeup Trends to Try, Stat

One of the nicest things about today’s generation of brides is that they’re not afraid to try new things DIY-style – and that includes doing their own bridal makeup. Many people attribute this to Kate Middleton, who did her own makeup on her wedding day and looked absolutely stunning. While you probably have a general idea of how to do your base, take these bridal makeup trends in consideration if you’re looking to add something special or unique to your look for your wedding in Lake Como.

  • Try a strobing technique. Look extra glowing on your destination wedding in Lake Como by trying the strobing technique – which is the opposite of contouring. This time, you use a makeup product with sheen and apply it to areas which the light usually hits. We’re talking the apples of your cheeks, your brow bone, and the tip of your nose.
  • Use unique falsies. Falsies are great for giving you those lush, come-hither eyes for your Villa Balbianello Lake Como wedding, but why not take it up a notch by using one that comes in two tones? While we’re not suggesting one that comes in neon tones (unless you’re the ultra stand-out type, of course!) a set that has a hint of blue at the tips will really create big impact with minimal effort. Make sure you choose one wherein the color pops up during close up shots to make the change very subtle yet still defines your eyes in a unique way.

  • Do a peach-pink layered blush look. A single colored blush is very safe – but also very flat. If you want to add depth, dimension and a healthier looking flush (appropriate for the breathtaking Lake Como wedding venues you will choose from!), incorporate another color tone into your usual blush hue. Stipple on some pink color onto the apple of your cheeks, then layer the top most part with some peach tone to give it a bit of dimension. The ending result will really liven up your look!

  • Go on a skin glowing regimen months before the big day. Your wedding in Lake Como is definitely about your union, but one cannot deny the fact that all eyes will be on the bride on that day. This means months of prepping not just your gown, but also your skin. If you want less makeup on the day of your wedding in Lake Como, you should ensure that your skin looks its best. Consult your dermatologist for a combination of acids that will gently renew your skin and bring out the glow, and stick to the regimen faithfully until the big day. The result will mean less HD makeup (because your pores will look naturally small), and more fun for you as you use fun products that won’t require a super smooth base.

 

Above all, remember that bridal makeup is something that you should have fun with. You should be very familiar about which trends will suit your skin type, face shape, and personal features – then from there see which new trend will bring out the best version of yourself.