Wedding Invitations|Cheap Wedding Invitations|Wedding Invitation

It's one of those old-fashioned images we all remember from childhood: a newly married couple rush down the steps of the church to their car while their friends and family shower them with wedding rice. The idea of throwing rice at weddings may still be in our popular consciousness, but if you've attended any weddings in the past 20 years chances are you've seen few, if any, actual examples of wedding rice in practice. Although people have been tossing rice at weddings for thousands of years, its use at the contemporary wedding is in decline. Fortunately there are a couple of eco-friendly wedding rice alternatives for all you modern brides that's bringing back this traditional image in a unique way.

History and the Decline of the Wedding Rice Toss

But before we discuss alternatives we're left with the questions, "Where did the wedding rice toss come from, and where did it go?" Weddings are nothing if not an outlet for traditions, and throwing rice is one of the oldest that's still practiced today. Tossing rice at weddings owes its origins to the ancient Celts, for whom it was a symbol of growth and fertility. This special symbolism, possibly combined with the fact that it's simply fun to throw confetti and it looks beautiful airborne, has made throwing rice a ubiquitous part of weddings in western culture for most of its history.

Two developments have changed that in recent decades. First is the popular misconception, sometimes attributed to Ann Landers, that the rice tossed at weddings gets eaten by birds, expands in their stomachs, and hurts or kills them. The good news for birds is this myth is completely untrue -- birds actually eat grains of rice in the wild to supplement their diets, with no ill effects. Unfortunately for the tradition, however, this myth continues to be widely circulated.

The second and most significant reason for the practice's decline is simply that many churches and venues prohibit it. Tossing all that rice at your wedding can make a huge mess, one that the venue is left to clean. There is also an issue with the shape of rice grains, which are usually round, as they can roll underneath shoe heels and create a slipping hazard, making rice an insurance liability that many churches are unwilling to accept.

Bubbles as a Wedding Rice Alternative

If you were contemplating a wedding rice toss at your ceremony, don't worry, because there are wedding rice alternatives you can try instead. If you were ever a kid you should already be familiar with our first suggestion, and that's blow bubbles. That's right, bubbles are an airy, almost dream-like wedding rice alternative that look spectacular and leave nothing to clean up. You can even find wedding bubbles that are packaged in bottles with shapes like hearts, doves, and bells to distribute to your guests. Imagine 30 or more of your friends and loved ones, all blowing bubbles simultaneously, and you can get a sense of just how grand this practice can look.

And if you're worried about that soapy water getting in your hair or on everyone's nice clothes, don't be. Most wedding bubbles are made from a solution that is non-toxic and non-staining, making them safe for kids and your dress. In fact, you can even place a few kids in charge of the bubble blowing on your big day. This is a great way to make children feel like an important part of your celebration, and we guarantee you won't find a more enthusiastic group of blowers.

Biodegradable Wedding Rice Alternatives

The second wedding rice alternative gives the tradition a real 21st century makeover. Ecofetti is a water soluble tossing confetti that's also fully biodegradable. Ecofetti can be thrown like wedding rice, only it's lighter and tends to stay airborne a little longer. It's described as being safe for the environment, does not present a slipping hazard, and once your wedding is over it can be hosed away in minutes or, according to the manufacturer, left to dissolve on its own within about 48 hours.

Ecofetti has the texture of finely cut paper, much like traditional confetti, but is also available in a variety of "rice cuts" that look and feel a little more like classic throwing rice. Ecofetti also comes in a wide variety of colors that can be mixed, matched, and combined -- it still comes in white, too.

Compressed Wedding Rice

But if these wedding rice alternatives just don't do it for you and you're still committed to the original tradition, there's a modern day option for you here as well. Designer wedding rice is available that uses a process to compress rice grains into a non-round shape, usually something like hearts. This compressed rice lies flat when it hits the ground and can be crushed under foot, minimizing the risk of falls. It also breaks down faster than regular rice grains and will gradually dissolve on its own. Like regular rice it's also safe for birds, so don't feel bad if the local wildlife does a little of the post-wedding cleaning for you.

Talk to Your Venue about Your Options

Many venues that prohibit wedding rice tosses are willing to make exceptions for these alternatives, so be sure to discuss your options with the administrators of yours. Chances are you'll find a way to make those indelible wedding images a part of your special day, and you'll be helping to revive a timeless tradition that's been around for almost long as there have been weddings.

Designed to offer you easy steps to making the right booking decision for your wedding photographer and indeed videographer, this article covers all of the pros and cons of wedding photography services and offers you helpful simple advice on choosing the right wedding photographer for you.

1. Q. How much should I pay for my wedding photography? A. This often depends on what sort of album you want and how many pages are included. A storybook album can range from 15 pages to 40 pages. THe cost price of these albums range from 瞿150 to 瞿400. That is the cost to the photographer, everything else you pay on top of that is for their services on the day.


2. Q. I have been quoted 瞿3000 for my Wedding Photography, am I being ripped off? A. In a word, most likely. I suppose it depends on what you see to be fair value. A wedding album that costs 瞿400 which is then being sold for 600% profit isn't great value. I would suggest that you look around and see what is in the 瞿1000 to 瞿1500 market. Very often it is the same album that is being used and the same company that is printing it. Be wary, it is not always sensible to assume that you get what you pay for.


3. Q. My photographer only stays until the cutting of the cake, is this normal? A. In many cases this is the case. Your wedding day is exactly what it says, "Wedding Day" not half a wedding day. Aim to choose a photographer who will stay until after your first 5 dances. This way you are covering your speeches which can offer some great emotions and photo opportunities for your photographer and it also allows for your first dances to be included in your album. If you are paying over 瞿1250 for your wedding album and photography package this should be included as standard. In these hard times of economic recession it is essential that you get value for money. Make the photographer work for it, they are offering you a service. Make sure you get your value.


4. Q. How many pictures should be in my album? A. Again the answer to the question could be how long is a piece of string? However in today's modern storybook album it is a fact there is more room for photographs than there was in the older more traditional style of album. Previously the photographer would have taken approx 50 photos on your wedding day and you would have been asked to choose 30 for your album. Now the photographer should be taking between 250 and 500 photos on the day with you being able to choose between 100 and 130 for your album.


5. Q. Can I get all the pictures in my album? A. The answer is yes, but the sensible answer is be careful not to make the album look too crowded. Otherwise it will look like a scrapbook rather than your wedding album. Have a mixture of large one page images with pages containing 6 to 10 photographs. Any more than 12 photographs can look very cluttered.


6. Q. Where should I go to find my photographer? A. Check out the latest bridal magazines in your area. Then loot at the photographers website from the advert in the magazine. If the website is well structured and looks good, and shows you some work, including a FULL ALBUM from one wedding, then give the photographer a call and arrange to go and see their work. When you are there make sure you see a full album and ask him/her to show you one that was taken in very poor weather conditions. This will help to sort out the pretenders from the professionals. It is much more straightforward to taking photographs in fine conditions than it is in humid, rainy dull weather conditions.


7. Q. I'm worried I might make the wrong decision, what should I do? A. Well, look for testimonials. But be aware many photographers can make their own testimonials up. Check out a review websites which offer independently verified reviews. It is a much safer and more reliable way to review your photographer from other brides and grooms who have already used them.


8. Q. The photographers work is excellent but I don't really gel with him / her what should I do? A. Simple answer, forget about them. There are plenty of photographers who offer excellent work and have a friendly and helping attitude. Remember you will be spending most of your day with them, so you want to enjoy yourself and not be under pressure or displeased with the photographers personality. You can find out a lot about their personality by meeting them. Never book your photography over the telephone without meeting the photographer first.


9. Q. I have booked an "Award Winning Studio" to do my photographs, but the photographer is sending out his assistant which is slightly cheaper, should I book them and will the quality be as good? A. Well that question should answer itself. If you book an "Award Winning Studio" that is fine. If you went to a restaurant to "fine dine" would you prefer the head chef to send his assistant down to McDonald's to bring back your gourmet burger and fries? I didn't think so. Make sure the photographer or studio you booked sends out the photographer who took the pictures you like. If he is not available dont book them, if you have already booked them, cancel. It is better to lose a small deposit than have an album that wasn't what you thought you were going to be getting.


10. Q. I want an "Award Winning Photographer" to take my photographs, is this sensible? A. Firstly, let me introduce you to the world of wedding awards. Wedding awards are given by photographers to photographers! Professional bodies who critique individual pieces of work which are taken out of context when compared to an "entire" piece of work. I have never seen a Wedding Album full of "Award Winning Pictures", I have only seen albums with one or two "Award Winning Photographs" in them. Be very careful of this. Also be very careful of readers awards. Readers awards in magazines are voted by wedding couples who have been asked to vote by their photographers! A wedding photographer who had charged 瞿300 to 90 couples will have a much better chance of being "Wedding Photographer of the Year", than someone who charges 瞿1250, does excellent work, but has only done 30 quality weddings that year and hasn't asked his wedding couples to vote for them. In my opinion stay away from awards. Awards should come from word of mouth. Ask your friends, look at their albums and when in a studio looking at albums, stay away from albums that show 20 different brides in them. Remember anyone can get a lucky shot at a wedding. Only a seasoned professional can get a wedding album full of professional images.


11. Q. I want all the photographs the photographer takes on the day of the wedding but he has asked me for an additional 瞿500, should I pay him for these? A. The answer is no. Look for a wedding photographer who will give you the photographs in High Resolution on a disc as included in the package. You pay them enough for their days work. Get the value out of it. Believe me, if it comes down to giving you the pictures in Hi Res on disc or not getting the booking, they will give you them, but you must agree this with them at the start and get it built into the contract.


12. Q. I am looking for reprints from my photographer, but they are looking 瞿25 per 10" x 8" reprint. I need 50 reprints but don't want to spend an extra 瞿1250 what should I do? A. Make sure you have done the deal in question 11 above. This is why it is important to get your Hi Res images included on disc. If you have them, you can take them to your local photo processing lab, who will print them for between 瞿1 and 瞿1.99 each. Now why would you spend 瞿1250 when you could spend 瞿100 at the most and get exactly the same thing! Be aware. Be sensible. Don't get ripped off.

You can see from above there are a number of pitfalls when choosing the right photographer for your wedding day. There is also an abundance of photographers keen to grab your business. Take the steps above and you will be on the right track to making the right decision for your wedding media package.

Of course if you are a millionaire with unlimited funds then don't worry about any of the questions and answers above, call the most expensive photographer with the biggest window in the high street and he will happily take your money and laugh rubbing his hands as you walk out the door just having spent a fortune.

China is considered to be the centerpiece of the whole wedding registry. There are many advantages in putting up tableware to the register: It is important in table setting, it boosts the overall look of your home, and it is a worthy investment. What's more, it is something that will last for a lifetime.

Do newlyweds wish to receive china as wedding gift?

China pottery has long been a subject of most wedding presents and is always in demand on the gift list. But nowadays, the couple now seems to prefer other kinds of presents instead, a decision which most conventional members of the family frowns upon, saying that getting English pottery and having on your table is an opportunity of a lifetime.

The couple has numerous options when it comes to wedding lists, but if you are one of those people considering marriage as a lifetime of partnership, then the gifts may just as well mirror your married life. Getting married is embarking on a new lifestyle and definitely, new tableware too.

Practicality and self-awareness, however, has influenced the newlyweds because of years of living together or independently before the wedding. Pottery mugs are usually on the top of the list of china ware they need. This brings about neglect of crystal stemware and fine china and selecting mixed tableware instead, like china ware paired with common dishes.

The Bride's Modern Tableware
As stated earlier, you can choose to have a complete set of china ware, crystal, silver and perform the following:

- Write on the list a group of durable common china pottery, stemware, and flatware, choosing the casual kind of tableware that is dishwasher friendly.

- Get antique china pottery, stemware, and flatware if you can, on E-bay and other second-hand porcelain sellers and also taken into account everyday tableware in the wedding list.

- Utilize inherited china porcelain, stemware, flatware, without forgetting every day tableware.

- You can also put casual and fine tableware like ordering a complete set of common dinner dishes and matching them with exquisite china ware, such as bowls and platters.

Mix and Match Dinnerware
By matching your china and English porcelain pieces, you can cope with the oncoming demanding needs. If you exclaim that you include in the wedding list a set of fragile china pieces and mix them with them with more common china porcelain, the newlyweds will certainly enjoy both worlds. You also have the option to level up your tableware by putting additional pieces that are good for special occasions

There are also a lot of dinnerware types base on the past decades, such as drinking glasses that have this antique feel but with a modern edge. This is a great collection that you could be proud of.

Choose Happiness and Practicality
For choosing items in the wedding gift list, the couple should take in mind what makes them happy and what makes them last by thinking ahead. This is an opportunity to reflect on your future family.

Couples should not be bound by tradition. Fashionable trends change often, and sometimes, they refer to past collections to be inspired in making trendy tableware - a chance to showcase creativity and originality in making a simple thing for everyday use.

Bridal experts promote buying two china sets, the formal and the casual one. But you do not need to purchase two complete sets of china - that would be not practical for you. China nowadays, is not only for those special days, but also casual dining. So why not mix both?

When you're planning your wedding on a strict budget, then very cheap wedding invitations are the way to go.

Unfortunately, in most cases you can either spend time or spend money, so if you want really cheap wedding invitations, you're going to have to do it yourself.

You can purchase printable wedding invitations at discount stores like Walmart. These have everything you need to make a traditional-looking wedding invitation. They're pretty fancy. All you have to do is type up the text that you want on your computer and then print it out. Test this many times before you actually try to print the invitations though. Some people have said that it's hard to get it right and you don't want to waste an invitation.

Besides these print-your-own kits, you can actually make your wedding invitations much cheaper if you decide to take a less traditional route. You can purchase plain note cards in craft stores very inexpensively, usually less than $10 for a pack of 50.

Once you have these blank cards, you can either print or handwrite your text on them. I know that handwriting is time-consuming, but I told you that you'd either have to spend time or money!

Embossing the cards at home is a great way to make these plain note cards look great at a low cost. Chose a couple of stamps that are in line with your wedding theme and pick up some embossing powder. This should also cost less than $10.

Don't feel embarrassed by sending out very cheap wedding invitations. If you personalize them by creating them yourself, people will appreciate this more than if you hired a printer to create them for you. There's no need to spend a lot of money on wedding invitations.

I predict in the next two years more than 75% of engaged couples will be creating their own wedding websites. They are more than just a way to herald your exciting engagement news - they are incredibly practical.

For starters, with a wedding site, your guests can RSVP instantly. Instant RSVP means you can know your guest volume well before the wedding. Knowing which guests to expect can save you incredible money on food and beverages. Over purchasing wedding food and alcohol accounts for a large percentage of excess wedding costs.

Yet another benefit to an engagement webpage is the interactive element. Guests and wedding party members can post comments and message you directly. Guests who have questions about childcare for the reception, can post right to your blog, or email you quickly. You can then post a site message about childcare offered, for maximum convenience for your guests.

If you're struggling to plan your wedding use your website to your advantage. Wondering whether to serve a vegetarian dish? Post a poll asking how many guests are vegetarian. Looking for a potential guest willing to help with decorations or childcare? Post a "job opening" on the site. If used correctly, you can tailor your wedding exactly to what your guests would like. Find out their food, wine, cocktail, music and other preferences.

Ways to market and showcase your site:

Post your wedding page link on Facebook and MySpace

• Most of your guests will have either one of these pages. So if you post a link, most of your guests will have access to your site.

Include your web site on the Save the Date announcement

• Save the dates go out early, so putting a link to your engagement site there will really help to give them heads up where all the fun wedding details will be online.

Send a mass email

• Send your guests an email with your wedding page link, and encourage them to check it often for fun games, news and polls about the big day. Your guests will love to be a part of the wedding planning right from the start.

Newspaper Announcement

• Most couples put their engagement announcement in the paper. Include your wedding site link in the paper. This is a great way to access an audience without a Facebook page or email account.

The benefits and possibilities of a wedding site are endless. Start thinking about your site right away, and enjoy the convenience of having open communication with your guests. My personal favorite site service, in terms of usability and personalization is Wedding Window. It's a favorite of InStyle and the celebrity wedding community.

Happy planning!

If you are lucky enough to have received a diamond ring for engagement or just a gift or are considering purchasing one for someone then it is worth looking into insuring such a precious stone.

Many people forget the importance of insuring a diamond ring, what can be worse than falling in love with a ring and something happening to it, whether it is lost or damaged if the ring is not insured then the costs will have to be forfeited by the owner, If the diamond ring was expensive then you may find your self in a situation where you simply can not afford to replace or repair the ring.

Diamond ring insurance is not as simple as you may think, most insurance companies will not just cover the item on your normal policy, some may cover jewelry for theft but not for other circumstances where by the diamond ring has become lost or damaged.

Most insurance companies will allow you to purchase additional insurance for fine jewelry and your diamond ring however there are a few questions you should ask before taking out this addition to your existing policy.

1st and most importantly you will want to know how much the insurance will cost. It is also wise to ask how this will affect your policy should you need to make a claim for your diamond ring.

2nd ask if an appraisal needed to cover your diamond ring and if so would these need to be provided by yourself by specific appraiser or will your insurance company take care of this for you.

3rd ask if the diamond ring be covered for its full value or replacement cost and will this be in the form of a cash sum where by you would purchase the replacement ring yourself or will the insurance company replace the diamond ring themselves and send to you.

4th check if the diamond ring be covered wherever the damage or loss takes place, some insurance companies will only cover loss or damage within your own company so additional travel insurance may be needed if you were to go abroad.

5th will the insurance cover all repairs on the diamond ring and who will make any repair to the ring, some insurance companies have their own tradesmen who would make any repairs needed other insurance companies will ask for several estimates provided by yourself before you can go ahead and get the diamond ring repaired.

6th always ask about excess, this is a sum of money you will pay before anything is repaired or replaced, this is normally ascertained by the value of the ring, it is a very important aspect of insurance, you may find small repairs can be done without going through your insurance, some cases will show that it simply is not worth paying the excess to replace or repair your diamond ring depending on the excess figure.

Diamond ring insurance may sound daunting but it need not be, knowing what to ask and knowing the facts always helps.

After choosing the design for your wedding invitations you can explore ways to express your relationship and wedding plans through creative wording. Some couples select a special quotation or poem; others write personal thoughts from the heart, while those planning a fun and casual wedding play around with wording even using rhymes.

Creative wording for wedding invitations can also be inspired by the couple's common interest, the exotic or unusual location of the wedding, the invitation design, or wedding themes including Disney and fairytale.

Traditional wedding invitation wording often extends a gracious request for the ""honour"" of your presence. Honour, the British spelling, is reserved for wedding services held in a church or a synagogue. Less formal wording ranges from a request for the pleasure of your company or presence to an invitation to celebrate the couple's joyous occasion.

Whether you seek to follow expert wedding invitation etiquette or relax and follow your own personal style depends on whether the wedding is formal or casual. Regardless, there are a few tried and true traditions worth examining.

A traditional mailing includes a wedding invitation, a response card, and a reception card. Optional inserts include a map/direction card, registry information, and at-home card informing guests of your new residence if you will also be relocating.

Fact #1: 45.8 million Americans under the age of 65 lacked health insurance coverage in 2004.

Fact #2: In 2005, the cost of health care insurance for family coverage surpassed the annual salary of a minimum-wage worker.

Fact #3: Drug benefits of many employer insurance plans are being reduced every year. These reductions in drug benefits include steps such as higher premiums for drug benefits, higher co-payments on drug purchases, higher annual deductibles, tiered cost sharing, annual dollar limits on drug purchases, tightening eligibility rules and completely cutting drug benefits all together. This means more and more individuals are becoming underinsured when it comes to prescription drug coverage.

Fact #4: U.S. National Health Care Expenditures per Capita rose by 123% from 1990 to 2004. In that same time frame Prescription Drug Expenditures increased 78.6%. Prescription drug spending is one of the fastest growing components of national health care spending. In fact, in 1999, national prescription drug spending increased an astounding 18.2%, compared to an 5.2% increase for physician and clinical services and a 5.0% increase for hospital care.

Fact #5: Retail prescription drug prices increased an average of 8.3% a year from 1994 to 2004 (from an average of $28.67 to $63.59), more than triple the average annual inflation rate of 2.5%.

Fact #6: A recent AARP Bulletin reported that some individuals have to resort to very desperate (and unnecessary) measures to obtain their medications. The report stated that "A widow recently sold her wedding ring to pay for medicine. Another sometimes begs for prescription drugs left by friends who have died. Another on occasion uses pills prescribed for her dog."

Fact #7: In a 2004 survey, over a third of uninsured adults said that they did not fill a drug prescription in the past year due to cost. The scary part is that skipping doses or simply not taking a medication to save money can be extremely dangerous to your health.

Fact #8: From 1995 - 2002, pharmaceutical manufacturers were the nations most profitable industry. In 2004, they ranked third, with profits of 16%, compared to 5% for all Fortune 500 firms.

Fact #9: The five most highly paid drug company executives pocketed more than $183 million in compensation in 2001, with the top 25 pharmaceutical execs averaging nearly $6 million in annual compensation in 2000. That compensation does not count stock options, which can add millions of dollars to a CEO's income.

Fact #10: Prescription drug costs are expected to increase by 12.6% a year for the next 10 years, according to a recent report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. By 2010, 16% of what Americans spend each year on personal health care will be spent on prescription drugs, the department said. In 1999, it was 9.4%.

Fact #11: The United States is the only developed nation that does not regulate drug prices. American consumers pay much more for their prescription drugs than any other country in the World. In fact, a 2003 study by the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration compared the U.S. prices of a list of 54 prescription drugs with the prices in 9 other countries and found that the prices in these 9 other countries were 18 to 67% lower than the U.S. prices.

Fact #12: FDA-approved does not mean "Made in the U.S.A.". Actually, more than 40% of the drugs sold in the U.S. are made by foreign-based firms that may have American operations.

Fact #13: An estimated 2 million Americans now buy their drugs from a Canadian pharmacy.

Fact #14: A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in September 2005 (Volume 143 Issue 6) concluded that brand name medications are often substantially less expensive when purchased from Canadian Internet pharmacies instead of from major online U.S. drug chain pharmacies.

Individual's struggling to afford their medication costs may want to look to Canada as a viable option for purchasing their prescription drugs. Canada is a very highly regulated and safe country to buy medications from. Millions of Americans have been ordering medications from Canada for more than 5 years now and there have been no reported cases of an American citizen harmed by an inferior medication. American residents can save an average of 45% on their prescriptions when buying from a licensed Canadian pharmacy.

Copyright 2006 Jeremy Cockerill

For some couples, getting married in a traditional church ceremony with a reception following doesn't sound appealing. For those who would prefer to keep the occasion simple and quiet, a destination wedding is surely in order. If you would like to getaway to say your wedding vows, consider the beauty of Caribbean weddings.

Getting married in the Caribbean is a unique experience in itself. When you travel to a foreign country to get married, all traditions go out the window, so you can feel free to do whatever you would like at your ceremony. One of the most special ceremonies takes place right on the beach of the Caribbean. No matter what island you choose in the Caribbean, you are guaranteed a picturesque venue to say the least. An added benefit of being married right on the beach is in the attire itself.

With a beach wedding the attire is generally more casual. This means the bride can save lots of money on a big fancy wedding dress and go for something a little less expensive. You can also get creative with what the groomsmen and groom will wear. They can wear board shorts, khaki pants or even a lighter colored suit if you are going a little dressier. The bridesmaids can also wear dresses that are less expensive and more suited for the beach.

When you book your all inclusive resorts Caribbean wedding, there are plenty of basics that are already included. This is especially handy since you are trying to plan a wedding that is taking place in another country. Most Caribbean weddings automatically come with a wedding planner to help you make your dream wedding absolutely perfect. Your booking will also include a wedding cake, champagne, flowers and music. Some resorts even provide your entire wedding for free with a minimum stay. The resort will also take care of any paperwork that is necessary.

Another great thing about a Caribbean wedding is that you are only a few steps away from your all inclusive honeymoon! You won't have to wait any time at all to arrive at your honeymoon destination. If you were to get married back home, you would probably wait several days to leave for your island paradise. Having a wedding in the Caribbean is a great way to avoid all of the stress and hassle of having a large traditional wedding. A wedding in the Caribbean is something that your entire family will look forward to. Not only will they get to travel to a beautiful island, but they also get to witness your vows.

There are many unique and beautiful rings available when a person is planning a marriage. Choosing the perfect ring can be difficult when you are trying to find the ring that will reflect your personality and style. The emerald engagement ring is a unique and beautiful stone, that will is the perfect tool for giving you a distinct and signature look throughout your married life.

There are many types of engagement rings made. Some of these rings are designed to incorporate different gemstones including diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. An individual who is looking for a unique ring will often find that a unique style and can be difficult. One reason, it is that many rings are designed and manufactured en masse and are not intrinsically unique.

Having a ring created and designed by an artist with a distinct eye for creativity, will give you an opportunity to select the perfect engagement ring to complement your relationship. The size of the ring may vary, and may be dependent on the budget of the person purchasing it. However, when a person decides to select a ring that is unique, beautiful, and unusual, they often find that getting an affordable ring is much easier than they anticipated.

The characteristics of the emerald engagement ring, give a classic elegance to any style. A person who wants a modern design in their weddings set, will find that the emerald is a beautiful stone that complements modern or classic designs.

When choosing the design of your ring, it will be important to take into consideration how you normally wear rings. If you are an individual who works with their hands, or might get their ring caught on equipment, clothing, or other items, a ring that has an inset stone will be a more viable choice.

Some people select rings that have a solitary stone, set high on the band. These rings, while beautiful, often get caught on clothing or other objects if a person works in an industry where they will be using their hands. Having an inlaid emerald placed in a ring protects prongs holding the ring, and gives it an added layer of protection from damage.

In many cases the emerald will be paired with another stone such as a diamond, which can create a fabulous setting when it is attached to a wedding ring. In many cases, people will incorporate the emerald in both the engagement ring and wedding band to create a seamless and continuous look in the entire set.

When you are looking for an emerald engagement ring that is reflects your personality and style, it will be important to talk to a professional jeweler who has the knowledge and expertise needed to provide you with information that will be important in your selection process. You decision will include your requirements for wearing the ring, the style of the ring and the design that you want your ring to embody.

In many cases when a person selects an emerald ring, it is because they have an affinity for the beautiful rich color that is captured in this marvelous stone. Creating a themed wedding around the color of a an engagement ring makes it very easy to utilize this wonderful color with one that complements it. By pairing the emerald green with another color, the result can be a spectacular display at a wedding event.

When making the purchase of the ring, it is always a good idea to simultaneously purchase ear rings, bracelets, and other accessories cut from the same stone or from the same location. This creation of a timeless keepsake makes the entire set a valuable memory that can be passed on through generations.

Emeralds are cut in much the same way as diamonds. This stone is comparatively hard, but must be maintained properly to retain it's splendor. It is important that the stone be pretreated to avoid scratches and damage. When participating in rigorous sports, it will be important that the ring be protected.

When purchasing the ring in a princess cut, there will be edges around the facets. This is a beautiful cut for an emerald, however it will be important that the edges are protected by the design of the ring. The emerald cut engagement ring gives an individual the opportunity to be creative in their design as well as protective of the stone. When properly maintained the emerald will last throughout a lifetime.

When purchasing the an emerald engagement ring, setting up a maintenance plan to have the ring cleaned, checked and repaired when necessary will be an excellent idea. Once the ring has been purchased, it will be important to maintain it as you would any valuable. Insurance is always a good idea with buying jewelry, and you will want to keep it in a well protected area when it is not being worn.