Choosing ‘The Rock….'

Most engagements involve a sparkler, but what type are you having?

Some people have a family heirloom as their engagement ring. This can be very special due to sentiment and also makes your ring unique. If you suspect that your partner might be planning to do this, make sure he knows your ring size……and very importantly……your taste in jewellery. As thoughtful and sweet as it would be to receive a family heirloom, if you don’t like the style of it then speak up, otherwise you are going to have to look at a ring you don’t like every day for the rest of your life! According to Tiffany & Co., you will look at your ring over one million times in your lifetime….so make sure you love it!


Diamond Guide

To help the right Rock for you, be sure to consider the 4 C’s:

The closer a diamond is to having no colour, the more valuable it is. When jewellers speak of a diamond's colour, they are usually referring to the presence or absence of colour in white diamonds. Because a colourless diamond, like a clear window, allows more light to pass through it than a coloured diamond, colourless diamonds emit more sparkle. The formation process of a diamond ensures that only a few, rare diamonds are truly colourless. Thus the whiter a diamond's colour, the greater its value. However, fancy colour diamonds do not follow this rule. These diamonds, which are very rare and very expensive, can be any colour from blue to green to bright yellow. They are actually more valuable for their colour.

Clarity
The clarity of a diamond also influences its value. Most diamonds contain some inner flaws, or inclusions, that occur during the formation process. The visibility, number and size of these inclusions determine what is called the clarity of a diamond. Diamonds that are clear create more brilliance, and thus are more highly sought after, and more highly priced.

Carat
A carat is a unit of measurement, it's the unit used to weigh a diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams, or 0.2 grams. The process that forms a diamond happens only in very rare circumstances, and typically the natural materials required are found only in small amounts. That means that larger diamonds are uncovered less often than smaller ones. Thus, larger diamonds are rarer, therefore more valuable. Remember - Size does matter. It is not, however, a measure of your love! Keep in mind though that size is clearly visible... even to the untrained eye. You might not be able to tell the difference between a D grade diamond (colourless) and a G grade (near-colourless), but you can tell if it looks big or not.

Cut
Firstly, don't confuse diamond "cut" with "shape." Shape refers to the general outward appearance of the diamond, (see below). When a diamond jeweller (or a diamond certificate) says "cut," that's a reference to the diamond's reflective qualities, not the shape. Diamond cut is perhaps the most important of the four Cs, so it is important to understand how this quality affects the properties and values of a diamond. A good cut gives a diamond its brilliance, which is that brightness that seems to come from the very heart of a diamond. The angles and finish of any diamond are what determine its ability to handle light, which leads to brilliance. When a diamond is well-cut, light enters through the table (this is the large, flat top facet of a diamond) and travels to the pavilion (the lower portion of the diamond, below the girdle. It is sometimes referred to as the base) where it reflects from one side to the other before reflecting back out of the diamond through the table and to the observer's eye. This light is the ‘brilliance’, and it's this flashing, fiery effect that makes diamonds so mesmerising.

Some shapes to consider:

Round - This shape reflects almost all the light that enters it, therefore said to be the most ‘brilliant’. The round brilliant shape is the most popular diamond shape, closely followed by the Princess.

Princess – These diamonds are square-shaped with untrimmed corners.

Radiant – These are square like the Princess, except they have trimmed corners.

Emerald – Emerald shaped diamonds are rectangular and are usually set with side stones.

Marquise – The Marquise diamonds are oval-shaped with tapered ends. (These can look particularly good on small fingers.)

Pear/Teardrop – as the name suggests.


Your engagement ring will generally look more stylish and in-sync if it is made from the same metal as the wedding ring itself. Wedding rings/bands are usually gold, white gold, red gold, or platinum…..more on this in the next blog……

Lucy
Scottish Wedding Planning

How not to become Bridezilla…..

You might laugh, but it’s easier to turn into her than you think! Or for your Groom to become Groomzilla!! (It does happen, I assure you!)

Firstly, remember that your engagement is supposed to be one of the most exciting times of your lives! Keep the bigger picture in mind – your perfect future together. Try not to get too consumed by it!

Decide early on with your fiancé who is doing what and stick to it. Unless, however, if you are feeling swamped, then speak up and delegate.

With this in mind, try not to let little details send you into frenzy. Entrust friends and family with tasks. Or even let Premier Wedding Planners help you coordinate your day!

Don’t worry about being bossy and opinionated (yes, really!) From our point of view as wedding planners, it’s much easier to work with someone who is clear on exactly what they want, or don’t want. Write down ideas you have and rip out pictures of things you like and keep them in a file.

And last, but certainly not least, do be sure to build in some wedding-free time. As important as your wedding is, it is fundamental that you don’t spend every minute talking about your wedding to your fiancé and friends.

Remember, here at Premier Wedding Planners Scotland we help eliminate the stress of planning your day, leaving you to enjoy the build up and the big day itself without a worry. Whether you want help coordinating the whole event, or just some of the components, send us an email to see how we can help.

Lucy

Having the wedding you really want….

Last week a distraught bride-to-be contacted me in floods of tears…..’I don’t know what to do, it’s gone too far now, I can’t say no, it’ll upset them and cause an argument.…’ She and her fiancé had wanted a small civil ceremony, yet pressure to please everyone had led them to book a Priest & a Cathedral. You might not think this could happen to you, but from the amount of couples I have worked with I know how frequently and easily this happens.…….your cousin assumes she’s a bridesmaid, your Mother wants you to wear her wedding dress, your in-laws want you to have a huge wedding inviting all their friends (most of whom you have never even met. It is important that right from the start you have the wedding that you and your partner want.
It can be easy to get bulldozed into having a particular kind of wedding just to suit your parents/in-laws, even friends. To help this from happening to you, make sure you state the ground rules clearly. Problems often occur when people ‘assume’ you are ‘having this’ or ‘doing that’. Getting everything out in the open and making your intentions clear from the beginning will get any thorny issues discussed at an early stage and cleared up so to minimise any conflict, disappointment - or even resentment - further down the line. It is important to understand and respect the views of others, especially your parents. However, it is equally important that they should respect yours. If parents are contributing, it can be difficult. Let them know what you would like, and start to compromise. Also consider a compromise if it is your partner that you are having disagreement with. A willingness to work together is what marriage is all about! Consider what is really important.

Remember, it is your wedding day. Be true to yourselves. And make it your perfect day.

Lucy.

Oh, and just to let you know, I have now helped that bride-to-be book a quaint venue and a Registrar for her special day….… just the way she wanted it!