As the first step in your wedding journey, your engagement is of paramount importance. Before you can plan anything, you have to secure an engagement ring. As jewellery that will (hopefully) be on your partner’s ring finger forever, the engagement ring needs to speak to them as a person.
That said, there are so many ring options to choose from. Princess cut, oval, cushion-cut, carats – it all becomes a blur. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with all the jargon being thrown at you.
Take a breath, and check out our quick guide to engagement ring styles.
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The four C’s:
The four C’s of diamond grading are universally used to describe the quality of diamonds. They refer to:
Cut – the shape of the diamond
Colour – the shade of the diamond
Carat – the weight of the diamond.
Clarity – the quality of the diamonds, specifically the internal appearance of the diamond and surface defects.
Cut:
The cut of your engagement ring refers to the shape of the diamond. There are seven main diamond cuts:
Round: This cut is a more classic, timeless style. It is best suited for someone who wants a traditional finish.
Princess: This cut is square in shape with four bevelled sides that creates an upside-down pyramid shape connecting to the band. It is glamorous and modern, yet utterly romantic.
Emerald: This cut details an elongated rectangular cut and step-cut faceting. It is sophisticated and eye-catching, for the glamorous bride.
Oval: The oval cut ring perfectly accentuates long, slender fingers, and is both trendy yet classic.
Cushion: Also referred to as a pillow-cut, the cushion cut ring features four square-rectangular sides with curved corners and multiple facets. It is feminine and trendy.
Pear: This teardrop-shaped diamond cut is quite unique. It beautifully elongates the fingers and is often the ring for the more adventurous bride.
Marquise: This cut is a more pronounced oval shape, featuring two pointed ends that create a boat hull-esque shape. This cut is for the daring, less traditional bride.
Metals:
The metal chosen often depends on the jewellery your partners often wears and their skin tone. Cooler skin tones are encouraged to wear metals such as platinum, silver, and white gold. Warmer toned skin tones are most suited for yellow-gold and rose-gold metals. But again, there are no rules!
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The wedding cake is the cherry on top of a beautiful day. Who doesn’t love to share a sweet treat with loved ones? Over the years, cake decorators…
Yvonne Chaka Chaka and her husband, Dr Mhinga, recently celebrated 30 years of marriage, proving to us all that love is not dead.
The iconic South African singer took to Instagram to announce this momentous anniversary.
In a post, she writes, “God is amazing all the time. 30 years ago Dr Mhinga asked for my hand in marriage and I said Yes I DO [and] 30 years later [we’re] still together. Today is our 30th wedding anniversary. I can not stop thanking the Lord who brought us together, I was 24. Now I am 54 and we have been together for 30 years. Time flies, [on] 7th October 1989 we said Yes We Do…We Thank You Lord. We thank our families, our children and our friends. And [to] all those who have supported us and encouraged us, a big Thank you. Tiny.”
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30 years is no small feat. It is equal to 10 950 days, 262,800 hours, or 15,768,000 minutes. In the wedding world, 30 years of marriage is considered a Pearl Wedding.
Congratulations to this incredible pair!
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The bow brings a sense of nostalgia to any item it is paired with, as well as a cute and feminine touch. You can play around with the…
Hailey Bieber has just shared her full wedding look a week after her wedding, and it’s a dramatic masterpiece.
The supermodel took to Instagram to share the first images of the dress she wore when she married Justin Bieber on September 30. The lacy white gown was designed by Virgil Abloh for Off-White.
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The custom gown features an off-the-shoulder neckline with long sleeves, a low back and elegant train. However, the statement piece is the lengthy veil, which has “’till death do us part” stitched onto it in white block lettering. The veil is also lined with lace to match the gown.
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Abloh, the CEO of Off-White and creative director for Louis Vuitton, shared his sketch of the final look to his Instagram page.
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Image: Instagram / Hailey Bieber
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Choosing those little accessories that bring your look together can be a daunting task. You might think you don’t have time to search for bags and belts but the devil’s in the details and something seemingly small can make or break your whole look.
Carrying a purse or clutch on your wedding can be super useful for keeping all your necessities together, from lip stick (always need to be photo ready) or tissues (you know his speech will make you tear up). As for belts, think dainty and tasteful with maybe even a sliver of bling for a little (or a lot of!) sparkle.
They’re all the rage this year, and we’ve found the latest trends.
Three bag ideas:
1. The silky clutch
If your style is elegant and mature, a smooth silky clutch will complete the look. Catching a bit of shine, silk is a good option if you want to be subtle yet stylish. And of course, the texture is pleasing to the touch so no scratching or getting caught in your dress!
2. The beaded pouch
Beads can be made into any design or pattern that your heart desires. It is also a fun way to show your creative side, or to match your dress if it has beading on it. Just make sure the beading is done well to avoid it coming loose and spilling beads all over the floor. No one wants to be crawling on their knees picking up beads.
3. The sling bag
Don’t want your hands full? Fair enough. A sling bag is easy, classy and won’t be in your way if you want to be holding your new hubby’s hand. Small links are in, rather than string. It adds an edge and is available in almost any colour.
Three belt ideas:
1. The bow
It might sound old fashioned, but a bow on your dress does not have to be that hideous thing your mom had on her matric farewell dress. In this case, size really does matter and small is the way to go. In no way should it steal the thunder of your dress, but rather add a subtle and feminine tone.
2. The bling
Now, to some people, the word “bling” sounds cheap. Don’t stop reading just yet. If you have a plain design and love simplicity, wearing a diamanté belt will lend some sparkle. No one ever said go over the top. Less is more and your eyes will still be the brightest thing about you.
3. The colour
Want to steer away from the traditional all white attire? Add a splash of colour to brighten up your outfit. You can opt for matching the wedding’s decor theme, or go all out and choose a way different colour to make sure you stand out. After all, on your wedding day, you should definitely get all the attention!
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