We are so excited to share this gorgeous wedding today! Steven and Allison were married in Johnson City, Tennessee and Jamie Claytondid a FABULOUS job capturing every detail of their big day. We were shocked to learn that it was his first time shooting a wedding–we are sure we will see a lot more from him in the future!
Allison’s necklace was passed down to her from her family.
We love this shot–she looks so happy!
Allison’s beautiful dress was from JCrew, and so were the bridesmaid’s dresses! We absolutely love seeing bridesmaids in patterned dresses.
We love all of these group shots. Huge bridal parties always look awesome when they’re all lined up–and this group looks particularly fun!
Steven cut all the logs for the centerpieces and Allison collected the mason jars for the tealight centerpieces throughout their engagement.
Love those cute little covered buttons on the back of her dress.
Allison found the bird for the cake topper on Etsy and Steven’s aunt made the wedding cake the traditional New Orleans way–with charms in it! Apparently, it’s a tradition in New Orleans for the unmarried female friends of the bride to simultaneously pull ribbons out of the cake, which have silver charms attached. The charms include a ring, a heart, a thimble, a button, a horseshoe, a clover, an anchor, a dime, and a penny. Each one has a traditional meaning (the ring means next to marry, the heart means true love, the thimble means old maid, etc.). What a fun tradition!
What a sweet wedding this was! Thanks Jamie for sharing these beautiful images!
Need some wedding cake inspiration? We love when an element of the bride’s attire becomes the basis of an entire wedding cake design. Whether it’s a necklace, the material of the dress, or a detail like covered buttons, a sash, or a brooch, we think that using your attire as inspiration is fantastic! Here are some of our favorite ideas.
We are so excited to share today’s gorgeous wedding, sent to us by the talented Kristi Wright. Stephanie and Edwin were married at Chapel Dulcinea and the reception was held at the 12 Oaks Ranch in Austin, TX. Stephanie did an amazing job with all the details!
The welcome sign was made using recycled wood from Stephanie and Edwin’s old fence–love it!
The gorgeous flowers were done by Westbank Flower Market.
Stephanie and Edwin made a book of their engagement pictures and asked guests to sign the pages.
We LOVE the chandeliers hung throughout the reception pavilion.
How cute is that cake topper??
Click here to see more images from this beautiful wedding on Kristi’s blog.
Angela and Kim began with a traditional Cambodian wedding ceremony and then held an American reception. The couple is attired in matching brightly-colored outfits, with opulent gold silk. Traditional Cambodian weddings use gold to represent the couple being royalty.
We think they pulled both the ceremony and reception off beautifully! You can really get a sense of just how much family and heritage meant to Angela and Kim.
Today’s lovely wedding was photographed by Caroline Tran.
Traditional Cambodian Wedding
In Cambodian weddings, there is a knot tying ceremony. However, it’s not the bride and groom who tie the knot. Rather, family members come up and tie red string around the couple’s wrists as a symbol of their blessing.
The clothing is so intricate and beautiful! In the next few photos, you can see the amount of work and detail that go into making both the bride and groom’s stunning gold outfits.
After the ceremony, the guests shower the bride and groom with rice-shaped seeds.
The American reception was held at Kim’s parents’ home in Palos Verdes, CA. What a view!
For favors, Angela and Kim gave out tea bags and little jars of honey. The adorable logo was drawn by Angela’s talented sister! Love it.
Of course, we love the adorable matching ceramic bird cake topper!
Thank you to Caroline Tran for letting us feature her gorgeous photography! To see more of Angela and Kim’s wedding, click here.
After our post on buttons last week we received a wedding full of buttons! We are so excited to share Oz and Elizabeth’s wedding at The Bluffs Country Club, Louisiana. Photographed by the amazing Maile Lani.
Elizabeth had Mrs. Bissing from etsy make her bouquet. Some of the buttons were passed down from Elizabeth’s grandmother.
It can be hard to know what to do with all your wedding decor after the big day is over. You can always try to sell things, but we like the idea of reusing your wedding supplies as fabulous and meaningful home decor! I think it is great to be able to not only budget-friendly to reuse your decor, but also it’s sweet to be able to keep pieces of your wedding out for everyday use for memory’s sake.
Here are some ideas for how to use popular wedding items in your home.
At home: table cloth and shower curtain via Anthropologie, DIY instructions for shower curtains here.
7. Polaroid Picture Ideas
For the wedding: Have guests take polaroid photos of themselves and pin them onto twine that you’ve strung up, along with notes for the couple.
In the home: Make a heart-shaped collage with the polaroids via Black Eiffel or cover an entire wall with them via Apartment Therapy.
8. Vintage Book Ideas
For the wedding: Stack vintage books on each table as part of your centerpieces, via Green Wedding Shoes
In the home: Bolt stacks of books together to make a stool, via Dezeen (the lamp base is also made out of book pages!), or if that seems too difficult, simply stack the books to make an end table, via Design Esquire.
9. Tea Tin Ideas
For the wedding: Tea tins make adorable vases, via Martha Stewart
In the home: Fill tea tins with wax to make candles via Country Living or turn one into a charming lamp base like this one by iamanie on Etsy
10. Empty Frame Ideas
For the wedding: Frames for photo booth via Kiss the Groom
For the wedding: Shutters make creative table runners, via Colleen Sherman
In the home: Use the shutters to make an entryway organizer via Martha Stewart or a fabulous shabby-chic headboard via Curbly.
13. Wine corks
For the wedding: Cut slits in wine corks and use them as place card holders, via Libellule Gifts
In the home: Turn the corks into a trivet via Craftynest or make a creative corkboard out of them, like this one from Bed Bath & Beyond.
14. Silverware
For the wedding: Use pretty silverware in your place settings, via Love and Lavender.
In the home: You can still use silverware in place settings of course, but if you have some extra, try making a kitchen clock like this one from Seventh Avenue, or key racks like this one via Design*Sponge!
15. Cake Stands
For the wedding: Use footed cake stands to elevate cakes via Love and Lavender
In the home: Use the cake stands as condiment holders via New England Lifestyle, flower arrangements via Martha Stewart, or candle holders via Real Simple.
16. Wire Baskets
For the wedding: Use a wire basket to hold cards or programs, via Perched on a Whim.
For the wedding: Mini clothespins make cute and super easy place card holders, via Real Simple
In the home: String some yarn across an empty frame and use the clothespins to clip on pictures, ticket stubs, and cards via Unadventurous Adventures or glue little magnets to the back and use them to organize your fridge, via brionesandco.
18. Wood Slices
For the wedding: We’ve seen so many creative uses for wood slices in weddings. One of our favorite ideas is to use a custom stamp on them to make these adorable rustic save the dates, via Nonpareil!
In the home: use the other side of the wood slice to make a unique clock via Design*Sponge, or use it as a tray for serving food via Martha Stewart Weddings
19. Wood Crates
For the wedding: Use wooden crates to give some height to your dessert table, via Love & Lavender.
In the home: Use the crate as storage for books and magazines via Pottery Barn or stack multiples to make side tables, via Design*Sponge.
20. Yarn
For the wedding: Use a box filled with yarn to display escort cards, via Forget.Me.Knot Weddings
In the home: Besides it’s obvious use (knitting), yarn can be used to make a gorgeous wreath via Etsy, or fabulous (and cheap!) giftwrap via Flickr
Cassie was able to find a pair of green satin shoes that matched perfectly with her color scheme.
This rack of spools is a really cute idea and super easy to make. It makes for a great wall hanging in a home!
Love the groomsmen in their Converse shoes.
This tree makes for an incredible backdrop!
The ceremony and reception were held at the Camarillo Ranch House; a 19th century Queen Anne Victorian house in Camarillo, CA.
Wedding Venue Spotlight: Camarillo Ranch
Originally created as part of an 1837 Mexican land grant that included over 10,000 acres, Camarillo Ranch was purchased by Juan Camarillo in 1875. His son built the Queen Anne Victorian home in 1892 along with the barn and stables at a later date. Today the Queen Anne Victorian style Camarillo Ranch operates as a House Museum, and hosts over 150 private and public events throughout the year.
The 4.5 acre venue consists of multiple areas: a spacious red barn that is ideal for a rustic wedding; a wedding gazebo garden; a themed butterfly garden; a formal Victorian garden; and a garden with large mission-style fountain and rose covered arch.
Capacity: The expansive main Front Lawn with its canopy of historic trees can accommodate up to 600 guests. The East and West Garden areas offer more intimate event venues for 50-250 guests.
Pricing: Packages range from $5000 up depending on day of week (as of November, 2014). Check the Camarillo Ranch wedding website for more details.
Are you the type who hasn’t fallen for the 1930’s wedding ring marketing ploy proclaiming: Diamonds are forever and everyone needs a solitaire?
Or, are you looking for something outside of the box, no pun intended?
This curated post of unique engagement rings for women is for you!
Choosing a Unique Engagement Ring
While there may be some debate around what exactly classifies an engagement ring as unique, in general, unique means the ring isn’t the setting, shape, or color of a traditional ring. So, you won’t be seeing any round-cut solitaires in white gold on this list. Still, there are many ways to choose a unique ring.
While the center stone may still be a white diamond, the cut of the diamond may be different (see some of the emerald cut rings I included below). Or maybe white diamonds are her thing? There are plenty of colored diamonds (the peach ones might just be my favorite) and other types of gemstones — like opals — that make beautiful alternatives.
As far as how to know if a non-traditional ring is the right choice, that’s usually a combination of personal taste and budget. While stones other than white diamonds can be less expensive, they can also cost just as much or more than a traditional stone. But there are options for the budget-minded. The real decider is personal taste, though. Some women (including me) want something a little bit different but totally them. If that’s the case, this is the list for you.
There’s nothing quite as special as a custom designed ring. James Allen has so many design options to choose from, you’re sure to find the setting of her dreams. Then, after you find your setting, select your diamond and you have a one-of-a-kind ring she’ll love to show off.
I’m pretty sure I just swooned. This ring is the definition of romantic, with the peach center stone surrounded by scalloped pavé diamonds, it’s the sweetest amount of sparkle. The scalloped pavé diamonds also adorn the band making this ring truly spectacular
Peach might just be my new favorite color. Another option for a pop of color in your ring, this beauty is covered in pavé diamonds. From the gentle curving halo around the cushion cut center stone to the diamonds lining the contemporary split shank band, they’re literally everywhere (can you say sparkle?). If that wasn’t enough, there’s even a row of diamond accents along the bridge. What’s not to love?
Why I like it:
Literally diamonds everywhere
The Fortuna band is created just to fit this style
You don’t need a center stone to have a beautiful engagement ring. This contemporary ring has three diamond encrusted stands entwined to make the band. I love that this ring is memorizing enough to be worn on its own yet it could easily be combined with a second band to start a stack.
Why I like it:
Can easily stand alone as engagement ring and wedding band
If I didn’t love my engagement ring so much, this would be the ring I’d hope for. The glistening diamond encrusted vines look like they’re growing around your finger. But what I really love is the open design — I’ve never seen anything quite like it.
This Opal ring showcases beautiful color and fire for a classic yet vintage feel. Customize this ring to your preference with your choice of gold and side stones. It’s difficult not to get lost staring endlessly into those vibrant rainbow hues!
Move over round diamonds, this triangle cut stone is going to stand out in a crowd. If size matters to your special lady (and you know it does), consider a Trillion cut. Compared to a standard round cut gem of the same carat, a trillion cut stone will usually look larger. Besides that, you won’t run across this cut shape often, making this ring choice the perfect option for those looking for top quality uniqueness!
Why I like it:
Trillion cut makes stone appear larger
Incredibly detailed setting
Triangle halo highlights beauty of the center stone
When I think of The Great Gatsby, I picture this ring. The art deco design is reminiscent of decades past. This style may appeal to minimalists, but it has an understated glamour that’s impossible not to love. The baguette diamonds are complimented by round accent stones creating all sorts of unique geometric prettiness.
An elegant and sleek eco-friendly engagement ring that could be the perfect alternative to an expensive diamond ring. The creator of this 14k yellow gold cast ring polishes it up using the same techniques that stone cutters use in order to achieve a super-sparkly look.
For women who are into crystals or a rustic look, this ring is sure to be a favorite. The clear highly prized volcanic Quartz Crystals set comes in either a sterling silver or white or yellow gold ring. Let this crystal shine like a diamond with natural faces.
Why I like it:
Each raw gemstone is one-of-a-kind and totally unique
A variety of settings to choose from
Choose from raw sapphires, diamonds, quartz…whatever stone you love best!
As if resurrected from a time long ago, this diamond set into a beautiful 18k gold bezel provides an ancient look and feel. A fitting engagement ring for someone who loves vintage style jewelry?
If you are looking for a unique ring that offers a little more of a demure feel to it, than this captivating emerald placed in a flat profile set might be just the ring you have been looking for. Bold and modern, the flat profile of the ring will create a statement for the center stone. The wider band is what really sets this ring apart, giving the ring its wow factor.
Why I like it:
Modern design makes a statement
Bold enough to hold its own in a stack
Solid platinum band is sturdier than some thinner alternatives
A nature-inspired handmade ring with leaf design that is absolutely stunning. The two-toned metalwork is gorgeous and lends this ring an even more natural feel. A center stone in the size of your choice completes the look by offering a little extra bling. This ring is perfect to highlight her connection to Mother Earth (and you!).
If you are looking for something truly unique, this is the ring for you. A salt and pepper diamond. We have never seen anything like it and we bet you haven’t either.
A diamond in the rough and one of a kind. A salt and pepper diamond basically has a lot of inclusions, normally what a diamond ring shopper is trying to avoid. But this is where the beauty lies. These diamonds show the real flaws and the natural beauty of a diamond.
Why I like it:
Multiple designs to choose from
Each diamond is totally unique
Salt and pepper diamonds are more visually interesting than regular diamonds
Another beautiful and uniquely shaped diamond is the marquise. The marquise shape is believe to have been commissioned by King Louis XIV of France which reminded him of his true love perfectly shaped mouth and smile.
Hmm … romantic?
I suppose so. In any event, this diamond offers a very dramatic shape and makes a dazzling choice for an engagement ring.
I had never seen a split-shank combined with an emerald-cut until now, and I must say after curating hundreds of rings, this one “wowed” me. Something about the sparkling split shank design just works with this cut of stone. Timeless and elegant, this one’s a winner in our books.
Why I like it:
Horizontal diamond orientation creates a streamlined look
Diamond encrusted split shank adds extra bling
Setting fits up to a 1.5 carat center stone — extra glam!
Why buy one ring when she can have three? These delicate rings are made for stacking. The center ring features a princess solitaire that is oh so eloquent in its simplicity. Two matching bands encrusted with diamonds encase the center ring to create a show stopping design.
We love any unique story of where a diamond comes from, like this one. It’s a mine cut diamond, which popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. They have larger facets than modern cut diamonds.
Being that it is hand mined, the facets of this diamond tend to be less uniform and larger, which gave these sorts of diamonds the phrase “cut for candle light,” as they were cut to catch the beautiful light from the flickering fire.
The steep depth of this diamond gives it volume as well as a faint hint of yellow color, like that of a lovely glass of champagne. Cheers to that!
Read more about the Old Mine Cut in our article about round cut diamonds.
If your lady is on trend, she will fall head over heels in love with this lunar boho engagement ring made with sparkling Claire De Lune Moissanite by Charles & Colvard or brilliant galaxy diamond. / This particular ring was inspired Selene, a Titan goddess in Greek mythology who was the goddess of the moon. Not quite right? There are a variety of similar designs to choose from. What better way to honor life’s natural rhythms than with this stunning ring.
This ring combines the durability of silicone with the sparkle of a center stone. Perfect for the modern woman with things to do! Now she can wear her engagement ring without worrying about wear and tear on the band. Choose the color of the center stone and she’ll have a ring she’ll love wearing.
Why I like it:
Silicone ring fits true to size — not stretchy like other versions
A simple band option, this silicone ring is just the thing for the woman who works with her hands. Qalo rings are my go to style when I hit the gym or travel, and it’s easy to see why. Simple yet beautiful, they’re tough enough to withstand swinging weights or anything else she might be doing.
Another silicone option, this ring is great for stacking like the one above. The eternity design is the perfect way to celebrate your eternal love. Plus, there are so many pretty colors to choose from! She might need one of each.
If you want her to shine like the star she is, these Constella rings are perfect. Made to wear together or alone, their open center is unique and eye-catching, especially since it’s marked by two sparkling crystals. The multiple ways to wear lets her create a style that is all her own.
This bold ring makes a statement. Alternating teardrop crystals sparkle in the band, catching the light and the gaze of passers by. This ring stands out on its own but also pairs well with other rings in a stack. Whether you choose white or rose gold, this ring is sure to win her over.
Another pear shaped diamond, this ring is perfect for the woman who wants unique elegance. The non-traditional diamond shape paired with the twisted shank creates a design that is all its own while still leaning toward traditional. With all its beauty, it’s sure to keep people talking.
Why I like it:
Pear-shaped diamond is a unique center stone shape
With so many unique rings online and offline just waiting to be found, we decided to spotlight some awesome ring beauties to make it easier for you to decide. These rings aren’t exactly traditional, but each one tells a story, and a few are even one-of-a-kind.
These all caught our eye for being absolutely stunning. Here are a few that really shine bright.
If your lady is on trend, she will fall head over heels in love with this lunar boho engagement ring made with sparkling Claire De Lune Moissanite by Charles & Colvard or brilliant galaxy diamond. This enchanting ring was inspired Selene, a Titan goddess in Greek mythology who was the goddess of the moon. What better way to honor life’s natural rhythms than with this stunning ring.
Phew! That’s all for now. Hope you were able to fall in love with at least one of the above unique engagement rings!!
