Fashion

Wedding bands are an important part of the wedding ceremony. It is a symbol of commitment, it is something that you wear on your hand for the rest of your life.  If there’s a time for going for high end jewelry, then this is it.  Choosing the right ring is essential. One should take into account all aspects of choosing wedding rings or bridal sets, from style to size to budget.

What is Your Bridal Set Budget?

The list price of the diamonds in the set is the most important factor that determines their price. The better quality diamonds you want, then the higher your budget should be.

Your budget will also depend on if you want a solitaire engagement ring and wedding band, or just one of them.

If you’re looking for a bridal set, but aren’t sure how much to spend on it, we recommend following these guidelines:

– Check what your maximum budget is and stick with it. There’s no need to spend more than you can afford.

– Consider buying a cheaper engagement ring and investing in a more expensive wedding band or vice versa, which will save some money for other wedding expenses that come up later on.

Do You want Something Classic or Modern?

Maybe you’d like to keep it simple and have just been looking at classic wedding rings.  It will certainly help your budget to focus on just a classic wedding ring.   If you are an advocate of less is more when it comes to design, this might be the choice or you.  Of course, you can choose to team up a classic wedding ring with a more elaborate engagement ring.  In fact, the simpler wedding ring can set off an engagement ring very well.

Another option is to consider moissanite bridal sets for a pair of rings that work well together.  It’s much easier to find rings that work well together when you buy them as part of a set.

What is Your Style?

Antique rings are typically more ornate, with delicate filigree and curved bands, whereas modern rings are typically more sleek, with angular cuts and straight bands.

A lot of people can’t decide which style they prefer because each has its own merits. If you’re not sure about what style to get, just try both on!

Do You prefer Yellow Gold or White Gold?

The colour of gold is a matter of preference, and there are no real rules to how to tell one from the other. It’s a question of whether you prefer the warm tones of yellow gold or the cool tones of white gold or even platinum.  It might be worth considering which colour goes better with your skin tone before you decide.

Conclusion

There are many different factors to consider when selecting your perfect groom’s band, bride’s wedding ring or bridal set for your wedding day.  I’d suggest looking at lots of rings and trying them on to see which styles feel comfortable for you to wear and that suit your hands.  Once you have an idea of the style and colour you want, you can fine tune your search and focus in on finding the perfect rings for you.

Yoga, swimming and walking are my main forms of exercise.  For yoga and often for walking too, I prefer to wear leggings. Leggings are so easy and comfortable when you are exercising.  They have plenty of stretch too, so they move with you when you bend and stretch.  They keep you warmer than shorts which is good for outdoor exercise or when you are doing less intensive yoga sessions.  Leggings can suit any number of different workouts from cardio to weights, pilates to running.  I usually change after exercise, but if there isn’t time, it’s easy to dress leggings up with a nice top and you are good to go almost anywhere.

Trainfit recently asked me to try out something from their selection of gym clothing and cross training gear.  They have a great selection and they don’t do boring.  There are bright colours and prints to choose from which I find really cheerful.  I find wearing that sort of gear when I’m exercising helps keep me motivated.  I decided to pick out some Trainfit leggings because I am always on the look out for great leggings to exercise in.

I picked out the Leopard High Rise Roll Down Leggings by Halo Fitness.  It was a difficult choice because there were so many great options.  I’d recently admired some animal print leggings on someone else at a yoga class though, so that was what swung it for me. I was really pleased with my choice when they arrived as they looked great and felt soft and smooth to the touch.  If you are not a fan of the leopard print then Trainfit also stock a range of funky gym leggings in a variety of different styles and colours to suit varying tastes no matter how bold!

These versatile high-rise tights were designed to fit like a second skin, which makes them perfect for yoga or the gym. I found they were a really good fit for me.  They are made with single-lined, lustrous material that allows for unrestricted movement.  This meant it was easy for me to do any yoga pose from downward dog to chair pose in them. The four-way stretch fabric is sweat-wicking, which helps keep you cool and comfortable, even when you are working hard.  I love that the fabric is breathable.

Whilst exercising the leggings feel supportive on both my legs and tummy.  The high rise cut is flattering and I prefer to wear them high waisted as it gives a bit more coverage.  But, they are easy to roll down if you prefer the low or mid rise look. They come in a range of sizes from Xtra Small to Xtra Large.  I couldn’t find a size guide on the Trainfit site, which was a shame.  However, I take a size 14 bottoms usually and I found that the large was a good fit.  I felt they looked good on me and were flattering despite being a good, close fit.

They have washed well and I’ve found they spring back into shape quickly after being worn.  I’m hopeful that they will last me a good long time and wear well.

Disclosure: I was sent the Trainfit leggings for the purposes of this review.

 

They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and that has always been true about engagement rings. But why not break with tradition and be a little more creative when it comes to choosing an engagement ring. 

We’ve come up with some ideas to change things up. 

The history of the engagement ring

The giving of a ring to mark an engagement has been around since toman times.  However, back then, an engagement ring wasn’t a mark or true love or respect but to signify ownership. 

The first rings were made from materials such as iron or copper and later gold. Diamonds first appeared on engagement rings in the 15th century, but only for royalty or the very rich. 

In fact, it was a 1947 advertising campaign by British company De Beers, who mined South African diamonds, who made diamond engagement rings popular. They used the line ‘a diamond is forever’ and the Hollywood personalities of the day to create a rush for diamond engagement rings. They have been the accepted style of engagement ring ever since. 

So while a ring has almost always signified engagement and marriage, diamonds were only a more recent addition to this tradition. 

The Claddagh

The Claddagh is a well-known Gaelic symbol. It represents love and friendship. So what better way to get engaged than with a Claddagh engagement ring. If either of you has Gaelic roots, it’s another great touch to represent this in your ring. The Claddagh can be set with a range of different stones depending on your taste and budget. 

Lab-created diamonds

Unfortunately, not all diamonds are ethically mined. In some cases, the diamond industry is responsible for a lot of poor working conditions, suffering, violence, and trafficking, which is why some people won’t wear them. 

A great alternative to this is lab-created diamonds. These are made using the same materials but created in a much faster timescale than naturally occurs. They look exactly the same as conventionally mined diamonds and can only be detected with specialized equipment. 

Favourite stones

If you have a favorite gemstone, why shouldn’t you be able to wear it every day as an engagement ring? Many engagement ring makers are now offering a full range of stones in their designs. So if you love emerald or sapphire, then gemstone engagement rings with these is a much better option than a diamond. 

Eternity ring

When married, some people wear both their engagement ring and their wedding band, others prefer just to wear a wedding band. In this case, an eternity ring is an excellent idea. Not only does it symbolize loving each other for eternity, but you also have it set with different stones, so it can be used as an engagement ring, wedding band, or both. 

Takeaways

One of the great things about marriage and civil partnerships today is that anything goes. If you want a traditional engagement ring and wedding, that’s great. But if you want to ditch the traditional and do things your own way, that’s good too. So when it comes to engagement rings, forget about what you think is expected and go with what feels right to you.