We totally get it. You’ll never want to take off your wedding ring after tying the knot. However, knowing when to take off your favorite piece of jewelry is essential to keep it looking bright and brand new for years beyond your wedding. You’ll wear your wedding ring for the rest of your life, so it’s vital to know when to keep it safely stored away.
See below for times when it’s best to take your wedding ring off, plus expert insight fromKim Kanary, Certified Diamontologist & Vice President of Community Development & Engagement of JTV, which will keep your wedding ring looking pristine and priceless forever.
Avoid wearing jewelry when bathing, swimming, or exercising. Frequent to chlorine, salt water, and other agents can cause discoloration to your band and gemstone over time. While exercising may not cause your ring any immediate damage, a weight bar’s heavy pressure can result in indents in your band. Many gemstones require special care, so JTV has put together this Gemstone Enhancement and Care Chart that provides tips and care details.
Be sure to properly store your jewelry. If you prefer a jewelry box, place each piece in its own pouch or plastic bag and make sure jewelry is completely dry before storing.
Clean your engagement ring every six months or so. Knowing how to care for your jewelry will help preserve it and keep it looking beautiful longer. When cleaning at home you can use mild jewelry cleaner or simply use warm, soapy water and a soft toothbrush to remove everyday lotions, creams, etc. Your engagement ring is worn often and will require a more thorough clean every six months or so. For this, you can consider an ultrasonic cleaner. It is also beneficial to have it checked periodically to ensure everything is secure, particularly if your diamond is prong-set.
(Blog Contributor: Kim Kanary, Certified Diamontologist & Vice President of Community Development & Engagement of JTV)
Getting married is a major life event that you’ll never forget. If you’re planning to walk down the aisle with that special someone, a backyard wedding is a great way to say your vows and tie the knot on a budget. Whether your outdoor space is large or small, it’s easy to plan a backyard wedding if you know where to start. From summer celebrations to a beautiful autumn ceremony, read on to learn how you can plan your wedding for a special moment right in your own backyard.
How to Get Started: Review the Logistics
Before you pick out favors and décor, start with the logistics. How successful your wedding is will depend on where you live, the time of year, and the weather. Try to nail down a date where you feel confident the weather will hold out for a glorious day. You should also determine whether or not you need a special license to get married in your backyard, as some locations still require a permit to perform official ceremonies in a private space.
You’ll also want to find out how to get the right amount of power for music, lighting, and more. An extension cord might do the trick but be aware that it also poses a trip hazard. Determine how much equipment will be needed for the wedding so you can get the proper power source set up. You’ll likely need a generator to create power for things like speakers and catering equipment.
In addition to permits and power, now is the time to clean up your yard and get it ready for the big day. Get rid of old dead plants, tree branches, and weeds to create a clean slate for your ceremony and reception. Come up with a layout for seating and the stage now so it will be easier when it’s time to set everything up.
Another crucial thing to keep in mind is wedding insurance. You might not think you need it in your own backyard, but it’s good to see what’s covered in case a guest gets injured on your property. Other things to consider include parking, notifying your neighbors in advance, and creating your official wedding program.
Once you’ve listed all of the logistics, the fun part begins. Think about the special features you’ll want to include in your backyard wedding. From a specific theme to your flowers, write down a list of ideas and tweak them as you go.
Do you want an outdoor dance floor or stage? How about separate tables and chairs for the reception?
Think of planning your backyard wedding the same way you would in any other venue. If you love music, add outdoor speakers so everyone can dance to your favorite tunes. A beautiful fountain can add a nice touch to an outdoor wedding, too. Brainstorm several different features you’d like to see so you can start planning ahead as early as possible.
Benefits of a Backyard Wedding
While a formal venue is always nice, there are plenty of awesome benefits to getting married in your backyard. First and foremost, you’ll save a ton of money on the cost to rent a venue which can run you into the thousands of dollars. That fact alone makes considering a backyard wedding worth the effort! Aside from saving money, here are some other benefits of hosting a backyard wedding:
If your pets are part of the family, you can enjoy their company at the wedding. Most venues won’t allow pets, but you can certainly enlist your pooch to be the best man if you decide to get married DIY.
Aside from the wedding itself, you can also host a backyard rehearsal dinner. Have casual food like barbecue catered in, or just cook some food on the grill for your wedding party to enjoy.
Since your backyard probably has limited space, that means you can keep your guest list small, too. The fewer guests you have, the less money you’ll need to spend on things like food and entertainment.
Backyard weddings give you the flexibility to choose any date you want to get married. Instead of planning around the “wedding season” to find an open slot, you can pick any day you like when you host your own backyard wedding.
You might be nervous about getting married but doing it in a familiar place is a great way to calm those nerves and help you feel more relaxed and at home.
Have A Plan B in Place
There’s no way you can predict the weather to a T, so be sure you have an alternate “Plan B” in place just in case the storms roll in. Weather can change in an instant which means you might end up dealing with unexpectedly cold temperatures or a dangerous rainstorm. Draft up a reasonable Plan B where you can move everyone inside your home. If you’re insistent on keeping the celebration outside, reserve a tent that you can use in case of an emergency. Make sure someone can pick the tent up just in case you need it in a pinch. Ensure that the sides of the tent are covered to protect everyone from the rain. If the weather happens to be unseasonably hot, have plenty of fans available to keep the air circulation. If it’s cold, stock up on outdoor heaters. Having these safeguards in place will keep your stress level low and the wedding moving along.
Timeline
Wedding planners are experts at creating the perfect timeline. If you’re doing everything on your own, it’s crucial to make sure you create a timeline that works. Do your best to schedule the ceremony somewhat early so the skies don’t get dark before you’ve said your vows. Try to avoid too much downtime between the ceremony and reception since the guests won’t need to travel between venues. If possible, try to schedule your wedding photos before the ceremony begins so you can mingle and visit with guests directly after the ceremony is over. If you can’t get pictures beforehand, consider a few fun backyard games or activities to keep everyone entertained while they wait. Finally, remember to be mindful of your neighbors and try to agree on an official time when the reception is over. You can always move the party to a local bar or another hot spot later in the night.
DIY Décor and Inspiration
If you’re planning a backyard wedding, you’re likely already working on other DIY ideas when it comes to themes and décor. Doing everything yourself gives you the freedom to create almost any style décor using any theme imaginable. Here are some suggestions to inspire you and prompt you to create a memorable theme with beautiful décor that’s all done DIY:
Hang outdoor string lights throughout your backyard to create a warm, magical glow when the sun goes down.
For autumn weddings, focus on beautiful colors like orange, red, and gold for décor, flowers, and bridesmaid dresses.
Place clear glass vases on each table and fill them with freshly cut flowers you picked from your own yard.
Laminate some of your favorite photos of you and your better half to protect them from the weather, then display them on rope or string and hang them from a tree or around a fence line.
Consider jewel-toned plastic goblets in lieu of glassware. It’s a great way to serve beverages in a beautiful way without having to worry about broken glass.
Use texture and patterns outdoors by adding beautiful printed tablecloths or runners over tables. A pair of sheer curtains can add a gorgeous, romantic touch to the stage, too.
Get creative with seating and place a few vintage sofas and chairs outside. You can also use some hay bales as seating if you’re aiming for a wedding with a rustic or farmhouse theme.
Instead of paying tons of money for custom invitations, consider printing some at home or through a local printing service. Create the layout and design using a simple program, then print them in full color on heavy cardstock paper.
Sentimental Value
Besides saving money and enjoying a smaller guest list, having a backyard wedding carries quite a bit of sentimental value, too. Imagine saying your vows right in the place where you grew up. If you don’t still live in the same house from your childhood, you likely still have plenty of wonderful memories from this special place. Your guests will probably feel sentimental as well, especially if they’ve spent a lot of time at your home and in your backyard. Have your furry friends join in the celebration, which is another great way to make this day more sentimental and special. Getting married in this place can create a very meaningful moment for you and your new spouse. Remember to enjoy the moment and capture the memories with lots of photos, family, and friends.
Your bridal shower is an opportunity to bring together your closest girlfriends and family members to celebrate before your big day. So, make it count with personalized touches that evoke your sense of style.
These days, brides are getting more and more creative when it comes to decking out their showers in style. Whether you want your bridal shower to feel relaxing and calm, romantic and sweet, or glitzy and a little bit glamorous, here are five ways to personalize your bridal shower.
Come Up Withe the Perfect Theme
Image from : https://www.pexels.com/photo/food-plate-flowers-table-134575/
Personalizing your bridal shower will come naturally when you decide how you want your bridal shower to feel. The details about the best venue, decor, food, and so on, will all fall into place. Do you want to inject a sense of whimsy in your shower with a tropical themes bash or a nautically inspired party? Or are you more of a traditionalist, who appreciates an intimate, polished brunch gathering at your local country club?
To make your shower feel like “you”, create an experience for your guests that is influenced by your personality and your style. If you love boho chic style, a bridal shower with 70s-inspired decor and a morse rustic setting could be a great fit, while classic fashionistas will go crazy over the refined elegance of this Chanel-themed bridal shower. Here’s a great guide to some fun hem options- choose one you love, or mix and match elements of each to create the bridal shower of your dreams. And remember, this party is all about you, so don’t forget to have fun while you plan!
Chalkboards are a great option for bridal shower decor because you can use them in a variety of ways and they are easy to decorate with a custom message. Whether you want to let guests know about the food and drink menu, offer a countdown to the big day, share a bridal shower hashtag, or write a fun welcome message for their arrival, chalkboards are a fun and flexible decor item that will help your shower feel more personal.
And no matter what your theme is, fresh flowers or succulents will help make any venue feel gorgeous and celebratory. But save your big flower budget for your wedding day and opt to make your own flower crowns, bouquets, and arrangements with store-bought flowers. Here’s a handy guide for making perfect, professional-level arrangements on your own.
Customize Your Invitations,Place Cards, and Your Menus
There are so many online resources that make it easy and inexpensice to order or print your own custom paper products for invitations, menus, and more. Once you’ve decided on your theme and bridal shower locale, you’ll have a better sense of how to best customise your invitations and any other details you want to make for your shower. We love this guide for printable bridal shower invites that you can DIY ( check out that super cute Hawaiian themed invitation! ) Making your own place cards will also add a personalized touch to your shower and will make your table settings pop. Here’s a great resource for DIY place setting ideas that range from cheerful to rustic to sophisticated.
A custom cocktail is a sweet way to welcome your guests to your shower and help them get settled in. Depending on the time of year for your shower you can create a chilled option ( check out these fun punches, sangrias, and slushes), or do a cozy, comforting cocktail, like one of these amazing spiked hot chocolate variations, for warming drink during the winter months. There are also so many delicious non-alcoholic options for those who don’t drink – here are some tasty mocktail ideas to get you started!
Make sure that your guests can take a little bit of the party home with them with customized bridal shower favors. But don’t worry, favors don’t have to be extravagant or complicated. Like with any party, food favors are always a fun way to go: we love the idea of sending your guests off with something sweet like personalized M&Ms with your name on them, a petite box of champagne truffles, or a package of cute custom cookies. Another fun option is personalized wine glasses, so they can continue to toast o your special day in style. You could even round things out by giving your ladies a split of prosecco with their wine glass. Remember, the best bridal showers are the ones where you and your guests are able to have fun and enjoy one another’s company. Your bridal shower doesn’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to do anything by the book. And as the date of your shower approaches, just remember to savor this amazing day with the women you love and bask in this amazing moment when they all have come together to support you as you get ready to embark on this new phase of your life.
