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September 2016 Archive

Tips for Resetting an Heirloom Ring!

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Heirloom stones passed down through the family are perhaps the most meaningful for an engagement ring, linking you to the generations of giddy brides-to-be who preceded you. That said, what if you like the stone but hate the setting? Perhaps it doesn’t reflect your personality, is completely impractical for your lifestyle, or is just plain hideous. Tread carefully: Before you reset, consider the following to keep the stone—and the spirit in which it was given to you—intact for the next generation.

Resetting Etiquette

Being offered an heirloom stone can be tricky territory. On one hand, it’s a sign of family acceptance and trust, plus it saves your future fiance a lot of money! On the other hand, perhaps you’ve had a vision of your dream engagement ring since grade school, and it looked nothing like what’s been offered. Two options: Accept it graciously and scrap those childhood fantasies, or reset the stone to make it your own.

Tread Carefully

Before you head down to the jewelry store, consider this cautionary tale: When Julie, a magazine editor, discovered that her fiance was proposing with his mom’s engagement ring, she was thrilled—about the stone. “It was a beautiful diamond in an ugly yellow-gold, dainty, high prong-set setting. It looked like an old lady’s ring, and I’ve always hated yellow gold, so my fiancé and I made immediate plans to reset the stone in something more me,” Julie says. They chose a substantial platinum setting with two trilliant-shaped stones flanking the now low prong-set family diamond. Everyone thought it was beautiful, except Julie’s future mother-in-law. “We didn’t think to tell her our plans because we assumed that the stone was the important part, not the ring, but she felt that our rejection of the setting was at best rude, and at worst a rejection of her.”

A Little Finesse

The moral of this story: If you and your fiancé plan on resetting the stone, discuss your intentions with the person who gave it to you. This shows respect, and a genuine interest in his or her blessing. Make it clear how honored and thankful you are, but [insert one of following]:

  • You’re worried about wearing it every day in its current setting (you’re an elementary school gym teacher, avid rock climber, potter, or chef, to name a few hands-on careers and hobbies).
  • The setting needs repair but the expertise involved would be prohibitively expensive.
  • You’d like to add your own personal touch—baguettes from your mom’s engagement ring, for example.
  • It doesn’t flatter your hand—it’s visually too big or small for your finger.
  • It won’t work with the wedding bands you’ve chosen.

If the ring has gone unchanged for generations, you may have to suck it up—and wear it only when you’re with members of the family from which it came!

Safety First

You’ve had a heart-to-heart, you’ve gotten the green light and you’re ready to reset. The first step is to get the stone appraised for insurance and identification purposes, but also so that you know exactly what you’re dealing with—the older the stone, the greater the chance that it has been chipped or cracked along the way (even if you don’t see visible flaws). When you have a complete description of its properties and stability, you can choose an appropriate setting. For example, if the stone’s girdle (perimeter) is chipped, you may want to choose a bezel setting over prongs to conceal the imperfection and protect it from further damage. Work with a jeweler whom you absolutely trust (and who ideally has experience working with antique or estate jewelry) to be sure you’re truly getting the ring of your dreams.

September/October Wedding Inspiration Board

I am seriously loving this cool weather and crisp breezes that have just arrived in Nashville. Nothing feels better than having your windows open, stepping outside (and not melting), and subconsciously knowing that fall is right around the corner….which means it’s time to decorate, YAY!

I’ve come up with an inspiration board with some of my favorite Autumn wedding designs and trends! For fall weddings, I’m really big into a lot of votives, neutral colors, gold, and incorporating wooded items and details into the design. This gives the wedding or any event for that matter, a more natural and cozy feel. When I say ‘a lot of votives’ I mean, A LOT. This soft candle lit glow, really adds to the autumn feel!

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Vendor Spotlight : Kristin Kaplan

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This week’s vendor spotlight is focused one our on of our fantastic preferred planners, Kristin Kaplan of Stunning Events!

 

About Stunning Events :

We are often told that we are “different” than other event planners. This may be due to our simple and straightforward approach to the planning process. Or it could be the limited number of events we take on per year so that we can truly get to know our clients, or possibly even our belief that it is possible to be highly detail oriented and obsessed with exceptional quality service while also being laid-back and easy going. We hope that you’ll agree that the experience of working with us is refreshing and fun above all else.

We believe the three most important aspects of a great wedding are an awesome venue, a rocking band, and an open bar. Round that out with delicious food, unique elements that tell your story as a couple, and you’ve got yourself a wedding that guests will remember as the best they’ve ever been to.

 

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Get to know Kristin:

  1. What is your favorite vacation spot? — My family’s lake cabin in upstate NY!
  2. Favorite Nashville hangout? — I’ll be honest, these days I stay very close to home in Mt Juliet with two kids and one on the way so it’s been a LONG while since I’ve been out in Nashville.
  3. What is your favorite sport? — I love running. I guess not so much as a sport because I only run for myself mostly and don’t compete or anything but it’s my way to escape, get more energy, and of course stay in shape.
  4. What makes you stand out? — I tend to be a person that likes to “keep it real” and tell it like it is. I feel it’s important to bring that honesty to both my personal relationships and my wedding clients.
  5. What does your ideal day look like? — I would love to be able to sleep in until 7 AM (a typical day has a 5:30 AM wake-up call), get a great work out in, spend a couple hours at my desk doing what I love for work and being productive, and then spending time with my husband and girls as a family.

What Stunning Events Offers: At Stunning Events we offer Full Wedding Planning and Design as well as Event Management. 

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What Others Are Saying:

“Kristin Kaplan and her Stunning Events team were single-handedly the best investment we made in our wedding.   Starting with our very first meeting together, Austin and I have always been impressed by Kristin’s organization, poise, enthusiasm, and dedication to her clients.”

 

“Kristin is the best thing to happen to my wedding. There were many wedding vendors that I loved, and some that I adored, but I could. not. live. without Kristin. Kristin was strong and stood her ground when it came to keeping everyone on schedule during our incredibly hot wedding day. She ensured that we were exactly where we needed to be, and that everything went according to plan. She is fantastic.”

 

Contact info: www.StunningNashville.com

kristin@stunningnashville.com

Vendor Spotlight : Courtney Davidson Photography

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About Courtney Davidson Photography :

 

Well, what can I say, I am a follower of Christ. I was a debutante.  I have a strange obsession with Military Aircraft.  I love blues music.  I wish I could play the guitar like Bonnie Raitt (actually, I just wish I could play the guitar).  My favorite color is orange.  I have a very raw, gritty side, but I also have a refined, classic sensibility… all these things play out in my photography.  Most importantly, wedding photography is not just a means to an end for me- I have great joy in sharing one of the most important days in the lives of a couple and capturing it in ways that are meaningful.

 

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Get to know Courtney:

 

  1. What is your favorite vacation spot? —  Bora Bora.  I mean, I assume it would be if I could ever go there.  haha.  If it is a place I have actually been to, I really enjoyed my solo vacation at Zion National Park last Fall.  
  2. Favorite Nashville hangout? — Our neighborhood bar, Village Pub.  They serve my favorite Bourbon and Scotch Whiskeys without the pretentious atmosphere.  
  3. What is your favorite sport? — FOOTBALL.  Crimson Tide.  Carolina Panthers.  Of course, the only time I get to watch football is if I am photographing the groomsmen getting ready haha.
  4. What makes you stand out? — I think the way I manage a wedding day.  Aside from the obvious, that I want to deliver my best work to every client I have, my heart is also that they actually enjoy their wedding day.  It goes by so fast.  And that is why I value my personal interaction with the clients, families and guests as much as I value making beautiful photographs.  Most of the feedback I get from my brides is not just that they loved their photos, but also that they remember how I managed time, families, “emergencies”, and took control when needed.  When things get tough or stressful, my experience gives them a confidence and trust in me that sets them at ease.  
  5. What does your ideal day look like? — Hm.  It definitely doesn’t involve a computer haha.  Ideally, I would like to sleep til 10 (I am a night owl), drink a Sundrop (my version of coffee) go hiking or something outdoors, maybe work on my succulent garden, hang out with some friends and cookout or something like that.  A girl can dream.  ;)

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What Others Are Saying: “Hiring Courtney to be our wedding photographer was by far the best decision we made! She made having pictures taken easy and fun. She spent the time to make sure we felt comfortable throughout the entire process. I am so happy with how our photos turned out. She delivers a mix of beautiful, classic portraits and artistic shots that are like no other. She also pays attention to detail and gives you shots of every aspect of your wedding day. Her turn-around time on engagement photos and wedding photos is unbelievably quick and they are better than I could have ever imagined!” – Becca Senter

Other reviews:  https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/courtney-davidson-photography-nashville-tn-772493
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Contact info:

http://www.courtneydavidson.com

http://www.courtneydavidson.net {BLOG}

courtney@courtneydavidson.com

347-469-0481

Insta: @courtneydavidsonweddings