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    Ariella Cohen

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    Best island honeymoon destinations

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    Now that the wedding is over, you and your partner can finally relax, and spending your honeymoon lazing on a tropical island is the perfect way to do this.

    Being away from the hustle and bustle of city life and lounging on the beach all day sounds like a dream, especially if you had a stressful time planning your wedding.

    Here are a few exquisite islands to spend your honeymoon on:

    French Polynesia

    What you can expect: Impressive peaks, beautiful beaches and turquoise lagoons.

    When to visit: The best weather is between June and August when it is warm and dry.

     

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    BRB, we will be right here. ? (?: @matthewhahnel ?: Bora Bora, French Polynesia)

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    Hawaii

    What you can expect: Mountains and volcanoes, coral reefs and gorgeous beaches.

    When to visit: Summer falls between May and October.

    Caribbean Islands

    What you can expect: White beaches, clear waters and a vast wilderness.

    When to visit: It is generally warm and sunny all year round, but the dry season is from December to April.

     

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    Pastel evenings by the beach ? (?: @kevinandamanda)

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    Greek Islands

    What you can expect: Charming white houses with blue features and exquisite blue water.

    When to visit: June to August are the summer months.

    Seychelles

    What you can expect: Lush forests, palm trees, stunning beaches, and dazzling blue seas.

    When to visit: There are breaks between the humidity in April, May, October and November.

    Maldives

    What you can expect: white sand beaches and clear blue water.

    When to visit: Winter months (November to April)  have the least rain, and the best weather is from January to April.

    Thailand

    What you can expect: Jungle-dense islands and spectacular blue waters.

    When to visit: The cool and dry season falls between November and April.

     

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    Emerald days ? (?: @mariasauh)

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    Philippines

    What you can expect: Emerald rice fields, volcanoes and magnificent beaches.

    When to visit: The dry season is between November and April while the cooler but pleasant weather is from December to February.

     

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    Coron Island, also known as “Calis,” and its surrounding fishing grounds are part of the ancestral domain of the Calamian Tagbanwa people, one of the oldest indigenous groups in the Philippines — the tribe has the sole right to manage and preserve the rich and majestic region’s land and marine resources. Some of the lakes and smaller islands near Coron are restricted only to Tagbanwa tribespeople, held sacred as burial grounds and ancient ritual sites. Traveler tip: If you get a chance to make it to this beautiful, history-laden destination, be sure to visit Kayangan Lake, Maquinit Springs, and to go for a swim in the turquoise waters off the island’s coast, pictured here. (?: @thiago.lopez ?: Coron, Palawan)

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    Indonesia

    What you can expect: White sand beaches, volcanoes and tropical forests.

    When to visit: May to September are the dry and sunny months.

     

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    Emerald hues by the beach ? (?: @dekdeoka)

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    Fiji

    What you can expect: Coloured reefs and breathtaking beaches.

    When to visit: The weather is dry and mild from May to October and the overall best time to visit is mid-October to mid-November.

    Image: Pixabay

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    Should you invite colleagues to your wedding?

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    Weddings are a huge expense which grows together with your guest list. Inviting colleagues is a frequent topic of discussion – you see them every day but after inviting family and friends, there might not be much space left on your guest list.

    Technically, you don’t have to invite anyone you don’t want to/don’t have space for, but it’s never that simple when it comes to colleagues. After all, you do spend a lot of time with them and not inviting them could turn awkward.

    With colleagues you have three options.

    1. You can either invite no-one from work and easily explain that you are just having family and friends
    2. You can invite the few colleagues that you really get on with
    3. Or you can invite your whole team which will obviously be easier if you work in a small group

    First make your guest list which includes including family and friends  is accounted for, then save your colleagues for the end of your list. If you have enough open spaces to invite all of them and that’s what you would like to do, then do that. If you only have a few open spaces then you will need to think about who you would really like to be there.

    Are you friends with your colleagues outside of work?
    If you see colleagues in your free time then they should be treated the same as your non-work friends and definitely be invited. If you handle the situation correctly, this shouldn’t cause any tension in the office. Let your colleagues that are invited know you are not able to invite everyone from the office, so your wedding should not be a topic of discussion at work.

    If you still feel awkward about the situation, explain to those colleagues who aren’t invited that your guest list is tight and as much as you would like to, unfortunately you can’t invite everyone. Most people will understand and if they don’t, well, it pretty much justifies them not making the guest list.

    If you have limited numbers, a good rule of thumb is to save your invites for friends and family. Colleagues are colleagues and if your friendship is limited to your work place, you should not feel bad about not inviting them to one of the most intimate days of your life.

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    A brief guide to sending out thank you cards

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    The wedding is over. Now you can finally relax, right?

    Nope! There is still one thing left to do – send out thank you cards. This may seem like a daunting task, but it has to be done. The general rule for sending out thank you cards after a wedding is that you have 3 months to do so, but try to do it as soon as possible.

    Some tips for making this process as easy as possible:

    • When opening gifts, keep a list of every gift received and who it was from. This will help you when you are actually writing the cards as you won’t have to rack your brain trying to remember who gave what.
    • Keep a pen and your wedding stationery next to your bed so that you can write a few cards each night when you get into bed. This is better than writing them all at once as you want the cards to be as appreciative and sincere as possible which can be hard to maintain after you’ve already written 50 cards. It also takes the pressure off finding time to sit down and write them all.

    A few things to include in the card: specify the gift that was received so that the card is personalised, write something personal about the giver, and comment on the joy that the gift will bring you.

    The best tip I can give when writing a thank you card is: NEVER start with thank you. Start with any other sentence. If you start with thank you, you won’t know what to say next.

    A great thank you card doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be done.

     

    Image: Unsplash

     

     

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    Setting a wedding budget and actually sticking to it

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    Whether you are paying for the wedding yourselves or your parents are contributing, you will need to calculate how much money you have to spend. Once you have this figure, immediately set aside 5-10% of that for contingency.

    Establishing and sticking to your budget is the best gift you can give yourself as a couple. In order to do this, you have to ensure that all your planning is documented. But before you start crunching numbers, think about the overall feeling you want your wedding to have as this will affect how you spend within your budget.

    Do your research on vendors and get estimates on how much each thing will cost. This will include everything from venue to flowers to the dress and so on. Then get quotes from vendors and write it all down next to estimated costs.

    Now that you know what kind of wedding you would like to have and how much money you have to spend, put together a rough guest list. The number of guests determines your venue, food and alcohol.

    These are generally the largest expenses and a wise rule to follow is to allocate 40% of your budget to these three things.

    It is time to discuss your non-negotiables with your partner (try to keep it down to three). These are things that you have always dreamed of having at your wedding and are willing to spend the money needed in order to achieve them. Research vendors and get quotes so that you can allocate it to the budget and then see how much is left to spend on the rest of the wedding. If you are already over budget based on your list, or close to the end of your budget, have a look at your priorities again and see what you can reduce.

    Now that you’ve got all your quotes and guest list numbers, you can create the spreadsheet. You can get a template online or create your own but try to keep it as simple as possible. Put your overall sum in the top corner somewhere and then create these tabs: estimated, modified and actual.

    Your estimated tab will be amounts that you have found based on research.

    Modified will have real quotes from vendors.

    Actual will be the final amount that you end up paying.

    Time for a reality check – does your budget allow you to achieve what you want? If not, you may have to adjust your budget if that is an option or adjust your expectations.

    Steps to take in order to ensure you stick to your budget:

    1. Figure out how much you have to spend.
    2. Research vendors and get quotes before settling on your budget.
    3. Write a list including all researched costs and quotes from vendors.
    4. Write down your proposed guest list
    5. Create the spreadsheet and input all the relevant information.

    Image: Unsplash

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    Wedding favours that your guests will actually use

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    Although wedding favours are not compulsory, they are a great sentiment. It is recommended to give something that is either edible, reusable, or an item that is fun and functional to use at the wedding; this will reduce the risk of ‘wasted’ favours.

    1. Anything that is edible (or drinkable)

    Something yummy to eat or drink is a great favour as it will generally always be eaten.

    2. Tea towels

    You can have a romantic quote printed on the tea towel to personalise it slightly, but still make sure it is usable in every day life. Plus, you can never have too many tea towels, especially when it reminds you of a special day that you were a part of.

    3. Personalised blankets

    This is a great favour for a winter wedding. It can be used by guests at the wedding who can’t handle the cold and it’s always nice to have an extra blanket in the house, especially if it also warms your heart by reminding you of fond memories.

    4. Sunscreen

    The perfect favour for a summer wedding and easy to take home. Sunscreen can be cute, personalised and will definitely not go unused.

    5. Flip flops

    Recommended for a beach wedding, but also works for a summer wedding. Those in heels will thank you and the memories of your big day are sure to accompany those special to you on many adventures in future.

    6. Luggage tags

    A perfect favour for a destination wedding, your guest are sure to appreciate and cherish these gifts for years to come and they conveniently double up nicely as escort cards too.

    7. Scented candles

    Maybe it’s just us, but candles always seem to be forgotten as they are not a necessity but they are great to have in the home as they provide a nice atmosphere. The colour and scent of the candles can be matched to the wedding theme and are sure to used by your guests long after the big day.

    8. Shawls

    It is hard to find warm outerwear that goes with your formal dress –  a shawl is the answer. This may be less suited to your male guests but you can always prepare a separate option for the gentlemen attending your special day.

     

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    Wrap yourself in Love ? #pashminafavors #customtags #bridalshowerfavors #divinepartydisplay

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    3 tips to insure your ring

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    Choosing the diamond, making the purchase, popping the question. Three tasks that require a sufficient amount of consideration but once they’ve been accomplished, and before you make the big announcement, there’s something else you should think about: insurance. Not particularly romantic but extremely important nonetheless. This piece of jewellery is far too valuable, in numerous respects, for you to lose or have stolen. Wedding Album gets some pointers on protecting this valuable asset from Mutual & Federal‘s Head of Product Solutions Fourie Grobler.

    1 Choose the right insurance policy

    engagement ring

    All risk insurance is perhaps the most effective insurance coverage for a specified item such as an engagement or wedding ring. The policy ensures that, while you’re away from home, your ring that you wear daily will be covered if lost.

    2 Keep all documentation

    Hang on to documents such as the jeweller’s valuation certificate, a photo of the ring, and, of course, the receipt. These are crucial in speeding up – and smoothing out – the process of making an insurance claim.

    3 Value your ring regularly

    engagement ring

    ‘It’s very important to update the value of your jewellery on a regular basis to make sure that your sum insured is adequate,’ says Fourie. So ensure you have your ring is valued every year so that the insured value is up to date with the replacement value. A jeweller will either offer you a free annual valuation or charge a flat rate for one. The latter option includes an updated valuation certificate.

    Photography pixabay.com

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    Dinner Service: Buffet vs. Plated

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    Should you serve a plated dinner or buffet dinner at your wedding? A few things to consider when making this decision: What sort of atmosphere are you trying to create? What is your budget? And how many guests will be attending?

    Generally, a buffet dinner is much more casual than a plated dinner as the evening is less structured than a plated dinner. A plated dinner can be structured in the sense than you can plan speeches and toasts and even dancing in between courses. If you want your wedding to be a formal affair, then serving a plated dinner is the best option. Plated dinners ensure that there is no chaos that could come with buffet dinners when everyone goes to get their food.

    With a plated dinner, everyone eats at the same time and will be finishing up at the same time and you can move on to the next part of the evening.

    In order to control the chaos that comes with buffets, you have to think of ways to control the traffic by setting up lines to get food or setting up two buffet tables with the same food to limit long lines or sometimes even scheduling times for each table to go and get their food. This results in each table eating at different times and can hinder your desired proceedings for after dinner.

    Buffet caters for larger groups and a variety of tastes, meaning there is usually something for everyone, which is appreciated by your guests. But being served is also appreciated; and if you offer special meals for people with dietary requirements, everyone will be happy.

    Budget-wise, it is tricky to determine which style of dinner service is more cost-effective as there are many factors that will influence the cost of the type of dinner service that is chosen.

    Buffet style is generally considered more cost-effective as you do not have to hire as many waitstaff as you would have to if you do plated. However, you cannot determine exactly how much food will be needed and can therefore end up over-catering or have the possibility of running out of food.

    Plated dinners are easier to plan as the caterer will know exactly how many portions of each dish are needed and there is no possibility of waste or running out of food. You can also save in this way as you control each persons’s portion size.

    At the end of the day, it is your wedding and you will need to decide on the type of atmosphere you are trying to create. If you want a formal wedding, a plated dinner service is the better option as it is much more structured and guests are not expected to stand around and attempt to balance their plates while trying to get their food all the while being in their formal clothing.

    If you want a more casual wedding then buffet is the better option because  guests have the freedom to structure their own evening by eating when they want and how much they want, just ensure there is enough food.

     

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    Deciding on the shape of your engagement ring

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    There are many popular diamond shapes to choose from when it comes to engagement rings. The top ten are: round, princess, oval, marquise, pear, cushion, emerald, asscher, radiant and heart.

    The shape of the diamond refers the basic outline when viewed face up. The cut of a diamond refers to how the diamond’s facets are arranged and its ability to reflect light. The most common cutting style is brilliant (cut with 57 or 58 facets to maximise sparkle) and then there is also the step cut which is generally used when cutting square and rectangular shapes (used for cutting emerald and asscher shapes).

    Considering the 4 C’s and your budget when deciding on a shape is important but what it really comes down to is personal preference and each shape has its own charm.

    Round

    A round shaped diamond is the most popular choice for an engagement ring as it looks good on most hands and in most settings. Almost all round diamonds are cut brilliant which maximises the potential brightness. However, due to the high demand of this shape, the cost per carat is higher than other shapes.

    Princess

    This shape is also very popular due to the fact that it has a unique shape and has a slightly lower price per carat than the round shape. It also works in most ring setting styles, although it should be set with 4 prongs to protect all four corners. A brilliant cut princess diamond rivals the brilliant round because it offers that sparkle at a lower price. Its square shape also easily disguises imperfections meaning that you can choose pretty much any carat size.

    Oval

    This shape is becoming more popular and it is an adaptation of the brilliant cut round shape so it is perfect for those who like the sparkle of the round but want something a bit more unique. The elongated shape creates the illusion of a larger size and makes the finger appear longer and slimmer. It is also flexible in terms of setting styles and hides small imperfections.

    Marquise

    This long and narrow shape has one of the largest surface areas in the upper part of the diamond of all the shapes. It makes the size appear larger than it is and makes the finger seem longer and slimmer, like the oval. Symmetry is important when cutting this shape as the two end points should align and the right and left sides should form a mirror image. It should be set with 2 prongs to protect the two points.

    Pear

    This shape is a combination of the round and marquise shapes with a tapered point on the one end. It also has the lengthening and slimming effect on the finger due to its asymmetry. It is feminine, unique and elegant. This shape also needs to be symmetrical and set with a prong at the point for protection. You can decide which direction you would like the point to face but positioning the point to face the fingernails is more flattering on the hand.

    Cushion

    Cushion cut is a square shape with rounded corners. This style shows clarity (imperfections) well which is something to take into consideration when deciding which of the 4 c’s is most important to you – high clarity in this case. This shape works well in vintage settings.

    Emerald

    This shape was originally for cutting emeralds, hence the name. Due to the way it’s cut, it produces a hall of mirrors effect rather than the sparkle that comes with brilliant cuts. It also emphasises the symmetry that comes with this shape. It is flattering on the hand and the long lines and flashes of light that come with this shape bring a sense of elegance. It is not such a common choice for an engagement ring meaning that you can find more affordable options in higher quality than other shapes. However, this shape does not hide imperfections as well as shapes that are cut brilliant.

    Asscher

    This shape has an antique feel to it and is similar to the square emerald but with larger facets. The more facets, the more sparkle. But like the emerald and because of the open and square cut corners, it does not hide imperfections well and so a high clarity is necessary.

    Radiant

    This shape is the first square shape to be cut brilliant, the second being princess. A square radiant shape is similar to princess but with cropped corners. It will often look the same as princess if it is set with four prongs covering each corner. A rectangular radiant shape is perfect for those who like the look of the emerald shape but want the shine that comes with the brilliant cut. Clarity is less of a concern with this shape as the many facets hide imperfections.

    Heart

    This shape is a classic symbol of love but carat weight is important as the shape is difficult to achieve in diamonds smaller than 0.50 carats. Symmetry is also important in this shape. The irregular shape of a heart cut means it will need to be set with more prongs to protect the stone. The many facets that come with the cutting of this shape will ensure a lot of sparkle.

    Now that you know what each shape has to offer, you need to decide what is most important within your budget – size or quality?

    If size is important to you but you are on a budget, you should consider a shape that appears larger than the carat weight indicates, such as the emerald and marquise.

    If having a very sparkly ring is important, you should choose a shape that is cut brilliant rather than step.

    If clarity is important to you but you are on a budget, choose a shape that has many facets (like round and princess) because the facets help to hide imperfections.

    It is recommended to narrow your choice down to two shape options and then try on the rings that are available to you within your budget to see what you love most.

    Image: Unsplash

     

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    Diamonds: Understanding the 4 C’s

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    You’ve  heard about the 4 C’s in diamonds, especially when choosing an engagement ring, but what do they actually mean?

    The 4 C’s – cut, colour, clarity and carat – refer to the standards by which  the quality of diamonds are assessed and allows one to compare diamonds.

    Cut

    The cut is important for the diamond’s overall beauty, as it determines how well the diamond unleashes light. This is not to be confused with the shape of the diamond. Cut refers to the diamond’s light performance (in layman’s terms, how much it sparkles). The cut will determine how the stone refracts and reflects light. A perfect stone (balanced and symmetrical) will be cut in such a way that the light that enters it will only reflect out the top of the stone, therefore making it very sparkly. A diamond that is cut too shallow or too deep will cause the light to leak out of the sides or bottom of the stone which causes a loss of shine. The sparkle of a well cut diamond can make it appear larger and you can therefore opt for a smaller carat weight. Who knew, right?!

    Colour

    Strangely enough, this actually refers to the lack of colour found in a diamond. The less colour, the more rate it is. Diamonds are graded on a scale of D-Z; with D (or white diamonds) being completely colourless. D-F are considered colourless and are therefore the most expensive. G-I are near colourless and slightly less expensive while J-Z have noticeable colour in the stone. Only diamond experts can actually tell the difference in anything higher than a G grading, so if budget is a consideration but you still want a white-looking diamond, a G or H grade diamond will be perfectly fine.

    Clarity

    Measures the imperfections found in the diamond in terms of number, size and position on a scale that ranges from imperfect to flawless. Internal imperfections are referred to as inclusions and external as blemishes. Clarity is often considered the least important of the 4 C’s due to the fact that the imperfections are often microscopic and depending on the location of the inclusions found in the stone, they can be hidden with the right ring setting.

    Carat

    Refers to the weight of the diamond, not the size. Two different shaped diamonds can have the same carat weight but appear slightly different in size. With a larger carat weight, the colour becomes more visible and therefore needs to be taken into consideration.

    Once you understand the 4 C’s, you will need to think about which one is the most important to you when choosing your ring.

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    Bridesmaid ‘proposal’ ideas

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    Your big day started with big gestures, and your bridesmaids should be included in these. Here are a few cute ways to ask those closest to you to be part of your wedding party.

    In this day and age, it is quite a big ask (as bridesmaids are expected to perform a lot of duties) so asking those closest to you with a personalised gift of sorts makes their experience that much more special. No matter what you choose to gift in the bridesmaid proposal, make sure to include a letter written by yourself to each individual bridesmaid. You are asking them to give up a lot of their free time to be your bridesmaid, you can take the time to write a personal letter about why you would like them to be up there with you on your special day.

    Here are 5 ways to ‘propose’ to your bridesmaids:

    A cute piece of jewelry

     

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    Getting Married or know someone that is? Why not tag them? ? This perfect little sterling silver bracelet makes the perfect gift for a special bridesmaid, at a very reasonable price ? (link in bio) You can change the text to suit your preference/ have it personalised or, you could have this wording with another item of Jewellery – whatever you would like! I’ll be adding much more wedding stock shortly, so keep an eye out ?? . . . #sterlingsilver #lulaloujewellery #bridesmaidbracelet #bridesmaidgift #maidofhonourgift #bridesmaidjewellery #weddingfavour #thankyougift #weddinggift #weddingjewellery #willyoubemybridesmaid #etsyuk #etsyselleruk #etsyjewelleryuk #etsyshopuk #picoftheday #jewellery #heartjewellery #mybridesmaid #supportsmall #shopsmall #smallbuisness

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    A bottle of wine with a custom label

    A bridesmaid hanger or robe

    This is a great and easy way for everyone to hang up their dresses while getting ready or wear. It also makes for a great wedding photo with all the bridesmaid hangers and dresses together.

    A framed picture of the two of you

    A proposal box

    You can combine a few of these ideas and create a proposal box filled with goodies that make your bridesmaid feel special. Perhaps include items that will help make their bridesmaid duties a little easier.

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