Engagements Archives | Page 17 of 47

In Advice

Is it appropriate to propose at someone else’s wedding?

October 19, 2020 No Comments

With all the love in the air on a wedding day, it’s impossible to not get swept up in it. The stunning venue, the moody lighting, and the delicious food are enough to put anyone in the right mood. Given all the above, it’s easy to see why some people may take this opportunity to pop the big question.

Proposing during someone else’s wedding has been a controversial topic for decades, and continues to polarise the masses.

I give you my blessing

If you are particularly close to the bridal party, it might make the day extra special for them to see you get engaged to your love. Another bonus is that many of your closest friends and family are likely to also be in attendance, which allows them all to share at the moment with you.

Some couples are happy to have someone else get engaged during their wedding, but the key is to have their blessing. It could be quite cute to even have them get involved in the proposal somehow, like having the bride toss her bouquet as a distraction while their partner gets down on one knee behind them.

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Hijacking someone else’s special day

On the other hand, however, the day is not about you. When a couple gets married, their wedding day is a celebration of their love. You were invited to honour their love and commitment to one another. The bridal couple likely spent a lot of money to make the day perfect, and their hard work should not be taken advantage of and used as a free stage for your proposal.

The only time a proposal during someone else’s wedding is appropriate is if you’ve been given permission by the couple getting married. If you don’t have their blessing for the proposal, do not do it as you risk upsetting them on their special day. No matter how close you are or how chilled a person may seem, you don’t know how they will react.

You could also create tension with the bridal couple if they are not happy with you hijacking their big day, which could affect your friendship in the long run.

While it’s not pleasant to think about, your partner could still say no to your proposal. Getting turned down in front of everyone during a wedding will definitely ruin the mood.

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In Advice

The thrilling tension setting: A mesmering finish

October 16, 2020 No Comments

While the shape of the diamond is often the key focus in an engagement ring, the setting is just as important. How your ring is set can make or break it, so it is best to choose wisely.

A less popular yet still stylish choice is the tension setting. This unique setting has the central stone floating in between two metal bands that hold it securely, and is an unusual look for the unique bride.

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The tension setting is designed in a way that the diamond is tightly held in place by the pressure of the metal bands on either side. Usually, there are two tiny grooves carved into the metal where the diamond’s girdle comes into contact with it to keep the stone in place. This setting allows the diamond to appear to be floating between the two sides of the shank, which creates a mesmerising appearance.

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Along with the floating appearnace, the entire profile of the diamond is on show with this setting. Thus, the diamond is more visible than with other settings. The minimal metal surrounding the diamond further enhances its light reflection, making it appear more radiant.

Another benefit to this setting is that is much less maintenance than other diamond setting types, like the prong setting for example.

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However, it is important to note that this tension only works for hard stones like diamonds, rubies and sapphires. The stone must also be of very high quality, as any imperfections will be made even more visible through this setting. It is also an extremely specialised skill to make this setting, so jewellers charge a pretty penny for it.

Another downside to this setting is that it is difficult to resize, and having this done can actually increase the chances of the stone coming loose.

With the diamond being so exposed in this setting, it is not ideal for those that lead an active lifestyle.

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This setting is the perfect choice for those desiring a more modern and minimalist finish for their engagement ring. It is an unusual look that is sure to stand out from the rest.

Picture: Unsplash

In Announcements

Woman calls off engagement with ghost because he keeps disappearing

October 15, 2020 No Comments

This story takes ghosting to the next level. A British woman claims she was engaged to a ghost but has now called off the wedding because he “kept disappearing”.

Speaking during the UK TV show This Morning, Amethyst Realm(32) explained that she had fallen in love with a spirit named Ray while on a trip to Australia in 2018. The pair got engaged on their nine-month anniversary and it seemed the relationship was going from strength to strength until a recent vacation to Thailand.

‘It was going really well until we went on holiday … and then he completely changed’

After Amethyst met and fell in love with ghost Ray, they’ve now decided to part ways after he began acting oddly.

Watch the full chat on the ITV Hub ??https://t.co/Q7IV485mUn pic.twitter.com/sLkpArOkUr

— This Morning (@thismorning) October 14, 2020

“I think maybe he fell in with a bad crowd when we were on holiday. He just started becoming really inconsiderate,” Realm explained on the TV show. “I think he started doing drugs and partying a bit much.

“He’d disappear for long periods of time. When he did come back, he’d bring other spirits to the house and they’d just stay around for days,” she said.

The pair have since decided to call the wedding off.

The realm is infamous in the UK, known for her claim that she has slept with at least 20 ghosts before getting engaged to Ray.

Picture: Unsplash

In Engagements

Clicks proposal goes viral

October 14, 2020 No Comments

We’ve had the KFC proposal, and now we have a Clicks proposal. Customers and staff members at a Clicks in Vangate mall were pleasantly surprised when two high school sweethearts got engaged right there in the aisle.

Stephan Claasen (53) proposed to his love Noleen Gysman (52), a manager at Clicks, with an audience of shoppers cheering them on.

The video of their special moment was shared to Facebook, and has been viewed over 150 000 times.

The pair have allegedly been together since June, but have a long history as they dated 35 years ago when they lived in Outshoorn. According to IOL, a mutual friend brought them back together in February 2020, and the rest is history.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Picture: screenshot from video

In Engagements

5 fun games to play at your engagement party

October 12, 2020 No Comments

Engagement parties are among the most exciting celebrations before the wedding day. Throwing an engagement party gives the guests of honor and the couple a lovely way to remember the moment.

With these five fun, fool-proof engagement party games, everyone will share a laugh with each other and the bride and groom-to-be!

Two Truths And A Lie

This game is mostly used as an ice breaker to make everyone comfortable, and is a fun way for guests to get to know each other.

First, gather everyone into a group. Going around in a circle, each person will make three statements about himself or herself, two of which are true and one of which is false. The rest of the group votes on what they think is truth or lie, and then the big reveal.

Battle Of The Sexes

This game is almost like 30 seconds, but it is gender-related questions. This is also readily available for purchase if you do not want the admin of compiling the questions.

You need to compile two lists of things you expect most men to know, and one of the information most women would likely know. The teams take turns asking the opposite sex questions.

Ring Toss

Is there any lawn game that’s better named for an engagement party? Gather friends and family around for a few games of ring toss, the family favourite that involves landing hoops on stakes to score points. Make this even more engagement-themed by decorating your hoops with a DIY diamond.

Message in a bottle

Set out a beautiful glass bottle and create a station with pens and slips of paper where guests can write a note to the couple. The couple can take turns and guess who message is from, every time they get it wrong they take a shot or eat something bitter.

Wedding Relay Race

Liven up your engagement party with a few rounds of a wedding-themed relay race. It works perfectly for guests of all ages and is a lot of fun if you have kids at your party. Gather outdoors or make some space indoors for an amusing relay race using props like garters, rings, or bouquets. The team that can reach the finish line first without dropping their prop is the winner.

Picture: Unsplash

In Advice

The stylish choice: Salt-and-pepper diamonds

October 12, 2020 No Comments

A classic white diamond is the traditional go-to for engagement rings, but in recent years, alternative colours have become all the rage. From pink to yellow, diamonds come in all hues.

Salt-and-pepper diamonds are trending as a unique alternative stone choice for an engagement ring. Here is everything you need to know.

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A salt-and-pepper diamond is a diamond with inclusions that appear black and white. This type of diamond can appear in a variety of shades, from light to dark grey. Some may have more inclusions than others, which will affect the colouring of the stone.

This diamond is the exact same as a normal diamond, just with a bit more character. As always, the 4 C’s apply when grading a diamond: cut, colour, clarity and carat. The 4 C’s will determine the final price your diamond will fetch.

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Eco-conscious shoppers will love this stone, as it takes fewer resources to mine than regular diamonds. They are also less expensive because they of their carbon inclusions, so they are the more budget-friendly option.

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Like any other diamond, it can be fashioned into any shape you want. Given its alternative nature, we suggest going with the aesthetic and opting for a unique setting like a bezel setting. Go for an unusual cut by shaping your diamond into a pentagon or a diamond-shaped diamond.

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Picture: Pinterest

In Advice

5 things to consider when planning your wedding registry

October 8, 2020 No Comments

It is very frustrating to receive three of the same thing from different people as a wedding gift. This is because people think in similar ways and they normally don’t know what to get you and so they resort to common gifting. As the bride, you can avoid this and the admin that comes with it. Here’s how:

Don’t wait until the last minute

Start planning and send out your registry ahead of time, you want your wedding registry to be one of the things you do at the beginning of your wedding planning.

Making and setting up a registry takes more time than you might expect it and deserves your attention because you won’t have time to redo it.

Be realistic and practical

In your wedding registry, you should already be thinking ‘home’ and because of that, your gifts should be practical items that will make the transition of starting a new life easy.

Make a list of things you want in your house but won’t be able to get soon, these should be the gifts your friends and family get you.

Also be mindful of the people buying, you don’t want to make them pay exorbitant amounts but you don’t want cheap gifts, so get a few quotations on each item.

Share your registry

Once you’ve created your wedding registry, make sure you share it with your guests.

This includes coming up with easy ways to access your registry. It could be online where a person can click and get it or share a link with your guests.

Make sure to have a checklist option available for you and the people buying gifts, this makes it easy to see what has been bought and what is left.

Make it a joint project

Put aside some quality couple time to contemplate your future life together and think about what kinds of gifts would make you happy.Your partner must have input on the registry because this is the beginning of your life together, you don’t want anyone feeling left out.

Look for great deals

Before choosing where to register, find out what kinds of perks and discounts you might get.Approach your desired shops for a registry, they usually give discounts for bulk registry purchases.This option helps get expert advice from someone who’s knowledgeable.

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In Advice

Unique wedding rings designed by local jewellers

October 8, 2020 No Comments

As the piece of jewellery you’ll (hopefully) always have and wear, your engagement ring is highly personal. It is important to match the ring to you, and not the other way around.

While shopping from big, established brands is great and often the easiest option, South Africa has a wealth of talented jewellery designers that create incredible custom pieces.

Now more than ever, it is important to support local. Here are a few fantastic jewellers from across the country designing unique engagement rings with personality and flair.

Lorean Jewellery:

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Famke Jewellery:

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Black Betty Design:

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Merakije Jewellery Design:

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Botanica Jewellery:

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Picture: Unsplash

In Accessories

Match your flower arrangement with the season

October 7, 2020 No Comments

Flowers play a very important role on the wedding day, so it is important to match them to the season. Like fruit, flowers are seasonal, and getting the ones you love will sometimes be expensive if they are out of season.

Summer

Having a summer wedding is the easiest season because you are guaranteed the best weather, most flowers have bloomed and available and you can have an outdoor wedding. These flowers thrive best in summer:

Roses

Roses can be dressed up or down in a bouquet for any type of wedding. You are never limited to colours with these flowers. Shades range from red, yellow, pink, and orange to purple and white. Be careful though, each colour has its own symbolism!

Chrysanthemum

These flowers are perfect for a summer vintage wedding theme. They are available in hues such as yellow, orange, white, red, purple, and pink.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers were made for summer with their bright, happy hues and appearance. They’re the perfect bloom for a rustic wedding. They are mostly yellow but you can find orange and red varieties.

Winter

Winter weddings are popular for thsoe that love the season, and tend to be more intimate and indoors. The weather is mostly gloomy but your decor doesn’t have to be, here are flowers to help.

Camellias

Camellias are one of winter’s most-loved flowers Their petals are layered, which adds plenty of texture and you can pair them with thorny green. Their peak blooming season allows them to be readily available and easy to use.

Carnations

These cuties continue to bloom and thrive during winter’s cold months, and they are also available in a variety of colours like shades of red, purple, pink, and white. They make a room come alive with their flexibility.

Ranunculus

Ranunculus are great to use if you are going for the all-white soft florals theme. They are perfect for the bouquet and the groom’s pocket flower.

Spring

Spring is the season of hope. During this time everything is bright and beautiful, the sun is out but not too harsh and you want to look like a blooming flower. Your wedding should represent that vibe with these options:

Tulips

Tulips are great flowers and they look vibrant. You will find them in every colour except for black, blue, and green.

Peony

It’s one of the most loved flowers of the wedding season and it’s easy to see why the peony is an all-time favourite. It is the perfect mix of softness and texture, the flower also has a secret meaning – ‘a happy marriage’. It is available in white, cream, burgundy, soft pink, crimson, rose pink, and deep pink

Lilac

These beautiful flowers have a great beautiful soft scent. They are available in pure white, pale lilac, deep lilac, and pale pink.

Autumn

This is a season of natural colours. Everything is wilting and is mostly windy, it is hard to imagine that there are flowers that bloom when trees fall. Here are flowers you can find in autumn to make your wedding a day to remember:

Dahlias

These flowers are a nice balance between organic and refined. They are commonly mixed with greens to make a grounding look on your decor. You can find them in pink, white, and a quiet orange.

Zinnias

The Zinnias have an ombre effect. They have a calming effect and can be a great use for a barn-themed wedding. You will find them in various shades, from deep burgundy to the palest blush.

Protea

South Africa’s national flower is fitting for a wedding day. It is symbolic of change and transformation across cultures.

Pictures: Unsplash

In Engagements

Ring cleaning videos are trending and insanely satisfying

October 7, 2020 No Comments

How often are you cleaning your wedding ring, and how effective is your process? Most likely, your answer is not often and not thorough enough.

Your ring can easily be dirtied by everyday wear. Common cosmetic products like hairspray, lotion, makeup or perfume can accumulate dirt, and touching a variety of objects throughout the day will also dull your ring.

A new and oh-so-satisfying trend on Instagram is ring cleaning. Jewellers are sharing videos of how they take rings from drab to fab with a simple solution.

The ring is dunked in a blue solution of ring cleaner, and all the dirt expels out of it. The sheer amount of dirt that can accumulate on a ring is truly astounding.

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The solution is held in an ultrasonic machine which sends vibrations through the water in a matter of minutes. The ultrasound waves and chemicals combine to create bubbles that “cling” to foreign particles such as dirt, oil, and unknown substances. The high-frequency waves are sent out and pull the contaminants off the object.

After a minute, the ring is removed from the solution and is extra sparkly, like the day it was purchased.

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If you don’t have access to a professional jewellery cleaner, or simply don’t have the funds for this, cleaning your jewellery is an easy process that can be done at home. Make a DIY solution with warm water and dishwashing soap. Soak your ring in the solution for about 20 to 40 minutes and then gently brush it with a soft toothbrush. Rinse under warm running water and repeat if needed.

Make sure to avoid harsh chemicals like bleach, chlorine and acetone when cleaning your ring, as it can break down the base metals in the ring. Abrasive products like toothpaste, baking soda and powdered cleaners should also be avoided.