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Engagements

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A proposal is a special moment that you want to be absolutely perfect. Unfortunately, not everything always goes to plan. This man learned it the hard way when he went down on one knee recently.

Miles Sueharto popped the question to girlfriend Angelina Zalesova. He decided to do it in style by renting a boat off the Sarasota coast in Florida.

With the stunning sunset as a backdrop, it seemed like the perfect time for Sueharto to go down on one knee.

As the proposal continues, he turns to his friend to ask him to pass the ring. The friend then throws him the box so high that Sueharto fails to catch it, which causes the ring to fall in the ocean.

Luckily, another friend quickly jumps into the water to retrieve the ring, and the proposal continues. After all that, of course, she said yes.

Watch the memorable moment here:

When the video was first posted, many were wondering if it was staged. In an interview with ABC 7 News, Sueharto revealed he had planned the whole thing with his friend, but his girlfriend was completely in the dark about it. The box that ended up in the water was actually empty, and the ring was safe inside his best friend’s pocket the entire time.

Feature image: screenshot from video

An engagement ring is a promise of forever. In the quest to be unique, some may go far beyond expectations. Diamonds are predictable, and many have opted for statement jewellery pieces to proclaim their love.

Here are a few of the most… unique rings we have come across online:

Gotta catch ’em all:

Remember when Pokemon Go was huge? This couple must have been pretty swept up in the craze, and have the ring to prove it! The centre stone is encircled by a pokeball shape to prove that they have finally captured their love.

Strange engagement rings that will make you do a double take

A piercing choice:

Piercing engagement rings have been popular among those who don’t want a traditional ring. Instead of wearing a band, the diamond is implanted into the skin of the ring finger.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bff9Mq8F469/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Dragon power:

Game of Thrones fans, we might just have the ring for you. If you’re still heartbroken over the deaths of Daenerys’s beloved winged children, your engagement ring can be the perfect tribute. This bride’s ring is shaped as a dragon in mid-flight, which we’re sure she thought was pretty fly. It even glows in the dark!

Strange engagement rings that will make you do a double take

Polly want a cracker?

Parrots are beautiful birds, but they are never really associated with weddings. One unique couple, however, opted to showcase their love of birds. This custom-made ring features a mini sculpture of two parrots perched together on the band, and is definitely a scene-stealer.

Strange engagement rings that will make you do a double take

Take a bite:

Parents often keep their children’s teeth once they’ve fallen out as a special memento. California couple Carlee Leifkes and Lucas Unger took this to the next level. Unger had his wisdom tooth embedded into the ring instead of a traditional diamond.

Strange engagement rings that will make you do a double take
Source: Pinterest

A hands-on jewel:

A Japanese man collected his fingernail clippings for a year, then ground it to a powder and baked it to create a “stone” for an engagement ring. The end result is a pitch-black, rock hard stone. If you didn’t know, you would probably never guess that’s it’s made from human nails.

Feature image: Facebook / That’s it I’m wedding shaming

Diamond prices worldwide have been experiencing a decline in demand even before the COVID-19 pandemic halted weddings celebrations globally. Anglo American’s De Beers unit has seen a plunge in earning due to the global economic weakness.

As South African diamond companies lose out on international sales. they’ve begun focusing on customers closer to home. Many smaller jewellers and jewel producers have experienced an upsurge in sales. According to Reuters, lockdown has helped South African cutting and polishing firm Nungu Diamonds grow sales by 60% since March.

The Company’s founder Kealeboga Pule said that they have had customers opt for online consultations and many lined up to excitedly collect their purchases when their stores reopened in June. In fact, June was their best-performing month of the year, with many sales including engagement and wedding rings being made. The team has even expanded to include an in-house jewellery designer.

While jewellery prices have remained steady, the demand on uncut and unpolished rough stones from mines has decreased and thus profit margins have lowered.

This has led to South African company Thoko’s Diamonds pivoting from their main business of selling rough, polished stones to focusing on jewellery. Within the last year, their typical sales of 500 carats fell to less than 20 carats, and profits decreased by 65%.

Being a luxury commodity, diamonds will continue to lose demand as the effects of the pandemic worsens the economic status of citizens across the world.

Feature image: Unsplash

When somebody plans out their proposal idea, they usually consider all things that could go wrong. Will it be interrupted? Will there be distractions? However, one would never envision their romantic proposal going up in flames; and we don’t mean that metaphorically.

A man from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, planned to propose to his girlfriend on Tuesday, August 3. He filled a room in his flat with hundreds of tea lights, balloons, and a nice bottle of wine.

After setting up his romantic gesture, he went to pick up his girlfriend to bring her to the flat. As they returned, their flat was on fire. According to the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, the cause of the fire was the tea lights.

The Fire and Rescue Department posted a series of Tweets, talking about the incident.


“Last night three crews were mobilised to a flat fire in Sheffield. They dealt with it quickly, as ever, before trying to establish what caused it,” they said.

“So, a quick chat with the occupant revealed that this room had been filled with 100s of tea lights,” they said, adding “This was going to be the scene of a romantic proposal and the occupant, a chap who we shall not name, had really gone to town!”

After noting what was in the apartment and what had gone wrong, they said that the firefighters dealt with the fire quickly and nobody was injured.

Not to worry though, it’s not all doom and gloom! There is a silver lining.

As a bonus, she said YES!” Fire and Rescue said. 

However, the department noted that despite being sweet and romantic, candles can be quite dangerous. They urged that if people decide to make use of candles that they must ensure they are extinguished properly after, they are not placed near flammable items, and that they are most definitely not to be left unattended in an empty flat as you leave to fetch your girlfriend.

Image: Twitter / South Yorkshire Fire (@SYFR)

Glee star Jenna Ushkowitz, who played Tina Coheng-Chang on the hit show, is engaged to boyfriend of two years, David Stanley.

Ushkowitz took to Instagram to announce the engagement, sharing a photo with her new fiancè and their french bulldog, Bear. Her sparkling engagement ring is also visible in the image.

Yes, a million times, yes,” she captioned the image.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDaBDMCAWe-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The pair have been together since 2018, and recently celebrated their two-year anniversary on June 29.

“2 years of getting to know you, traveling, laughing. 2 years of growth, learning about each other, ourselves, our love and 2 years of creating our little family. Can’t wait for all the days, months, years to come. ?✨ Happy anniversary mi amor,” Ushkowitz wrote on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCBznoGgsI9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The engagement comes after much heartbreak for the Glee cast, who tragically lost co-star Naya Rivera in July.

When news of Rivera’s death broke, a devastated Ushkowitz wrote a meaningful message to her late friend.

“There are no words and yet so many things I want to say, I don’t believe I’ll ever be able to articulate exactly what I feel but… Naya, you were a ⚡️ force and everyone who got to be around you knew it and felt the light and joy you exuded when you walked into a room. You shined on stage and screen and radiated with love behind closed doors,” she wrote.

“I was lucky enough to share so many laughs, martinis and secrets with you. I can not believe I took for granted that you’d always be here. Our friendship went in waves as life happens and we grow, so I will not look back and regret but know I love you and promise to help the legacy of your talent, humor, light and loyalty live on.

“You are so loved. You deserved the world and we will make sure Josey and your family feel that everyday. I miss you already.”

Feature image: Instagram / Jenna Ushkowitz

Popular clothing retailer House of CB is entering the wedding world. The British luxury womenswear label, which has been worn by celebs like Beyonce, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez, has released their first bridal collection.

The collection, called “The Modern Bride” features 10 stunning gowns in House of CB’s signature sultry styles. The dresses all feature luxurious satin, elegant detailing and feminine silhouettes.

“Fall for the dress of your dreams with our collection of breathtaking, timeless dresses for the confident, modern bride. In true House of CB style, our Bridal Collection embraces fresh, innovative, and sophisticated details paired with show-stopping styles to make you feel confident and look beautiful on your wedding day,” says the fashion house on their website.

“For our first collection we wanted to keep our shapes clean, chic and incredibly flattering; infusing our signature waist cinching corsetry with beautiful fabrics. Our aim was to create stunning pieces for your big day that are still affordable, whether it’s walking down the aisle, the reception or engagement party we hope you find something you love and are honored to be part of your wedding.”

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CDYYXTOFEVZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The gowns retail for between £349 – £649, and are already available for purchase on their website. Take a look at the breathtaking gowns:

House of CB releases first bridal collection
The Ines gown
House of CB releases first bridal collection
The Margaux gown.
House of CB releases first bridal collection
The Antionette gown
House of CB releases first bridal collection
The Esmee gown
House of CB releases first bridal collection
The Francoise gown
House of CB releases first bridal collection
The Odette gown
House of CB releases first bridal collection
The Delphine gown
House of CB releases first bridal collection
The Estelle gown
House of CB releases first bridal collection
The Gigi gown

Feature image: Instagram / House of CB

You’re engaged and you want to flaunt your ring all day, every day, we don’t blame you. But wearing a new and expensive piece of jewellery 24/7 takes some getting used to and there are times and places not to wear your engagement ring to keep it safe and sound.

Here are some places you might want to go ring-free:

The beach

You want to take a selfie in your stellar bikini and show off your gorgeous ring but there’s a risk of losing it in the sand or the water. Sand can also easily get into the ring setting or under your stone.

The gym

You could probably wear your ring during cardio but if you’re doing weights don’t even try it. The strong pressure of the weights could bend the band and if you have a pavé band it’s possible that the smaller stones may fall out of the setting if it takes too many knockings.

The shower

This one may be obvious but it’s easy to forget to take off your ring if you’re in a rush to shower. Shampoos, body washes, soaps, hair and beauty products all cause a residue buildup either on or under your stone which is difficult to clean. Also remember to be careful when you’re applying lotion or hair serum with your ring on.

The pool / jacuzzi

Chlorine in pool water can cause damage to your ring, and over time it will discolour the metal of your ring band.

While cleaning

Whether you’re cleaning the oven or your car or even just washing the dishes, take your ring off! If you have a coloured stone you need to be even more careful because the chemicals from the detergents can erode the finish and polish of the stone.

Feature image: Pexels

It’s easy to think that popular bridal fashion, including makeup, attire, accessories and more is the same everywhere. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Across the world, bridal beauty looks differ depending on where you go.

Of course, they’re all stunning. But an Indian bride, a Chinese Bride, and a European bride, for example, are all likely to look and be dressed completely differently on their big days.

That being said, you’re probably wondering how exactly bridal beauty looks on different parts of the globe. Well, wonder no longer, here are 6 different ways brides are styled from around the world:

Japan

The look Japanese brides go for will differ depending on their religion. However, modern brides often opt for a red or white kimono. Traditionally, a Japanese bride would paint her face white, but now they go for more natural makeup looks. An up-do with floral accessories are common for their hairstyles on their big day.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfQhJyYH5EN/

Djibouti

In this East African country, brides adorn the faces with gold chains. Often the nose is pierced before the wedding, and is decorated with a chain.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXS6Aw_H4U0/

Nigeria 

Nigerian bridal looks differ widely within the country, as Nigeria has about 250 ethnic groups within it. For this reason, traditions differ. However, it is common for Nigerian brides to wear bright colours and to wear a head tie called a Gele.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3EUD32g8fY/

Yemen

In Yemen, brides start their beauty regimes up to five days before the wedding. Included in this is the Hammam Turkish bathing tradition. Yemeni brides wear henna on their hands and feet, and they don gold or silver jewellery and veils.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMHwwitBby7/

India 

Indian brides, specifically those who are loyal to Hinduism, wear red on their wedding day. Nose rings are considered a mark of beauty and thus they are very popular for brides in India. Henna decorates the bride’s hands, and black Kajal emphasises her eyes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOe4NBAIJk/

Armenia 

In Armenia, it is common for brides to thread the entirety of their faces before the wedding. This is to ensure a smooth looking profile on the big day. Their style is similar to that of an American bride.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ZbVpSH6Qn/

Feature image: Unsplash

One of the toughest decisions engaged couples can make while planning a wedding is their guest list. Of course, you want your closest family and friends present on your special day. However, sometimes its not possible to include everyone. If your wedding venue has imited space, you have to make the choice on who to include and who to leave out.

One couple faced this conundrum and instead of keeping their guest list small, they decided to let their guests know exactly what’s going on. In a wedding invite, the unnamed couple explains that they have had to “categorise” guests to ensure they do not surpass capacity restrictions.

“Dear friends and family, please understand that our venue is limited in the number of guests we’ll be able to accommodate for our wedding day,” the invite reads. “As much as we’d love to have each and every one of you join us on our big day, we’re forced to split our guests into groups to ensure we don’t surpass our capacity restrictions.”

Guests were separated into Groups A, B and C. Group A are the special few at the top of the list, and are asked to RSVP as soon as possible . Groups B and C must watch the couple’s wedding website to see if there are any available spaces that open up, depending on Group A’s RSVPs.

The couple also ask that guests leave their kids at home with a babysitter, and that singletons don’t bring a partner to keep the guest list as low as possible.

This ranking quickly went viral on Reddit and Facebook page when a user posted: “That’s it, I’m wedding shaming”. It sparked a fierce debate on whether the couple are right to categorise guests in this manner. Some believed it was the smart thing to do, while others thought it was rude for the couple to tell guests which group they are in, as it essentially says how important (or not) they are to the couple.

Nope.. if I got that and found put i was in group b I would be pissed. Find a venue that can accommodate everyone you want there or don’t invite me after the fact because you then want to fill it up. No thanks,” writes on Facebook user.

What do you think? Were the coupe right, or is there a more tactful way they could have gone about it?

Feature image: Pexels

Lady Amelia Spencer, the daughter of Earl Spencer and niece of Princess Diana, is engaged to be married. The cousin to Prince William and Harry said ‘yes’ to her university sweetheart, Greg Mallett on July 22.

Amelia grew up in the country along with siblings Lady Eliza Spencer, Louis Spencer Viscount Althorp and Lady Kitty Spencer, who is engaged to South African-born Michael Lewis, the chairperson of Foschini Ltd.

She met Mallett at the University of Cape Town, where they were both students. They have been together for 11 years.

Mallett popped the question at the Clouds Wine & Guest Estate in Stellenbosch.

“So this was the best day of my life. 22nd of July 2020, I asked the love of my life to spend the rest of her life with me and she said YES. Couldn’t be happier and I love you with all my heart @ameliaspencer15,” wrote Mallett on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDJF0WfpJwb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Her father, Charles Spencer took to Twitter to express his happiness. According to Spencer, Mallett asked for his blessing before proposing.

Feature image: Instagram / Greg Mallett