How to Add Vintage Touches To Your Wedding

Discovering the perfect way to distinguish your wedding and make it seem both personal and elegant requires more than just a single night’s research. Rustic, classic and vintage weddings are lately popular theme ideas for making the big day feel satisfying. But even if you opt for a modern or otherwise non-antique style wedding, there’s no reason you can’t add a few vintage touches to add drama and intrigue. Here are some easy ideas to get you started.

Antiqued Paper Menus

Oval Engagement Ring With
Pear Sides and Pave Trim

If your guests are sitting down to a catered meal, why not upgrade the menus. Rather than using typical white or colored paper, either stain your own paper (tea bags are said to work well) or buy aged paper and print the menu yourself. The key to a classic antique look is to have light brown and tan shades blending throughout, or simply age the edges.

Lace Runners

You can buy lace by the yard at a local fabric store and quickly and easily create inexpensive yet gorgeous lace runners that guests will heartily praise. While some shops charge an arm and a leg for runners online, buying your own and maintaining a rustic look is not only affordable, it goes with the rustic style so many brides are choosing this year.

Bell Jar Decorations

Lever Back Diamond Earrings With Pave Halo

Glass bell jars add sophistication to simple decorations, like wildflowers or candles (they won’t stay lit if there’s no oxygen coming in, so electric lights work best), without being difficult to source or expensive to buy. You can even use them for home décor after your nuptials, so you don’t have to worry about spending money on needless items you’ll never use again.

Vintage Books

Visit a local bookstore that features old hardcover books. Don’t worry if they’re dusty, damaged or about uninteresting subject matter, that just adds to the appeal. These can be used as a centerpiece, or added in stacks around the tables and food serving areas. This is a particularly enchanting option for bookworms who want to include a personal element.

Old Fashioned Milk Cans

Pear Shaped Diamond Necklace
With Halo

One part rustic, one part vintage, old-fashioned milk cans work great alone or as flower vases as standalone decorations or as main centerpieces. They can even double as a location to include table numbers, guest names or spare pens for writing heartfelt notes. Though many milk cans are white, you can find or dye them a multitude of colors to suit your theme.

Vintage-Inspired Jewelry

No doubt you’ve already selected or received your engagement ring, but that’s not the only opportunity to show off some bling. If your dress has a vintage style to it, why not complement it with a vintage necklace or earrings? If they’re vintage-inspired, you’ve got your something new covered, and if they’re legitimately vintage they’re your something old.

Planning a wedding is both exciting and stressful, but when it comes time to choose your decorations and all the tiny elements that add style and grace to your marriage ceremony, it makes sense to want to include pieces that suggest romance and timelessness. Vintage décor and jewelry is an easy, often inexpensive way to do just that.

Discover Your Love’s Engagement Ring Style Secretly

It’s old fashioned, romantic and tempting, but surprising your significant other with a proposal (and an engagement ring) is fraught with difficulty. How do you know if the ring you pick will make her gush with pride or rethink her entire relationship? You do it by learning her taste well in advance. While some people think dating for a year or two or more should provide you with all the information you need to pick the ideal ring, it is rarely the case. To help you achieve your goal of surprising your true love with a stunning ring design she’ll cherish forever, here are five sneaky ways to suss out her jewelry preferences.

1. Enlist Her Friends

Bezel Set Engagement Ring With Pave Halo

The most popular way to discover your girl’s taste in diamond rings is to ask a friend or close family member, but you have to be very careful. Some friends aren’t always very good at keeping their mouths shut about a surprise and others don’t know her tastes as well as they think they do. Always ask the friend if your ladylove has specifically pointed out a favorite design or if she’s just going by her usual taste.

2. Look at Her Jewelry

Three Stone Engagement Ring in Bezel Setting With Diamond Halos

You may know she likes her coffee with four spoons of sugar and prefers to stay in rather than go out on weekends, but when it comes to jewelry you’re stumped. Go ahead and rummage through her jewelry box to get an idea of her likes. Remember, you’ll want to think about which pieces she wears regularly, not the ones she wears for special occasions. Does she prefer simple, classic and subdued for the most part? Chances are, she’ll want the same for her engagement ring.

3. Listen For Hints

Emerald Cut Diamond Solitaire

Many women know for years the style of ring they want, often well in advance of even having a boyfriend. Chances are, if you’ve been together for a while she’s leaving you hints about her taste in rings. Not so much? Wait until a newly engaged friend shows off her piece. Your girl will likely gush about its beauty then turn to you and honestly critique it moments later. Pay close attention to her appraisal.

4. Ask For Help

Antique Style Engagement Ring With Pear Shaped and Round Side Diamonds

No, you’re not asking for help picking out her engagement ring, you’re asking for help picking out a friend’s. Tell your beloved that one of your buddies is planning on popping the question and his girl has similar tastes as her. Ask what she’d recommend based on her preferences. This is brilliant if she never guesses, but you have to be incredibly smooth not to give away your intentions with this plan.

5. Go Custom Made

Large Sapphire Ring With
Triangle Diamond Sides

Lots of girls want something special that showcases how unique she and your relationship is to you. You can give her a ring that doesn’t require searching jewelry store after jewelry store for something specific, and it provides her with a ring no one else has. Custom rings allow you to take what you know about your lady and turn it into a one-of-a-kind design.

Surprise proposals are less common these days, because many women have very clear-cut ideas about what their rings should look like. But you can still propose the old-fashioned way with a ring she’ll adore by following these sneaky tricks and buying the design she’ll cherish for the rest of her life. Plus, she’ll have one more thing to brag about to friends and family.

The Best Halo Engagement Rings Based on Craftsmanship

As the saying goes, “a diamond is forever.” But not all engagement rings are made using the same high quality materials, manufacturing processes and commitment to service as others, especially when it comes to halo engagement rings. These stunning designs use a frame of small Pave diamonds to highlight the center stone, add sparkle and increase the visible size of the piece. No wonder so many women adore this look. While you may be tempted to jump at a low-cost offer, you may end up sacrificing more than you realize. Discover why it’s so important to choose high quality when it comes to halo rings, and make sure you only trust the best for your most important purchase.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

Square Cushion Cut Engagement Ring 
with Double Halo and Split Shank

It’s understandable that you get a little dizzy when you first lock eyes on a stunning halo engagement ring, but don’t let their beauty cloud your judgment. Many flaws and inclusions are invisible to the naked eye, so you must rely on a quality diamond purveyor in order to get a gem that is what it seems. Always request a GIA report to determine the true quality of a diamond. Some disreputable sellers may say they know the grade of the diamond by memory, but they’re legally allowed to fudge the facts to a certain degree. A trustworthy store will offer proof readily.

Materials and Craftsmanship Matter

Pear Shaped Engagement Ring with 
Halo and Twisted Diamond Shank

You may not think too much about the quality of the metal in the band of a ring, or where a piece of jewelry is manufactured, but both of these details can make a huge difference in the life of your ring. Some companies cut corners by using foreign factories and workers to save money. This can lead to lighter metal content, unstable settings and lower quality diamonds making their way to your local store. Always ask where the halo engagement rings are designed, soured and manufactured before committing to a purchase. As with most items, made in America is best.

Not All Guarantees Are Created Equal

Radiant Cut Engagement Ring
with Halo and Split Shank

Some shoppers take for granted that an item as expensive as an engagement ring naturally includes a strong warranty, but many shops not only offer inferior guarantees, they may not offer one at all! Carefully read the fine print on any warranty contract and ensure that they cover all defects and issues for the life of the ring. A lifetime warranty should absolutely come with the purchase, no ifs, ands or buts. Remember, you want that ring to look as beautiful on your 50^th anniversary as it did the day your husband slipped it on your finger. Demand a solid warranty.

Buying a diamond halo engagement ring is one of life’s most thrilling moments. Don’t let your most precious memory become blemished with the realization that your ring is of substandard quality. Ziva’s engagement rings are superior because they only use the best of everything, from ethically sourced materials to expert customer service. Details matter, and at Ziva you can rest assured your engagement ring will last a lifetime, just like your love.

The Perfect Proposal: Making Your Request Memorable

The time has come. You might have spent years developing a friendship or known from the moment you set eyes on each other, but either way you know she’s the one you’ll love forever. When it comes time to propose, the standard habit of buying a ring, taking a knee and presenting it to her is no longer enough. The era of dramatic, unforgettable marriage proposals is upon us, and you had better have a plan. Not sure what to do? Don’t worry; we have some ideas that will make her jaw drop and heart sing. Try one of the following to guarantee an enthusiastic acceptance when you ask to spend eternity together.

The Treasure Hunt

Double Halo Engagement Ring 
with Square Halos

If your significant other is the playful type, this might be the ideal way to request her hand in marriage. Begin with a clue at home, and take her through a series of adventures that relate to your relationship in some way. At each “treasure” spot, include a memento of a special moment and a clue to the next location. The final clue should lead to you on bent knees with a stunning diamond engagement ring. It’s a fun adventure with the best present a girl could ever hope for.

The Party Proposal

If your ladylove likes to party, why not host an event that results in a proposal? Either come up with an idea to have a party without telling her the true purpose, or plan a surprise party. Go about the party as usual, but have guests wear shirts with each letter of the phrase “Will you marry me?” on it (they can wear them under their real clothes). Towards the end of the party, tell everyone to gather for a picture and give your beloved the camera. The people should line up in order to spell the message while you drop to a knee with a jewelry box in hand.     

Diamond Ring with Sapphire Accents

                                                                                                            

The Romantic Getaway

For high drama and romance, ask your wife-to-be to meet you at the bar or restaurant of a fancy hotel she’s always admired. Once she arrives, enjoy a wonderful drink or meal. When it comes time to go home, tell her you’ve actually arranged a room for the night. When she opens the door to the room, she should discover flower petals covering everything, candles lit, a bottle of champagne and an open jewelry box with a glamorous vintage engagement ring sitting in the center of the bed.

                                                          

                                                     Vintage Princess Cut Engagement Ring

While some people are hiring skywriters, choreographing flash mobs or hiding rings in dessert, all you really need to do is make the request personal and significant to make it memorable. An unforgettable proposal is possible at any price point; just make sure the ring is a real stunner, however you ask.

Vintage Jewelry: How to Choose the Right Designer

Finding the perfect vintage jewelry designer involves more than selecting a name randomly from the yellow pages or choosing a store from a Google Ad while on Facebook. Even asking friends for recommendations isn’t always the best way to find true love via designer jewelry. If you’re hoping to find the ideal ring, necklace or bracelet with more than a hint of vintage-inspired design, you’ll have to vet the company or individual first. Here are some quick tips on what to look for to ensure you end up with vintage jewelry you can cherish forever and never feel guilty about.

Choose Based on Ethics

Ruby Ring With Diamonds Around

The true test of a vintage jewelry designer isn’t the beauty of their designs or their affordable price point; it’s their commitment to providing ethically sourced fine jewelry that you can be proud to wear. Fortunately, Ziva ensures all its goods come from reliable places that treat the people who mine and produce the gemstones fairly (and with appropriate compensation) and manufacture the designs in-house in the U.S. No matter where you go to buy your jewelry, make sure they treat others as they would like to be treated.

Choose Based on Quality

Art Deco Diamond Bangle Bracelet

After determining whether or not a brand, company or indie designer uses ethical practices, the next chore is discovering the quality of their materials. Many independent designers, like the ones you find on Etsy or elsewhere, may use lower quality metals, gems or other materials in order to increase their profit margin. Even large companies are guilty of this deception. Ziva only uses the best supplies, including high-end jewelry must-haves like gold, platinum, diamonds, sapphires and more.

Choose Based on Customer Service

Vintage Sapphire Ring with
Moon Shape and Pave Diamonds

When you buy jewelry, even if you’re buying from a collection, you want the piece to be special. Any store worthy of the prices that beautiful jewelry costs will endeavor to provide you not only with unique jewelry (regardless of whether it’s custom made or not) and a unique experience. Taking the time to answer questions competently, help you as long as necessary and support your choices even if it means making less money or losing a sale is crucial. Don’t ever stand for bad service.

Finding the right fit with a jewelry designer might not seem all that important at first, but as you experience the highs and lows of shopping for vintage and vintage-inspired jewelry you’ll quickly realize the details matter. Trust Ziva to put your needs first, always, while providing exceptional products with a lifetime guarantee.