The couple behind the wedding blog called Green Wedding Shoes is deeply immersed in the creative arts. The three-year old blog is the result of Jen and Jason’s collaborative efforts, stemming from their love of design and great photography.

The result: a selection of hand-picked weddings which the couple feels can inspire future spouses.

Green Wedding Shoes is a haven for those seeking ideas and tips on how to personalize their weddings. Readers can pore over the gorgeous featured nuptials under the Real Weddings category. From backyard to barn to beach, through to rustic, green, vintage, and whimsical, the blog brings all sorts of visual goodies via exciting wedding photo sets. There is also a section for DIY ideas where one can get creative advice on how to come up with unique hand-made accessories and décor for that special day. As well, helpful lists on honeymoon getaways and wedding vendors can guide future brides and grooms when picking out the who, what, when, where of their nuptials.

The “My Faves” section of the blog is all about Jen’s (the creative director and editor) personal picks among the featured weddings. Couples are also invited to share their wedding images and information by clicking on the Submit a Wedding button and following the blog’s requirements.

Jen and Jason both believe that there is no “right” way to throw a wedding and that it is fine to break traditions for a couple to pursue their own dream wedding (they themselves had a Milwaukee woodland wedding). The blog is now LA-based, but it still places special emphasis on outdoor weddings and creative DIY chic.

Always RSVP.

There’s a reason why an RSVP note is included in wedding invitations: the couple needs a proper head count to accommodate all of their guests. Not responding in a timely manner, whether you can make it to the event or not, is downright rude and inconsiderate. Also, unless the invitation says you can bring a guest, do not presume that you can. Heed the reserved seating card that is usually included in the invitation.

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Try to attend both the nuptial ceremony and the reception.

Some guests feel compelled to forgo the ceremony and just show up at the reception, or vice versa. Pay homage to the couple by attending both. They may not be able to see you while they are at the altar or presidential table, but witnessing the important aspects of their special day and being able to tell them about it later will be considered priceless.

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Bring a thoughtful gift.

Nothing too big that it will take up too much space. Nothing obviously bought in a hurry or generic, like department store trinkets. Nothing that imposes your own personal predilections without regard to theirs. Even if you aren’t very close to the couple, take some time to look at their wedding gift registry if they have one, or do a bit of research to learn their tastes and preferences. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way.

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Be on time.

Give yourself ample time to deal with dressing up, traffic, and an unfamiliar venue to make it to the wedding just before it starts. Rushing into the church or the place where the nuptials are to be held while the bride is marching down the aisle is a no-no. If you arrive late, be as unobtrusive as possible in slipping inside the venue and sitting down quietly. This means waiting for the appropriate time such as when everybody is standing up so you can go in unnoticed.

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Follow the dress code.

From the invitation alone, you can usually glean if the event has a dress code. The organizers will have indicated “strictly formal”, “smart casual”, and other descriptions of what guests are expected to wear. However, if no such thing is written and you can’t tell from the appearance of the invitation itself (heavily embossed and scrolled ones could mean a coat-and-tie affair, for example), don’t be afraid to ask. The wedding coordinators or close family members of either the bride or groom will be able to tell you.

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Nix the gadgets during the ceremony.

While it’s tempting to document the entire nuptial ceremony using the latest in smartphones by texting others, Tweeting or taking pics and posting about Via social media apps, avoid doing so. You can take as many pictures as you want at the recessional and during the reception. Also, put your phone on silent mode so as not to disrupt the solemnity of the wedding.

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Respect the religious rites and traditions of the wedding.

The couple may get wed under religious or cultural rites which you are unfamiliar with, but always pay attention and don’t act bored or bewildered. Show respect to the couple’s religious and cultural preferences by adhering to the dress code, not talking during the ceremony, and following the general response expected of those witnessing and participating in the ceremony.

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Sit at your designated place.

Organizers can help you find your place card at the reception, and your pew or seat at the ceremony. Don’t break the seating plan by taking over someone else’s chair to sit close to people you know or want to talk to. There will be time for mingling with other guests.

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Approach the couple at the reception to offer your best wishes.

Go up to the couple and offer them your congratulations even if you see them on a regular basis. There is usually a receiving line during the reception for this purpose, but if there isn’t, don’t hesitate to go up to the couple’s table and give them your best wishes. They will be glad to see you and appreciate the effort.

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Ask permission from the newlyweds before uploading their pics.

Don’t jump the gun and post pictures of the wedding before the couple does, especially if they are big on privacy. Out of courtesy to them, ask permission first, or wait until they start uploading their own. They may want to screen certain captured moments, and of course, the bride would want to look her best in every photo taken of her.

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Your unparalleled relationship deserves an uncommon engagement ring. The Swirl Style Solitaire Ring in Palladium has a round cut center diamond in 0.50 – 2.30 Carat, on a Palladium band with a swirl design. Instead of the usual full band, the swirl allows more light to enter the diamond and give it incomparable sparkle. The four-prong setting secures the diamond in place. Palladium is a hypoallergenic metal, making it ideal for sensitive skin and providing a comfortable fit.

Like this wedding ring? You can browse our entire collection of wedding rings here: Women’s Wedding Rings

Christie’s has done it again…break diamond auction records, that is. This time, it’s at a Hong Kong spring sale of highly covetable jewelry, including a 75.36-carat D briolette diamond. This particular piece of diamond jewelry was sold per carat to an anonymous buyer from Asia. The diamond was purchased for $11.2 million, or $148,000 for each carat. This end-of-May sale broke the world record for the highest-paid briolette ever.

If we look back at the past month’s posts, Christie’s was also featured a couple of times in this blog for other record-breaking diamond sales. On May 28, the auction house’s Magnificent Jewels event in Geneva saw a 101.73-carat pear-shaped diamond called the “Winston Legacy” go for $26.7 million. Meanwhile, the “Princie Diamond”, a near flawless cushion-cut pink diamond weighing 34.65 carat, fetched $39.9 million…or a whopping $1.1 million per carat. It was sold during a mid-April Magnificent Jewels auction in New York.

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<a href=” http://blog.brilliance.com/2013/egl-vs-gia-infographic” _mce_href=” http://blog.brilliance.com/2013/egl-vs-gia-infographic” rel=”thumbnail”><img src=”https://www.brilliance.com/images/infograph/GIA_VS_EGL.jpg” _mce_src=”https://www.brilliance.com/images/infograph/GIA_VS_EGL.jpg” WIDTH=”500PX” /></a><br />GIA vs. EGL – An infographic by <a href=”http://www.brilliance.com/” _mce_href=”http://www.brilliance.com/” >Brilliance.com</a>

For more info read our post GIA vs. EGL

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Vintage figurines

Instead of buying new bride and groom figurines, consider recycling a pair from your parents’ or grandparents’ own wedding cakes. Not only will the gesture lend historical and sentimental value to your cake, but it will also be a practical one (you won’t have to shell out a dime, and recycling means you can pass the figures on to another to-be-wed couple). Plus, they will fit right in if you’re going for a vintage wedding theme.

A special note on vintage cake toppers, though: make sure they are lead-free, as some turn-of-the-century pieces are known to contain harmful heavy metals.

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Edible sculpture

No longer just for kiddie parties, edible cake toppers in different themes (and flavors!) are now main features on many wedding cakes. The cakes themselves have become works of art rendered in fondant and other forms of frosting. The great thing about these customized decorative confectionery is that they can reflect your own unique personality. There are many kinds of toppers and edible cake décor to choose from, be it whimsical, funny, poetic, or classic. (And they taste quite scrumptious, too.)

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Themed toys

Give in to the urge if you and your future spouse are kids at heart. Go ahead, use your favorite toys or comic book/movie/cartoon characters as cake toppers! From action figures to dolls, through to wooden toys and even plush ones, a cake topper can become the best tool to celebrate both your childhood and your future together as a married couple. Using toys you already have means you won’t have to set aside a budget for a new cake topper. Just make sure to thoroughly clean any toy you will set atop your cake, for hygienic purposes

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Origami or cut-outs

If you’re skilled at paper-folding or making intricate cut-outs, why not create your own cake topper? Origami cranes, flowers, and figures, paper silhouette brides and grooms, or linked paper wedding bands make for pretty cake décor…and add that personal touch no other store-bought topper can hope to emulate.

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The wedding band is a married couple’s symbol of eternal love, but over the years, it can show signs of wear and tear. While many resist the idea of exchanging the wedding rings they’ve worn for decades out of sentimentality, others recognize the need to upgrade them to reflect the times, their own experience in marriage, and other factors. Here are some great ways to improve your wedding ring without totally replacing it.

Inlay your old band with a new one.

Contrasting precious metals, such as yellow gold with silver or white gold, can look quite beautiful on your finger. If you aren’t too satisfied with how your old wedding band metal looks or feels (some of the softer precious metals can show nicks, scratches, or worse, dents), don’t throw it away yet. Instead, consider getting it inlaid onto a sturdier precious metal such as titanium or platinum. These are hypoallergenic and durable, and can give a more comfortable fit, plus a striking contrast to shinier metals.

Embed precious stones to form a time line on the band.

Plain bands can get a gorgeous upgrade with a few small, precious stones. Each important anniversary can be marked by a gem stone, such as a sapphire on the fifth year of marriage, a diamond on the tenth, a ruby on the fifteenth, and so forth. You don’t have to put all the anniversary stones on one band (it could admittedly end up looking garish), but carefully select your milestone years and their corresponding gem stones to have a truly meaningful and classy time line on your finger.

Engrave a noteworthy catch word or phrase.

Shared experiences are likely to yield a couple of terms significant to a married couple. It can be a term of endearment, a favorite line from a song, poem, book, or movie, or just about anything which holds plenty of meaning for the two of you. Why not have it engraved on your wedding band to reflect your closeness?

Consider stackable rings.

A recent jewelry trend is fast becoming a hit for couples who want to enhance their wedding rings. Stacked wedding bands are now being seen on celebrities’ fingers, such as Sarah Jessica Parker’s and Reese Witherspoon’s. This is a great option for couples who were not able to afford the wedding band they wanted in the past, and had to settle for something within their budget. They can add another band of the precious metal, design, and gem stone of their choice on top or below to match the original wedding band.

You can browse our entire collection of wedding rings here: Women’s Wedding Rings

Brilliance introduces the Twisted Rope Solitaire Engagement Ring an engagement ring with a “twist”, both literally and figuratively! The 14K or 18K white gold band features a one-of-a-kind rope design…perfect for asking that special lady to tie the knot with you. It holds up a center stone which can be custom-cut, in your choice of round, Princess, oval, emerald, pear, Asscher, Marquise, radiant, heart, or cushion. A strong four-prong setting ensures the diamond stays in place, making this solitaire ring sturdy and purdy!

Like this solitaire ring? You can browse our entire collection of solitaire rings here: Solitaire Engagement Rings

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