Yellow Gold wedding rings for him and her

Vows – Many people choose to personalise their ceremony by writing their own vows. If the ceremony is going to of a religious nature, there is often not much room for extensive speeches, and readings tend to be taken from religious texts rather than famous poets or writers, but for many blessings and similar ceremonies, the bride and the groom often think up what they will say to one another beforehand to make their wedding even more personal.

Theme – Pick a theme that is close to both of your heart’s and try and incorporate as much of it as you can into the wedding. It could be a book or a film you both love, a place you visit regularly or some kind of hobby you enjoy. Choose table names related to the theme, try to create wedding favours that are in-keeping with the idea and weave little elements of it throughout the day to tie the whole event together.

Heritage – If you and your future spouse are from different places, why not try to bring a little something of your heritage into the ceremony? For example, a Scottish bride marrying a Welshman could have a bouquet with thistle and a tartan ribbon, topped off with a traditional Welsh flower like a Welsh poppy or a foxglove. Couples hailing from Manchester and Liverpool could swap football shirts on the day, and those that live on the coast could combine jars of sand from their hometown – the possibilities are endless!

Rings – Rings are something that everyone has at a wedding, so it is natural that couples will want to do something to make sure theirs stands a little out from the crowd. A small engraving that means something to both bride and groom will mean a lot, and is a small and subtle way to make the day more personal. Other choices include studding rings with birthstones or inscribing them with meaningful dates.

Get Involved – Rather than hiring everything in, roll up your sleeves and get involved in the creative process of the wedding. Many brides that want the vintage look nowadays source jam jars and fill them with fresh flowers for tabletops, or even create small preserves to hand out as favours. Grooms can get busy putting together playlists for the evening and many couples even get their friends involved. If you’re lucky enough to be friends with a bunch of talented types, asking for their help will not only keep the budget down, it will make the day more personal. Whether getting a pal to help with hair and make-up, singing at the reception or cooking for the wedding breakfast, having close friends and family playing such an important role helps the day feel more intimate and special.

Why a circle? The circular shape of the ring is thought to be an ancient symbol of everlasting love, an eternal commitment that has no beginning and no end.

Engagement rings

The quintessential engagement ring is unarguably going to feature a diamond. Today the dazzling gem is one of the most sought after stones in the world. So what’s so special about this remarkable mineral? The word diamond is derived from the Ancient Greek word adámas, meaning ‘unbreakable’, making it a well suited symbol of eternal love. It’s also said that Cupid’s arrows were tipped with diamonds. Put two and two together and it’s no wonder that the diamond is the unanimous gemstone of choice for declaring undying love.

The history of the engagement ring dates back to the Middle Ages when marriage ceremonies were sealed with a diamond, the gesture considered reflective of the gemstone’s unbreakable properties. It’s thought to have made its debut appearance in 1475 when Italian lord, Constanzo Sforza presented his beloved Camilla d’Aragona with a diamond ring on their wedding day. The ring is said to have first been used as a symbol of betrothment in 1477, when Archduke Maximilian gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, his wife-to-be. Today the romantic representation of the diamond engagement ring is more prominent than ever and remains a resounding symbol of love and devotion.

Wedding Rings

Wedding rings date back to ancient Egyptian times when water plants, rushes and reeds were braided together and used to make rings. As the tradition developed the delicate woven rings were replaced with more durable materials such as bone, ivory and leather and eventually metals. As their popularity grew the value of the ring material became intrinsically linked with the level of love and devotion shown to the recipient. It was not until around 860 that traditional gold rings were used in Christian marriage ceremonies.

The tradition of wearing wedding rings on the left hand ring finger is derived from the Roman belief that the finger was home to the ‘vena amoris’ or the ‘vein of love’, thought to be directly connected to the heart. While scientists have rained on the parades of hopeless romantics everywhere and proven the theory false, the romantic tradition has resounded and wedding rings continue to be worn on the fourth finger of the left hand.