January 31, 2012

Happily Engaged

Filed under: engagement — Tags: , , , , , — Amanda @ 10:04 am

The engagement ring was purchased, the question was asked, the date is set and the wedding planning is in full swing. Now what you need to do is take a deep breath and RELAX. You may find this to be a bit difficult because you’re so excited, but you shouldn’t jump headfirst into wedding planning without taking a moment to enjoy your engagement!

Engagement is typically a very short and unique time in the overall scheme of a person’s life. There is much to be done, but here are a few ways to remember what’s important and make the most of this time.

-Spend time with your fiancé! Go on dates, check out wedding venues, or just watch a movie at home. This is the perfect time to reminisce and reflect on how you got to this place in your relationship and to enjoy each other’s company.

-Take some time to de-stress! Set aside AT LEAST one day a week to be completely free of wedding planning. This means no decision making, no calls, and even no Pinterest browsing that pertains to the wedding. This will allow you to avoid becoming consumed with wedding plans and burning yourself out.

-Take a “me” day from time to time. Celebrate yourself! You have become such an extraordinary person that someone else wants to share their life with you. Take this time to celebrate your personal accomplishments and the life that you have made for yourself. Then, envision more accomplishments and goals to look forward to in your married life.

Although it may seem hard at times, you must “take time to smell the roses.” When all is said and done, a wedding is an occasion to celebrate your love. If you never lose sight of that, it will make the experience that much more rewarding!

What are your favorite tips on how to enjoy your engagement? Share them with us in the comments below!

January 30, 2012

How to Pop the Question

Filed under: Relationship Tips — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Eric @ 11:44 am

Guys: believe it or not, there’s a right way and a wrong way to propose.  When you do things the right way, it often involves thought, time, and work, and this fact holds true when deciding to propose to your girlfriend.  Some of the guys out there may favor more traditional methods: asking for her father’s permission, getting down on one knee in a private, intimate setting, and popping the question.  This is a fine method; you don’t need a huge, grand gesture to make the moment memorable.  Just make sure you do the right thing: you make all the necessary preparations, you make sure your words, the setting, and all other elements are in place first.  Other guys may prefer proposing in more creative ways: using your talents to literally sweep your girl off her feet.  This is fine, too.  Just make sure you put the time and the work in to make the moments as perfect and memorable as it can possibly be.

You’re going to be nervous, and it’s going to be emotional: these things are fine as long as you’re prepared.  In sports, they always say that the best offense is a great defense, and you can apply this to your proposal.  Defend yourself against any emotional stress with preparedness, hard work, and effort, and everything will be fine.  A proposal should never be rushed, and never – ever – do it at halftime at a ball game.  It’s just not a nice thing to put a girl on the spot like that in front of a huge crowd.

The following is a really great example of how a guy can use his creativity and his talents to propose to his girlfriend in a very special way.  In this example, a guy named Jim proposed with a website filled with romantic memories and inside jokes, telling the story of his relationship and popping the question in a memorable, creative way.  Jim did the right thing: he spent a great deal of time and put an obvious amount of effort in his proposal.  Check out the website in the following link to see what it looks like when a guy does the right thing: http://juliewillyoumarry.me/

Take a few cues from Jim, and do the right thing.  Do you have any examples of other guys doing the right thing when proposing?  Share your thoughts in the comments below!

January 27, 2012

First Step: Plan the Wedding, Second Step: Find a Groom?

Filed under: Wedding Planning — Tags: , , , , , , — Amanda @ 10:08 am

We all know that girl. The girl who has been planning her wedding since the day she learned what a wedding was. Let’s face it; some of us ARE that girl. There is certainly nothing wrong with dreaming about your special day and making casual notes when you see something that you would love to have in your wedding, but is it possible to plan too much, too soon? According to a “single bridezilla”, the answer is NO. In fact, to her, it’s not out of the ordinary to have your entire wedding planned before you even meet the groom!

Single Bridezilla: a woman who plans every detail of her big day before she’s even engaged.

As seen in a recent Good Morning America segment, these groom-less gals have chosen everything from their bridal gowns to their honeymoon destinations. While being so well prepared may make an often times stressful process a bit easier, getting too ahead of yourself may make the process that much harder in the long run. Keep in mind: change is a constant theme of life; something you once loved for your wedding could have you saying, “What was I thinking?!” when it’s actually time for you to tie the knot.

So, is this whole concept just another fad? Probably not. With online inspiration boards such as Pinterest becoming a virtual hub for wedding planning, it looks like the ”single bridezilla” is here to stay. For the women out there who find this sounding all too familiar, let’s hope a beautiful Ritani engagement ring will be the catalyst to set all of your wedding plans into motion!

Do you know any “single bridezillas”? Share your stories with us in the comments below!

January 25, 2012

Dating in the Social Media Age: How to Play It Cool

Filed under: Relationship Tips — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Eric @ 2:45 pm

The first date — the first kiss — the first time you say “I love you.”  Dating is filled with milestones that go back to the days when dating was called just “going steady” and holding a girl’s hand was one of the biggest thrills of a teenage guy’s life.

From friend requests, to writing on walls, to changing your status to “in a relationship” and then “engaged” “married”, etc.  These are brand new dating conventions of the modern age and are now just as important as the ones listed above.  Social media has added a whole new complexion to dating, and how you deal with these new milestones can make or break a relationship.

The best way to handle these – either a kiss or a poke – is to play it cool.  Don’t rush things!  You’ll find that good things happen when you take a back-seat and just enjoy the ride.  For example, you’d never want to rush that first kiss, for fear of being denied and just making things awkward.  And you wouldn’t tell a girl that you love her after just a few dates (trust me, it’s never a good idea).  So, in light of this, you should apply the same rules of your practical life to your online life.  Don’t ever rush a relationship request — this can scare your potential girlfriend away before you even realize what happened.  Have a discussion first, and make sure you both are ready to announce to your respective social networks that you’re in a relationship with one another.  Also, refrain from “stalking” at all costs.  Allow your special lady to have her own online life!

So, guys, remember follows the “rules of engagement” – and – when you’re ready to change that relationship status from “in a relationship” to “engaged,” make sure you check out Ritani and our beautiful collections of diamond engagement rings to pop the question!

Do you have any other tips for building a healthy online relationship?  Let us know in the comments below!

January 23, 2012

One Day, Countless Traditions

Filed under: Wedding Bands — Tags: , , , , — Amanda @ 8:58 am

The wedding day is one of the most important days in a person’s life. So, it makes sense for it to be a day surrounded by countless traditions and superstitions. Many of these have become staples in any matrimonial celebration, but have you ever wondered why? Here are the meanings behind a few of the most popular wedding traditions!

The Bouquet

The bouquet is above all, a symbol of happiness. Originally, bridal bouquets were made of herbs, each with different meanings. The bride would carry sage-for wisdom, dill-for lust, and even garlic (yes, GARLIC!) to ward off evil spirits. Today, flowers take on their own meanings. Lilies, for example, stand for purity and orange blossoms stand for both happiness and fidelity. Now, when searching for that perfect bouquet, you can put even more meaning behind it than just a color scheme!

The Ring Finger

Have you ever wondered how the ring finger was chosen? Well, this answer is both short and sweet! Most people wear engagement and wedding rings on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once believed (by the Ancient Romans) that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.

The Kiss

The kiss, which typically symbolizes the end of a wedding ceremony, is a practice with very significant meaning. In ancient times, the kiss was legally binding and signified mutual acceptance of the contract of marriage. It is said that the bride and the groom “exchanged a bit of their souls” with the breath of a kiss!

The Honeymoon

The practice of a honey moon began ages ago. After the wedding, the bride and groom would drink honey wine for one full moon cycle (30 days). This “moon” (i.e., “month”) became known as the “honey moon.” Even though the name has survived, the concept has certainly changed quite a bit!

The Cake

Today’s tiered wedding cakes were once more than just extravagant confectionary masterpieces for guests to marvel at. They posed somewhat of a game or challenge to the newlywed couple. Spiced cakes were stacked in a towering pile, as high as possible and if the bride and groom were able to kiss over the tall stack, it indicated a lifetime of prosperity. Needless to say, not many of today’s couples attempt this daring feat.

Learning the origins behind wedding traditions can bring even more meaning to your special day! Do you have a favorite wedding tradition? Be sure to share it with us in the comments below on our Facebook page!

January 12, 2012

Ritani on Pinterest!

Filed under: Designer Engagement Rings, Diamond Engagement Rings, Diamond Jewelry, Ritani, Something Cool — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 3:32 pm

Have you ever had the problem of trying to come up the perfect outfit for a particular occasion but haven’t had the time to travel from store to store trying to piece your entire look together?  Well now with the help of Pinterest that need to create your ideal look and style has been fulfilled.  Pinterest allows for you to pull from your favorite fashion and accessory designers to create your ultimate “it” look.  Since engagement rings are the must-have accessory to compliment any woman’s outfit, it’s no surprise that Ritani, the leading designer of engagement rings, wedding bands and diamond fashion jewelry can be found on Pinterest.  Visit the Ritani Pinterest page to get a number of outfit ideas based on a number of engagement rings from their Endless Love, Bella Vita, Romantique, Ritani Setting, Floral, Classic, Anadare, Modern and Masterwork collections.  Pinterest also helps give any special loved ones in your life helpful hints when trying to determine the perfect gift for you.  So what are you waiting for, unleash your inner fashion designer and share your personal style for all to see.

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January 11, 2012

Halle Berry is Engaged!

Filed under: Celebrity Engagement Rings, Designer Engagement Rings, Diamond Engagement Rings, Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 3:50 pm

Courtesy of Harrison/Getty

Hopefully the third time is the charm for Halle Berry!  Berry, who has been dating actor, Olivier Martinez for the past year, became engaged over the holidays.  The Taking Lives actor presented Berry with a Gurhan engagement ring.  The “one-of-a-kind” ring features both a diamond and emerald and was custom created for the couple.  The couple met while filming Dark Tide and officially stepped out as a couple in 2010.  No word on when the couple will walk down the aisle.  This will be the third marriage for the X Men actress, who had previously exchanged wedding bands with former baseball player, David Justice and R&B singer, Eric Benet.  Wonder if Berry’s daughter, Nahla, will be the flower girl?!

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January 6, 2012

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are Engaged!

Filed under: Celebrity Engagement Rings, Designer Engagement Rings, Diamond Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 7:51 am

Justin Timberlake is no longer one of the most eligible bachelors.  While enjoying their yearly trip to Montana, Timberlake presented his on-again girlfriend, Jessica Biel, with a custom diamond engagement ring.  The couple, who was first seen chatting at a Golden Globe after party in 2007, have enjoyed an on and off again relationship over the last four years with an official split in March.  Over the summer, the “Sexy Back” singer was quoted about the New Year’s Eve actress in Vanity Fair saying, “She is the single-handedly most significant person in my life. In my 30 years, she is the most special person, okay? … I don’t want to say much more, because I have to protect things that are dear to me – for instance, her.”  No word on when the pair will exchange wedding bands, but we sure are anxious to see her engagement ring!

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January 5, 2012

Drew Barrymore’s Christmas Present – An Engagement Ring!

Filed under: Celebrity Engagement Rings, Designer Engagement Rings, Diamond Engagement Rings, Diamond Rings, Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 2:08 pm

It seems that one of the presents that found a place under Drew Barrymore’s Christmas Tree this holiday was a diamond engagement ring from her boyfriend, Will Kopelman.  The art consultant and the Charlie’s Angels actress have been dating since February of 2010.  Kopelman presented Barrymore with a radiant-cut diamond engagement ring by Graff while they were vacationing in Sun Valley, Idaho.  No word on when the couple will exchange wedding bands, but hopefully the third time will be the charm for Barrymore who was previously married to comedian Tom Green and Jeremy Thomas.

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January 3, 2012

LeBron James Proposes to High School Sweetheart

Filed under: Celebrity Engagement Rings, Designer Engagement Rings, Diamond Engagement Rings — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 5:21 pm

Miami Heat basketball star, LeBron James made sure that the start to 2012 went off with a bang.  On Saturday night, James presented his high school girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, with a diamond engagement ring.  The couple has been together since they were 16 and have two children.  James proposed to Brinson while enjoying a festive meal at the Shelborne Hotel in South Beach, Miami in front of a group of family and friends.  Among the guests were James’ teammate, Dwayne Wade and his girlfriend, Gabrielle Union, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Lance Bass and their two children.  Brinson’s engagement ring features an impressive 7 carat pear shaped diamond center stone with baguettes tapered on either side.  No immediate wedding plans have been made.

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