Wedding Planner Getting Married – In Search of MunaBling

I am over the moon at how much you all loved and enjoyed my last blog post featuring my bridal shower!  It was such a special day for me and seeing how well it was received brought such joy to my heart. Once it was all over, I knew it was time to get back on track and tackle another major item on my checklist: wedding bands. Whether you’re eyeing something unique or prefer something more traditional, finding an experienced jeweler with knowledge of different styles is imperative when it comes to choosing your wedding bands.

Jennifer Gandia of Greenwich Jewelers. (Photo Credit – Michael Williams)

So my fiancé Michael  and I decided to visit our good friend Jennifer Gandia, one of the lovely co-owners of Greenwich Jewelers.  This family-owned jewelry boutique is where my love affair with the wedding industry began. I learned so much from Jennifer and her sister Christina about the business of weddings and female entrepreneurship. I couldn’t be happier to come back to purchase two of the most significant pieces of jewelry Michael and I will ever own.

So without further adieu, here are my “Victorious Tips” for choosing your perfect #munabling.

Start Early

Go shopping early on to cross it off your to-do list. (Photo Credit – Michael Williams)

Wedding bands are one of the few items besides photos and video that last past the wedding day. And even more than that, they are a symbol of your love and commitment to each other that you will be wearing for the rest of your life. So why leave something so meaningful for the end of your to-do list?

“Sometimes your budget starts to spiral out of control, so if you leave your bands until the end, you may have to compromise instead of getting exactly what you want,” says Jennifer. “And that’s a compromise you’ll have to live with.”

Most bands need to be special ordered and some can take as long as 8 weeks to produce. You may also decide to have them personalized with an engraved message or your wedding date. Choosing your rings early gives you plenty of time for customization and removes one less task from your wedding checklist.

Starting early also gives you time to do your research to narrow down the styles you both like as opposed to rushing and settling on only what’s readily available. And don’t be afraid to try on rings that weren’t on your list – you may be surprised to find the dream ring you never knew you always wanted.

Create a Budget

Create a flexible budget so you don’t have to compromise on what you want. (Photo Credit – Amalie Orange Photography)

When going wedding band shopping it’s important to determine how much you are willing to spend versus the price tag on the bands you’re fond of. Be sure to set aside a certain percentage of your wedding budget (typically 3% or more) towards your wedding bands, but remain flexible.

“Set a loose budget for your rings because you don’t know what you’re going to like,” advises Jennifer. “And most people don’t know what that actually costs.”

And if the bands you really want are out of your budget, consider purchasing less expensive bands now and save towards an upgrade for anniversary bands later.

Step Outside the Box

Choose complementary rings that will have a real wow-factor in your wedding photos. (Photo Courtesy of www.slrlounge.com)

Gone are the days of only purchasing “traditional” matching wedding sets. However, even if they don’t match, they should still be complementary to one another by utilizing one similar aspect like same-shaped stones or engraving. Jennifer says that mixing and matching by using different colored metals has been trending with her clients.

“If they have a white metal engagement ring, they sometimes choose to mix it up with a yellow gold band in order to add some diversity to their wedding set,” she says. “People think everything has to match, but mixed metals add an element of interest.”

Even men are going beyond just solid metal and choosing unique accents like black diamonds and other colored stones for their bands. Unconventional metals such as titanium, meteorite and gunmetal are also making an appearance and a very masculine statement.

“Brides and grooms are pretty much picking bands that show off their own personal style,” says Jennifer. “It’s important to go to a jeweler with a wide selection so you can try on a number of rings and really get the kind of ring that speaks to you.”

Michael said he felt like he picked a wedding band that represented him as a person: refined with a little bit of an edge. And I chose one that’s feminine and whimsical…and I guess that’s a lot like me, too :)

We are so happy with our choices and can’t wait to wear them! (Photo Credit – Lauren Naber)

Tune into my next blog post where I’ll share some footage from our engagement session with Jide Alakija of Alakija Studios  and Nikki Miller of Mae B. Films  as well as tips on how to pull together your ideal photo shoot.

Happy Planning!

Xoxo – Victoria

[divider]

Victoria Nee-Lartey is a contributing author for Munaluchi Bride Online, Coterie Member  and owner of Victorious Events NYC. To keep up with her, follow her on Instagram  and Facebook.