Diamonds: They Never Go Out Of Style

Ok, time to talk diamonds. Specifically, diamond engagement rings. There are so many options available I can barely keep them straight! And not that there's anything wrong with the ever-classy diamond solitaire, but here are several rather unique designs showing off the latest trends.

This ring, found on the Style Me Pretty website, is called a "split shank" engagement ring. I read somewhere that the split band helps to emphasize the center stone. Added bonus - more surface area to cover in diamonds!

This gorgeous ring (and stellar photography) are from Lemongrass Photography's Facebook page. A circle of smaller diamonds encircling a larger center stone has been popular for a long time, and this ring in particular shows a modern take on that classic style.

Here's a ring you don't see every day:

A diamond in a setting like this doesn't have to be insanely large to look beautiful and draw attention. Especially in times like these when we're all pinching our pennies, antique and vintage rings can be more affordable, and have charm and character all their own.

Below is a second vintage ring I found, showing another of today's trends:

This art-deco style ring has an elaborate, highly structured setting... architectural, one might say. Again, this is one of those designs that draws attention to the center stone. Lovely.

Prepare yourself for this last one; it just might blow you away:

This humongous yellow diamond is probably something only Carrie Underwood can buy. Although they aren't for the faint of heart (or wallet), colored diamonds are sure-fire show stoppers.

All of these rings are insanely beautiful, don't you think?! Did I leave any trends out? Tell us in the comments.

Short Wedding Dresses

What do you think about wearing a short wedding dress as opposed to a floor-length gown? It seems like short dresses are all the rage these days, and as a small person myself, I like the idea. Although, us petite girls need to find the right cut and length so as not to appear even shorter... Anyway, here are a few looks I like.{source}
The gathering, the embellishments... to me, this dress is glamorous even though it's not full length.

And what about this one??{source}
This dress comes from a custom dressmaker in London. It's so 1950's and would be perfection with colorful shoes and a birdcage veil, don't you think?

And how about this dress found on Etsy:

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The ruffles make a dramatic statement and the dress is quite formal even though it's knee-length.

Have any of you out there on the world wide web worn a short dress? Or would you? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

Wedding Guest: What I'm Wearing

I'm going to a high school friend's wedding this weekend, and I've been in search of the perfect spring frock for a while now. The good news is, I've found it! Even better news - I'm wearing it to the wedding! Ta da!

There's something about this dress that makes me want to get up and dance. Perhaps it's the flirty skirt. And call me crazy, but wouldn't this make a fun bridesmaid dress? I've been to a few weddings where the bridesmaids are wearing patterned dresses - sometimes matching, sometimes not - and I think it's a fun idea.

For a handbag, I'm going with this purple clutch from Target.
Not only is it under $20, but it's understated enough that it won't take attention away from my dress.

And for the shoe, I'm wearing something pretty and practical.

I know this isn't the most daring shoe you've ever seen, but I've been wanting a nude pump to wear to work, and this wedding helped justify my purchase. I toyed with the idea of getting these from J.Crew...

...but decided I didn't NEED them. But now that I think about it, these would be amazing with a floaty, romantic wedding gown, right?

Okay, I might be getting ahead of myself. Back to my main point - I'm thrilled to wear my adorable flowered dress, but what excites me even more is that my dear friend Sarah is marrying the love of her life! Congratulations, Sarah and Bob!

Do It Yourself: Programs

My friend is in the final stages of planning her wedding, and she's trying to decide how the ceremony program should look. She's very much a D.I.Y. girl, so she's looking for a program that she can put together herself (or with help from her bridesmaids!) but that looks classy and fun. So, I'm doing some preliminary research.

For an outdoor wedding, or for a wedding when it's hot out (my friend's is in July), check out these programs printed on fans.

Both types of programs are easy to customize online, or you could find a local printing shop to create them for you without busting your budget.

And here's a simple but great idea - a long rectangular program, like this one.

With a little effort and the right tools - like cardstock, a paper-cutter, and a printer - you could definitely create these on your own. Best of all, it's easy to jazz up a program like this. Just punch 2 small holes at the top and tie a ribbon through, or mount the program on another piece of cardstock to add some dimension.

Another program style you could create on your own is the bi-fold or tri-fold.

Bi-folds, if they contain more than just one sheet of paper, can be bound together with ribbon so you don't have to mess with staples. Tri-folds just have to be folded carefully into three sections.

If designing your own wedding program seems daunting, just start searching the web for pictures and templates. There are tons of ideas out there - you just have to find the one that fits you.

Spring Makeup Trends

For the Spring bride, there are some great makeup trends out there right now to flatter every complexion.

If you have an olive skin tone, go for a golden glow, like Jessica Alba here.


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Olive skin tones are best complimented with a peach blush or bronzer, and a mauve lip color. Simple and romantic.

If your skin tone is fair, use a glimmering champagne eye shadow and a pink blush. Try a bright pink lipstick, like Pink Nouveau by MAC, for that wow factor.

For dark skin tones, consider using a blush with burgundy undertones and a chocolate-hued eyeshadow. Use deep red or plum lipstick, à la Beyonce.

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So fun!

Another Spring trend in bridal makeup is the super-dramatic eye. If you choose to rock that look, just make sure you wear a neutral lipstick so your lips don't compete.

And remember, the last thing you want to do on your wedding day is wear a look that isn't "you." So however you decide to wear your makeup, make sure that what it really shows is who you are.

To Top It Off...

These days, couples are choosing all sorts of thing to top their wedding cakes. From bride and groom figurines to monograms, flowers to tiny plastic animals wearing wedding day finery, the possibilities are practically endless. Are you more traditional when it comes to cake toppers, or would you rather go the creative route?

Check out these adorable tiny birds, found on Etsy:

So cute, right?

Or here's something more traditional, but still with personality.

How romantic!

If you want to use your last initial or a monogram, there are tons of options out there.

Or, would you rather have a humorous cake topper?

There really is no end to what you might put on top of your wedding cake. If you've used something unique to top your cake, let us know in the comments!

Would you donate your wedding dress?

A lot of brides these days are talking about donating their wedding gowns. After hearing several married friends talk about just knowing that their dress was "the one", it hardly seems like an easy decision to give away something so special. However, there are several great options out there if you're interested in giving away your dress.

-www.makingmemories.org - in their "Brides Against Breast Cancer" campaign, MakingMemories.org hosts trunk shows all over the country featuring donated gowns, so brides-to-be who have been diagnosed with breast cancer can still afford the dress of their dreams at a fraction of the price.

-www.idofoundation.org - at the I Do Foundation's website, you can do more than donate your dress. For example, you and your fiancé can register with select retailers that will donate a percentage of the profits from gifts purchased by your guests. They even offer resources for planning a "green" wedding.

You could also sell your dress to a consignment store and donate the money to a charity. And while you're at it, ask your bridesmaids to donate their dresses too, to a charity like The Glass Slipper Project.