One for the Boys.....Popping The Question!

According to a survey last year of 10000 people, conducted by events company Chillisauce, the Winter months are the most popular for popping the question.

The results show that Christmas Eve is the most popular day, with 31% of the votes, followed by Valentines with 22% and New Year's Eve with 18% of the vote

What's The Best Day of the Year to Propose?

Source: www.chillisauce.co.uk

Now, I know there's a trend for proposing and then buying an engagement ring together but that breaks my heart!!  I think it's so romantic to propose with a ring that you've spent time and effort over, whether it's an "off the shelf" ring or one that's been created especially for you.  I'm hoping that if you're planning on proposing that you know your partner well enough to know whether something simple and beautiful or something blingy and over the top would be the right ring.  Maybe something unusual or quirky would be appreciated more?  

I created a ring with a rough diamond set in sterling silver that was perfect for one bride-to-be, chosen by her partner.

A beautiful rough diamond

Rose cut diamonds have increased in popularity since Jennifer Aniston engagement ring.  They are an old cut which look beautiful and give a nod to being a bit different while still being traditional.

Although "diamonds are forever", consider other gemstones....Diamond engagement rings first became popular in the 1930's, although diamonds were used in combination with other gemstones in Victorian times.  Other beautiful gemstones include.....

Tanzanite, considered to be 1000 times rare than diamonds!

Alexandrite appears different colours in different types of light!

One of my favourites, Padparadscha Sapphires

Ring designs are something else to consider.  While traditional designs are beautiful, is this something your future fiancee would like?  Or would they prefer something a little quirkier?

If you want to commission a lovely ring that may be a little more unusual, don't hesitate to drop me a line via the contact page.

Yay! You're getting Married! But When????

After taking the plunge and doing my first wedding fair on Sunday at the beautiful Avoncroft Museum, it seems that there isn't a traditional "wedding season" any longer, with brides choosing a range of dates throughout the year.  

Summer weddings will always be popular, all brides wish for the sun to shine on their big day and summer holds more chance of that happening, even with our unpredictable British weather!  

Juno, a Roman Goddess, was the protector of women throughout all areas of their lives but particularly marriage and childbirth.  As the month of June was named after her, this became known as the luckiest month to be married.

Another reason June was so popular was down to the Celtic calendar.  On the 1st of May (Beltane in the Celtic calendar) young couples would be matched up and then "dated" for three months until the next celebration of Lammas (1st of August) when they would be married.  This this three month period soon got shortened to six weeks due to the young couples being impatient and so this bought us to the middle to end of June and the time of the Summer Solstice.

According to the Office of National Statistics, in 1947 (the earliest data available) August was the most popular month followed by December and April.  In this year, one of the most talked about weddings was in November, a fairly unpopular month at that time.  This was the wedding of our Queen and Prince Philip.

During the 1950's and 60's there was a spike in March for weddings and one reason for this is thought to be the end of the tax year in April - a married man would receive the full Married Man's Tax Allowance if he was married before the 5th of April!

Summer weddings became popular in the 1980's and this could be down to another Royal wedding, that of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.  Summer weddings are still the most popular as we moved into the new Millennium so it looks as though this tradition that dates back to the time of the Celts, is here to stay.

Is, or was, your wedding in the Summer? Let me know below :-)