Wedding

By Natalie Slieter

It’s a new year, and that means couples are getting engaged and preparing to get married. As couples approach their wedding days, choosing the right engagement ring and wedding bands are important tasks to get checked off their list.

Abbi Swanson of Gunderson’s Jewelers in Sioux Falls says that about half of the time she will see brides come in alone or with a friend to see what they like for an engagement ring and create a wish list for their partner to refer to later, and the rest of the time Swanson sees the couple coming in to look together and making a date out of it.

For engagement rings, a solitaire diamond set in a thin engagement ring is the most popular. Swanson says it’s a very delicate and feminine look. White gold is chosen most of the time, with yellow gold starting to trend, especially among younger brides. The most popular diamond shape is round but Swanson says she sees many brides choosing an oval diamond. Some trendier diamond cuts include radiant and emerald.

Getting the engagement ring right is the most important step, then couples do not need to worry about choosing their wedding bands until a couple months before the wedding.

“When it comes to wedding bands, there are no rules,” Swanson said.

The major trends for wedding bands are not just having one wedding band, but stacking multiple, contrasting bands. Because of this, it’s not very popular to buy an engagement ring and wedding band set anymore.

Brides are alternating marquis bands and stone bands to create a unique look. Thin wedding bands, specifically single shared prong wedding bands, allow more light to hit the diamonds and give them the chance to really sparkle.

Swanson says these bands are trending because they create a delicate, fun, and flirty look, which is opposite of the wedding band trends from a couple decades ago when bands had a heavier look to them.

For men, it’s become popular to have three rings – the lifetime ring that they receive on the wedding day and wear for special occasions; the fashion ring which is a different style and can be a bit bolder; and the silicone ring which can be their everyday ring or worn while working.

Swanson recommends that every bride buy a wedding band, even if she doesn’t think she will wear it. It’s very possible that a particular wedding band could be unavailable if the bride decides she does want it a couple years later.

Visit Gunderson’s in Sioux Falls or check out gundersons.com to view their extensive ring selection. n

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” We all know that rhyme and perhaps even enthusiastically followed it on our wedding days. Maybe it was a pair of shoes for “something blue” or a veil passed down for “something old.” If you’re preparing for your wedding and looking for a way to incorporate this rhyme through your jewelry, Justin Shatto of The Diamond Room has plenty of ideas to help you.

Shatto is an owner and manager at The Diamond Room and has been with the business since 2013. He says most brides will participate in at least one other aspect of the rhyme – besides “something new” – for their wedding, which is usually “something old.”

For “something old,” Shatto explains that many brides will wear an heirloom that has been handed down, such as a pearl necklace or a special ring. The Diamond Room has a goldsmith that can refurbish the jewelry and ensure it is ready to be worn for the wedding. For “something new,” there is a number of ways this can be done. Some brides may use the engagement ring or wedding band for this portion of the rhyme. But many grooms will buy their brides something special for them to wear on the big day. Gifts such as diamond earrings, bracelets, and necklaces are all beautiful ways to achieve “something new.” Shatto recommends grooms choose diamond studs or hoops since they likely don’t know what the wedding dress looks like.

For “something borrowed,” this can be achieved through borrowing a special piece of jewelry from a family member or a friend. Like the “something old,” this can be brought to the goldsmith at The Diamond Room to ensure it is ready to be worn.

For “something blue,” Shatto says sapphire rings and sapphire and diamond bracelets are popular ways to fulfill this. Some brides will even have a sapphire ring tied around the bouquet if it isn’t something they wish to wear all day.

Shatto’s piece of advice to couples approaching their wedding days is to have their rings and other jewelry cleaned about a week before the big day. There is so much happening the week of the wedding, so try to get it done the week before since the jewelry will be the focus of so many photos.

The Diamond Room has been in Sioux Falls since 1996 and is known for having the largest selection of loose diamonds in the area. Visit their location near 57th Street and Louise Avenue or go online to thediamondroom.com to see how they can help you find the perfect jewelry for your wedding day.

3501 W 57th St | Sioux Falls, SD 57108 605.362.0008 | thediamondroom.com

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