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PANORAMA

THE ITEM

WEDDINGS

Whitaker-Greenan

Mixon-Mangum Brittanie Lauren Mixon and Joseph Given in marriage by her father, the Guy Mangum III, both of Houston, bride wore a strapless gown embelTexas, were united in marriage at 2 lished with beads, sequins and pearls p.m. Saturday, April 6, 2013, at St. with a lace bottom and cathedral Anne’s Catholic Church in Sumter. train. She carried a bouquet of red The bride is the daughter of Mr. roses, white calla lilies and orange liland Mrs. Gary M. Mixon, and the ies accented with white pearls and granddaughter of the late Mr. and wrapped with white ribbon. Mrs. Harry Mendel L. Morgan Mixon, Mixon and the late the bride’s sister, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew served as maid of Thames, all of Sumhonor. Bridesmaids ter. She graduated were Bree Kulhanek, from the College of Fallon Donnahoo Charleston in 2010 and Ashlyn Mangwith a bachelor of um. Kinsley Conner science degree in served as flower girl. psychology. Shane Yarborough The bridegroom is served as best man. the son of retired Groomsmen were Chief Master Sgt. and Matt Shaffer, Jeffrey Mrs. Joseph G. MangCummings and Clay um Jr. of Smithfield, Mixon. Ushers were Va., and the grandShawn Armstrong son of Mr. and Mrs. and Scott Starnes. Joseph G. Mangum of Cooper Dempsey Wake Forest, N.C., served as ring bearer. MRS. JOSEPH MANGUM III and the late F. Earl The bride’s parMcPeters of Florence, ents held the recepAla., and Ms. Betty tion at The McPeters of Washington, D.C. He O’Donnell House. graduated from The Citadel in 2010 The bridegroom’s parents held the with a bachelor of science degree in rehearsal party at Serendipity. business administration. He is emFollowing the wedding, the couple ployed as an operations supervisor for will reside in Savannah. A.P. Moller Maersk in Savannah, Ga. ••• The Rev. Peter Sousa officiated at The couple is registered at Target, the ceremony. www.target.com; Belk, www.belk.com; Music was provided by Ann and Bed, Bath and Beyond, www.bedCaldwell, organist. bathandbeyond.com.

ENGAGEMENT

Black-Harvin Bridget Black of Summerton and Leroy Harvin Jr. of Sumter announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of James and Allean Sanders of Summerton and the late James Black Jr. She is the granddaughter of Willie Thomas Black of Summerton, the late Mamie Ruth Black, and the late Reatus and Leroy Benbow. She attends Central Carolina Technical College. The bridegroom-elect is the son of Eloise Harvin of Sumter and the late Leroy Harvin Sr., and the grandson of Emma Harvin of Sumter and the late Derry Pack and the late Ciscero and Ella Lee Jones Harvin. He graduated from Sumter High School in 1984. He is employed as a maintenance manager by Koyo Corp. in Orangeburg. The wedding is planned for Aug. 17, 2013, at Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church in Summerton.

MISS BLACK, HARVIN

EAR ABBY — As er the level of education, a father of two the more stable the couteenage daughple will be. If the questers, I have a question tion is presented to your about couples living todaughters, ideally you gether. Do relationships will have gotten to know that start this the young man, way have a highand the relationer failure rate ship will have dethan those that veloped beyond don’t? What the casual stage. should be conHowever, I sidered when a cannot stress young girl has strongly enough the “living tothe importance of gether” question Abigail your girls being presented to her VAN BUREN independent, by a young man? self-supporting And most important, and completing their what can I as a father do education before they to help my daughters decide to do this. One of make an intelligent dethe most common reacision about this, other sons women remain in than just “load my shot- unhappy marriages/regun” (LOL)? lationships is the fear As always, thank you they can’t survive on for broadening my wistheir own. dom horizon and giving me examples of solid DEAR ABBY — My advice from which both husband and I are hopmy and my family’s life ing you could shed have been enriched. some light on the pracLONGTIME FAN tice of throwing rice at a IN OHIO wedding. We were not only wondering when DEAR LONGTIME and how the practice FAN — It depends upon started, but also do peowhether the couple livple still throw rice today ing together are engaged at weddings? We had to be married and their heard that guests had level of education. From stopped doing so to help what I’ve read, the high- protect wildlife (espedear abby

FLORENCE — Candice Shada Escorted by her father and given Whitaker and John Joseph Greenan in marriage by her parents, the III, both of Charleston, were united bride wore an ivory, silk in marriage at 6 p.m. Saturday, charmeuse Jenny Packham gown April 27, 2013, at Bannockburn, the and carried a bouquet of peonies, bridegroom’s family home. garden roses and hydrangeas. The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Music was performed by a string Sonya D. Walker of North Augusta quartet which included Benjamin and Peter L. Whitaker of Sumter, Liu, violinist; Darby Moore, violinand the granddaughter of Mr. and ist; Dr. Mary Louise Nagata, violist; Mrs. Robert C. and Kiana Melton of ManCreese, cellist. ning and Mr. and A garden reMrs. Jerry A. Walkception immedier of Emmett, ately followed the Idaho, and the late ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Edsel Mrs. Brandy V. Whitaker of Lynn Bradley, Sumter. She gradusister of the ated summa cum bride, served as laude from Clemmatron of honor, son University with Sally Leewith a bachelor of Ann Key as maid science in health of honor. Bridesscience and is a maids were Mrs. fourth-year mediMollie Sharp cal student at the Cone, Jourdan Medical University Cora Davis, Merof South Carolina edith Leigh MillMRS. JOHN GREENAN III in Charleston. er, Mrs. Elizabeth Upon graduation Graham Quirin in May, she will and Mrs. Lauren begin her residency in obstetrics Miller Schmitt. Meadow Haze and gynecology at the Medical Bradley, niece of the bride, and University of South Carolina. Clara Rhame Willcox, niece of the The bridegroom is the son of Mr. bridegroom, served as flower and Mrs. Hugh LaBarbe Willcox Jr. girls. and Mr. and Mrs. John Joseph The bridegroom’s father served Greenan Jr., all of Florence. He is as best man. Groomsmen were Mithe grandson of the late Mr. and chael Corey Davis, Peter Hector Mrs. Robert C. Rogerson, the late McEachin, Sterling Web McMillan, James E. Watson, and the late Mrs. Matthew Reed Stoupenos, Duncan Lucille C. Greenan, all of Florence, Wright Tyson III, and brothers of and the late John J. Greenan Sr. of the bridegroom, Hugh LaBarbe Bridgeport, Conn. He graduated Willcox III and Walker Heinitsh from The Citadel with a bachelor of Willcox. science in civil engineering and Logan David Barnes, ChristoClemson University with a master pher Marion Orman, and Tanner of science in civil engineering. He Lawson Richburg, nephew of the is employed by Applied Building bride, served as ushers. Sciences, Inc., in Charleston. After a wedding trip to the CaThe Rev. A. Kenneth Weldon ofribbean, the couple will reside in ficiated at the ceremony. Charleston.

Learn 4 C’s of diamonds

Dad anticipates tough talks with daughters

SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2013

cially birds). Have you found this to be true? If so, what do we throw now? EMPTY-HANDED IN WISCONSIN DEAR EMPTYHANDED — Ricethrowing is an ancient tradition that may date back to ancient Rome and Egypt or even earlier. It was a ritual having to do with fertility -many grains of rice equating to having many children. In some countries, the couple is pelted with dates, raisins or even eggs, according to Ask Yahoo. According to Emily Post: “All the traditional materials have their drawbacks: Rice can be dangerous for birds if ingested; birdseed can sprout weeds in unwanted places; rose petals are notoriously slippery; and even bubbles can stain a gown. Instead, you might distribute colored flags or streamers for guests to wave. ... It beats assigning someone the nearly impossible task of trying to recover grains and seeds from grass and flower beds.”

BETH J. HARPAZ Associated Press NEW YORK — Buying a diamond ring can be intimidating. What do you look for? How much should you pay? Should you buy online or in a store? Demystify the process by learning about the four C’s: carat, color, clarity and cut. This system of grading diamonds was developed 60 years ago by the Gemological Institute of America. Here’s a primer on the four C’s. THE FOUR C’S

• Carat is a weight measurement. A 1-carat diamond weighs 200 milligrams. But there’s no ideal size for a diamond. It depends on your budget and taste. Some women want a big rock; others prefer a delicate, less blingy look. Small diamonds are cheaper than large diamonds. A ring with three small diamonds totaling 1 carat costs less than a single 1-carat stone of similar quality. • Color is graded by letter, starting with D for rare, colorless diamonds. E and F are considered excellent, but G or H diamonds will look just as good to the naked eye. Farther down the scale, you’ll notice differences. “If you put a K color beside a G color, you’ll notice more yellow in the K,” said Russell Shor, senior industry analyst for the Gemological Institute. • Clarity measures diamond flaws, called inclusions, which might appear as tiny spots, clouds or cavities in the stone. The clarity grade SI stands for “slightly included.” VS is a better grade, “very slightly included.” VVS is even higher, “very, very slightly included.” Most inclusions in the VVS-SI range cannot be seen by the untrained eye “unless someone tells you where it is,” Shor said. • Cut measures workmanship, rather than a diamond’s inherent qualities. The way a stone is cut enhances sparkle and luminosity and can hide flaws. The best cut rating, ideal, is rare. About a third of diamonds are rated fair, good or very good. THE FORMULA

What should you look for in each of the C’s? “The one thing you should not trade off on is the quality of the cut,”

said Shor. “Even a nice color stone, if not well-cut, will be dull and lifeless. But if it’s a middle color — like K — and it’s got a real excellent cut, it will pop and flash with all the sparkle that diamonds are famous for.” After choosing the cut, “balance the color, clarity and carat weight based on your personal preference to find the best diamond for you and your budget,” said Amanda Gizzi, spokeswoman for Jewelers of America. For example, for $2,000, you might pick a 1-carat, K-color stone with a slight inclusion, or a half-carat, G-color, with a very slight inclusion. An L or M-colored diamond at that price “will get you a 2-carat honker, but you’ll definitely notice the yellow and you’ll see some inclusions,” said Shor. Consumers pay $3,500 on average for engagement rings, according to Jewelers of America. On the low end, Shor recommends spending at least $700 to $1,000 to get “something that’s not too small and of reasonable quality, a respectable half-carat stone.” SHAPE AND STYLE

Engagement rings traditionally feature gold bands with a center diamond, though some have smaller diamonds on either side. Melissa Colgan, senior style editor for Martha Stewart Weddings, says the engagement ring that Prince William gave to Kate Middleton, a large sapphire surrounded by diamonds, has increased interest in rings with other gemstones. Diamonds can be cut into many shapes. Round, the most common, offers “the biggest bang for your buck because the difference between the raw and cut diamond is smaller,” Colgan said. But she said unusual shapes with retro looks and names like marquise, Asscher and pear are having a resurgence, partly because celebrities are wearing them. Whether a shape is flattering depends on your fingers. “If you have long thin fingers, you can wear something like Asscher or princess that is more square-cut,” Colgan said. “If you have shorter fingers or muscular hands, marquise or oval will elongate your fingers.” But long nails don’t mix with oval: “It looks like you’ve got a weird nail in the middle of your hand.”