You don‟t have to get around in a car – there are planes, trains and boats as well!

Travel by air

Descending from the air is a very Hollywood way to make an entrance, whether you drift down by hot air balloon,  glide  in  by  water  plane  or  pop  out  of  a  chopper.  Helicopters  are  handy  if you  are  having  your photographs taken in a remote area that is both far away and also hard to get to by car. Just one catch  –watch your hairdo!

Travel on water

Arriving  by  boat  adds  great  impact  when  your  reception  is  by  the  water.  There  are  water  taxis,  speed boats,  Rivercats,  sailing  boats  and  cruisers  available  just  to  name  a  few.  If  you  would  like  to  arrive  by water, consider a high-sided boat to preserve your “do” and your bouquet. It‟s a nice idea and a treat for your guests to all arrive by boat if you are hiring a large vessel. It will add to the celebration  – you could even have some music and canapés served.

Horse and cart

True romantics may be tempted to recreate the „olde worlde‟ charm of yesteryear by arriving in a horse drawn  carriage,  complete  with  footmen.  Open  landaus  (a  coach  with  a  top  which  may be  opened  and drawn back) and wagonettes are suitable for the warmer months. Covered carriages are available as well. All  of  them  are  drawn  by  decorated  horses.  Don‟t  expect  the  horses  to  pull  you  along  at great  speed, especially if you are running late. Carriages are best used for shorter distances  –  and of course they look great in the photos.

It's  the  cult  TV  show  that  we're  utterly  addicted  to  -  and  here  wedding  planner  Kerry Jackson-Rider shows how you can add some Game Of Thrones style to your big day

Themed  weddings  are  becoming  more  and  more  popular.  Just  recently,  Napster  Co-founder  and  first Facebook  President  Sean  Parker  celebrated  his  marriage  like  a  king  in  a  magnificent  and  extravagant Game of Thrones themed wedding (as shown above).

To  celebrate  the  DVD  and  Blu-ray  release  of  Game  of  Thrones:  The  Complete  Third  Season,  we  asked London-based  luxury  wedding  planner  Kerry  Jackson-Rider  to  share  her  tips  for  creating  your  very  own Game Of Thrones celebration...

The venue

The look

The reception 

Whether you’re planning a chic and sophisticated celebration or a fun-filled day  with  touches  of  the 1950s, we’ve got some dream wedding dresses to inspire you! 

Fairytales and butterflies 

A classic wedding theme, full of romance, fairytales and butterflies is the perfect choice if you’re a 

princess bride. Girly without being infantile, this theme is all about making your childhood dreams come true. 

Think back to the wedding dresses you  used to draw as a little girl – they’ll probably have large A-line skirts, tight figure-hugging bodices and be covered in sparkly details.  These dresses aren’t just the stuff of dreams – they actually exist in real life! So, Cinderella, you shall go to the ball. 

Look  for  wedding  dresses  by  top  designers  like Ian  Stuart,  Hollywood  Dreams  and  Ronald Joyce.  Put fabrics  like  tulle  and  duchess  satin  on  your  shopping  list.  Layers  of  tulle  will  give you  a  dreamy,  light-than-air look while duchess satin looks and feels expensive with its heavy weight and soft, subtle sheen. 

Fun-filled 1950s 

Young, fun and full of love, a 1950s wedding theme means you can rock a short, sweet style of wedding dress. Take Grease as your inspiration. 

If you love your legs, this is a great dress to go for as the tea-length style, sitting just below the knee, 

will show off your best assets. Trudy Lee, Ellis Bridals and Kitty and Dulcie are masters at creating this flirty look. Give your dress a more personal look by  adding sleeves,  boleros  or – our  favourite finishing touch – a  coloured  underskirt.  Look  for  dresses  made from  organza – these  will  give you  the  bouncy, cloud-like look you’re looking for. 

1920s chic 

A 1920s wedding theme opens up a world of chic and sophisticated wedding dresses for you to try. If you want  to  pull  off  a Downton  Abbey  wedding  look,  your  dress  has  to  be  satin  or  lace,  it has  to  be  floor sweeping  and  it  has  to  be  embellished  with  crystals  and  pearls.  Jenny Packham  is  the  queen  of  this dreamy style but for more budget-friendly options try Sottero and Midgley, Enzoani and Justin Alexander. 

Beside the Seaside 

Whether you’re planning a coastal wedding in the UK or you’re jetting off for a wedding abroad, a Beside the Seaside theme requires a lightweight gown that can be easily lifted over the sand. 

Chiffon  styles  are  perfect  for  hot  climates  as  they  give  you  a  bridal  look  without  being  too heavy  and claustrophobic.  Get  the  Grecian  look  in  an  instant  by  adding  a  one-shoulder  strap and  sparkly  details under the bust. In fact, empire lines that fall from under the bust are very flattering if you’re pregnant or you want to hide your tummy. 

Look for dedicated, budget-friendly dress collections for weddings abroad from Mark Lesley, Mori Lee and Dessy and sort your seaside look in an instant. 

Hollywood glamour 

A glamorous Hollywood theme will usually have a black and white colour scheme so your groom should be dresses in a classic tux. 

For  you, only  a  slinky,  fishtail  gown  will  do,  making  the  most  of  your  fabulous  curves. Look for  gowns made of shimmering satin with sweetheart necklines or a deep V-neck. 

Your perfect finishing touch would be a waist-cinching belt with a diamanté detail at its centre. Maggie Sottero,  Sincerity,  and  Alexia  all  have  fabulous  figure-hugging  styles  that  will  match this  theme  to perfection. 

Source : Wedding Ideas Magazine, 23rd April 2012 

Sam and Lewis held a Mad Hatter's Tea Party celebration, with dashes of beautiful vintage flair

Sam, 32, a sales executive at Wedding magazine, and Lewis, 31, a graphic designer  married at St Mary's Church in Kersey, Suffolk, and held their reception at The Venue, Kersey Mill.

The atmosphere...

We  wanted  our  summer  wedding  to  be  filled  with  fun.  From  the  moment  I  started  working at Wedding magazine, every real wedding I looked  at seemed to have vintage details  -  it was clearly the way forward!

Vintage  allows  for  so  many  beautiful  trends  and  colours,  which  totally  fitted  our  plans to have  a  Mad Hatter's Tea Party (with a twist) as our theme for the day. I've always loved going   for afternoon tea, so decided this would all work together perfectly.

The look...

I chose the 'Lady Mary' dress by Naomi Neoh  -  it was the perfect dress for me, from the fit and style to the cut and fabric. I couldn't have chosen better! It's so true   about knowing when you find The One; my search for the dress felt like it took forever until I discovered Naomi Neoh. As soon as I found that dress, I didn't even look anymore.

I picked miniature pale pink germini with a white gypsophilia  collar for my bouquet, and also added part of  my  wedding  dress  around  the  stems. My  Chief  Bridesmaid  held  pink  gypsophilia  and my  flower  girls held wands with pink gyp entwined around the stalk.
The  groomsmen  all  wore  miniature  pale  pink  germini  buttonholes,  although  Lewis's  also  had a  bit  of white gypsophilia to match my flowers.

The details...

Lewis  put  together  the  decorations  for  the  venue  and  it  was  just  perfect.  In  keeping  with  the  Mad Hatter's  Tea  Party  theme  -  and  after  months  and  months  of  scouring  charity  shops  -  we  collected  over fifty tea cups, plates, teapots, sugar bowls and other items of crockery. We basically wanted to create the perfect outdoors tea party, indoors. We used things like eucalyptus and log slices to decorate tables, and for centrepieces we arranged hessian sacks with log slices and teapots.

As favours, we gave our guests playing cards with keys attached.

My favourite moment...

Giving out our gifts and listening to the speeches - it got every emotional!

Our bride blogger, Alicia, is back for installment 7 on the Modern Wedding blog! She’s been focusing on her all-important wedding shoes over the last few weeks…

To Choo or not to Choo? That is the question.

When  choosing  bridal  shoes  there  are  two  arguments:  “If  you  can’t  wear  a  designer  shoe  on  your wedding  day  then  when  can  you?”  and  “Don’t  bother  spending  money  on  shoes  because  nobody  sees them anyway”. Where do you fit in this debate?

I hadn’t thought about bridal shoes until I saw a tiny image of THE MOST amazing shoe in a magazine. It was a gorgeous stiletto sandal in bright gold and glitter that would look amazing under a wedding dress or teamed with skinny jeans (post-wedding day bonus).

The  shoe’s  name  is  Greta  and  the  designer  is  Jimmy  Choo  (pictured  above).  I  had  never owned  a designer shoe,  nor had I thought about it,  but  now it was an infatuation.  I couldn’t stop thinking about Greta and her price tag: AUD$1,100(ish)…almost as much as my dress!

It  tormented  me  for  months.  Around  and  around  the  argument  went:  “If  you  can’t  have  a designer shoe…” vs “Nobody’s going to see your shoes!”. I couldn’t justify the price, but at the same time I didn’t stop looking at the website. A few months later it came up on sale – Greta at 50% OFF!

That  was  now  a  price  tag  of  $500(ish)  dollars…almost  justifiable.  I  picked  up  the  phone and called  the nearest store. Was my size in stock? Yes. Could I make some bogus work excuse? Yes. (I was sick – shoe sick). So off I went to try on the Choo.

The verdict? TERRIBLE. The beautiful shoe made my feet look awful! Admittedly, going for a big run first was  probably  a  bad  idea  (think  knobby  feet  with  popping  veins),  plus  with  decades of  that  kind  of running I don’t quite have model feet. So in the end it was…No Deal.

Now  I  have  justified  it  in  a  different  way.  I  have  saved  myself  at  least  $1,000  to  spend  on something else…! It’s funny how logic works.

My  thoughts  have  now  turned  to  fun  shoes  that  add  a  surprise  pop  of  colour  or  girly  fun to  a  wedding dress. Turquoise, pink, gold, polka dots…

If  you’re  marrying  in  the  autumn  or  winter,  then  you’re  probably  wondering  how  best  to  dress your bridesmaids  –  no  one  wants  their  girls  to  be  shivering  down  the  aisle  in  a  thin  chiffon number! Luckily we’ve rounded up a few of our top tips and some of the  chicest autumn and winter bridesmaids dresses for you to choose from.

When it comes to choosing dresses for the cooler months, there are a couple of basic tips that we advise you follow. Firstly, it’s always a good idea to choose full-length gowns for your girls – you may be worried about the  hems getting wet or dirty, but if it’s cold, the more material the better! Your bridesmaids will  certainly thank you for not exposing their legs to the elements.

We also advise pairing them with a closed-toe shoe rather than a sandal, to avoid the girls getting cold, wet feet during any outdoor photographs or travel. If it looks like there’s going to be snow or ice on your big day, consider putting your bridesmaids in low heels, flats or even wellies  –  if they’re in long dresses then  the  shoes  are  likely  to  go  unnoticed  anyway,  and  it’s  better  to  forgo  your  dream  skyscraper  heels than  have  a  bridesmaid  take  a  nasty  fall!  If  you  have  your  heart  set  on  them,  bring  the  heels  for  the ceremony and photographs and allow the girls to wear flats at all other times.

Material-wise, opt for heavier fabrics that can keep the chill away and look stylish in a colder season. We love  the  look  of  a  classic  satin  dress,  especially  in  full  length,  but  other  options  include  duchess satin (which  is  stiffer  than  traditional  satin  and  has  a  matte  finish),  dupioni,  organza  and  taffeta.  If you  love lace, then choose a heavier fabric with a lace overlay  – this is also the perfect way to incorporate sleeves into your bridesmaid dresses.It’s your big day, so you can choose whatever colours you like, but there’s no denying that a deep jewel-toned dress looks stunning at an autumn or winter wedding.

Choose  rich  shades  like  emerald  green  and  berry  purple  and  accessorize  with  gold  or  silver  for  a gorgeous bridesmaid look. We also love classic navy blue for the cooler months (it looks stylish and chic paired with ivory), and a bright pop of red at a winter wedding can look seriously festive! Metallic shades like platinum and rose gold are becoming more po pular at autumn and winter weddings too  –  these look particularly gorgeous paired with more neutral shades like taupe, dove grey and blush.

Nerves  might  stop  those  tears  from  falling  as  you  walk  the  aisle,  but  it’ll  be  hard  to  hold  them  back  as you  dance  with  your  dad  to  any  of  these  father  daughter  dance  songs!  These  tear  jerkers  are  heartfelt and meaningful giving justice to the very special love of a father.
A  father  daughter  dance  song  can  be  played  at  any  point  during  dancing,  but  the  most  obvious  time  is straight  after  your  first  wedding  dance.  As  most  of  these  father  daughter  dance  songs  are  played  at  a rather slow tempo it can lead on more naturally from your first song which is also likely to be of a slower tempo.

See the beautiful song list below :

Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle

What a Difference You’ve Made - Ronnie Milsap

Unforgettable - Nat King Cole (duet with Natalie Cole)

Dance With My Father - Luther Vandross

I loved her first – Heartland

My Wish - Rascal Flatts

Cinderella - Steven Curtis Chapman

Walk With You- Edwin McCain

My Little Girl - Tim Mcgraw

A Little Ray Of Sunshine – Axiom

My Girl – The Temptations

Daughters - John Mayer

Daddy Dance With Me - Krystal Keith

Wildflowers - Tom Petty

The Best Day – Taylor Swift

Stealing Cinderella - Chuck Wicks

This fabulous Willy Wonka wedding theme really does compare to pure imagination  – A fun-filled, purple theme that‟s sure to make you smile!

The proposal
“It wasn‟t love at first sight!” laughs Sarah. “My first memory of Mark was when we were at junior school together, I was teasing him about something, to which he stood up and shouted; „I hate girls!‟” Through school and university we  remained friends, and both agreed if we weren‟t married by the time we  were  30,  we‟d  marry  each  other!  For  Mark‟s  birthday  we  went  to  a dog-friendly B&B  called  the Wensleydale Heifer taking our puppy, and it was while we were out walking her by the river Mark popped the question,” she adds.

The bride’s outfit
“After  trying  on  lots  of  different  styles  of  dress  (because  I  had  no  idea  what  I  wanted!)  I  went  back  to the first gown I tried on (typical!), which was a  Benjamin Roberts dress, style 1007,” explains Sarah. “It was  full  enough  to  make  it  feel  fairytale,  but  still  fitted  me  beautifully  without  being  too  heavy.  It  was also a really reasonable price, coming in at under £1,000,” she adds.
“My  first  memory  of  Mark  was  when  we  were  at  junior  school  together,  I  was  teasing  him  about something, to which he stood up and shouted; „I hate girls!‟”

The groom’s outfit
“We used a shop recommended by a friend called  Off The Cuff Menswear, and they were so lovely and informative  in  helping  us  choose  traditional  tails  for  Mark,”  remembers  Sarah.  To  fit  in with  their  Willy Wonka wedding theme, Sara said “He also wore a top hat and carried a cane, which he loved!”

The bridesmaids
“I  had  a  harem!”  smiles  Sarah.  The  older  girls  wore  dresses  from  Debenhams,  and  the  younger  ones from Monsoon‟s wedding range.

The ceremony
“This  was,  without  doubt,  our  favourite  part  of  the  day,”  recalls  Sarah.  “In  order  to  marry  in  our particular  church,  we  had  to  attend  on  numerous  Sundays  before  the  event  and  go  to  a  marriage preparation  course  –  but  it  only  helped  to  make  the  ceremony  more  personal,  especially  as  our  vicar knew us so well.”

The flowers
“These  were  put  together  by  a  family  friend  who  really  bought  into  my  Willy  Wonka wedding  theme,” explains  Sarah.  “The  little  bridesmaids  had  lollipops  made  out  of  wire  with flowers  entwined  on  them, while my bouquet was more traditional. Sheila used orchids and flowers from good friends‟ gardens.”

The decoration
Lots  of  sweets  were  the  order  of  the  day  for  the  brilliant  Willy  Wonka  wedding  theme.  “My  Dad  made some  metal  trees  for  centrepieces,  which  I  decorated  with  fake  sweets  and candy  canes.  Every  sweet was handmade – it took hours and a lot of polystyrene packaging and cellophane!” says Sarah.

The honeymoon
“We  knew  we  wanted  a  trip  of  a  lifetime,  and  chose  South  Africa  with  activities  organised through Trailfinders,” says Sarah. “We even got to plant an olive tree with a name plaque next to it, in celebration of our marriage!”

Q1.  I’m not sure which stationery items I need. Can you help?
The  basics  you  will  need  are  as  follows:  invitations,  order  of  service  booklets,  place  cards and  menus. You could go further by also sending out save the date cards,  rsvp cards in the invitations and thank you cards.

Q2. My theme is the colour pink. How could I incorporate this into my wedding stationery?
The  obvious  answer  is  to  have  pink  stationery  all  round,  however  this  might  be  a  bit  too much,  so  why not try a pink ribbon running down the side of your stationery or a pink motif around the edges. Or white paper over pink card or perhaps mirror a pink flower from your bouquet on your stationery. The options are endless and with a bit of thought can be very creative.

Q3. I would like to make my stationery myself but I’m not sure if that’s good idea.
There are lots of stores now who supply all the materials needed for DIY stationery. But remember how many  guests  you  are  inviting  and  to  keep  your  design  simple.  No  matter  how  good  you are  at  applying glitter, it might never look as finished as a professional job.
Why  not  try  half  and  half  DIY?  You  can  get  pre-cut  designer  invitations  with  all  the  bits and  pieces included and all you have to do is put them together.
If all this has put you off making your own, you can always go to a professional who will come up with a design and make everything for you. Of course a professional finish will require professional rates so will be more expensive.

Q4. We can’t agree on the wording of the invitations. Is there a ‘right’ way?
There is no ‘right’ way but there is a traditional way. This would start with the name of both your parents requesting the pleasure of your guest’s company at the marriage of you and your husband-to-be.If your parents are separated or remarried it might change how your invitations are worded and who you would like to include on them.
If you don’t like the traditional wording, then make up your own. It doesn’t matter as long as you clearly state the date, time and place so your guests know where to go and when!

Q5. I know that it’s standard to give your guests a bomboniere gift as a thank you, but can
you give me some ideas of what might be appropriate?
What about a miniature bottle of wine or bubbly, a picture frame, some seeds to plant, some hand -made chocolates, a candle, some bubble bath or gorgeous scented soaps. Hope this gets you inspired.

Make the most of your honeymoon with these must-have moments in Bali. 

Sometimes  we  experience  moments  in  life  that  are  just  so  perfect,  no  picture  can  do  them justice  nor words  describe  their  beauty.  You  compose  a  facebook  status  and  load  an  instagram  picture,  but somehow you just don’t think your friends will get it because moments like this need to be lived in, tasted, written into our memories and relived whenever our skies turn grey. 

Life in Bali is made up of these moments and Ubud, a quiet town located in Bali’s central foothills, is the destination for moments of tranquillity. Driving to Ubud from Denpasar airport will take about 45 minutes to an hour. Organise a transfer prior to the trip or negotiate a fixed price with a taxi. My new husband and I spent our first three nights in Ubud, anticipating that the lush forest and traditional Balinese culture would  be  exactly  what  we  needed  after  the  stress  of  planning  a  wedding. Ubud  did  not  disappoint.  It wasn’t hard to adjust to the slow paced life and the fresh organic food on our plates each morning. 

Our garden room offered the perfect retreat with an open-air bathroom, courtyard and central fishpond. The bathroom is quite possibly the most beautiful bathroom I have ever used! 

Walking to the centre  of town  and enjoying one  of the many hidden day  spas  are moments to have in 

Ubud. Head here if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of Kuta and the many mega resorts to refocus and let go of all life’s tensions.In a land  where  bottled  water  is  precious,  cocktails  flow more freely so you can sit back and enjoy a cocktail moment, literally, wherever you go. 

Say goodbye to other holidaymakers  and simply enjoy the company of each other. With a private pool, sun bed and butler service there is no need to leave the comforts of your villa. 

Many  resorts  is  spacious  enough  to  feel  like  you  are  one  of  only  a  few  guests,  while  an  on call  buggy service will help you get to the central pool, restaurants, day spa, gym and library. Dine in at one of two restaurants serving western cuisine and traditional Balinese fare or share a meal in a cabana on the cliff edge. The breakfast menu changes daily with a unique spin on traditional dishes so you’ll never be bored. If you’re up for some adventure hire out one of their motorbikes and explore Uluwatu like we did! 

I would recommend a Bali honeymoon to anyone who will listen – short flight, perfect climate, glamorous night-life, stunning hotels, cheap massages, food and shopping – what’s not to love? 

These moments and more lie waiting in Bali…check out  for more information on a Bali honeymoon. 

Source : Modern Wedding 

Take the trip of a lifetime with these VIP ideas for your honeymoon...

The world’s favourite celebrity couples know a thing or two about getting away from it all. From remote hideaways in Italy to the beaches of the Caribbean, these celebs certainly pick the best destinations for an unforgettable romantic break.

Whether you’re looking for a honeymoon destination, a romantic getaway or an anniversary idea, check out these five destinations to steal yourself some celeb holiday style...

Hot spot: New York
From the Meatpacking district to Manhattan, the hustle and bustle of New York is very tempting for
couples looking for a city adventure.
Famous visitors...
- Princess of pop Gwen Stefani and hubby Gavin Rossdale spent their honeymoon at New York’s infamous Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel that’s as glamorous and exclusive as the A-list guests it attracts. 

Steal their style!
Discover for yourself the opulence of the Carlyle hotel with a honeymoon in the Big Apple. The hotel’s list of previous guests reads like a who’s who of Hollywood, from Victoria and David Beckham to Roger Federer through to Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Hot spot: Scotland
With epic highlands and ancient castles, Scotland will really appeal to couples with a love of the outdoors.
Famous visitors...
- Cricket legend Shane Warne chose to pop the question to actress Elizabeth Hurley in Scotland whilst playing in the Alfred Dunhill Links golf championship. Oh, the romance!
Steal their style!
If you like the sound of Scotland, but not the golf, stay in one of the intimate woodland cabins in Argyll Forest. Explore Loch Long and take long romantic walks in the forest before relaxing with a glass of bubbles in your private cabin hot tub.

Hot spot: Caribbean
With idyllic islands, winter sunshine and a friendly welcome, it’s not just famous couples who holiday in the Caribbean, it’s a favourite for families and singles too.
Famous visitors...
- After a night celebrating New Year’s Eve in St. Barths, Princess Beatrice & Dave Clark spent the first day
of 2014 cooling off on board a luxury yacht in the Caribbean.
- Emma Watson and her rugby star boyfriend Matthew Janney were snapped splashing around on the
beautiful sandy shores of the Caribbean.
Steal their style!
Find your own royal retreat at the  Eden Rock hotel in St. Barths. With a private white sand beach and overlooking the bright turquoise water, the hotel is airy, modern and an absolute must for couples
looking for that once-in-a-lifetime holiday.

Hot spot: South of France
The A-list adore the south of France for the privacy it offers. Remote villages and secluded villas are the perfect hideaway to dodge the paparazzi and spend quality time together.
Famous visitors...
- Heart throb Tom Hardy and his gorgeous fiancé Charlotte Riley escape to their place in Saint-Rémy-deProvence when they’re looking for a weekend retreat together.
- Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie love the Provencal region so much that they purchased a £35 million estate close to the attractive town of Aix-en-Provence.
- In 2003, David and Victoria Beckham bought a £1.4million holiday home property to use as their holiday home within the Var region.
Steal their style!
The Bellevue Villa in the Bay of Cannes offers guests fantastic privacy whilst still being close to local amenities. With a beautiful private garden filled with olive and cypress trees, it’s a fantastic choice for a peaceful French get-away.

Hot spot: Italy
Italy is one of the most popular escapes for celeb couples and it’s easy to see why. The country is famed for its enviable mix of glamorous cities, like Rome and Milan, and its secluded Tuscan countryside – with delicious food to boot!
Famous visitors...
- British sweethearts Professor Green and Millie Mackintosh made the world jealous during their Italian honeymoon with Instagram updates showing off the beautiful island of Anacapri.
- Actress Emily Blunt and her American Office star husband John Krasinski were married by Lake Como.
- Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel tied the knot in Puglia.
Steal their style!
Visit the Amalfi Coast to experience the best of Italy’s stylish towns and dazzling beaches. Stay at  Bella Sponda for breath taking views over Capri, perfect for alfresco sunset dinners.

Exchanging wedding rings is probably one of the most significant wedding traditions. However, wedding traditions have evolved a lot over the years and deciding what tradition to follow can be quite difficult!We spoke to the experts at Anania Jewellers who have some excellent advice when it comes to wedding ring etiquette…

Engagement ring vs. wedding band
An engagement ring is  a more extravagant ring than  a wedding band  and tends to feature  a prominent gemstone,  whereas  wedding  bands  are  often  simpler  and  understated  in  design. Typically,  an engagement  ring  is  used  for  the  proposal  whereas  wedding  bands  are  exchanged  at  the  wedding ceremony.
Conventionally, only the man purchases an engagement ring for his partner, however, these days some couples choose to both get engagement rings. Anania Jewellers explains that unlike women’s engagement rings, male engagement rings are understated and simple in design. Women tend to wear both rings on the same finger whereas men often choose to replace their engagement ring with their wedding band or to wear their engagement ring on their right hand.

How to wear your engagement ring at your ceremony
On  your  wedding  day,  you  are  going  to  share  the  special  moment  where  you  exchange wedding  bands with  your  partner.  Many  brides  are  unsure  what  to  do  about  their  engagement rings  during  the ceremony. There are three common ways to go about wearing your engagement ring at your wedding:
1.  Many  brides  choose  to  not  wear  their  engagement  ring  at  all  during  the  ceremony,  but  wear  it afterwards for their reception.
2. A common choice is to wear your engagement ring on your right hand during the ceremony and switch it to your left hand after the ceremony.
3. Some brides choose to keep wearing their engagement rings normally during the ceremony and simply switch the order of the rings afterwards.

Typically,  the  engagement  ring  should  come  on  after  the  wedding  band.  Many  couples  choose  to  buy matching  wedding  bands  or  even  a  set,  where  the  wedding  band  matches  the engagement  ring.  Some ring designs allow you to merge your engagement ring and wedding band into one ring.

Ring-shopping options
Traditionally, an engagement ring was  the man’s sole responsibility and it was custom for him to choose his partner’s engagement ring without consulting her, and then utterly surprising her when he proposed. However, this tradition has changed quite a lot in recent years.

Since couples often discuss the possibility of marriage beforehand, it is quite common for the woman to have  a  say in her ring. It has become conventional for couples to go ring shopping together, or for the bride-to-be to design her own engagement ring.   However, it is no longer expected that the man should spend three months’ worth salary on the engagement ring!

Surprise or choose your own ring?
There are naturally advantages and disadvantages to all the ring-shopping options.
If you opt to design or choose your own rings, you might not have a surprise, but you know that both of you are getting exactly what you wanted, including the ring’s style and size and the stone’s cut.
On  the  other  hand,  many  women  like  the  idea  that  their  partner  chose  or  designed  their ring,  however there  is  always  a  small  risk  that  the  ring  isn’t  quite  to  the  woman’s  taste  (and  it  can  be  an  expensive mistake!).
Depending on the style, most rings can be resized. However,  Anania  Jewellers  advises that men should observe the size of their partner’s other rings to get a rough idea. Anania Jewellers suggests that if men want  to  surprise  their  partners,  they  can  easily  find  out  what  their  partner  might  like  by  asking  their friends or even seeing what they posted on social media like Pinterest.
Remember…
Wedding traditions are evolving and it doesn’t matter what tradition you choose to follow, as long as it is what makes you and your partner happy.