Update - 223 days out!
Previous entries
Intro:http://weddingplans.livejournal.com/19961813.html
Ring Advice?: http://weddingplans.livejournal.com/19996584.html
Hello wedding planners!
Things are moving along! I've actually planned a ton of the wedding since my last post, but wanted to wait until I have something fun to post...and now I do!
Here is the ring! It is the Lotus from Gemvara. http://www.gemvara.com/jewelry/lotus-ring/round-green-amethyst-palladium-ring-with-diamond/27s5f#
We were EXTREMELY happy with Gemvara. Their customer service was incredible and the craftsmanship is beautiful. This is literally the best vendor I have ever worked with in my life. They went over the top in terms of communication and customer service. They resized it for free twice, gave me a return shipping label so I wouldn't have to pay for shipping, sent tons of non-spammy e-mails about the status of my ring as it was created and re-sized, had a friendly person answer the phone immediately every time I called...just amazing.
Originally, I didn't want to buy this from Gemvara as I wanted the emerald, which is out of my price range; one of my posts was asking about getting a ring custom made to look like this, or ordering a cheap stone version from Gemvara and replacing the stone. Thanks in part to advice from you WPs, I ended up just ordering from Gemvara with the cheapest stone I could be happy with, a green amethyst. I am very happy with the compromise, and I know that I can always update the stone later. The money we saved on this ring was the downpayment for our first home, so no regrets!
Long version: We actually did try to have a ring custom made in this style, at a reputable jewelry place where we have made a lot of jewelry purchases, and it was just a terrible experience. I don't know if we just had the wrong customer service person this time around, or what, but it was bad. First off, they lost our order and we didn't hear from them for 2 months until I finally called to make sure everything was okay. After that, they worked quickly and sloppily; if we didn't come in to see the ring fast enough, they would forge ahead to the next step without our approval. I actually didn't see the ring at all between casting it in wax and the FINISHED PRODUCT (I turned down 3 different wax shapes, and on the 4th they just went on without me.) Only a couple weeks had passed, and is it my fault for not going in to see the 4th wax immediately? Probably, but we were moving and planning a wedding and were just too busy to go in at the time.
Anyway, the finished product was terrible and I absolutely hated it. It was flat and square looking, although technically I guess it was still a flower. When we went to pick it up, there were 4 salespeople huddled together, leaning over the counter and staring at me intently, pressuring me to say I loved it and to pay and leave. It was very uncomfortable. Thankfully they didn't force me to take it, although they did keep my $400 deposit, which is fair, considering all of the work that they put into it. Anyway, it went from our favorite most trusted jewelry place to somewhere I probably won't go again. I don't want to say the vendor name because they are a small mom and pop place and we have had so many good experiences there in the past.
But in the end, ordering the ring from Gemvara was the right thing to do and I am so happy now, so I am glad things worked out the way they did!
---------------
Here are some of our engagement pictures. They were done by Smetona Photo (smetonaphoto.com) at Edwards Mansion in Redlands, CA. We wanted kind of a Edwardian / Downton Abbey feel and we are very happy with the results. We love the darker indoor ones, but knew the rest of the world would like the outdoor ones, so I am glad we listened to our photographer and did both!
1
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3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
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My maid of honor is a graphic designer and she did these for me for just the cost of printing. She knew we wanted something Slytherin themed and I am super happy with them! She went all out on the paper, too..it is this heavy slick matte cardstock that feels like a super nice quality photograph or something.
First dumb mistake of the wedding planning: order Save the Dates for the full count of people, instead of the number of addresses. DUMB. I ordered about twice as many as I needed. But despite that, I love them so much! We are sending them out on Monday! I have spent my weekend spread sheeting and address gathering.
I have some other updates too, but this entry is pretty full already so I guess I will save those for next time. Yay! So far planning the wedding has been pretty happy and stress-free...but I'm sure the stress and inevitable meltdown is coming ;D
Intro:http://weddingplans.livejournal.com/19961813.html
Ring Advice?: http://weddingplans.livejournal.com/19996584.html
Hello wedding planners!
Things are moving along! I've actually planned a ton of the wedding since my last post, but wanted to wait until I have something fun to post...and now I do!
Here is the ring! It is the Lotus from Gemvara. http://www.gemvara.com/jewelry/lotus-ring/round-green-amethyst-palladium-ring-with-diamond/27s5f#
We were EXTREMELY happy with Gemvara. Their customer service was incredible and the craftsmanship is beautiful. This is literally the best vendor I have ever worked with in my life. They went over the top in terms of communication and customer service. They resized it for free twice, gave me a return shipping label so I wouldn't have to pay for shipping, sent tons of non-spammy e-mails about the status of my ring as it was created and re-sized, had a friendly person answer the phone immediately every time I called...just amazing.
Originally, I didn't want to buy this from Gemvara as I wanted the emerald, which is out of my price range; one of my posts was asking about getting a ring custom made to look like this, or ordering a cheap stone version from Gemvara and replacing the stone. Thanks in part to advice from you WPs, I ended up just ordering from Gemvara with the cheapest stone I could be happy with, a green amethyst. I am very happy with the compromise, and I know that I can always update the stone later. The money we saved on this ring was the downpayment for our first home, so no regrets!
Long version: We actually did try to have a ring custom made in this style, at a reputable jewelry place where we have made a lot of jewelry purchases, and it was just a terrible experience. I don't know if we just had the wrong customer service person this time around, or what, but it was bad. First off, they lost our order and we didn't hear from them for 2 months until I finally called to make sure everything was okay. After that, they worked quickly and sloppily; if we didn't come in to see the ring fast enough, they would forge ahead to the next step without our approval. I actually didn't see the ring at all between casting it in wax and the FINISHED PRODUCT (I turned down 3 different wax shapes, and on the 4th they just went on without me.) Only a couple weeks had passed, and is it my fault for not going in to see the 4th wax immediately? Probably, but we were moving and planning a wedding and were just too busy to go in at the time.
Anyway, the finished product was terrible and I absolutely hated it. It was flat and square looking, although technically I guess it was still a flower. When we went to pick it up, there were 4 salespeople huddled together, leaning over the counter and staring at me intently, pressuring me to say I loved it and to pay and leave. It was very uncomfortable. Thankfully they didn't force me to take it, although they did keep my $400 deposit, which is fair, considering all of the work that they put into it. Anyway, it went from our favorite most trusted jewelry place to somewhere I probably won't go again. I don't want to say the vendor name because they are a small mom and pop place and we have had so many good experiences there in the past.
But in the end, ordering the ring from Gemvara was the right thing to do and I am so happy now, so I am glad things worked out the way they did!
---------------
Here are some of our engagement pictures. They were done by Smetona Photo (smetonaphoto.com) at Edwards Mansion in Redlands, CA. We wanted kind of a Edwardian / Downton Abbey feel and we are very happy with the results. We love the darker indoor ones, but knew the rest of the world would like the outdoor ones, so I am glad we listened to our photographer and did both!
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
------------
My maid of honor is a graphic designer and she did these for me for just the cost of printing. She knew we wanted something Slytherin themed and I am super happy with them! She went all out on the paper, too..it is this heavy slick matte cardstock that feels like a super nice quality photograph or something.
First dumb mistake of the wedding planning: order Save the Dates for the full count of people, instead of the number of addresses. DUMB. I ordered about twice as many as I needed. But despite that, I love them so much! We are sending them out on Monday! I have spent my weekend spread sheeting and address gathering.
I have some other updates too, but this entry is pretty full already so I guess I will save those for next time. Yay! So far planning the wedding has been pretty happy and stress-free...but I'm sure the stress and inevitable meltdown is coming ;D