The engagement ring/wedding ring quandary can be daunting, especially for the non-traditionalist. You don’t want something that someone else has, but you also want it to be a reflection of who you are as a woman. I believe that EVStenroos, Calgary jewelry designer, is aimed at this particular niche. From the grey gold to the flares of engraved detail, her pieces are unique and bold. In her collection, she has wonderful rings suitable for engagement rings and wedding bands. Because her designs are so strong, a single band would be stunning. In my opinion, some of her rings almost combine the traditional two rings into one fabulous piece. There is grace and simplicity in her designs, something that is hard to achieve. Diamonds and gold can quickly become overwhelming, but EVStenroos handles them well. You can tell the artist has a passion for what she does, and it reflects in each of her pieces. If a unique design is something you crave, then head on over to EVStenroos.com and take a peek what she has to offer.

I was at my cousin’s wedding this summer, and funnily enough, I had a stroke of inspiration there. When the wedding party entered the reception, “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue just blared. And I thought, what a brilliant idea. Now, I haven’t been to many weddings, but I’m sure this isn’t a new thing. However, as the summer rolled on, I began to wonder: what about your first dance? What if it wasn’t your average ooey-gooey love song? What if you branched out and picked something new? Picked something that totally spoke about the kind of couple you were? For example, I think “Hey, Soul Sister” by Train would make an unbelievable first dance song. It’s something fun and insanely happy. Maybe you don’t have to have the typical love song. Naturally, that’s always an option, but if you’re looking for something new and sassy, consider some classic rock, consider some top 40. The most important thing is the lyrics. Listen to the words: do they speak to you? Do they encompass your relationship? That’s what the first dance is about. So what if it’s not slow? Go with it!

People have begun asking you where you’re registered, you haven’t decided, you’re beginning to feel overwhelmed, what to do! Don’t panic. You’ve still got plenty of time. You don’t need to worry about registering until about three months before your wedding day, unless you’re expecting a shower before then. When you go in for your consultation—book an appointment, especially if you’re aiming for a Saturday—give yourself about two hours, so that you don’t feel overwhelmed or under pressure. Think of this time as an opportunity to build the perfect wish-list for you two. Now is the time to spring for those luxurious bed sheets and professional pots and pans. Believe it or not, people WILL buy these things. You always want to have a couple of expensive items on your registry to account for people going in on gifts together and family members who are beyond happy for you. Your consultant will be able to help you with balancing your registry, as they will have software that tells them whether you’re heavy in a particular price bracket.

The one question I always got from brides-to-be was regarding china: should I register for formal place settings? And for the most part, it really depends on the type of bride you are. If you have a large extended family and plan on hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, you may want to consider a formal table setting, as it will give an excellent sense of presentation. Even within the realms of fine china, there is an array of styles and patterns. Say you’re going for the fine china, but you don’t want to be hand-washing the hand-painted gold detailing for 16 place settings. That’s all right. There are beautiful patterns from Noritake and Royal Doulton, for example, that are much simpler, easier to maintain. And, of course, there’s always the middle ground. You can find patterns with a simple silver line around the rim of the plates and teacups. When laid out together with stemware and flatware, it is absolutely stunning.

Even though you probably have two households coming together, use this time to upgrade some of your things, like toasters and coffee grinders, and to start building a home as one. Don’t feel like you have to get your registry done in one go; you can take as many appointments as you need to get it right. The most important thing is have fun together with your registry! Enjoy.