Engagement rings often steal the spotlight, but let’s not forget about the wedding bands! These rings are equally important because they will serve as a daily reminder of your commitment and love for the rest of your lives. For some people, a wedding band is the only piece of jewelry they will never take off, while for others, it may even be the first and only piece of jewelry they will ever get to own. Click here to read the rest of this post »
Have you ever flipped through a bridal magazine and seen a wedding ring that made your heart skip a beat? But then you realize it’s missing that one special detail or point of interest that would make it absolutely perfect for you.
When making your wedding preparations, your wedding band deserves more than just a passing thought – it’s a symbol of everlasting commitment and undying love that shouldn’t be left to the last minute.
For over 47 years, Zadok Jewelers has been Houston’s premier destination for exceptionally crafted fine and everyday jewelry as well as unique and luxury timepieces. The family-owned and operated jeweler upholds unparalleled quality, value and personalized service. This standard of excellence also shines through in their elegant and very modern Bridal Shop – the Houston destination for engagement rings and wedding bands.
Your wedding day is a celebration of the love and commitment of you and your future spouse usually spent with family and friends. Once you’ve exchanged vows, the party begins with food, drinks and music. However, when it comes to the entertainment, should you opt for an expert DJ or a professional wedding band? Both can be excellent choices, but there are pros and cons to both. Narrow down your choice for great entertainment for your guests with the following in mind.
Keep in mind:
Atmosphere – what type of music are you wanting to hear? what kind of delivery?
Budget – traditionally bands are more expensive, but DJs can be just as costly.
Space – how big is your venue? will it accommodate a full band?
Wedding bands provide you the dynamics of a live performance. It’s traditional and the band you choose can make a real difference in setting the tone for your reception. The party can come alive with a bandleader who’s able to vibe and interact with crowd choosing music accordingly.
Nowadays, DJs are artists in their own right, with expertise offering diverse mixes of musical styles guests of all ages can enjoy. Plus, the songs played will sound exactly as you remember them, encouraging sing-alongs and improvisation. You can also count on a DJ to take up less space with their equipment than a full on band would, leaving more room for bodies on the dance floor.
Made your choice? Whether a band or a DJ is what your looking for, take care of your entertainment needs with these top vendors.
When it comes to talk of wedding rings, it’s almost always centered on the ladies. And it’s true, engagement rings are the most important in terms of investment and value (it’s all about the center rock, y’all!). However, we can’t forget about the groom! The groom’s wedding ring will be the single most important piece of jewelry he will own. The groom’s wedding band is not only a physical symbol of his love and commitment but also should speak to his personality. Here are a few groom weddings rings we think he will love, from classic, streamlined styles to edgier, more modern looks. Once he’s picked a style, visit our favorite Houston jewelers to get the ring. Click here to read the rest of this post »
Wedding couples sing the praises of Houston wedding band Danny Ray and the Acoustic Production for two reasons: 1. They create custom set lists to represent every wedding couple, and 2. They have perfected a high-energy, non-stop performance that keeps guests of every musical inclination on their feet.
“We can be a full-fledged party band, but we can also throw in some quirky song choices that reflect who the couple is,” says frontman Danny Ray. “We are just so excited to be playing. When we’re playing, we’re grooving and rocking out, and that shows!”
We asked Ray to walk us through his ideal wedding day setlist, crafted with hints of romantic serenades, Motown classics, Texas country and full-blown party ballads. Listen in:
The Opener —Ray likes to kick off the reception with a recognizable hit that starts off slow and builds to become more upbeat. His go-to’s are “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Frankie Valli and The 4 Seasons, and “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne. “They are not really slow, but they are not really fast,” he says. “Those are the two that we start off with most often, but every now and then we get a client who wants to hit it hard from the beginning, and in that case we would start out with ‘Kiss’ by Prince.”
First Dance —Ray says that he and his band will learn any first dance song for wedding couples they work with. In general, if couples have a song with personal meaning to them, no matter where it falls in the set list, he is willing to make it happen. “Any first dance, we are open to those,” Ray says. “If there is any special song, maybe for a last dance or if it’s a song that they say they would go crazy for, we want to add it in.”
Photo: Courtesy of Danny Ray and the Acoustic Production
Mashups — For really letting it loose, Ray likes to mix in custom mashups of 90s hip hop favorites with rock classics — like Snoop Dog’s “Gin and Juice” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama ” — to keep guests on their toes! He will even rap…ish. “I really like doing mashups because the second you go into another song, you see everyone processing what just happened,” Ray says. “Everyone is with you for that moment.”
Modern Hits — And of course Ray and his team don’t shy away from the hits of the moment. “Right now you can’t go wrong with Bruno Mars,” he says (and we agree). “Bruno Mars, Prince and the mashups are the things that almost always happen.”
Ceremony or Cocktail Classics — In addition to the lively reception music, the band also performs acoustic takes of more romantic songs for the wedding ceremony, dinner and cocktail hour. “What we play during the ceremony is completely directed by the bride and the groom,” Ray says, having performed everything from classical compositions, to Beyonce ballads, to songs from Adam Sandler’s movie, “The Wedding Singer.” For cocktail hours and dinners, Ray often performs crooner classics from Frank Sinatra or Michael Bublé, along with contemporary acoustic songs from the likes of The Lumineers or Of Monsters and Men.
Photo: Steve Lee Photography
Want to hear more from Danny Ray and the Acoustic Production? Schedule a consultation now or head to his show, Thursday April 6, at Fox Hollow! And be sure to tell him his fans at the Houston Wedding Blog say hello!!
Your love is unlike any other. Which is why Eklektic Jewelry Studio creates wedding jewelry unlike anything else you’ll see. In this exclusive Houston Wedding Blog Q&A, we chat with Eklektic founder Marco Gutierrez Jr., who grew up “running around and getting in trouble” in his grandparents’ jewelry workshop—and who now works side by side with to-be-weds to create the jewelry of their dreams, in his very own studio. If you’re thinking of going custom with your wedding jewelry, you’ll want to read every word.
Photos: Courtesy of Eklektic Jewelry Studio
Houston Wedding Blog: What is your jewelry design background?
Marco Gutierrez Jr.: I grew up in the jewelry industry, and started Eklektic Jewelry Studio in 1999 in Rice Village. Just out of architecture school, I wanted to establish my own business that would combine my passion for jewelry and my love of architecture. Every design I ever made in architecture school had a “jewel-like” element.
Everything we do stems from our passion for making jewelry. All of our jewelers have been personally trained by my father and myself in the art of making jewelry. Unlike most other jewelers, we are actively involved in the process of making jewelry and we passionately invest in learning new techniques.
HWB: Take us through the process of designing a custom engagement ring or wedding band. What are the steps, and how long does it typically take?
MGJ: We believe in making jewelry for a lifetime. We truly believe an engagement ring is the most important part of a couple’s history and legacy.
We approach design in a very personal way. We talk to our clients in a casual conversation about things that are not related to jewelry. I feel this helps me get a feel for what our clients like and dislike, as well as a direction on their style. After our initial conversation, we start determining things like colors, materials and budget.
This is when I start brainstorming and creating three completely different computer renderings of what I think the design could be. Usually most clients tend to lean toward a particular style out of the three, or in some cases a combination of two of them. Once the style is chosen, we start detailing the design by adding or removing elements such as the center stone.
Once we are happy with the design, we use one of our 3D printers to print out the model. This takes anywhere from four to eight hours depending on the complexity of the design. This 3D-printed model allows us to see the scale and proportions as they will be in the final piece. It is probably the most important part before finalizing the process prior to starting the work in metal.
Then we prepare the final 3D model for casting. Once the piece is cast in the metal of choice, the bench work starts: filing, detailing, laser correction, polishing, setting of stones, and polishing. All of which is done right here in our studio. The entire process from start to finish can take up to six weeks.
HWB: What is your advice to couples for selecting the perfect engagement diamond?
MGJ: We encourage them to learn as much as possible about diamonds, especially the 4 C’s (carat, color, clarity and cut), and sometimes the origin of the diamond. For inspiration, we always recommend that our clients look at luxury jewelry houses. Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier and Tiffany are some of the most common.
Lastly, the money spent on a ring should feel comfortable. Engagement jewelry marks a point in your personal history and it has to be able to reflect that part of your life. We don’t believe it is about a certain dollar amount, but instead it is about a certain feeling in the creation of your ring.
HWB: What would you tell a potential customer who is intrigued by the idea of a custom engagement ring…but concerned about veering away from tradition?
MGJ: Custom is not for everyone. Having your jewelry custom-made means you will have an amazing one-of-a-kind piece that tells your unique story. It’s a conversation-starter in many cases. We provide a lifetime of complimentary maintenance and polishing for your ring, because we love the piece we made for you and want to make sure it’s properly maintained. Every visit is a grand celebration and every client makes a big difference in our lives.
Photos: Courtesy of Eklektic Jewelery Studio
