Diamonds. A lot can be said about them. “Diamonds are forever;” “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” “Blood diamonds.” For such a small item a lot of controversy surrounds them and the diamond industry.
But they’re so pretty and you’ve always envisioned getting a sparkly diamond engagement ring, right? Thankfully, there are ethical diamonds and diamond alternatives out there for all of you babes and dudes who want a pretty piece of bling but don’t want to support a problematic industry.
I came across an article that goes in depth explaining the differences between natural and ethical diamonds. Ethical diamonds – or lab-created diamonds as the is the term the article uses – are real diamonds that are grown in a lab rather than being mined.
Ethical diamonds have been around since the 1950s but have grown in popularity in recent years. (Yay!)
There are alternatives to natural and ethical (lab-created) diamonds, and I’m not talking about rhinestones or anything like that. Some alternatives are cubic zirconia, natural moissanite, and of course quartz.
The article mentioned above talks a bit more about the pros and cons of each of those alternatives. If you and your fiancé are leaning towards buying a diamond alternative, do yourself a favor and read the entire article.
Whether you want a natural, ethical, or alternative diamond, it’s important to do your research before making a purchase. And when you’re ready to do engagement ring shopping, communicate your diamond preferences to your jeweler.
We’re free spirited love and adventure seekers who know the value of having a game plan while allowing room for flexibility in order to embrace the unexpected, joyful moments life throws our way.
There was a chunk of time in our wedding planning when we thought we'd go without a professional photographer to save on cost (terrible idea!) but once we met with Lauren, we knew we'd be in good hands. She checked in often and asked questions that got us thinking about other parts of the wedding that we probably would've missed. Lauren captured exactly who we are as a couple!
Lauren and her team are so much fun to work with! She made us feel so comfortable on the day of our wedding, providing both silly and helpful cues to help us relax and be ourselves in our photos. Lauren’s background in dance is super helpful in recognizing simple posture changes that make a big difference, too. Oh, and the photos we got are just stunning!
My husband and I looked FOR MONTHS to find the perfect photographer and after meeting Lauren we knew was the best fit for us. She made our day so much fun and easy. She found little opportunities to make the perfect photo all with a calm ease that comes from someone who has an artistic eye along with experience in understanding the flow of a wedding.
I've been in several weddings and have worked with a multitude of photographers and I never felt as confident as I did with Lauren. I love how professional she is. She helped with the timeline way in advance and we stuck to that timeline the day of. She was also able to professionally and firmly keep unruly family members settled and focused and navigated family drama beautifully!
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