Hello All The Trim readers… I really wanted to write a blog about shopping for THE RING!!! However, seeing as to how I have never bought a diamond I went to the best source I know… MY HUSBAND! Since he did an absolutely AMAZING job purchasing my engagement ring I asked him to share some of his thoughts on the subject…

When thinking about purchasing an engagement ring, there are different angles us men take when approaching such a momentous decision. First of all, you need to think about whether you want the engagement experience to be a total surprise or somewhat of a foregone conclusion that she is expecting, but doesn’t know exactly when it’s coming. That single decision will guide you in the rest of the process. I will assume the purpose of this posting is that a surprising shock is what a man wants when he pops the question. If so, then listening and research will play a large part of what kind of ring you purchase.

There are 4 major categories of choices that will need to be addressed. These are what the industry calls the 4 C’s: color, clarity, cut, and carat. Color is the hue of the diamond, which in any case, the less color in the stone, the better and more expensive. Clarity has to do with how many imperfections exist in the stone. Obviously, the less imperfections, the more highly regarded the gem. Cut is the shape of the diamond. The most common ones are princess (square) cut, marquis (diamond shaped) cut, round (circular) cut, and cushion (square with rounded corners). Carat is the measurement of the diamond. Yeah, the bigger the better in most cases, but budgets will only allow so much, and you can get a diamond with the right shape, cut, and clarity that can offset the actual size of the stone. This is where asking as many questions as possible of the retailer you are considering comes in very handy.

Next, you will need to decide what kind of setting, and band that will fit best for your choice of cut. This choice is close to equally as important for your purchase, as your woman wants to wow others when showing her ring off, not only the stone, but all aspects of the ring. There are so many different varieties of bands and settings that I’m not going to venture into trying to break them down for you.

As I eluded to earlier, listening is very important when making these choices. The best way is to make subtle hints as to noticing others’ rings and asking her what she thinks of them. Then, draw your conclusions about your purchase from the small comments she makes about various rings she has seen others wearing when given the opportunity. Make mental notes, and remember the smallest details about her preferences. Really though, it’s not that complicated, but the last tip I will give you is to choose a top-notch diamond distributor who will work with you and not pressure you about your purchase.

If surprising her with a ring you picked out by yourself scares you, and you want to just make sure of what she will like, then take her with you and browse. But, I promise you, if you do the research and pay attention to her with the intention of shocking her with a great ring, she will cherish the ring much more. If you are dating a woman whom you don’t feel ultimately trusts you in making that type of decision, then, well, that’s another issue that I won’t get into here.

Happy Shopping!!!

As you may know from our previous blog posts, All The Trim had the opportunity to plan the Charlotte East Community Partners 4th Annual Black Tie Gala. Forgive us for tooting our own horn, but we received such a kind recommendation from Jeanie Welch, Secretary of CECP, we wanted to share it with you.

I am writing to recommend All the Trim Events By Design as an event planning company. I became familiar with this firm when its principals planned and coordinated the 4th Annual Black Tie Gala of the Charlotte East Community Partners, a local civic organization of which I am currently secretary. The Black Tie Gala is our principal fund raising event and showcases the positive aspects of our community. It is attended by local political and civic leaders and benefits a local non-profit organization.

All the Trim did an outstanding job of facilitating our 2010 Gala. The staff had several creative ideas, was flexible in meeting our needs, and had an amazing work ethic in making the gala a success. In all aspects of planning, including selecting a caterer, developing the Gala theme, decorating the venue, and printing of the tickets and programs, they handled their responsibilities with professionalism and enthusiasm.

In closing, I heartily recommend All the Trim Events by Design as an event planning firm for its creativity, integrity, and enthusiasm.