Let’s face it, guys. Shopping for jewelry probably isn’t too high on the list of wedding planning activities you’re most looking forward to. This is probably due to jewelry shopping horror stories you’ve heard from friends and families. It’s a fair point, but one that doesn’t have to hold true. One of the most intimate ways you can get involved in wedding planning is actually designing your own custom wedding jewelery.

Intrigued?

We recently had the opportunity to talk with Seattle’s Joseph Jewelry about just how simple it can be to design your own engagement ring or wedding bands. Joseph Jewelry specializes in creating custom jewelry that fits your style and budget. Instead of going to the obligatory chain store and browsing hundreds of rings that were designed with the mass consumer in mind, YOU get to work directly with Joseph’s professional designers to truly craft the ring(s) of your dreams. The process may sound complex but it’s anything but. Here’s the quick five-step guide on how it works:

Step 1: Design Your experience begins with an initial (free) consultation where you’ll meet with one of Joseph’s skilled jewelry artisans to discuss style ideas and view finished examples. If you’re a tech guy, you’ll enjoy viewing computer generated images that will show what your end product will look like. This consultation is all about forming a personal bond with the artisan who will be creating a piece of jewelry that you’ll wear for the rest of your life.

If you’re on a solo custom engagement ring shopping trip, don’t forget to go have a solid idea of what her preferences are BEFORE heading to the consultation.

Custom Filigree Diamond Engagement Ring

Step 2: Quote Joseph Jewelry prides themselves on crafting beautiful, custom jewelry that stays within your budget. Once your design and choice of gemstone and metal quality are decided on, an estimate will be provided.

Step 3: 3D Modeling Now the fun can begin. Using your custom design, a 3D model of your ring will be created. Changes can still be made to the piece throughout this process — without a price change, in most cases. Once the 3D model is completed, it’s sent to you for edits and approval.

Custom Men’s Mokume Wedding Band

Step 4: Wax Molds The next step is using  stereo lithography technology to create a wax version of your custom design. This version is to scale, so you’ll be able to get the look and feel of the real thing (only in wax). For your convenience, this model can be viewed at Joseph Jewelry or mailed worldwide.

Step 5: Production Your creation comes to life! Production times vary, but plan on the processing taking 3-4 weeks. After you receive your jewelry, your relationship with Joseph Jewelry doesn’t have to end. They offer an array of additional services including appraisals, certifications, repair work, engraving and more.

Learn more and being the ring building experience by connecting with Joseph Jewelry on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter & Google Plus.

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joseph jewelry is a sponsor of groomsadvice

Have you considered going with custom rings?  How would your perfect engagement ring or wedding band look? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

We’re excited to have stumbled across Bows-N-Ties, a San Francisco based retailer that has made it their mission to simplify the process of coordinating your groomsmen’s attire to the rest of your bridal party. Whatever look or theme you are going for, the folks over at Bows-N-Ties will have the right type of accessories for the men in your wedding.

To make finding the perfect wedding ties easier, the wedding team at Bows-N-Ties sorted all their 5,000+ ties in very specific wedding colors. Be it J.Crew’s Mint green, David’s Bridal’s new 2013 summer hue “Gem”, or a classic Ivory by Bill Levkoff, it seems as if not a single color has been left out. To ensure that their ties coordinate, each tie was physically compared to over 300 popular color swatches from designers like Davids Bridal, J.Crew, Alfred Angelo, and Bill Levkoff. Rumor has it that by mid summer of this year Bows-N-Ties will further expand their wedding ties to offer matching neckwear for all of Donna Morgan’s bridal hues.

Finally, we are excited to share a special promo code with you that was exclusively created for our readers. Simply enter the promo code GA2013 during checkout and you will save 20% on your entire order. Please note that this code will expire by the end of June, 2013.

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bows-n-ties is a sponsor of groomsadvice

What are your wedding party colors? How will you be coordinating the groomsmen and bridesmaid colors? Tell us in the comment section below.

By John Lennon, Lennon Photo

When I got married, the men’s clothing options were straightforward and bland.  The process was defined as such; find out from my fiancé what color I was allowed to wear, insist to her that I would get to choose the vest (there were only two options), then tell my groomsmen to get to the store and order their tux.  No personalization, no creativity, no value, no bonding with my buddies and surely no fun – this was a chore!

But times are changing for the better.  I recently photographed a small wedding at the Fearrington Village Inn, just outside of Chapel Hill, NC.  The venue is simple and elegant, it has a timeless look and feel, and the grounds are stunningly beautiful.  Treating your guests to a wedding here is a very thoughtful gesture, to say the least.

Well I immediately noticed something a little different with the guys.  They arrived carrying their attire for the day in the most careful and delicate way.  What was going on here?  Guys will often take their tuxedos, throw them on the bed and then not put another thought into it until it’s time to fling on the coat and walk down the aisle.  Even the bags that protected the garment had a special and unique look – there was something different here!

I asked the groom about the gentle handling of the garments, and he informed me that he and his groomsmen had decided to go with custom designed suits for the wedding.  I love it!  You see, for me, details are a very important part of capturing the moments and mood of the day.  Custom suits were about to take everything up a notch.  It’s not very often that I think about the fit of the garment or the cut and style, and although I always try my best to capture every detail and moment at a wedding, these custom suits were a bit more “front and center” than usual and I loved it!

After the wedding, I told the groom that I appreciated what he and the groomsmen had done regarding their wedding attire.  He told me how he wanted to lessen the burden on his wife to choose the men’s attire, and he really wanted to make his own decisions about what to wear.  He also sought after a process that was not laborious and boring for his groomsmen.  Basically, he wanted to get together with his buddies, watch some football, get pampered a little and, in the end, come out with a totally custom suit that he would have forever and so would his groomsmen.  Mission accomplished and well played my friend.

In writing this article, I asked custom clothier expert, Jamal Johnson, a style consultant for J.Hilburn, to provide information that may help other grooms better understand this process.

Cost

Jamal informed me that luxury menswear does not have to break the bank.  He said that on average the cost of a custom tailored suit is between $700 and $1000.  Considering that renting a tuxedo can cost you $200, this option is reasonable and has the luxury of having a perfectly fitted and custom styled suit that becomes a permanent part of your wardrobe.

The Process

The process typically takes two consultations and can be done at a location of your choice.  Jamal says, “What could be more civilized than discussing the finer points of one’s look over a nice drink in a calm setting?”  For my client’s first visit, he had his groomsmen over to his house to relax, have a few beers, and watch the football game. During the first visit, you’ll decide on fabrics and cuts, and you will have your measurements taken. Following this visit, your garments will arrive in approximately four weeks.  The next visit is to present the outfit and make sure the clothes fit properly.

Jamal says, “The most important thing for me when fitting a client, besides taking accurate measurements, is to get an idea of how the client wants to look.  To that end, we gear the first step toward building a “wish list” while making it fun and easy to choose the fabrics that best fit the weather, color palette, and tone of the wedding event.  My clients always feel pleased with their uniquely designed and custom suit.”

About the Author:
John Lennon is the co-owner of Lennon Photo, a high-end wedding photography studio with locations in New York and Michigan.  Lennon Photo mentors wedding photographers and on all aspects of business and technical expertise.  John also serves his community through his charity work to the EJ Autism Foundation.  You can follow John on Twitter.

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lennon photo is a sponsor of groomsadvice

What style of suit or tux will you be wearing on the wedding day? Share your style thoughts in the comment section below.

The wedding planning experience is often one that is time consuming and filled with quite a bit of stress. So many things to do and so little time to do them! If only there was one part of the wedding planning experience that could be simplified, something that you can do from the comfort of your home. Something that was easy and perhaps even fun.

Well there is! ‘The Tuxedo Builder‘ app from Jim’s Formal Wear has made tuxedo shopping a convenient and enjoyable part of the wedding planning process. This clever app makes it easy for the bride and groom to design the men’s attire for the wedding. The Tuxedo Builder allows the couple to pick the tuxedos the wedding party will wear before ever visiting a store.

It is easy to sort items by color, with over 175 vest options available to match the bridal party theme. You can upload the groom’s photo and build a tux that suits him, without spending hours in the fitting room. Once your selection is made, just send an email directly to the retailer, set up an appointment and speed up the ordering process.

Building a tuxedo at home is exciting. Jim’s Formal Wear  carries over 50 tuxedo styles from the hottest designers such as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Tony Bowls, just to name a few. With an easy search feature, you can find exactly what you are looking for! When you are done, you can post the tuxedo image on Facebook, Twitter or email to get feedback from friends and family. How great is that!

The Tuxedo Builder app is available to download FREE at the Apple Store for both the iPhone and iPad!

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Have you started planning your wedding day look yet? How would the ‘Tuxedo Builder’ make the task of finding the perfect attire easier? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

From time to time, we like to introduce new and useful blogs to our readers. Today, we share Dinner-Suit, a formal wear site from across the pond. In their own words:

Dinner-suit are one of the leading formal wear experts online. The editorial team have been providing information and advice on how to look the part and dress the part since 2009. If you have a formal event such as a wedding, rewards ceremony or cruise coming up then we suggest you take a look at all the resources available from their site.

The site is split into various product specific categories such as Tuxedos, Dress shirts, Morning dress, Accessories etc. that rate various online retailers in order to find you the best bargains. There are useful articles in the art of how to dress appropriately such as ‘Correctly tying a bow tie’, ‘How to dress for the races’ or ‘How to fold a handkerchief’. On top of this there are numerous help guides for grooms and best men looking for advice including ‘how to buy the ring’, ‘book the honeymoon’ and ‘speech making.

Put it this way if you are looking for deals on tuxedo suits or simply want a helpful guide on formal wear wear for men than look no further than Dinner-suit.

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Have you researched wedding attire online? What blogs or websites have you found useful? Let us know in the comment section below.