Wedding Ideas

It seems as though romance is in the air this week, as creative proposals go viral on the internet. Is it time for you to get inspired for a marriage proposal of your own?

1. Lip Dub Proposal

It doesn’t get much more romantic than this creative proposal, in which a few dozen people lip synch and act out the lyrics to Bruno Mars’s song “Marry You” for  a beautifully choreographed musical proposal. “Don’t say no, no, no, no, no, Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, And we’ll go, go, go, go, go, If you’re ready, like I’m ready,” the couple’s family and friends sing in flash mob style to the now bride-to-be in the back of a slowly-moving SUV. We may not all be nearly as creative as this, but it is sure to get you in the mood for love. I just hope he remembered to buy a wedding ring set!

2. First Date Proposal

One less successful proposal in the news this week was the first date proposal by a man who hoped to have an arranged marriage. Pallavi Reddy’s parents hoped to arrange a marriage for her with a successful man of common heritage. When she finally agreed to a date with the man of their choosing, it became quickly clear to her that she could not marry him. Before the date was over, however, he proposed marriage without the answer he had hoped for. The lesson? Hold off on purchasing a wedding ring set, no matter how inexpensive it may be, until you are certain that her answer will be yes.

3. Brainy Beach Proposal

This past week, a brilliant young brain surgeon decided to propose to his girlfriend on their trip to the beach. His idea was to bury the engagement ring in the sand and have his bride-to-be dig it up. Several hours later, with the help of several beachcombers and a metal detector, the ring was recovered. Fortunately, she thought that the whole thing was quite funny, and she said yes. It was certainly a proposal to remember, and at least he didn’t bury the entire wedding ring set.

Pick Your Wedding Ring Set!

Photo credit: Renee V

If you are searching for the most affordable wedding ring sets, then the way to go is diamond cluster rings. But if you just can’t quite give up on the idea of solitaire engagement rings, then you may wish to investigate My Trio Rings’ pre-launch of a line of affordable solitaire engagement rings. Compare these similarly styled ring choices below to get a better idea of your options.

1. 3/8 Carat Diamond Cluster Engagement Ring - $397.99

This diamond cluster engagement ring from My Trio Rings features 3/8 Carats of diamonds nestled in 14 K white gold. The ring is designed with seven small diamonds arranged in a circle, in the shape of a solitaire diamond. The band is encrusted with a straight line of small diamonds. It is a diamond cluster ring, but it looks like a solitaire engagement ring.

2. 1/2 Carat Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring - $699.99

This new engagement ring from My Trio Rings has a central, round cut solitaire diamond with a straight line of 20 conflict-free diamonds wrapping around the band. In style, it looks very similar to the diamond cluster engagement ring also offered by My Trio Rings, but this one is a solitaire engagement ring.

3. 1/2 Carat Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring - $999.99

This diamond solitaire engagement ring from Zales also features a central round cut diamond, in a square setting, with a straight line of diamonds nestled into the band. In style, it is very similar to both rings from My Trio Rings. However, it is $300 more expensive than the comparable solitaire engagement ring from My Trio Rings, and it is more than $600 more expensive than the diamond cluster engagement ring. Whether you prefer a solitaire style or a diamond cluster style, My Trio Rings is the clear choice.

Shop for affordable wedding ring sets!

The U.S. economy may still be weak, but that is no reason to put your wedding plans on hold. You have met the love of your life, and you are ready to take the next step to make a lifetime commitment to each other. The weak economy just serves as a good reminder to use your resources wisely by spending your hard-earned money on a high-quality, low-cost three piece wedding ring set, especially a set composed of diamond cluster rings.

Diamond cluster rings are a wise investment, since they are real diamonds of a smaller size grouped together for high visual impact and low cost. Many popular jewelry designers today offer larger diamond solitaires supplemented with clusters or bands of smaller diamonds, but the diamond solitaire makes such rings much more expensive than diamond cluster rings without a large, central diamond.

Even if you can afford the ring options from a standard jeweler, the choices are much more complicated. By exploring your options online, you can avoid feeling pressured by salespeople in an in-person jewelry store.

On the My Trio Rings website, it is easy to navigate the three piece wedding ring set choices as well as the options of other combinations of rings, if you already have one of the rings in hand. All you need to do is pick a style you like that fits into your budget, and you can make decisions about your three rings with one easy click.

On jewelry websites which do not offer such combination deals, in addition to being far more expensive, it is complicated to navigate the various ring designs and figure out which rings coordinate with each other. For example, on popular jewelry websites such as kay.com or jared.com, you must search for each ring type separately, based on different styles and collections of each type of ring. For those of us who aren’t jewelry insiders, even the online ring search on such sites is frustrating and confusing. You may find an engagement ring that you like, but is it in your budget? Will it coordinate with a beautiful but budget-friendly wedding band?

Take the complicated guesswork out of the equation, and make your life a little easier with one-stop-shopping for a three piece wedding ring set.

Photo Credit: Anthony Easton (Flickr: PinkMoose)

While shopping for wedding ring sets online is a relatively new convenience, the wedding rings themselves belong to a tradition that dates back thousands of years.

The wedding ring was first used in ancient Egypt, where grasses and reeds were woven into circles symbolic of eternity and completeness. The Egyptians were also the first to place the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand, believing that the vein from that finger led directly to the heart (the Romans called this the vena amoris, or “vein of love”). Over the course of time, temporary grass rings were replaced by rings made of leather, bone, and eventually soft metals.

Romans chose to use iron in their wedding bands, believing the strength of the metal to symbolize the strength of their love. Gold gained popularity in later centuries, and by the Middle Ages, the diamond was routinely used in wedding rings, along with other gemstones. The use of silver in rings had a brief revival in the Renaissance, and rings were inscribed with sentimental phrases and poems.

Wedding rings were almost entirely reserved for women until the mid-twentieth century, when the many separations caused by World War II (and increased marketing from jewelry companies) spurred men to begin wearing rings to serve as sentimental reminders of home. Before 1930, only 15% of marriages used wedding ring sets for both partners, while a mere fifteen years later, 80% of married men sported a band.

One of the first wedding ring sets may have been the sixteenth-century European gimmels. These rings combined to make a trio ring set that would have been separated prior to marriage – one ring for the prospective bride, one for the groom, and the third for a witness – and then rejoined into one ring to place on the bride’s hand on her wedding day. Tiffany and Co. introduced the solitaire diamond ring in 1886, but recent innovations in ring manufacturing, including the development of diamond cluster rings and trio ring sets have made it affordable for anyone to join in the historic tradition of exchanging rings to symbolize true love.

Photo Credit: Lisa H

For years, you daydreamed about meeting the man of your dreams. And, let’s be honest, when you met him, you fantasized about the perfect proposal. Now, at last, after looking at inexpensive wedding ring sets together and picking a beautiful diamond cluster ring as your engagement ring, an important part of that fantasy is about to come true – showing off your engagement ring (and then your coordinating wedding band) to your friends at work. It is thrilling to have someone notice the telltale sparkle on your hand and ask to see your diamond cluster ring.

But believe it or not, this part of your fantasy may not happen exactly as you expect it to. In many professions, the wearing of jewelry, even inexpensive wedding ring sets, is not permitted, so you may have to show off your diamond cluster ring on your own time.

The main reason that jewelry wearing is discouraged or prohibited in many professions is safety. In certain hospital units, for example, doctors and nurses are not supposed to wear jewelry that could catch on the hospital equipment. Others aren’t supposed to wear jewelry that would snag on their disposable latex exam gloves. For people such as carpenters and mechanics, there is also a concern that rings or other jewelry could catch on machinery and cause injuries.

If you work in a field in which you are not allowed to wear your diamond cluster ring, you may wish to think of other creative solutions. Perhaps you could wear your engagement ring and wedding band on a necklace. In some professions, it is common to pin wedding jewelry to one’s uniform or carry it in a special bag in a pocket. Or perhaps, depending on your job, you will wish to keep your jewelry safe at home in a special jewelry box while you are at work, and you can show off your sparkles on evenings and weekends. But even if you are free to wear your jewelry at all times, don’t forget to insure your wedding jewelry and care for it properly!

Photo Credit: Adam Lehman

So you know that this is the girl you want to spend the rest of your life with. You’re ready to propose. But which do you buy? The bridal ring set comes with the Engagement Ring and Ladies Wedding Band. The Trio Set comes with the Engagement Ring, Ladies Wedding Band, and Mens Wedding Band. Which one is better?

OR

It’s a matter of preference. One isn’t better than the other. The Trio Ring Set comes with three rings that all match one another because they are made together to be a set. The Bridal Ring Set has the eye-catching engagement ring and ladies wedding band. Maybe you don’t want a flashy ring and want something simple instead. You could purchase a Bridal Ring Set and buy the mens wedding band separately. If you’re one of the people who need things to match perfectly and maybe want a little extra shine on your finger, then the trio ring set is a wonderful choice as well. Both are great choices. Remember, it’s the thought that counts. The shining diamond ring is just a little extra.

Once you plan the budget honeymoon (http://www.mytriorings.com/6-budget-honeymoon-tips.html) of your dreams, you will need to start thinking about what to pack. In general, it is a good idea to pack light, so that your new husband still has the energy to carry you over the threshold after carrying your luggage up to your hotel room. Here are a few simple tips for packing smart on your honeymoon.

Clothing

Check the weather forecast for your destination before you decide what to bring. Choose clothing items that are comfortable, versatile, and easily dressed up or down with simple accessories. Plan to bring light layers, even in the summer months when you may wish to put on a lightweight sweater over your sundress or shorts in the evening. If you decide to bring new clothing or new shoes on your budget honeymoon, be certain to wash new clothing and break in new shoes before you go. Most importantly, pack a change of clothes in your carry on luggage, just in case your checked bags are misdirected and you want to freshen up before they arrive. If swimming is in your honeymoon plans, consider bringing an extra bathing suit so that you don’t have to put on a wet bathing suit if yours has not fully dried from the beach the day before.

Jewelry

It is a good idea to leave expensive jewelry at home when you travel. Even if you purchased an inexpensive wedding ring set, you may not wish to risk loss, theft, or damage to your wedding jewelry. Some couples choose to leave their real diamond jewelry safely at home and purchase inexpensive fake cubic zirconia rings for travel. If you choose to take your wedding ring set with you, be certain to care for it properly.

Toiletries

Whether you are travelling to a strange city, a foreign country, or just a quiet bed and breakfast a few hours away, it is a good idea to prepare a small medical kit to take on your budget honeymoon that includes all of the prescriptions you need (or might need) to take, as well as your preferred over-the-counter remedies for common ailments such as upset stomachs or headaches. Depending on your destination, you may also need such items as sunscreen and bug spray.

Treats

If you don’t already have a good quality digital camera, this is the perfect time to get one so that you can start recording your memories of your new life together. Consider putting a camera on your wedding registry or buying one as a gift for your soon-to-be spouse so that you can record your honeymoon memories in photographs. Besides a camera, consider packing special treats to share with your spouse on the trip, such as gourmet chocolates, special champagne, or other favorite treats to share, in case you can’t purchase them at your budget honeymoon destination. You may also wish to prepare your own kit of pampering supplies in order to save money on spa treatments. Think about buying special lotion, bubble bath, or massage oil to surprise your new spouse.

What other helpful travel tips can you share?

Photo Credit: Celebratemanking

Have you been thinking for a while now that you’re ready to propose to your girlfriend? If you can’t imagine living without her, and you are ready to commit to creating a life together, then it may be time to pick out an inexpensive wedding ring set and surprise your girlfriend with a proposal this spring. Proposals are common at Christmas and Valentine’s Day, so your girlfriend will probably be more surprised by a springtime proposal, such as a creative proposal on Easter. Easter is about a month away, so you still have time to pick out a beautiful wedding ring set and make a proposal plan. Here are some creative proposal ideas to get you started.

Easter Basket Proposal

Purchase an Easter basket and some Easter grass. Fill the basket with a variety of treats that will be special to your girlfriend, such as scented lotion, a pair of soft socks, a gourmet chocolate bar, a new book or movie, her favorite tea, a pottery mug, or even fun things for the young at heart, like crayons or a stuffed bunny rabbit. Purchase a pack of plastic Easter eggs. Fill them with a variety of Easter candies such as jellybeans or small chocolate eggs. Hide a wedding ring set inside one of the eggs instead of candy. Arrange all of the treats and plastic eggs nicely in the basket and surprise her with it on Easter morning.

Easter Bouquet Proposal

Consider a creative proposal at church. Many religious traditions ask that you bring or wear flowers to church on Easter morning. If you are celebrating the holiday together at church, bring your girlfriend a beautiful seasonal bouquet or corsage from the local florist or even from your own backyard. Use a piece of brightly colored ribbon to tie an engagement ring to the bouquet before you hand it to your girlfriend to carry.

Picnic Basket Proposal

Plan an Easter picnic with your girlfriend, and tell her that you will be in charge of bringing the food. Pack a picnic basket full of your girlfriend’s favorite seasonal foods that you either make yourself or buy from your favorite restaurant or deli. Some springtime picnic favorites include pasta salad, fried chicken, deviled eggs, and fruit salad. Don’t forget to pack a bottle of chilled champagne or sparkling cider and glasses. Nestle the ring box into the basket with the food. Spread out a picnic blanket at your favorite park or nature area, and ask your girlfriend to unpack the food. As she takes things out of the basket, she will be surprised to find a ring inside!

Easter Bunny Proposal

Plan a creative proposal with the help of the Easter Bunny at your local mall. Take your girlfriend out to breakfast or lunch, and then suggest taking a picture with the Easter Bunny as a couple for fun. When you both sit on the Easter Bunny’s lap, pull out the ring and propose. If you can, warn the Easter Bunny photographer ahead of time so that he can be certain to catch the proposal on film for a special memory that will last a lifetime.

Easter Cupcake Proposal

Designer cupcakes are all the rage right now. Ask your local bakery to create two fancy cupcakes to share with your girlfriend for Easter dessert. Choose her favorite cake flavor, and ask the bakery to decorate the cupcakes in a creative way that incorporates the beautiful wedding ring set that you picked out. Serve the cupcakes after a special dinner at home, and surprise her with delicious his-and-hers wedding ring cupcakes.

Photo Credit: pamramsey

You love to spend time with her, and you can’t wait to spend your life with her. If you’re ready to propose this spring, and you are looking for creative proposal ideas, think about bypassing the more common down-on-one-knee proposal. Instead, consider modifying wedding and proposal traditions from other cultures around the world.

Rings of all kinds have been exchanged to symbolize engagement or marriage since ancient times. The Egyptians believed that the round ring symbolized eternity, and they advocated wearing the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand as many Americans still do today, because they believed that a vein in the ring finger leads directly to the human heart.

The first documented exchange of a diamond ring to signify an engagement occurred in 1477 when Austrian Archduke Maximilian proposed to Mary of Burgundy, but until the 19th century, engagement rings were not as popular as other engagement gifts, such as sewing thimbles or livestock. Since the 19th century, though, diamond rings have become the standard symbol of engagement in America. Today, 80 percent of American women receive (or help choose) a ring when they become engaged, and they wear a wedding ring set that includes both an engagement ring and a wedding band after the marriage.

Choose a beautiful and affordable wedding ring set that includes an engagement ring for your bride-to-be. Then read the ideas below to help inspire a creative proposal that your girlfriend won’t forget!

Chinese Proposals

The families of the bride-to-be and groom-to-be have traditionally been very involved in the proposal process. Once the couple decides to get married, the families often get together to exchange gifts: money wrapped in red envelopes, tea, wine, and sweets, such as a double happiness cake decorated with traditional Chinese symbols. If you want to modify this tradition, gather your families together for an Asian-inspired evening complete with a double happiness cake from your local bakery. Pop the question with the whole family there to share in your happiness.

Kenyan Proposals

Wedding and proposal traditions vary widely among different African cultures. In the Rendille tribe in Kenya, a man sends beads to the woman he is interested in marrying. If she keeps the beads, then the couple is considered to be engaged. The woman’s family then gives her a special ornament to add to her beads if they also accept the engagement. If you wish to copy this tradition for your creative proposal, consider purchasing a special fair trade necklace in addition to a conflict-free diamond ring.

Swedish Proposals

In Scandinavian countries, men and women often both wear a ring to symbolize their engagement. If you want to copy this tradition, pick out a ring for yourself to coordinate with your fiancée’s ring. This ring can double as your wedding band, or you could pick out another ring as a wedding band. In Sweden, men also give their brides an additional ring at the wedding, the ring of motherhood. If you choose to use these traditions, a more standard wedding ring set package would not work for you, but your jeweler might be willing to work with you to customize a set.

Women’s Proposals

Although it is still traditional for men to propose to women, there is one day a year when women have historically proposed to men. Ladies, if you want to propose to your fiancé, the traditional day is February 29. The English traditionally considered this day to be outside of law, which meant that it was a day when women could be free from conventional gender restrictions. The next leap year is less than a year away, so start planning now if you want to surprise your boyfriend with a creative proposal in 2012.

What are the most creative marriage proposals that you’ve heard about?'

Photo Source: APDK

A real diamond wedding ring set is an investment that will last a lifetime if you take proper care (http://www.mytriorings.com/how-to-care-for-your-wedding-ring-set.html) of your conflict-free diamonds. However, that doesn’t mean that you need to go into debt to purchase a wedding ring set that you will be paying off in small monthly payments for a lifetime. Smart couples will choose beautiful diamond wedding jewelry that they can afford, in order to start their marriage off on the right financial footing. By avoiding expensive brick-and-mortar boutiques and doing comparison shopping online, most couples can find the wedding ring set of their dreams without breaking the bank. Let’s take a peek at some of the options.

World Jewels

From World Jewels, the least expensive option is a 7/10 carat diamond wedding ring set with 14 K gold for $799.99. This price is for a diamond cluster wedding ring set that only includes an engagement ring and a women’s wedding band, not a men’s wedding band, which you would need to purchase separately. World Jewels offers free shipping and a limited warranty plan, but its cheapest wedding ring set option is still quite pricey.

Gordon’s Jewelers

Gordon’s Jewelers offers a lovely 1/4 carat diamond wedding ring set mounted with 10 K white gold for $579. This wedding ring set also only includes an engagement ring and a ladies’ wedding band. Although Gordon’s offers free shipping, the need to purchase an additional ring makes this an expensive option.

My Trio Rings

My Trio Rings offers a selection of different affordable trio wedding ring sets for under $500. These sets include the engagement ring, the ladies’ wedding band, and the men’s wedding band for one low price. One of the best deals is the 1/4 carat conflict-free diamond wedding ring set with 10 K white gold for $379.99. My Trio Rings offers excellent customer service, free shipping, and a strong warranty for every purchase.

Real diamonds are an excellent investment for couples to make. Conflict-free diamonds are both beautiful and long-lasting. Imitation wedding jewelry, on the other hand, can tarnish, cause skin problems, or simply not last as long as your marriage. Fortunately, it is easy to budget for affordable wedding jewelry made with conflict-free diamonds. With proper care, your diamond wedding ring set will last a lifetime, and you may choose to pass your wedding jewelry on to your children or grandchildren.

1. Remove Your Wedding Ring Set

Most jewelers recommend that you remove your rings before you dig around in the garden or go swimming. Others also recommend that you also remove your rings before exercising, showering, and washing the dishes in order to keep it safe from dirt, scratches, chemicals, and the like. When you temporarily remove your wedding ring set, be certain to put it in a safe place where it won’t get lost or get scratched by other jewelry.

2. Clean Your Wedding Ring Set

Residue from personal care products such as soap and lotion can build up and make your ring less shiny. Clean your wedding ring with a mild soap and water using a soft toothbrush to loosen dirt under or around your diamonds. For dirtier rings, mix a solution of half ammonia and half water to gently scrub your ring. Many local jewelers will also professionally clean your ring for free, even if you did not purchase the ring from their store.

3. Inspect Your Wedding Ring Set

At least once a year, take your wedding ring set to a jeweler to have it professionally cleaned and inspected. You may not be able to see loose stones or other problems with the setting of your wedding ring set, but the jeweler has special tools to inspect the security of your diamonds.

What are your best tips for caring for your wedding jewelry?

Photo Credit: Pat David

Buying a trio ring set, which includes a matching engagement ring, women’s wedding band, and men’s wedding band, saves you time and money. However, not all jewelers that offer trio ring sets offer the same affordable prices. Some jewelers are more expensive due to in-store mark-ups, high shipping costs, expensive warranty plans, and misleading pricing policies. For the most affordable trio ring sets, real diamond cluster rings from low-pressure, low-cost online retailers such as My Trio Rings are probably your best bet.

Scenario 1:

*My Trio Rings:

My Trio Rings offers a trio ring set with 10k white gold and a collection of small diamonds totaling 1/4 carats. This affordable diamond cluster ring set costs $379.99 with free shipping and a one year warranty.

*The competition:

Zales also sells a trio ring set with 10k white gold and 1/4 carat diamonds. At first glance, you might think that you are about to get an amazing deal, as band costs $194.65. The total cost for this ring set is $617.95 before tax. the price is listed “from $152.15.” When you click on the link, though, you will discover that each ring is actually priced separately. The ladies’ wedding band costs $152.15, the engagement ring costs $271.15, and the men’s wedding band costs $194.65, all sale prices.

Scenario 2:

*My Trio Rings:

My Trio Rings offers a 14k yellow gold trio ring set with 1 carat total diamond weight, including both princess and round cuts. This diamond cluster ring set sells for $614.99 and includes both free shipping and a free 1 year warranty.

*The competition:

Fred Meyers Jewelers sells a trio ring set that is roughly equivalent: 10k yellow gold and 1 carat total weight in round cut diamonds. The price for this wedding ring set is $1,399.00, which is more than twice as expensive as the comparable My Trio Rings set. Even though Fred Meyers Jewelers also offers free shipping over a low minimum purchase price, the My Trio Rings set is a much better bargain.

*Please note that all product and pricing information was updated on January 15th 2010.

You want to spend every moment with her. You can’t stop thinking about her. You know that she is the one person you want to share the rest of your life with. You want to start your life together on firm financial footing. Planning a wedding on a budget starts before you even pick out her wedding ring set. Here are some budget wedding tips to get you started before you pop the question.

1. Pick a ring you can afford.

The popular myth is that you need to spend at least two month’s salary on an engagement ring. But why go into debt if you can get a beautiful diamond ring for less? Pick a budget that you can afford and stick to it. The more money you save on a ring, the more money you will have to put towards the wedding, the honeymoon, or even the down payment on a house.

2. Shop for jewelry online.

Online jewelry stores often offer better selection and better prices than a brick-and-mortar store can afford to do. They have the advantage of not using pushy salespeople who may be working on commission. Online jewelers also allow you easy comparison shopping from the comfort of your living room as you search for the best deals.

3. Select a diamond cluster ring set.

You can save money by purchasing a diamond cluster ring, which clusters smaller diamonds together for a higher aesthetic impact at a much lower cost. You can also stay on budget by purchasing a bargain wedding ring set that includes either a wedding ring and an engagement ring or an engagement ring and two wedding bands instead of spending more money and time to choose each ring separately.

4. Put your ring on layaway.

Don’t purchase the wedding ring set with your credit card and get hit by high finance charges that will hurt your wallet and affect your credit rating for years to come. Some jewelers such as My Trio Rings offers customized layaway plans (http://www.mytriorings.com/layaway-plan.html) to help you spread out the cost of an engagement ring or a wedding ring set over time before you propose.

Photo Credit: Sinksanctity

Weddings are a beautiful (and often expensive) event in a couple’s life. Most couples need to work within a budget to pay for formal wear, food, music, flowers, and photography in order to start their life together without going into debt. Fortunately, it is easy to find inexpensive, high quality trio wedding ring sets that will celebrate your relationship for a lifetime. Here are the best ways to find high quality, affordable wedding rings:

1. Buy Online

Purchase rings online to avoid paying the overhead costs associated with expensive jewelry boutiques. Online jewelry stores are less likely to have a pushy sales staff encouraging you to purchase a more expensive ring than you can afford. Online jewelers with a strong customer service record can give buyers more information and assistance with less pressure and fewer costs.

2. Buy Direct from the Source

Purchase your wedding rings directly from the manufacturer in order to take the middleman or wholesaler out of the equation. Jewelers that sell rings straight from the source can save you a significant amount of money.

3. Buy All Three Wedding Rings Together

Purchase a trio wedding ring set rather than purchasing the engagement ring and each wedding band separately. It is much less expensive for a retailer to manufacture, package, and sell rings as a set rather than individually, and it saves you time shopping as well. Many couples prefer to have matching rings, so purchasing the rings as a set makes the process easier as well as more affordable.

4. Choose a Cluster Head Instead of a Solitaire

Choose a cluster head of smaller diamonds, which are less expensive than a single solitaire diamond. A cluster of small, high quality diamonds can have a bigger visual impact at a much lower cost. Cluster rings also have the advantage of making it more affordable to purchase conflict-free diamonds.

5. Avoid Expensive Brand Names

Avoid purchasing expensive brand name wedding rings. Experienced jewelers can design a beautiful and affordable bridal ring set for you and your future spouse without a designer price tag. Well-known, high-priced jewelry brands do not hold a monopoly on beautiful rings. A unique ring design will likely impress your family and friends more than something run-of-the-mill.

Photo Credit:Angelia Herring (My Trio Rings Customer)

If you're planning a wedding, you know that your expenses, from flowers to catering, add up quickly. Fortunately, with a little creativity you can have a classy wedding without breaking the bank. Here are three budget wedding sites that will guide you along the way. With suggestions like printing your own invitations or buying wedding ring sets instead of individual rings, these sites are well worth a look.

1. Best Wedding Budget Ideas

The author of the Best Wedding Budget Ideas site says that she created it after helping her daughter plan an elegant but inexpensive wedding. She offers advice such as borrowing wedding planning books from the library and reading the bridal magazines there, and buying a special occasion dress -- such as a bridesmaid or Prom dress -- rather than a wedding dress.

2. Dream Weddings on a Budget

This colorful website showcases creative examples of ways you can save money on your wedding. It suggests places to buy wedding ring sets and other inexpensive jewelry, and it features real-life couples with unique wedding ideas.

Among the most helpful elements of this budget wedding site are its how-to articles, which include how to make your own wedding bouquet and how to do your own hair. It also suggests personalized but simple gifts for your wedding party.

3. Real Simple

Real Simple is a magazine dedicated to making daily life easier. It also has one of the best looking and most helpful budget wedding sites. Money-saving tips include scheduling your wedding during off-season, and on a day other than Saturday.

The site also features topic-specific checklists to ensure that you don't miss any crucial details. For example, The Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist walks you through the wedding planning process, from a year before the wedding to the week of.

If you find yourself wondering how you'll ever pay for your wedding, rest assured that there are hundreds of tips and tools online to help you. For starters, check out The Best Free Wedding Budget Tool on TheKnot.com.

What are your favorite budget wedding sites? Leave a comment!

So you just bought an exquisite his and her trio ring wedding set from MyTrioRings.com. You’ve just been happily married and can’t stop admiring the gleaming diamonds on your finger. You feel like you never want to take them off your hand because the beautiful rings remind you of the one you love. However, as difficult as it may be, it may be in your best interest to take your rings off once in a while this summer.

In order to help preserve the shine and beauty of your trio ring wedding set, it is important that when entering a hot tub or swimming pool that you take all your jewelry off (and store it in a safe place!) This is because chlorine can have a damaging effect on gold and platinum and has been known to slowly erode the finish and polish of gemstones. Chlorine has also been known to slowly damage and discolor precious metals, especially gold and platinum.

Similarly, we recommend that you take off your wedding rings before jumping into salt water, since it has been known to have a very similar effect on gold jewelry. Another reason we recommend taking your rings off when our in the sun this summer is that applying lotions and sunscreen can also damage your rings. These products have a tendency to form a thin coating on your jewelry, which can take away much of the shine and vibrance of your rings.

Likewise, to preserve the optimum shine, it’s important that you take your rings off before showering and cleaning. While it may seem that it only happens in movies that a ring slips off while cooking or cleaning, or slips down the drain by chance, it could happen to you! Not only are your wedding rings valuable financially, they are also an important emotional symbol of your love. When it comes to your rings, it’s better to be safe than sorry, which means taking your rings off when they are in danger of getting tainted or of slipping off.

Presenting the one you love with a wedding trio set is a great idea for many reasons. Purchasing a wedding ring set from My Trio Rings allows you to purchase all three rings you need at once, saving you time and money. Also, the act of purchasing and presenting all three wedding rings at once shows your partner that you are responsible and dedicated.

Before the conception of wedding ring sets, someone looking to propose would first buy an engagement ring. However, after the proposal, the person would have to browse through countless more rings to find suitable wedding bands, which often wouldn’t match with the original engagement ring.

To make the process simpler and to allow for matching designs, trio ring sets were invented. Through this invention, three wedding rings, which include the engagement ring, the original engagement ring, the men’s wedding band, and the women’s wedding band, would be created at the same time, and packaged together. This invention meant that the designs would always match, and would be consistent in terms of diamond cut and quality.

Trio wedding ring sets have skyrocketed in popularity over the last decade, and it isn’t hard to see why. Through economies of scale, it is cheaper for manufacturers to design and create all three rings at once, rather than to manufacture, package and retail each item individually. Because producing and selling a trio ring set allows for significantly lower manufacturing, packaging, and retailing costs, consumers are able to purchase a trio ring set for much cheaper than they would be able to purchase wedding rings of similar quality separately. Thus, while price shouldn’t be the only consideration when looking for wedding rings, a wedding can be an extremely expensive event, so it certainly helps to get a great deal on the rings themselves.

Another reason why trio rings have become so popular, is that it is also much easier for a consumer to purchase all three wedding rings at once rather than individually shopping for each ring. The customer only has to visit one retailer, and choose one style and type of ring he wants. For those we are about to get engaged, the convenience and time savings that purchasing a trio ring set allows is priceless.

Thousands of happily married couples have already chosen to purchase trio ring wedding sets as the symbols of their love and commitment. Take a look at our testimonials as proof that a matching ring set is the way to go when looking to purchase rings, and when you’re convinced, browse the diamond and gold ring selection at MyTrioRings.com for affordable yet excellent wedding trio ring sets.

Presenting the one you love with a wedding trio set is a great idea for many reasons. Purchasing a wedding ring set from My Trio Rings allows you to purchase all three rings you need at once, saving you time and money. Also, the act of purchasing and presenting all three wedding rings at once shows your partner that you are responsible and dedicated.

Before the invention of his and her wedding ring sets, someone looking to propose would first buy an engagement ring. However, after the proposal, the person would have to browse through countless more rings to find suitable wedding bands, which often wouldn’t match with the original engagement ring.

To make the process simpler and to allow for matching designs, trio ring sets were invented. Through this invention, three wedding rings, which include the engagement ring, the original engagement ring, the men’s wedding band, and the women’s wedding band, would be created at the same time, and packaged together. This invention meant that the designs would always match, and would be consistent in terms of diamond cut and quality.

Trio wedding ring sets have skyrocketed in popularity over the last decade, and it isn’t hard to see why. Through economies of scale, it is cheaper for manufacturers to design and create all three rings at once, rather than to manufacture, package and retail each item individually. Because producing and selling a trio ring set allows for significantly lower manufacturing, packaging, and retailing costs, consumers are able to purchase a trio ring set for much cheaper than they would be able to purchase wedding rings of similar quality separately. Thus, while price shouldn’t be the only consideration when looking for wedding rings, a wedding can be an extremely expensive event, so it certainly helps to get a great deal on the rings themselves.

Another reason why trio rings have become so popular, is that it is also much easier for a consumer to purchase all three wedding rings at once rather than individually shopping for each ring. The customer only has to visit one retailer, and choose one style and type of ring he wants. For those we are about to get engaged, the convenience and time savings that purchasing a trio ring set allows is priceless.

Thousands of happily married couples have already chosen to purchase trio ring wedding sets as the symbols of their love and commitment. Take a look at our testimonials as proof that a matching ring set is the way to go when looking to purchase rings, and when you’re convinced, browse the diamond and gold ring selection at MyTrioRings.com for affordable yet excellent wedding trio ring sets.

Thanks for checking out our new MyTrioRings.com blog! In the last few weeks, we have reached out to many of you to get feedback on what you wish to see at MyTrioRings.  A special thank you goes out to everyone who let us know what you liked and what you didnt like.  We have listened to your feedback and have started to make the changes that youve asked for.

We found out that many of you would love to see a blog on MyTrioRings.  Check back every few days and you will see:

- Wedding tips and suggestions

- Wedding ring news and information

-  and lots more...

If theres something more you would like to see, just let us know!