James Allen

Your wedding day is your day to shine!   You’ll want to pay close attention to the details – especially since everyone else surely will!

Rock that bling!

Clean your wedding jewelry and engagement ring a few days before the wedding so it sparkles like brand new!  This is simple enough to do at home – here are some great tips that will work great on gold jewelry and most precious gemstones:

1. Soak the jewelry in small bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild liquid detergent.  A soft toothbrush can be used to gently brush the jewelry while it is in the suds.  Rinse jewelry items in warm water and pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth or tissue paper.

2. Soak the jewelry in small bowl of cold water and household ammonia (half and half) for thirty minutes.  Once again a soft toothbrush can be used around the mounting.  Swish in the solution again, then rinse and air dry on a soft cloth.

3. Use a brand name liquid jewelry cleaner and follow the instructions given on the label.

4.  Using a baking soda, add a small amount of water to create a paste.  Brush on the paste with a soft toothbrush, rinse under warm running water and let air dry.

Some people swear by a solution of vinegar and warm water, while others prefer to use vodka.  I have also read about using toothpaste as a cleaner, but jewelers seem to discourage this. (Note: Toothpaste and other abrasive substances can scratch your jewelry.)

Swarovski bridal necklaces are very popular as they are much more affordable than diamonds and precious gemstones. Cleaning of your Swarovski crystal jewelry should be done on regularly basis by using warm soapy water. You can also use ultrasonic jewelery cleaner on occasional basis. After this, it should be rinsed with warm water and air dried. It’s recommended that you keep your Swarovski bridal jewelry away from make-ups, hair sprays, perfumes and other strong chemicals.

Sparkling Crystal and Glass

I have seen so many incredibly gorgeous crystal and glass pieces at weddings: from Tiffany and Wedgwood to Baccarat and Swarovski! It always surprises me that these items are often not properly cleaned before they are displayed at the wedding ceremony or reception.

All of your personal items – unity candle sets, champagne flutes, picture frames, candy decanters, etc – should be cleaned of finger prints and filmy residue, and all stickers and tags should be removed.

Tips for removing tags and merchandise labels include GooGone (my favorite), WD-40 (be careful where you use this) and the age old ’soaking’ technique. Heating the labels with a hairdryer is also helpful in loosening the adhesive glue. Whenever possible, use cotton gloves to handle the items.

Note: Take special care when cleaning heirloom pieces. When in doubt, consult a professional jeweler.

© 2010 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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Rose, Carnation Aisle Pomander

I love, love, love pomander balls! For starters, they are incredibly versatile! Pomander balls (also known as kissing balls) can be used as aisle decor, table decor, personal flowers, cake toppers and accent decor.

Pomanders begin with a styrofoam or oasis sphere: oasis is used for floral pomanders because it can be saturated with water and styrofoam can be used for any other style which is does not require water or moisture (such as silk, tissue paper, etc.).

Flower Girl

Pomanders can be constructed in a varety of sizes – it all depends on the size of the sphere that’s used for the base. And don’t forget: once you cover the sphere completely, it’s size will grow significantly – anywhere form 4″ to 6″ on average!

While somewhat fragile (due to their construction), they can easily be moved and reused throughout the day if handled with care.

Rose Pomander Centerpiece

Rose Pomander Centerpiece

There’s no disputing the fact that pomanders deliver a lot of look! While they can be quite pricey when constructed with roses -due to the shear number of blooms required to give a fully rounded look- the cost can be controlled if careful attention is given to the overall size and design.

Beachy Carnation Pomander - brides.com

Tissue Paper Pomander

For example, hydrangeas are an economical alternative to roses or carnations. Pomanders constructed from non-organic flowers (silks) may offer some savings, be made in advance (if it’s a DIY project) and can also be re-used. Or, you may want to try paper pomanders! Pomanders constructed from tissue paper are extremely affordable and deliver colorful & stylish impact equal to that of it’s floral counterpart.

© 2009 E. Delgardio All Rights Reserved

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