With 8 weeks to go before the Big Day we thought we really should get on with buying our wedding rings.

Now for the engagement ring I had fallen in love with the red box dream but I also realise that there is always going to be a certain amount extra $$$$ added purely for the name. I did look at Cartier initially for W-ring but didn’t see anything particularly mind blowing – certainly not for the price.

James was keen to investigate the Jewellery Quarter, he was after a fairly wide platinum band so as far as design was concerned it was much of a muchness – more of a case of negotiating the best possible deal.

We had been recommended by friends of ours to visit a jewellery Quarter store where they had got both their E and W rings and had received a really good service so we thought that would be a good start….

James was easy peasy – his ring would be ready in 6 weeks, just enough time left for any last minute adjustments. As he was ordering his I was also admiring the many trays of sparkly lady rings that the store had to offer…..tried a few on…..tried a few more…..liked a very pretty one and decided it would be just right.

Platinum band, grain set diamonds all of the way around, bit difficult to tell exactly what it would look like sat underneath my engagement ring as the one in the store was so very big in comparison to my minute fingers….

But y’know was as I said…..very pretty.
Not to mention the convenience of ordering them both from the same store – they would both be ready at the same time for collection and it was only one supplier we needed to deal with….

Excellent.

You really thought I should have learnt my lesson by now right?

Yes I should have.

But I clearly didn’t.

Because when we went to pick up the rings yes indeed mine did look very pretty…..but didn’t really look right with my engagement ring.

At all.
Whether it is the grain setting or just the style I don’t know but it kind of looked antique almost ….lovely actually….if only my E ring was of a similar design.

Which it wasn’t.

Oh dear.

With 14 days to go there was no way on earth I was going to get another size F ring anywhere and to be honest I just didn’t want to cause James any further concern. What with everything else we had to fit into the next fortnight even finding the time to look for alternatives was going to be impossible.

So I kept my mouth firmly shut.

And tried really hard to forget all about it.

Now I’m not sure if anyone else got down to this kind of detail with the whole Bridal look but…..a good few months before the Big Day my nail technician Julie asked what colour I would be wearing…..actually on the day.

My nails? Goodness hadn’t even thought about those.

“But what about in the photo’s Charlotte? What about when everyone is admiring your ring? you will want them to look not only perfect but also an appropriate colour…” Julie explained…..

Now I’m not a fancy pants regular beauty treatment person as a rule, with nails (unless I was willing for them to look horrendous) I don’t have much choice. Due to the annoying eczema infliction and generally having hyper sensitive skin I have a severe allergy to nail polish, it’s the formaldyhyde…amongst other chemicals and scary ingredients they reguarly use in the formulation.

The last time I succumbed to the cult that was Chanel’s Rouge Noir ( It was Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction – I could only dream of being that darn cool….. ) I had ended up with a head that resembled my dream bouquet – i.e twice the size it should be….. with rather unattractive big red welts around my eyes and mouth.

So not a good look.

So after a brief flirtation with organic polish ( nice in theory but chipped after like 10 minutes) I invested in acrylics…..which moved swiftly on to Bio-Gel as soon as it became available in a salon near me ( about 6 or so years ago I do believe)

So every 3 weeks I indulge myself and leave after an hour of pampering with perfect non-chip colour that lasts until the next appointment…..and subsequently continue to avoid “face like giant melon” syndrome.

Julie suggested that 99% of Brides have a nice neat french manicure.

Obviously.

Ok then I shall have me one of those.

Although I haven’t had one for well…about 6 or so years since the days of acrylics. I love a nice bold colour personally, ( except red – love it on other people but looks terrible on me) and like to change often.

So the day before W-day Melissa and I have co-ordinating appointments and we sit ( both surprisingly calm) discussing final plans and await nail perfection.

Then Melissa starts admiring the new season colour collection. They have a hot lipstick pink…..totally gorgeous….so she decides to go with that.

Hmmmmm green eyed monster alert.

My french manicure is going to look so classy and timeless and……a little bit dull in comparison.

So then half way through applying the base coat….

Me: “Julie….”

Julie: “I know what you are thinking….you want to check out the new colours don’t you?”

Me “You read my mind! yes would love to…..sorry to be Bridezilla Diva”

Julie “No ‘tis fine, I only suggested french was the most popular choice – you should really have whatever you like best….”

And I did. A new shiny orange type pink coral colour that rocked.

Was loving my nails.

Hmmm shame I couldn’t have made a more informed choice about the far more important issue of the ring then.

Nails might last a few weeks, ring was with me for life.

Sometimes I really am a bit of a div.

On the day I was just totally the most happiest girl on earth…. whether my ring was perfect or not…. or whether I had bloomin’ french polish or block colour…..or even a union jack airbrush effect manicure…. didn’t matter a jot.

Oh and the very kind people at the Jewellery Quarter store have agreed to re-set my diamonds to make it more in keeping with my engagement ring……

Lovely.

So everything worked out in the end.

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