Sunrise Creations Blog

When thinking engagement ring, often a round bezel set diamond springs to mind, but did you realise there are actually ten basic diamond shapes to select from?  Generally you will have a particular preference or a certain leaning towards a shape or shapes which makes the shopping experience somewhat easier than it first sounds.   

Do you know which are the most popular diamond shapes?  They are:  round, princess (square), emerald (rectangular with trimmed corners), asscher (rectangular with deeply trimmed corners), marquise (slim oval with tapered ends), oval, radiant (square), pear, heart and cushion.  While the round shaped or the princess shaped diamonds are always a popular choice for an engagement ring, you can choose whichever shape your heart desires.

Not all shapes suit everyone so try on a variety of designs to see what works best for you.  A thicker shape may not look so elegant on a thin hand and delicate shape would be lost on hands that are large and strong.  Take the time to shop around both in stores and online before deciding on the perfect ring.

The style of the ring will play an important factor in the shape selection as some shapes, like the round or princess diamond, are more modern in style as opposed to the vintage inspired cushion or aascher cut.  Your personality will also have an impact on your choice.  Those looking for a sophisticated look can opt for an emerald diamond shape while those looking for something a little unusual can try a heart or oval shape. 

Diamonds are as expensive as they are beautiful, so it is wise to factor in all the elements when making your decision.  Despite knowing all this, you'll find that one ring will stand out for you and ask to be yours.  Diamonds are just like that...

Have you heard the quote – better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without? In the case of selecting a suitable diamond for your engagement ring, this couldn't be more accurate. However, choosing the perfect diamond for your ring is not a five minute process as there are many factors to consider and it can often lead to a confusing shopping experience.

As a starting point it is well worth your while to browse a variety of rings to see which styles speak to you directly. Are you someone who prefers a more modern look or are you opting for a classic design? The setting of the stone will often dictate the look dependent on, for example, whether you prefer a prong or bezel setting or something different altogether. Prong settings allow for the most light to enter the diamond creating the sparkle that is often desirable in a diamond ring. Bezel settings however surround the diamond giving it extra protection and increasing the durability.

When making your decision, don't forget to try them on to see how they look on your hand particularly. It will help you visualize your aesthetic preference and will give you an understanding of what specific width and height looks best on you. What looks great on one hand, may not suit the hand of another. Recognising your hand shape and what works for you specifically will make your decision easier.

Once you have an idea of the general style of your ring, then you can set about searching for a diamond to suit both your tastes and your budget.

Keep watching for more in our series on diamonds for your engagement ring.

Hen's nights, engagement parties, girls nights out and even Christmas get togethers are all special occasions.  They demand a special kind of drink.  That's when I think of cocktails. 

There is something luscious about a cocktail and I think a lot of it is in the way it looks.  The special glass, the colour and the presentation all contribute to its showstopper glamour.   Those "Sex and the City" girls knew what they were doing with their Manhattan's!

Here are a couple of recipes that will be very handy over the holiday season.  If you don't drink alcohol, skip ahead to the video clip which is full of clever mocktail recipes for you. 

Strawberry Cocktail

Ingredients (serves 8)
450g strawberries, hulled
1 tbs icing sugar
Crushed ice (optional)
2/3 cup (165ml) vodka, chilled
1 bottle sparkling wine, chilled
 
Method
Place the strawberries and icing sugar in a blender or food processor and blend or process until mixture forms smooth puree.

Pass the puree through a fine sieve into a bowl and discard the seeds in the sieve. Cover the puree with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator.

Half-fill 8 champagne flutes with the crushed ice, if using. Divide the chilled strawberry puree among the flutes, then top each with 1 tablespoon vodka. Top up with the sparkling wine.

Berry sparkling slushies 
 
Put away the ice - sorbet turns to slush in seconds with a drop of sparkling wine.
Preparation Time
5 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)
1ltr carton berry sorbet
500ml (2 cups) strawberry-flavoured sparkling wine
2 tbs Bacardi rum
 
Method
Place the sorbet, sparkling wine and rum in the bowl of a food processor or jug of a blender. Process until smooth.

Divide among serving glasses and serve immediately.

And now for some clever Mocktails...

Just don't forget to present them with a flourish!

We are very excited to introduce our latest product range – photo books with lay-flat pages. This new pages stock is the most deluxe available.  They lie flat, similar to a traditional wedding album.

To get technical for a moment, each page is printed on 300 gsm card stock. Isn’t that exciting?! Well we think it is!!

Below is an example of a Wedding Photo Book and a Holiday Photo Book - perfect for your honeymoon photos!

Can't you just see yourself in Egypt?!

If you like our photo books, why not also look at some of our wedding guest books. These are absolutely stunning as they incorporate photos of the bride and groom as well as beautiful messages from loved ones. A treasured momento!

"The Notebook" is one of my favourite movies, and when I came across this engagement shoot inspired by the movie, I was completely in awe! Blushing Bride Studio have done an amazing job to capture the love, passion and essence of this utterly romantic movie. I think you will also agree that Cindy looks a lot like Rachel McAdams.

Jean-Nicola and Cindy say "The chemistry of the young lovers in the movie was intense! And the era is very alluring to us- the fashion and way of life."


Completely inspiring don't you think?

Image credits: Blushing Bride Studios

Ever congratulated someone on their pregnancy only to get that dreaded silence, dare I say, pregnant pause.  Or asked a friend if they enjoyed so and so’s wedding only to find out they weren’t invited.  We all put our foot in it at different times.

Being a newly engaged woman can be quite a sensitive time for some. Here are some things NOT to say to a couple that have just gotten engaged:

• Are you sure you’re ready?
• Your engagement is too long / short.
• Is that really the ring you wanted?
• Who is paying for all of this?
• Am I going to be invited?
• So when are you having kids

Has anyone said anything else to you?

How beautiful is today's story? I am a bit of a romantic, and Stewart and Monique's engagement proposal really had me gushing.

The story began at Monique's 30th Birthday, where Stewart had organised an Amazing Race to do around Perth. Over the two days, there were challenges, 'road blocks' and 'fast forwards' with family and friends at each stage. The final clue was a suitcase, half packed with a towel and sunscreen. There were only generic photos of a destination, Monique was to pack. It wasn't until her parents came to collect her, that they advised Monique to pack for 5 days and grab her passport.

Monique recounts: "Stewart had organised everything, work, their dog and even checked my passport. I arrived at Perth airport to find my lovely man there waiting with our tickets - where to?.. Vanuatu - I nearly died! I would never have guessed in my wildest dreams of such an exotic location!"

The photos that you see below are the photos taken at the exact moment Stewart proposed to Monique, at Male Waterfalls, Vanuatu.


These photos were then used to create their engagement invitation - what a precious memory!


So boys, does this give you a few ideas?

I’m kind of in love with my iPhone, and more in love with some of the fabulous applications that are around!! My latest find is a new app by Tiffany & Co that allows you to browse through their engagement ring collection on your iPhone or iPad at any given moment, whether you are snuggling in bed, or on the train to work.

So girls, start dreaming…. boys, start saving!

Shopping for an engagement ring is made easy with this new app. Your desired ring can be found by selecting according to the shape, setting, carat, metal or design. You can even see how well your favourite engagement ring goes with various Tiffany wedding bands. On top of that, the app has a ring sizer that works by placing a ring on the screen.

The Tiffany & Co app allows you save your favourite designs, share them on facebook or email them. You can even make an appointment with a Tiffany diamond expert.

Just imagine a proposal over a romantic dinner, man on bended knee passing you the phone with the ring of your dreams (but that you can still change)!