Adrienne Bailon Is Engaged! Be Inspired by Her Ring!

Singer and television personality Adrienne Bailon announced her engagement to Israel Houghton, a gospel singer, over the weekend on a trip to Paris. The cohost of The Real and former member of 3LW and The Cheetah Girls shared the news on her Instagram. Adrienne showed off her multi-carat cushion-cut diamond featuring a halo and thin pavé band by taking a video that showed the ring sparkle in front of the similarly sparkling Eiffel Tower.

Her engagement ring reflects the popularity of halo rings, though hers is decidedly more opulent than the average bride might receive. If you also adore cushion-cuts, halos, and delicate bands glittering with diamonds, then you will enjoy the below collection of engagement rings worn by real brides. Be sure to click on each photo for further inspiration from their nuptials!

Pippa Middleton, the younger sister of Princess Kate, recently announced her engagement to James Matthews, who works in finance. Pippa first grabbed the attention of the world as a bridesmaid in the royal wedding, looking absolutely stunning in a form-fitting ivory gown to complement her sister’s long-sleeved lace number. The couple first dated back in 2012, but subsequently split and were apart for several years. They rekindled their romance late last year and seem to be as happy as ever. According to a joint statement, they plan to marry in 2017. One thing the pair have in common is a famous sibling – James’ brother, Spencer Matthews, is a British reality star, appearing on 10 seasons of Made in Chelsea.

James proposed to Pippa with a unique ring that combines vintage Art Deco style with a modern look. The center stone is an Asscher-cut diamond, an uncommon choice, as step-cut gems require nearly flawless clarity. Instead of the popular halos of this decade, the ring features a segmented octagonal border. Both the halo and center stone are in a bezel setting, which lends itself to modernity.

If Pippa’s bling has caught your eye, we’ve gathered similar styles below from real weddings. Their influences span from vintage, geometric shapes, step-cuts, and halos – so no matter what part of Pippa’s ring you love, you’re sure to find further inspiration with these pieces.

Weddings Inspired by Style Icons!

They say that inspiration comes to us when it’s least expected. When it comes to your wedding day, sometimes, inspiration can come from the people you most admire. There have been many celebrities over the years who have been revered as “style icons” for their innovative taste and commitment to their personal brand.
Inside Weddings: In your opinion, are there specific style icons that work best as wedding inspiration?
Jordan Payne: Absolutely. There are several style mavens that have held true over the decades, like Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor. Their classic, timeless vibe can be translated into gorgeous weddings for any era. And for a different, more unusual look that is always on trend, I get a lot of inspiration from Alexander McQueen, which is definitely more avant garde!

IW: How do you appropriately incorporate this kind of inspiration into your invitations, ensemble, décor, etc?
JP: Looking at just more than the style icon but also at their era and the things that were on trend during that time provides fun elements that you can incorporate into the overall design. One of my favorite florals to use for Grace Kelly-glam style are garden roses.

IW: What are a few decor elements that could really transform a space in this sense?
JP: Small details here and there can go a long way toward achieving the entire wedding look. I always pay close attention to the escort cards as well as little things like the type of napkin fold and even decorative details on the plates that best accentuate the tabletop setting.

IW: Is there such thing as “going overboard” when taking ideas from celebrities?
JP: No, as long as you are true to yourself! Always ensure the décor and style represent you and your look – and that whatever you decide to do, you can look back on it and still love it 20 years later!

IW: Do you have any personal favorite style icons?
JP: I love Alexander McQueen! He is one of my absolute favorites. Everything about him is edgy, unique, and creative. I love that you can play off of his funky vibe and bring in a more classic element to balance it out for a cool, modern look.

IW: Do you have any stories or examples of couples you’ve worked with that were influenced by celebrities/their style?
JP: The Kim Kardashian wedding is a big one! I’ve had many brides inspired by the all-white bridesmaid dresses that she had her wedding party wear, and they’ve done the same. While it’s new and definitely non-traditional, the look can be crisp and modern – especially when bridesmaids wear white dresses in different styles.

IW: Anything else you’d like to add on the subject that we didn’t cover?
JP: Custom-made décor and accents are one of the things we do best, as well as anything “over the top!” That’s my favorite style! I loved using silks of different kinds to create some really cool draped sections inside a custom tent. We are also designing some amazing custom-painted ceiling panels for an upcoming event! I love transforming spaces with customized options, from custom ceilings and walls to flooring and furniture elements.

Rustic-Chic Bouquets for Your Bride

If you’re considering a more pastoral motif for your big day, you may think that the frills of a “traditional” wedding don’t apply to you. When it comes to the customary elements of your nuptials, there are ways to put your personal touch on everything – including your floral décor. From your ceremony arch to your centerpieces, flowers are a perfect way to display your concept to friends and family.

If you’re planning a more rustic wedding, you have a plethora of options at your disposal as far as your bouquet goes. Instead of the typical cluster of roses that are common in traditional weddings, creating a more “wild” bouquet can align perfectly with your motif. For inspiration, scroll through the pictures below from real weddings – each can be adapted to fit your rustic big day.

My Wedding, my food choice?!

To cook that someone a special meal filled with his or her favourite dishes has always been seen as a romantic gesture, so why does that someone special have to try and stomach completely different food at his or her wedding? Could the caterer actually have the last say on what gets served and what not?

Menus have changed over the years, not because the couples were more health conscious or food availability changed. The reason for this change is even more complex. Food had to succumb to the will of the overall theme of the wedding. It seems that even the most humble of weddings have a food theme – rustic in this case. City weddings serve sleek food and hotel weddings serve designer food.

To fully comprehend the impact of theme on food, you should take a few considerations into account: Firstly, what will the food look like? Will it be large bowls that require self serve or will individual potions be plated and carried on finger tips to diners? Surely you have seen those buffet islands at weddings where people line up and serve themselves – well if caterers had their way, these islands would sink away into oblivion. ‘The waste from these are tremendous’ a caterer said. People tend to dish way too much food and then it gets dumped.

A second aspect of food is what colour will the food predominantly show? Weddings with pastel coloured themes tend to move away from bright and bold dishes settling on more toned down foods. Sushi and fish dishes that show pale colour fills the plates and works effortlessly to support the low key theme.

A second aspect of food is what colour will the food predominantly show? Weddings with pastel coloured themes tend to move away from bright and bold dishes settling on more toned down foods. Sushi and fish dishes that show pale colour fills the plates and works effortlessly to support the low key theme.

You also want to look at pace of service as depicted by theme. Guests stuck on a boat for a few hours will be fed almost immediately after sailing. Courses will follow fast and furious to give the reception a chance of settling down and people having fun. All day weddings force the catering staff to keep some food flowing all the time, so dishes are stretched out into teas, light lunches, afternoon teas and evening meals.

It is thus clear that your wedding theme is more than selecting your favourite colour scheme, you have to think about the overflow effect it will have on your food, drinks, entertainment and all those aspects. Best to sit down with your caterer and talk about your theme ideas. Listen to them, they do this every day and will warn and guide you to the best solution. Once you have a menu, you can take the next step.

Insist on a tasting menu for you and some of your guests. The caterer prepares one of each dish for you to see and taste. Keep in mind that an ox on a spit will not be served as a tasting menu. Have a good look at the dishes presented to you. Are they looking the part? Are the colours on the plates perfect for the rest of the table? What about portion sizes – are you feeding two twigs and a scallop to a team of footy players? Before you devour the plates, take a picture. This will come in handy if the actual dishes at your wedding do not remotely look like the tasting dishes you photographed.

Enjoy working with your caterer to find your favourites. To see how they cope with stress, why not introduce cabbage as a main dish after the caterer finished telling you about their idea of a menu. Watch them work their way out of the cabbage request and you will know precisely how this caterer will handle your wedding.