Category Archives: Traditions/Customs

The History of the Rose

Posted on by

In my ongoing series about wedding flowers, this month I will feature the rose.  The classic rose has remained a very popular choice for weddings and is frequently used for bridal bouquets and boutonnieres, as well ceremony and reception floral arrangements.  In this post I will not only discuss the history the rose but also several legends associated with this beautiful flower.  Then in an additional post, Wedding Flowers – The Rose, I will discuss the customs and traditions associated with the rose and the meaning of the different colors of roses.  I will also offer some tips and suggestions in which the rose can be used in bouquets and floral arrangements for both ceremony and reception decorations.

The rose (rosa) is a perennial flowering plant which can grow as a bush, shrub, a climbing or trailing plant.  The flowers grow on wooden stems with leaves and prickly thorns which form on the outer layer of the stems.  There are approximately 150 species of roses grown throughout the world and the flowers can vary in diameter from 2” miniature to almost 6” large full blooms.  These different types of roses are available in a variety of colors with the most popular being white, pink, red and yellow.

In general, roses are considered a landscape plant specifically grown and used in gardens primarily for their fragrant and colorful flowers.   Commercially roses are also grown to be used as cut flowers for the floral industry and the rose petals are sometimes used as a source for the perfume companies.  In mild climates, the roses are grown outdoors, sometimes in covered areas to avoid any damage to the plant.  In more severe climates the plants can be grown in greenhouses with temperature control environments that can extends the growing season.  Whether it be outdoors or indoors, the plants are often sprayed to prevent plant disease or pest damage although today there are some growers that produce organic roses without the use of harmful chemicals.

A variety of hybrid roses are used by the lucrative floral industry, the roses are cut before their bloom while still buds and then refrigerated until ready for sale or to be made into arrangements for celebrations such as weddings.  For the perfume or cosmetic industries rose petals are crushed to produce attar of roses (meaning rose oil) and about two thousand flowers are needed to produce one gram of oil.

The Perfume Makers painting by Ernst Rudolf

Historical and archeological evidence suggests that roses have been used in a variety of different ways dating back several centuries.  There is a Greek legend about Flora (the goddess of flower) who is deeply saddened by the death of a woman of remarkable beauty.  She asks for the help of the other gods and goddesses to transform the woman into a beautiful flower as a lasting memorial.  She names the flower “Rose” and Apollo (the god of the sun) shines on the flower so that it will grow, Aphrodite (the goddess of love) gives it beauty and Dionysius (the god of fertility and harvest) gives it a lovely fragrance.

The mythological creation of the Rose

During the time of Ancient Egypt it has been said that Cleopatra used roses to seduce Mark Anthony.  In order to charm him she soaked the sails of her royal barge with rose water to create a heavenly scent when she first greeted him.  She also covered the floor of her bedroom with an intoxicating layer of fragrant rose petals to further entice him.  Needless to say, Mark Antony succumbed to her methods of seduction and was forevermore reminded of Cleopatra whenever he smelled the scent of roses.

Mark Antony meeting Cleopatra’s barge

During the time of the Ancient Romans, roses were often used in celebrations or religious ceremonies.  One such event with a tragic ending is depicted in the 1888 painting The Roses of Heliogabalus by the Anglo-Dutch artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema.  The painting shows the Roman Emperor Elagabalus presiding over a feast during which the guests are showered with rose petals.  Although this may sound like an enchanting celebration, the ominous intent of the Emperor was to actually smother his guests thereby causing their deaths.

The Roses of Heliogabalus painting by Alma Tadema

As previously mentioned, roses are grown in a variety of different colors and there is a Persian legend regarding the Red Damask Rose that dates back to the 7th century which offers an interesting explanation as to how the rose got its deep red color.  The story goes that a nightingale (the poetic and symbolic bird once referenced in the Odyssey) loved the white rose so intently that when it held the flower tightly the thorns cut into its chest causing it to bled profusely onto the flower thus turning the once pure white rose into a blood red rose.

The Nightingale and the Rose

During Medieval times, rose petals were sometimes crushed to make powder or oils for medical purposes to cure a variety of illnesses. For this reason, the type of rose used for this became known as the Apothecary Rose (Rose Gallica Officinalis) because an apothecary by definition is a person who prepares and sells medicines and drugs.  Another use for the rose was to create beads for jewelry or other items, such as rosaries.  To form the beads, the dried rose petals were mixed with a little water or oil and the mixed would be rolled into small balls.  (Special Note: Rosaries made from rose petals are still available for purchase today through many sources, most commonly the rosaries are made for sentimental reasons usually created from the flowers from funerals)

A rosary made with rose petal beads

In the 15th century the rose became the symbol of two fractions fighting for power in England.  In the War of the Roses, which took place in the period from 1455 to 1487, the red rose (Rose Gallica) had become a symbol of the House of Lancaster and the white rose (Rose Alba) was used by the House of York.  When King Henry VII ultimately won the war and peace was established he ordered the two roses combined to create the Tudor Rose, this iconic symbol is still used today in England.

The Tudor Rose

In the 18th century Empress Josephine, the wife of Emperor Napoleon, had an extensive garden at the royal estate, Chateau de Malamaion, located a few miles from Paris.  The Empress had a special interest in botany and horticulture and it has been noted that she imported almost 200 different varieties of roses from Asia and England which were planted in the gardens at the Chateau.  To document the roses the Empress commissioned the botanical illustrator, Pierre Joseph Redoute, to create a series of watercolors called “Les Rose” which quickly gained fame as one of the finest collections of floral illustrations.

     Empress Josephine in her garden of roses by Farah Khan

During the Regency period an English garden looked very different, old rose bushes reached the height of sometimes six feet.  The growing season for old roses was relatively shorter in length and a rose plant could literally be covered with large blooming flowers that became known as cabbage roses because of their size.  Another popular rose emerged at this time and it was called the moss rose because the stem and sepals were covered with a bristly growth which resembled moss.

An Old Moss Rose

Today, the roses grown in a modern garden are generally hybrid tea roses which can be traced back to the 19th century when they began to be cultivated as different varieties, the first known hybrid tea rose was the La France rose in 1867.  By 1902, records indicated that there were only 36 varieties of old roses while the number of hybrid roses had grown to approximately 1,900 varieties.  By the late 20th century the number had increased substantially to more than 10,000 varieties of hybrid tea roses.

The La France hybrid tea rose

The oldest documented living rose bush is recorded to be over 1,000 years old.  Known as the Tauseandbjahriger Rosenstock (the German translation means literally the Thousand Year Rose) the rose bush grows on the wall of the Hildesheim Cathedral located in northern Germany.  The Rose of Hildesheim is a Rosa Canina which is a native climbing wild rose native to Europe and when last measured the rose bush was about 33 feet in height and 30 feet width.  During World War II the Cathedral was bombed, destroying the structure but the rose bush survived and it continued to grow and bloom among the church ruins.

The Rose of Hildesheim growing at Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany

For more information regarding roses, please click on the link to Wedding Flowers – The Rose.  In this additional post I will discuss the customs and traditions associated with the rose and the meaning of the different colors of roses.  I will also offer some tips and suggestions in which the rose can be used as a wedding flower.

The History of Monograms

Posted on by

A monogram is usually created by combining two or more letters. Monograms are frequently used for weddings and will take the first initial of the groom and bride’s names and combine them with the last name of the couple.  In this post, I will discuss the history of the monogram and show several examples of historical monograms and the various ways that monograms can be used today on household items, personal clothing or for special celebrations like weddings.

The History of the Monogram

Centuries ago, the Greeks and Romans used monograms on clay coins as the barter system for purchasing goods and services which eventually led to a monetary system of trade.  During the Middle Ages, artisans would often use their monograms to sign their work and an example of this is shown below in the painting by the famous Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.  His paintings can be identified to a particular period in his career by the monogram he used, at the start of his career he signed his pieces with a simple single letter R and in the following years as his career progressed he used the combined letters RH and then RHL.

Throughout the years, royalty and other members of the nobility have used monograms to mark their status in society.  Kings and Queens would use monograms to mark their personal property and household items, weaponry and armor, royal banners and coats of arms.

Shown below are several examples of these types of royal monograms:

The throne of Napoleon with his royal monogram

Tsar Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna royal  monogram
on the Hermitage gate in Saint Petersburg, Russia

In the 18th century monograms were used to mark linens with the owner’s initials so as to properly retrieve the items from a laundering service in the larger cities or from a communal wash in the smaller villages.  The monogram was usually embroidered onto the item in white thread but red thread was also used since it was the most common and least expensive dye available, the dark color of the monogram made it easier to quickly identify.  Eventually more elaborate monograms were designed with flourishes and scrolls embroidered in beautiful colors of silver or gold thread used by the upper class.

A monogram on a piece of clothing that once belonged to Queen Victoria

The embroidered goldwork royal monogram of Marie-Antoinette

In the Victorian and Edwardian eras, the more opulent and expensive monograms reflected a higher status, wealth and prosperity of the person.  It seemed that every household item from tablecloths and tableware to bed linens and towels to all variety of clothing could be monogrammed.  Royal wedding souvenirs also gained popularity during this time and items were monogrammed with the initials of the bride and groom, this started a popular trend for weddings which has continued into modern times.

A cake box for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
with the intertwined initials of W and C

Today, especially in the U.S. southern states, the tradition of monograms continues. Monograms are a great way to customize a variety of items from clothing and accessories to household items such as towels, napkins or bedding.  There are certain rules to keep in mind when purchasing monogrammed items.  In general the most common type is the three-initial monogram consisting of the last name initial placed in a large type at the center of the monogram, flanked by the first and middle initials in a smaller type.

Shown below are examples of monograms used on clothing:

A monogram used on the cuff of a man’s dress shirt

Shown below are some examples of household items with monograms:

An example of a single initial monogrammed towels

An example of a monogrammed napkin

Monograms are also very popular for weddings and can be incorporated into many items such as invitations, aisle runners, reception, dance floors, wedding cake or perhaps even an antique handkerchief with a blue embroidered initial of the couple’s last name for the bride to carry as the “something blue”!  In general, for a monogrammed wedding item the first initial of the couple would be used with the groom’s first name located to the left and the bride’s first name to the right, the last name initial would be located in the center.

Shown below are some examples of monograms used for weddings:

An example of a beautiful monogram on an engraved invitation

A monogram of the bridal couple can be used on a wedding cake

An example of a monogram used on a dance floor

A lovely embroidered handkerchief for “something blue”

Special Note: Portions of this post originally appeared on my other blog, the Enchanted Manor.

Victorian Valentines

Posted on by

In honor of Valentine’s Day that is celebrated every year on February 14th, I would like to discuss the custom of Valentine’s Day cards specifically those produced and sent during the Victorian Era.  From the Ancient Romans to the early Christians to Chaucer’s prose and Shakespeare’s plays the origins of the celebration of Valentine’s Day has evolved.  But it was the Victorians that took the idea of romantic love and popularized it by producing pre-printed Valentine’s cards and then successfully marketed the concept of sending the cards to loved ones near and far with the introduction of the Royal Mail’s first Penny Post stamp, more on this later in the post.

Shown is an engraving from the Illustrated London News 1874,
depicting a workroom where Valentine’s cards were manufactured

The first known Valentine’s Day cards appeared in the late 18th century and were hand-crafted written messages from an individual specifically created to be placed secretly under a door or attached to a doorknob for a loved one to find.  The messages were made from paper and decorated with hearts or love knots, often created as puzzles with a few lines of poetry.

Shown is an early hand-made puzzle Valentine Card circa 1790
(Private Collection/Bridgeman Image)

Then, pre-printed Valentine cards soon followed in the Georgian Era and the oldest surviving card can be found at the York Castle Museum located in York, North Yorkshire, England.  The card dates back to 1797 and it was printed by John Fairburn of Minories, London.  The card was originally sent by Catherine Mossday to a Mr. Brown of London and features pierced paper which gives the illusion of lace and is decorated with cupids, doves and flowers, the card was hand-colored after printing.

Shown is the oldest surviving pre-printed Valentine’s card
(yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk)

Valentine’s cards proved to be even more popular during the Victorian Era and the public demand prompted stationery companies to mass produce a selection of cards which were decorated with classic symbols representing love; such as hearts, doves and Cupid with his trusty bow and arrows.

With the introduction of the Penny Post by the Royal Mail in 1840 the number of Valentine’s cards sent increased dramatically over the next two decades, at times the English postmen were often exceedingly overwhelmed in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day.  Many of these Victorian Valentine’s cards from the past have survived and the Museum of London holds a collection of over 1,800 cards mostly made by Jonathan King, a successful stationer in London.  The cards in the collection feature pierced or embossed paper with intricate designs embellished with a variety of decorations and poetic verses written to convey feelings of love from the sender.

    

Shown are a few Victorian Valentine cards from the Museum of London

One particular Valentine card in the collection at the Museum of London was personally created by Jonathan King in 1861 for his future wife.  The unique Valentine takes the form of a box and features several layers of paper and gauze embellished with ribbon, flowers and shells, on the many pages are written several poems and romantic messages.  In a concealed space on the back of the box is a special compartment with several paper flaps with more hidden messages about a woman’s many virtues and one flap in particular opens to reveal a gold ring – the Valentine was Mr. King’s special way of proposing.  Needless to say, she accepted the proposal and the couple married a year later and had fifteen children!  Mr. King’s stationery business in Islington later expanded with the opening of an adjacent store appropriately named the Fancy Valentine Shop which sold a fine selection of handcrafted Valentine’s cards.  (Special Note: If you want to see the Jonathan King Valentine, without the expense of a trip to England, it is featured in the BBC documentary “A Very British Romance with Lucy Worsley”)

    

Shown above is the Jonathan King Valentine card

I will end this post with a wonderful suggestion … with the recent popularity of unique and elaborate wedding proposals, take the idea of Jonathan King’s Valentine card from long ago and create a one-of-a-kind hand-crafted marriage proposal that will become a lasting memento of that special day.

The History of Bridal Bouquets

Posted on by

Wedding flowers are selected to add visual interest and color to the ceremony and reception.  In particular the bridal bouquet reflects the bride’s personal preferences with her selection of flowers chosen in regards to the basic shape, style, colors and even sometimes taking into consideration the scent of the flowers.  In this post I will discuss the history of bridal bouquets including the various customs and traditions, such as why does the bride will carry a bouquet to the ceremony and then toss it away at the reception.  I will also discuss the various types of bridal bouquets in regards to shape and offer several examples for inspiration.

The history of the bridal bouquet

The origin of the bridal bouquet can be traced back to the time of Ancient Greece and Rome.  In those times herb garlands were worn by the bride around her neck or as wreaths upon her head.  These garlands or wreaths were sometimes made by the bride’s attendants and small floral bouquets were also made for the guests and placed upon the table at their seats as an offering of thanks from the bridal couple.  The herbs used had various meanings and some signified fidelity and fertility while other herbs had a much more sinister purpose which was to supposedly ward off evil spirits.  Herbs such as sage were thought to bring wisdom while dill brought passion and garlic would protect the married couple.

Unlike people in modern times, during the Middle Ages people rarely bathed,  It was thought that they would only bath once a year, this yearly bath usually took place in May and for this reason perhaps the month of June was often chosen for weddings.  Regardless of this fact, bouquets of scented flowers or herbs were often used to mask bodily orders.

During the time of the gallant knights and beautiful maidens, a knight would ask a maiden for a token of affection for him to carry into battle.  On their wedding day, the groom would often ask his bride for a flower or herb from her bouquet, this is possibly where the custom of the groom’s boutonniere started.  Another unusual wedding tradition started when guests would tear off pieces of the bride’s dress with the thought that the piece of fabric would be them good luck.  Since the bride was often jostled in the process, eventually as a distraction and to avoid having her dress torn to shreds she would toss her bridal bouquet.

During the Regency and Victorian Era, the language of flowers was a popular custom.  This was when flowers were arranged in small posy or tussie mussie, the flowers were specially selected from their meanings.  The tussie mussies would be given from a prospective suitor to a young lady as a way of sending hidden messages.  Some examples are that roses meant love, stephanotis for good luck, violets for hope, freesia for trust and ivy for fidelity and fern for sincerity.

Different shapes and styles of bridal bouquets

Modern brides now infrequently select the flowers for their bridal bouquets based on their meanings and instead select them based on the type and color of the flowers.  Today, the most popular types of bridal flowers are roses, stephanotis, lily of the valley, hydrangeas, tulips, orchids and gardenias.

Bridal bouquets are available in a variety of shapes and styles, the most popular being round and cascading bouquets.  Other shapes for bouquet include crescent, shield (such as the one carried by Catherine Middleton) and other styles include arm sheaf (also known as a presentation bouquet).  Two unique bouquets are the composite bouquet which is painstakingly assembled from the petals of a flower to create one large flower and pomanders (sometimes known as kissing balls) which could be available in several different types of handles, such as a variety of ribbons or strings of pearls and crystals.

Shown below are photos featuring examples of the different shapes and styles available in bridal bouquets.

Two variations of round bouquets – roses (left) and orchids (right)

Examples of hand-tied bouquets – tulips (left) and liliies (right)

An example of a hand-tied mixed flower bouquet

Examples of cascading bouquets – roses (left) mixed flowers (right)

More examples of cascading bouquets – mixed flowers (left) and tulips (right)

Examples of cascading bouquets – orchids (left) and mixed flowers (right)

An example of a cresent bouquet

The shield style bouquet which Catherine Middleton carried on her wedding day

 

An example of a rose sheaf bouquet

Another example of a mixed flowers arm sheaf bouquet

An example of a composite bouquet

 

Two examples of pomanders – roses (left) and hydrangeas (right)

For more information regarding unique bouquet ideas and suggestions using alternative items, please check back in the upcoming months.

The History of Wedding Rings

Posted on by

One of the features of this blog will be posts regarding various wedding traditions.  In these posts I will explain the origin and meaning behind these traditions which are often based on old customs and superstitions that may seem slightly antiquated in our modern world.  The first post regarding wedding traditions is about engagement and wedding rings.

In centuries past, a prospective groom would customarily ask the father of the potential bride for “her hand in marriage”. It has been said that perhaps this phrase refers to the ancient tradition of hand fasting that was part of the marriage ceremony which literally joined the bridal couple hand in hand with the “tying of the knot”.  Marriages were often arranged between two families for a variety of reasons and were rarely a love match between two individuals.  A formal marriage contract was agreed upon by both families and a betrothal ring was exchanged with the original purpose of representing an initial monetary amount placed on the union with more money promised upon the actual wedding.  In some cases, the amount paid for a betrothal was negotiated through lengthy discussions and a mutual settlement was reached to benefit both families or sometimes the amount paid was predetermined by the laws of the country.

In regards to wedding rings, this particular piece of jewelry has changed throughout the centuries taking on new meanings according to the customs of the different countries. Regardless of the style of the ring, the overall shape is a circle (with no beginning or end) that is meant to symbolize the eternal bond of marriage.  The rings style and design have also changed in appearance depending on the various metals, gemstones or the different types of manufacturing technics used or the rings were designed in a style attributed to a particular time period, such as the Victorian or Edwardian era.

During the time of the Ancient Egyptians, amulets were worn as necklaces, bracelets and rings.  One specific design was the scarab ring which featured an image of the scarabaeus sacer, more commonly known now as the dung beetle.  The Egyptians used the scarab to symbolize the cycle of life or rebirth.   Scarab rings were often carved from stones, such as lapis lazuli or amethyst.  The stone of a scarab ring featured two sides; one side was carved with the image of the scarab and featured a dome surface while the other side was flat with hieroglyphs engraved.  The stone was then attached to some type of metal frame that could swivel allowing for either side to be seen, the item could be worn as a ring or attached to a necklace to be worn as a type of pendant.  (Historical Note: The scarab ring once again came into style during the Victorian era.  In the mid-1860s work had begun on building the Suez Canal and as a result many Egyptian artifacts and other treasures were seen worldwide in various exhibitions for the first time outside of Egypt.  The Victorians became fascinated by anything Egyptian and this trend was reflect in jewelry and home decorations)

    

Egyptian style scarab ring from the Victorian Era
made from lapis lazuli and gold (photos from faycullen.com)

The Ancient Greeks used rings as tokens of affection and love which were frequently engraved with images of Eros (the god of love) or Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty representing procreation) engraved on gold signet rings. But it wasn’t until the time of the Ancient Romans that the custom of exchanging rings became associated with marriage.

Ancient Greek ring featuring the images of Eros and Aphrodite
(photo from metmuseum.org)

So, the exchange of wedding rings was popularized during the Roman Empire.  The Romans thought that the vena amori (the Latin translation literally meaning the “vein of love”) located on the fourth finger of the left hand lead directly to the heart of a person.  For this reason, and perhaps throughout the centuries, the wedding ring was traditionally placed on this finger of the bride.  It is a very romantic thought but it is factually inaccurate and in medical terms all the fingers on either hand have a similar vein structure eventually leading to the heart.

The most common style of a wedding ring used during the time of the Romans was the signet ring which was most often made in gold, another version known as an intaglio ring featured images carved into a gemstone.  Frequently these signet rings would depict images of the bridal couple or other images pertaining to the wedding ceremony, such as the ritual of hand fasting

     

Examples of two signet rings dating back to Ancient Rome

During the time of the Byzantine Empire, the Eastern Orthodox Church tradition was to wear the wedding ring on the right hand.  Byzantine rings were made of gold with religious engravings depicting the marriage ceremony and the images often showed Christ uniting the bride and groom, usually the groom was shown on the left which was customarily the position of greater importance.

A gold ring from the Byzantine era

During the Middle Ages wedding rings sometimes had other functions.  Key rings were designed with the dual purpose to represent the wearer belonging to a specific household and sometimes these rings also functioned as an actual key to allow access to household goods locked away in storage areas.

An example of a key ring

Signet rings remained a popular style into the Middle Ages and were designed sometimes with letters, symbols or family crests used to identify a specific family.  Not only did the rings serve this purpose but, much like the key rings, it granted permission or authority for the wearer to obtain goods or services in the name of a specific household.  To prove ownership of the items purchased, the seal on the ring could be stamped onto hot wax to mark the items as the property of a particular person or family.

A signet ring featuring a family crest (photo from britishmuseum.org)

In England and France, dating back to the 15th century, rings were sometimes engraved with  religious inscriptions written in Latin, Old English or Old French on the outside of the ring, these items are often given as tokens of love or affection.   Then, later in the 16th century the custom had evolved into engraving more personal and romantic messages written on the inside of the ring so only the person giving the gift and the person receiving the ring would know the hidden message. Regardless of where the inscription is placed, this style is often referred to as a posey ring and the name is derived from the French word poesie meaning poem.

An example of a posey ring from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London

Although wedding rings with gemstones had been used for centuries, the first documented diamond engagement ring dates back to 1477.  Maximilian I of Austria presented to Mary of Burgundy a gold ring in the shape of an “m” set with small diamonds.

Mary of Burgundy’s engagement ring

Another style of ring gaining popularity during the medieval period in history was the fede ring, the name is derived from the Italian phrase mani in fede which when translated means “clasped in faith”.  This phrase in likely in reference to the tradition of hand fasting that was part of the marriage ceremony which literally joined the bridal couple hand in hand.  To represent this ritual, the fede ring featured separate parts that when joined together formed two hands clasped together with a hidden heart.  At the time of a couple engagement and one part of the ring was worn by the bride, one by the groom and a third part by a witness.  Then, during the wedding ceremony all the parts of the ring were joined and the bride would wear the fede ring as her betrothal ring.

An example of a fede ring

As mentioned previously, gemstones were sometimes used for engagement or wedding rings.  One style which used gemstones in a very romantic way was the toi et moi ring, the translation from French means “you and me”.  The ring became a popular style because it symbolized two people joined in marriage and this was usually represented by the choice of the birthstones of the bride and groom.  A famous example of a toi et moi ring is the engagement ring given by Empire Napoleon Bonaparte to his first wife, Josephine de Beauharnais, in 1776.  The ring featured two gemstones, a diamond and a blue sapphire, mounted in a gold setting.

The engagement ring given by Napoleon to Josephine

The Edwardian era was a time of extravagance and opulence so the popular style for an engagement ring featured gemstones mounted in ornate filigree platinum settings, the use of this precious metal was because it was proven stronger than gold and allowed for more intricate designs.  At this time women customarily wore their engagement rings on the right hand and the wedding ring on the left hand.

An example of an Edwardian ring featuring a sapphire in a platinum setting (langantigues.com)

In 1886, the famous Tiffany jewelry store introduced the classic Tiffany engagement ring.  The innovated ring design featured a six-prong platinum setting that allowed the diamond to be positioned above the band to maximize the brilliance of the diamond.  Very quickly the “Tiffany Setting” became popular worldwide and has endured throughout the following decades as the ultimate engagement ring.

 

The classic Tiffany engagement ring

Today, engagement and wedding rings are available in a seemingly unlimited choice of styles ranging from simple bands to elaborate settings. The cost can vary greatly and will depend on the style chosen, in particular the type of metal or the size and quality of the gemstones selected.

There are a couple of general rules to gauge the anticipated price of the engagement or wedding rings.  The first rule is that the cost is determined by the monthly income, on the more extravagant end it would be equal to three months or on the more conservative end it would be only one month’s salary.  Another alternative rule is that the cost should be approximately three percent of the total wedding budget.

For more information, specifically on the British Royal engagement and wedding rings of five Queens and one famous Duchess, please click on the link.