Being in the jewelry business we have seen many things, from fake diamonds that look real, to some of the most unusual bridal party accoutrements ever.  But one of the newest wedding trends to come out off the fashion runway already for 2010 is a wedding dress that is edible.  Literally.  The edible wedding cake is not a fairy tale.  It has actually been made and worn on the runway to the fashion pundits of the world and it is making ripples in the industry that is not even possible when you pour a cup of coffee into a mug.

Made up of layers of wedding cake – and based on the pictures we’ve seen just about every flavor imaginable is in this cake – the Cake Dress is being considered the ‘Cinderella’ of edible bridal gowns.  With a full skirt that looks like it has a hoop under it reminiscent of something out of ‘Gone With The Wind’, it is definitely an artistic piece that is not practical enough to really wear down the aisle.  Let’s face it, a cake dress is to be admired and…eaten.  Not walked in.  The full skirt is topped off with a sweetheart neckline bodice and all of it is literally painted onto the bride.  The frosting?  As close as we can tell it looks like butter cream.

The Cake Dress is the creation of Lukka Sigurdarottir, an artist from Iceland.  Unfortunately, every time someone from the industry has attempted to contact the artist she is unable to be found.  There is very little known about the edible dress, how it is put together, how much food is actually in it and so on.  We’re actually interested in knowing how much the dress weights, what the bride would wear under it and how, exactly, she is to get out of the dress once most of the skirt has been cut and served to the wedding guests.  The last thing any bride would want to do during her reception is stop, take a shower, get dressed, and go back to the party in her honor.

It is apparent that the Cake Dress is probably not going to take off anytime soon down church aisles around the world.  Just the preparation alone to get into the dress is something that truly boggles the mind.  The weight of the cake alone – as the skirt is solid to the legs as far as we can tell – would make it hard for a woman to walk in, let alone move.  This dress is purely for standing in, having pictures taken, and then having it sliced off and served.  And let’s stop and think about how many people would actually be willing to eat the cake.

While all brides want their wedding day to be special, most of them probably are not willing to allow themselves to be bound up into this edible confection of a wedding dress.  Other than the logistics of moving, there are other things that would need to be addressed, such as the call of nature.  Most elaborate wedding dresses are made in such a way that the bride is able to wear the dress for the ceremony and picture taking and then remove portions of it so that they are not weighed down for the fun that the reception holds.  Fabric wedding dresses are always going to be preferred over the Cake Dress.

Many a thief has tried to smuggle jewels out by swallowing them. Unfortunately, for a thief in Joplin, Missouri, he didn’t seem to have the stomach for it and wound up generating more attention than he wanted. A diamond ring worth 20,000, weighing 2 carats in total, was stolen from a woman’s purse in Joplin, Missouri, where police sent out pictures of the pricey jewel to the local jewelry stores. A local jeweler who saw the photos recognized it as a piece being offered for sale at his shop, and decided to stall the thief and his accomplice. When police arrived, the man sought a time-tested way to get rid of the evidence; swallowing the ring.

It might have worked too, except that upon questioning, the thief began to cough uncontrollably, upon being questioned, bringing new meaning to the phrase: “cough up the evidence.” It may seem like a smart thing to do, but the body knows when a foreign element is introduced and will do everything it can to eliminate the offensive object one way or another. In fact, swallowing diamond jewelry, or any other kind of jewelry, is not without some risk. It’s not as safe as may be perceived. The ring can get caught up in the intestines and require surgery to remove. It may be painful to the person who swallowed it too. If jewelry that is swallowed has sharp points or sharp diamonds it can even puncture the intestine. Sometimes the jewelry can pass through the entire digestive system and be eliminated the next time the person goes to the bathroom. However, that’s not a sure thing, and swallowing jewelry is never a good idea. The thief may not be happy having been caught, but it’s probably good for his health that he managed to cough it up before it did any long-term physical damage.

It’s not a crime to dream big, unless you’re using someone else’s money to fund your dreams! Luxurious weddings may be the norm for jet setters and large celebrity events, but even ordinary people long to throw a big bash that can impress their friends and provide memories for a lifetime. That temptation to splurge can be over-powering for some people, who look for ways to have their big dream even if they can’t afford it. If the event comes with a huge price tag, what can a struggling worker do these days? If you’re Joanne Kent, you don’t give up those big dreams. You just have your employer pay for them! While she got her big dream, it also came with a big price tag and certainly will provide the life-long memories she craved, even if they turn out to be a lifetime of misery now. Her actions have since cost her two years of her life in prison as the details of her scam came to light.

The Scam of a Lifetime

Two months before Joanne Kent left her former employer, Wilson UK Ltd, Joanne decided to embezzle almost a million dollars (£470,000) to fund her big dreams. The dream included an over-the-top wedding to her fiancé, David, at a cliff-top hotel, complete with champagne and fireworks. The guests were treated to their rooms (with the entire hotel reserved for the event), and also given Armani bracelets as favors.

Ms. Kent wasn’t just concerned with the welfare of her guests; however, as she had also used many of the funds to engage in a lifestyle that included two sports cars, a Mazda and an Audi A4. After the honeymoon, she planned to retire to the homes whose mortgages were financed with the stolen funds. She would have gotten away with it, too, if she hadn’t made a small, but deadly mistake.

How She Was Caught

The scam consisted of pushing payments to her bank account, using the names of established clients from the firms. She would change the details of the bank account numbers only, thus disguising payments to verified clients and escaping notice from her employer. The scheme unraveled when she made a large payment to a United States firm, using the sterling currency instead of dollars, which set off alarms within the company. The account under the United States firm was actually her own account.

The Sentence

The mother of two was sentenced to two years in prison, a lenient sentence due to her status as a mother of an eight-week old baby with hip problems. The sentence may be carried out in a mother and child unit. Further hearings will deal with how or when the money can be repaid to her former employer. Despite the supposed altruism of providing a lavish wedding for her guests, Joanne will still be responsible for repayment of the entire amount. Her new husband will have to deal with caring for her other child while she does her time.

So, what does recycling cans have to do with engagement rings and vintage jewelry? Well, for one couple in Spokane, Washington, it means everything in the world. Bride and groom to be Andrea Parish and Peter Geyser have begged people to give them aluminum cans to donate so that they can pay for their wedding. That means from the vintage jewelry they want to the engagement rings and wedding bands, they want to be able to help the environment and pay for their wedding. It’s a great and noble cause to help everyone involved, really. But, what does that mean for the vintage jewelry that they might want, or their engagement rings?

Well, talk to Alcoa Inc. Alcoa is a gigantic manufacturing company based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and they specifically manufacture aluminum. The postage for shipping a lot of aluminum cans must be pretty high though, so instead Alcoa has decided to help pay for those engagement rings by making a $1,710 donation that matches up with the area’s recycling rates. Engagement rings suddenly don’t seem too pricy with a donation like that, and to think it’s all to help the environment while paying for their wedding. And it isn’t just to help them pay for their vintage jewelry. It’s because Alcoa is trying to reach their own goal, a recycling rate of 75 percent by the time they reach 2015. And how great is it to know that thanks to this large donation from Alcoa to help with all the vintage jewelry, Parish and her groom can safely say they’re now officially 65 percent to their actual goal for the wedding. Continue reading »

Ever have one of those “uh-oh” moments when you realize you’re about to make a big mistake? Maybe you were tempted to throw your engagement ring into a river, before realizing that you really do love your fiancée? Or, how about throwing away a long-standing relationship because things have soured a little? That’s what happened to Lee and Jan Jones, of Britain. After 20 years of marriage, they decided to call it quits, only to realize that you just can’t throw away this type of love, despite the problems that come with it.

The Bad Economy and Love

Like so many other couples during this recession, the Jones had experienced severe financial problems that affected their marital happiness. While the marriage vows do include the phrase “for richer or for poorer,” many couples are finding the financial stress of this economy unbearable and unlike anything experienced in the past. Just like the Great Depression tore families apart, the Great Recession is having a similar impact on the relationship decisions people are making every day. As the Jones found out, the decision to stay together for love, despite money issues, is one that comes from the heart and not the head or the pocketbook. However, the decision surprised even them!

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Can you tell from the honeymoon or the diamond engagement ring? Is there some magical secret that will make any marriage a lifelong, loving, affair? Many people want to know how to survive disastrous divorce rates that have plagued modern man and there is one couple that just might have the answer: Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher.

Almost 86 Years of Wedded Bliss

The Fishers are the living couple with the longest marriage, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. However, they’re only 128 days short of being the longest marriage in all of recorded history, which falls to a couple that has already passed away: Philipose and Sosamma Thomas of India. While they may have more experience, it’s not possible to ask them how they did it, unlike the Fishers who are still alive. Just in case you don’t live in North Carolina, where the two lovebirds reside, you can still find out the secret to their success online. After all, who can resist the temptation to ask: How did you do it?

Tweeting Sweethearts

From February 12th to the 14th, people from around the world will get to ask just that of this couple. The couple is willing to share their secrets for a long and happy relationship by posting replies to fourteen of the best questions on Twitter. For a couple that got married when the computer wasn’t even invented yet, it seems part of the secret of a happy marriage is always learning new things together. This along with the desire to help others who are just starting out and want to learn how to make their relationships a success – just in time for Valentine’s day! So grab your sweetheart, and check these two lovebirds out. Their combined wisdom alone is bound to be worth a few moments of your time and can lead to a lifetime of future happiness.

Getting Sweeter with Age

Herbert Fisher is 104 and Zelmyra is 102. It seems this couple will continue to enjoy their lives, learn, and give back to the community for as long as they keep breathing. They have a great desire to share what they’ve learned with those younger than them, and what better way than through some of the technological inventions of this decade? Twitter and Facebook, are two of the biggest socials networking sites that provide a ready audience for millions of people in the younger generation.

Questions Abound

So far, questions posted ask about their views on online dating and monogamous relationships. Only a few questions will actually be answered, but at least you’ll know you’re not alone in your struggle to get the perfect relationship. Almost everyone has a question they’d like the answer to, and what better opportunity than to get the scoop from a couple that obviously know what they’re talking about. After Valentine’s Day, anyone can hop online to see the responses on Twitter and Facebook at @longestmarried and America’s Tweethearts Facebook page. Want To Know the Secret of a Long Marriage?

Diamonds have long been associated with romance and the good life. It’s no surprise that films that deal with both subjects have often centered around diamonds, or at least had a prominent place in the script for the precious gems. From the most sweeping, epic romances to rollicking comedies, diamonds have long been a plot device. Continue reading »

Men kind of get shortchanged in the jewelry department. Each season there are nowhere near as many new designs and trends for them to enjoy in the same way that the ladies can. That isn’t really fair, is it? Men like well-cut diamonds and high quality precious metals and why shouldn’t they get to select from a few nice pieces to wear each day?

There are many major occasions during which a man can wear or receive diamond jewelry. These include all of the winter holidays, Father’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries and on their wedding day. Because there are now so many excellent choices for men’s diamond jewelry, it is always a good idea to “avoid the crowds” and set out well in advance of the special day or event to locate the best choices.

So, what kinds of items are available for men to buy, or even better, to be given? A quick look at what kind of items women buy frequently, can guide a shopper in the right direction for a man as well. Rings, pendants, ear studs and bracelets outfitted with diamonds are all available for men as well. Let’s examine some of the latest trends. Continue reading »

All diamonds are beautiful but some are famous while others are infamous. There are tales about diamonds that will make your hair stand on end. From curses to evil perpetrated with the ill begotten funds from mining diamonds to the occasional haunting, diamonds are shrouded in lore. We will leave the blood and gore behind and discuss some of the world’s most famous diamonds. Continue reading »

Every winter sees some traditional events – New Year’s Eve celebrations, Super Bowl Sunday, the President’s Day holiday and of course Valentine’s Day. If you, like so many others, wait until the last minute to pick out a card and a gift for your sweetheart you may find yourself grumbling about the task. This is unfortunate because of all the “holidays” celebrated each year, Valentine’s Day is one that can be a lot of fun and allows for some serious creativity. Continue reading »