Wedding rings don't really come much more custom than these…

Fabuluster makes custom wedding bands from your own fingerprints! I love the ones pictured above with the print inside of the ring, it's like keeping one of the things that makes your partner totally unique close to you at all times. Plus it makes a super cool pattern!

The best part is that Fabuluster actually makes it affordable to have a unique wedding ring. They start at $125 for a narrow custom sterling silver wedding band and go up from there. And if diamonds are your thing, they've got you covered as well.

So if you've been searching for totally unique wedding bands, end your search now by heading on over to their Etsy store and take your pick from their amazing selection of designs.

Your wedding bands (and engagement ring, if you wear one) are a lasting public celebration of your relationship…

Turtle Love Committee's collection of cool engagement rings and wedding bands is put together for people who have decided they want a ring to commemorate their commitment … but don't want to go to the mall for the seemingly-requisite diamond ring.

Not only are Turtle Love Committee's engagement rings and wedding bands extremely affordable (all priced under $200!), but now you can tell which ones are eco-friendly.

Turtle Love Committee's new EcoTurtle logo identifies rings that are made from recycled metals and other eco-friendly practices.

To see a few of Turtle Love Committee's eco-friendly rings, keep reading…

Continue reading "Affordable eco-friendly rings from Turtle Love Committee" →

For those of you who haven't noticed, the global economy is currently melting down and while love and weddings are timeless, big expensive wedding rings are becoming increasingly difficult for offbeat couples to fit into their wedding budgets. Ain't no shame: it's just the way things are.

Turtle Love Committee is an independent online jeweler that has embraced the back-to-basics approach, focusing exclusively on non-diamond engagement and wedding rings at prices up to $200. The collection includes a little something for every shade of offbeat: vintage 1920s replicas, classic solitaires and organic and modern pieces. All of the rings in TLC’s collection are sterling silver, with semiprecious stones and/or gold accents.

Turtle Love Committee was founded in response to the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) competition among women to have the best or the biggest diamond engagement ring … a Turtle Love Committee engagement ring represents a huge emotional commitment, not a huge financial commitment.

To see a few more of their lovely and affordable styles, keep on reading…

Continue reading "Affordable non-diamond engagement rings from Turtle Love Committee" →

If you're magnetically drawn to the bling, but repulsed and nauseated by the horror of the diamond trade, then you should check out the conflict free diamonds from Brilliant Earth.

In a sea of sketchy mall stores, these guys stand out as a socially responsible jeweler with their conflict-free Canadian diamonds, ethically sourced sapphires, and recycled gold and platinum.

And if that weren't enough? They donate 5% of their profits back to communities in Africa harmed by the jewelry trade. If you've heard of conflict free diamonds but are a little rusty on the specifics, Brilliant Earth has some great resources, including questions to ask any jeweler who you might be working with … and a blog that will continue the education.

They have tons of wedding ring designs — and of course they wouldn't be an offbeat vendor unless they had completely custom wedding rings, too!

I know I crammed a ton of links into this post — but Brilliant Earth's website is so crammed full of both beautiful wedding rings AND well-written information about the jewelry trade that I couldn't help myself. Spend some time and go look around!

There's been talk about wedding ring workshops before on offbeatbride.com (remember how Elaina did a workshop to make her wedding ring?) and for those of you who have been intrigued by the idea, keep reading!

Wedding ring workshops happen all over the US and in two UK locations, and here's how it works: you take a day with a master jeweler who gives you one-on-one guidance through the process of designing, fabricating, and finishing your truly unique wedding rings. I've always been a big proponent of custom rings, but actually making the rings your damn self!? It don't get much more DIY than that!

Continue reading "Wedding ring workshop" →