u/Alfalfa_Timmy

Obviously, pick whichever dress you want. But I see so many brides contemplate whether they should pick a “less extravagant dress” for an elopement.

Elopement or not, this is your wedding. WEAR WHAT YOU LOVE AND DON’T HOLD BACK!!! You won’t regret it.

I started my dress shopping journey with the same mindset. Something flowy, flattering (duh), but low-key. I saw my dress hanging in the gallery and thought to try it “just for fun” bc I loved the peony embroidery. The moment I put it on in the dressing room, I knew. Never in a million years did I think I’d pick a ball gown, it was the dress that couldn’t leave my mind.

My close family and friends knew we were eloping. The initial plan was to have my husband wear jeans… and then, we all agreed he needed a suit now to match my dress. TBH, the suit just looks sooo much better. He did switch to jeans for the horse ride though.

We held a reception party at a fine dining restaurant a few months later (~60 guests) and did the whole shebang as if we had a normal wedding, minus the ceremony. We played the videography of our elopement. Last picture is my first time eating cake in like 6 months 🤣.

Btw, it’s OK to pack your gown in your carry-on suitcase. Lots of brides here concerned how to fly with their dress. I purchased my dress at the NYC flagship store and needed to fly home. The boutique wrapped my dress in plastic and carefully stuffed it into my suitcase. Just take it out when you get to destination and have a good travel steamer.

Location: San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Photo/Video: Authentic Collective
Dress: Galia Lahav - Evelyn gown
Suit: Suit Supply

Antique Victorian cluster ring. The center diamond is an antique and natural old mine, 2.51 carats, W-X color, VS2. GIA graded. The kozibe effect is soooo strong! I am a size 6.

My jeweler had found the perfect semi-mount from the JCK antique show with these 1.7 ctw old miners. Shank is 18kt yellow gold and the prongs are platinum. Side accent is also platinum with a tiny omc and filigree detail.

I am absolutely in love.

Edit: This is actually my second engagement ring. I was engaged in 2024 with an elongated old mine (modern cut) solitaire—back when it was much lesser known before you know who got engaged. But now, it’s literally on every single engagement ring post and super mainstream. So I wanted a new ring that was a little more bespoke.

After multiple weeks of overlapping vacation where my jeweler and I have missed each other… I have finally met HER. 😂

Nothing ever compares to seeing such a ring in person vs on video. She is soooo incredible. This is the ultimate cluster flower ring.

The center diamond is such a chameleon. It is GIA graded as a W-X color, but her color changes depending on the lighting! The kozibe effect is indecisive when to come out too 😂. I love it so much. Size 6 finger. And I love the gap between her and my wedding band actually.

Antique natural OMC 2.51 carat, W-X color, VS2 clarity. 18kt yellow gold and platinum setting with ~1.7ctw natural OMC diamonds

The journey: https://www.reddit.com/r/EngagementRings/s/FV87Lx0sDJ

Today is our one year anniversary 🥰.

This is my second engagement ring. My first is an elongated, modern cut old mine. I still love her, but she is EVERYWHERE now.

Ladies and gentlemen… her.

Her measurements:
Center stone is 2.51 ct antique natural old mine, W color, VS1 clarity set in an antique Victorian old mine cluster setting of 1.70 ctw old mines in 18kt gold and platinum.

The milgrain accent on the shank?! I die.

I cannot even.

I picked up this beautiful, antique natural old miner back in March. She’s a 2.51 carat, W color, VS1 clarity. Amazing kozibe effect!

This actually will be my second engagement ring. My first is an elongated old mine brilliant… btw, I was engaged and married before you know who’s engagement that soared the popularity of this diamond cut.

I love Victorian cluster rings and so I started designing with my jeweler.

Slide 3 is what my jeweler sourced. They were mainly old euros which I wasn’t a fan of but I liked the size. So it was going to be a big challenge to find true antique miners in the perfect shape, size, and color. I wanted white diamonds to contrast against the yellow.

BUT THEN… My jeweler went to JCK in Las Vegas this past weekend and she found a unicorn semi-mount with antique old miners. It has everything I was looking for and it fits my diamond perfectly. I immediately said yes.

We brought her home and my diamond is currently being set into the mount! Stay tuned for final product. I am so excited. Lowkey hoping cluster rings like this never trend. 🥰

Remember this post? https://www.reddit.com/r/Diamonds/s/xZ35DU64OM

That’s me ^ but my account was compromised, and I had to delete it 😭.

Wanted to share progress!

I had decided on creating a Victorian cluster ring with my diamond. The challenge was really finding the perfect antique OMC’s in the size, shape, and color to surround my center stone. And we were looking to be creating a completely custom two-toner mount.

I liked the size of the loose diamonds but all but one were old euros and I wanted all OMC.

But then, my jeweler went to the JCK antique show and she found a UNICORN!! I said yes immediately and she took her home to set my diamond.

Stay tuned of the final product!