LILOVEVE WEDDING

LILOVEVE (live + love) Gallery is a private jewelry atelier tucked away on a hidden street in South Williamsburg Brooklyn. We invite you to take a look at what inspires us and whats new in store // Jewelry inquiries: [email protected]

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Our Story: Cody and Marykay

Names and Occupations

Cody and Marykay, Digital Media, and Program Officer

How did you meet?

Online!  OkCupid back when it was still cool.

How did he/she propose?

Cody proposed over Memorial Day weekend on our balcony which overlooks the East River, at sunset, surrounded by bouquets of sunflowers.  We had spent the day biking around Queens and Brooklyn.

Describe your wedding in three words.

Country.  Family. Perfect.  

How did you personalize the experience of choosing the ring? 

We actually got engaged and married within the span of a month!  We decided, why wait?  And timing was serendipitous because our families already had plans to be together over July 4th.  So we actually didn't have rings in hand when we got engaged.  We started the process and had the wedding bands done in time for the wedding - great job by Liloveve on our rush request!  When the wedding was over and we were back in New York we started on the engagement ring.  

From the beginning we both wanted the ring selection process to be a shared conversation, we both had ideas but in the end I had the final say!  We found Liloveve and after meeting Caroline I knew it was the perfect fit, as she was so helpful and informative about the custom design process.  We discussed a number of ideas and she gave me a lot of information to help me decide on my final design.  She was very open and helpful, and showed me a lot of gems, materials and examples to help me decide.

Why did you choose Liloveve?

I found Liloveve on Yelp.  We live in the area and I loved the idea of finding a local designer to work with and personalize the process.  Her reviews were excellent and as soon as I met her, I felt it was the right fit.  Her studio and jewelry are beautiful and her work speaks for itself.  Caroline made the whole process from start to finish easy, and fun!  We sketched designs, she showed me a great selection of gems, and I felt very confident that the final product would be what we were looking for.  The rings really exceeded our expectations!  I love and admire them everyday.

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Autumnal Equinox

September in Old England was called Haervest-monath (Harvest Month). This was a time to gather up the rest of the harvest and prepare for the winter months.

The Wiccan community has a chant for this special time of the year,

"Corn and grain, corn and grain,

All that falls shall rise again."

As the Autumnal Equinox marks a time of year where the days begin to get shorter, the darkness can bring tales of ghosts and reborn dead.

 Many cultures celebrate this equinox, notably the Ancient Greeks whom associated fall with the Goddess Persephone, and her return to the underworld for a reunion with her husband Hades.

No matter how you celebrate, enjoy our last official day of summer today!

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New Work: Diamonds Galore!

Talk about frosty, this platinum and diamond pave engagement ring is a sight to be seen. Tiny diamonds line the perimeter of the band, as well as the sides for endless sparkle.

Inquiries: [email protected] | www.liloveve.com 

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Interesting Events: One Fine Day

One Fine Day is a refreshing alternative to the traditional bridal fair, showcasing a handpicked collection of sought after vendors in the wedding field. Not only is One Fine Day the perfect outlet for creative couples to gain inspiration from unique vendors in the planning of their big day, but a fun way to spend a Saturday or Sunday with your friends/family/bridal party.

If you’re just beginning to plan your big day, or if you’re in the midst of planning and need some last minute vendors, then this would be a great event for you and your fiance to attend! You can browse our work including *new samples* as well as photographers, caterers, etc.

Here are the deets:

When: Sunday October 16th, 2016.

Time: 12 Noon – 8pm

Where: Studio 450 450 West 31st Street 12th fl & PH, New York

EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Buy them here.

We hope to see you there :)

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Our Story, Carrie and John

Names and Occupations: Carrie, Speech-Language Pathologist John, Project Manager How did you meet? We first met our junior year in college when we took a modern philosophy class together. The connection was obvious to both of us, but the timing just wasn’t right. We graduated college and lost touch. Two years later, John was living in a tent on the Big Island of Hawaii and Carrie was finishing her last year in graduate school in Manhattan. During a break between semesters, Carrie went to Hawaii to visit her Dad, who had just moved there. Our first adventure was at Ho'okena beach, where we went swimming with the dolphins and camped under the stars. We spent the next month hitchhiking around Hawaii, cliff jumping, swimming in waterfalls, and sleeping on volcanoes. We climbed banyan trees, picked lilikoi, hiked mountains, and fell in love in paradise. How did he/she propose? John recorded the phone calls where he told his and Carrie's parents that he was going to propose. He then edited together their reactions and played it for Carrie on the beach before asking her to marry him.

Describe your wedding in three words. Best night ever!

How did you personalize the experience of choosing the rings?  We spent one day and went to 3 jewelry stores in our neighborhood. We didn't give ourselves much time before our wedding, so we were relieved when we both decided rings from Liloveve were what we wanted.

Why did you choose Liloveve? Caroline was very easy to talk to, and we felt like she understood the kind of rings we were looking for. We really liked the idea of buying our rings from a local business, as we live down the block. 

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A gorgeous rainbow of Sapphires

Sapphires are valued for their deep blue tone, but did you know that they come in a whole rainbow of colors?

An excellent choice for an engagement ring if you’re not a diamond person, sapphires are strong, durable and built to last. 

Check out some colorful sapphire pieces we’ve done over the past several months below!

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New Work: Mobius Bands

A subtle detail with a lot of charm, the simple twist in these rings was inspired by a mobius strip.

We made these rings in 14k rose and green gold (yes that’s right green gold!), but they are available in the many colors and carats of gold, as well as platinum.  

Inquiries: [email protected] | www.liloveve.com 

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Our Story, Kristen & Jimmy

Names and Occupations 

Kristen Fraser (School Psychologist) and Jimmy Higa (Social Worker)

How did you meet? 

We met through a nonprofit that we both worked for during graduate school.  Jimmy was Kristen's replacement when she left the position to intern in DC for a year.  We reconnected a few years later when we were both visiting friends who were working at the nonprofit's summer camp upstate.

How did he/she propose? 

We kind of just decided that we wanted to get married and started ring shopping/designing together.  Jimmy had the ring unbeknownst to Kristen.  We were in the San Juan Island's in Washington State with Kristen's family last July.  After dinner, Jimmy reached into his pocket, pulled out the box, and said, "Look what I have." 

Describe your wedding in three words.  ~~Intimate, radical, and supportive~~

How did you personalize the experience of choosing the ring? 

We weren't sure if we wanted an engagement ring, but decided that we would look around and see what we could find.  We had recently decided to move from Brooklyn to LA, so we also liked the idea of purchasing something that was made in Bk.  Liloveve was one of our first stops, and Caroline really helped us figure out what we wanted.  She asked us questions about our lifestyle, and then discussed the pros and cons of various metals, stones, and settings.  We ultimately decided on diamonds that are set into the band; this felt like the perfect choice because Kristen is very active and did not want to worry about the safety of the diamonds in a pronged setting.

Why did you choose Liloveve? 

Because Caroline and Kate are awesome and were really helpful as we made our decision.  Caroline was really helpful in explaining the process, listening to who we are as a couple, and making suggestions that really reflected our personalities and needs.  They even made themselves available on NYE when we were visiting NYC, so we could design our wedding bands.  It was a really personal and supportive experience, which is exactly what we were looking for.  We wanted our rings to be meaningful, and Liloveve accomplished that for us.

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Behind the Scenes: Ring Redesign

From time to time we'll receive a piece to redesign.

Alloying 14k to 18k to make the piece easier to recycle and to achieve that rich yellow color.  

Melting...

Forming into wire...

Rolling out...

Forming into rings...

Soldering each band individually and then together...

Sanding to prepare for stone setting and polishing...

The finished product! An 18k recycled yellow gold ring with bezel set sapphires and diamonds.

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New Work: Antique Wing Ring

Antique inspired, this new piece features wing shaped “arms”, antique style pave diamonds, and a beautiful pear shaped diamond center stone. The pear shaped diamond was a unique choice that turned out to be a spectacular compliment to the ring design. 

Inquiries: [email protected] | www.liloveve.com

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New Work: Clusters

Bold and sparkly, these new cluster style rings draw inspiration from vintage styles. 

Available with you choice of gemstones. Stay simple with classic white diamonds, or mix it up with colorful sapphires. The possibilities are endless.

Inquiries: [email protected] | www.liloveve.com

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Can you tell we like fire 🔥🔥🔥 alloying 18k yellow gold in the studio #mybenchtoday #fire #metalsmith (at LiloVeve)

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Ask a Bartender: Mixology for Weddings

So the time has come for you to figure out what is arguably one of the biggest decisions you’ll make for your wedding - what to drink. Craft cocktails have been picking up steam in the bar industry over the last several years and have naturally found their way into the wedding space. More and more discerning couples are choosing to offer more personalized beverages at their weddings.

But where to even begin....

Lucky for you Stephanie, our friendly neighborhood mixologist and owner of Huckleberry Bar , has weighed in on this topic. See what she has to say below!

How should a couple choose their mixologist?

They should definitely think about what they like to drink and what will be on the menu.  Then they can choose someone that has that style and cocktail list in their repertoire.  Simply picking the bartenders that they enjoy when they go out themselves.  

Tips on for a couple creating a "signature drink" for their wedding?

At weddings you always have a pretty good mix of people and it's always good to pick a cocktail that is "user friendly" as we say in the business. Drinks that are too spicy or with an unknown spirit are probably not the way to go.  Make it easy for them to want to order it.   Guests will be there awhile and probably drinking a lot so having something refreshing and not too high in alcohol is good too.  I also think it's great when there is a "story" behind the drink.  Maybe it was something the couple shared on their first date or the drink goes well with the theme of the menu that they have chosen for the day.  Visuals are also important.  You want guests walking around with something pleasing to the eye.  

What's essential in a summer cocktail?

Lighter and more refreshing is the way to go.  You want one sip to make you want another sip.  Drinks with great acidity and tartness from citrus makes the mouth water and the guest wanting more.  We like to use Sherry in cocktails a lot because it does just that - makes your mouth water.  Beautiful floral and herbal aromatics are also very nice for the summer.  I prefer drinks that are served over ice in the summer as well.  

Current favorite recipe to share?

We love our Pimms Cup.  And so does everyone else.  

2 oz Pimms

1 oz Cucumber Syrup

1/2 oz Ginger Juice

3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

Shake with ice and strain into a highball with fresh ice.  Garnish with a cucumber slice.

Great news, Huckleberry bartenders are available for weddings! Find more information here. 

Photos courtesy Huckleberry Bar. 

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Lunettes twinkling in the day light ☀️ #lilovevewedding #showmeyourrings #futureheirlooms #lovegold #engagementrings (at LiloVeve)

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Behind the scenes: Vine Bracelet

Sterling Silver Vine Bracelet with natural turquoise, coral and opal. 

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Our Story, Aaron and Nesh

How did you meet?

Nesh: We met at on a Thursday at a bar in college. Neither of us normally went out on Thursdays but it proved to be no ordinary Thursday. We think its kismet. When we bumped into each other, we struck up a conversation and it was like we had known each other forever. We've been inseparable best-buds ever since.

How did you propose?

Aaron: I proposed, but only after I made absolutely sure that Nesh thought that I wasn't going to propose anytime soon. I felt Nesh getting the itch for a while and had developed a sixth sense for her disappointment after I didn't propose in Paris, then Hawaii. Then... surprise! I proposed in Nesh's parents' kitchen in Canada. It was simple and she was surrounded by the people she loves most. Most importantly, she was surprised.

Nesh: I had been waiting, and waiting for Aaron to propose and had been trying to find little clues everywhere. The night before Aaron proposed, I cried because I was convinced I had "misread everything." Somehow, he had managed to surprise the most inquisitive bride-to-be ever. See it here

Why Liloveve?

A few years before we got engaged, we took a ringmaking class at Liloveve and wandered into the gallery upstairs. During our ring search, we were really turned off by the ring mills in shopping malls and online. We wanted to work with another human being with the skills to create something that we could wear everyday as a symbol of our love and commitment. 

Ultimately, we chose Liloveve because we were able to share our vision for what we wanted with Caroline and she understood it and talked us through it. Every other part of our wedding process, including the wedding itself, was an absolute fiasco. But still, every time we glance down at our left hands, we are reminded of all things happy and for that, we thank Liloveve.

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What finger do you wear your wedding ring on?

Centuries ago the ancient Romans believed that a vein in your left ring finger ran to your heart. Known as the “vena amoris”, women began to wear rings on their left ring finger to signify that someone had claim to their heart. 

In the Greek tradition, the bride wears the ring on the left finger before the ceremony, then moves it to the right after. 

In traditional jewish wedding ceremonies the ring is placed on the index finger during the ceremony, and then it is moved to the ring finger after the ceremony.

Many orthodox Christians wear their rings on their right hands, as well as couples living in Germany, and parts of Spain and Venezuela. 

Interestingly, many Chinese women don’t wear wedding bands.

With the wealth of cultures in our world, it makes sense that we all have different traditions when it comes to wearing wedding bands. 

www.liloveve.com | [email protected]