Have you ever wondered why married couples wear wedding bands and what the history is behind them? No matter what the reason, an important part of wedding planning is selecting the wedding bands. Today we are exploring the process with JPratt Designs.
The tradition of wearing a wedding ring dates back to Ancient Egypt. They considered the circle to be a symbol of eternity, and the ring served to signify the perpetual love of the spouses. This was also the origin of the custom of wearing the wedding ring on the ring finger of the left hand, because the ancient Egyptians believed that this finger enclosed a special vein that was connected directly to the heart, denominated in Latin the “Vena amoris”.
When Jeff proposed to Taylor he had already selected the beautiful engagement ring custom designed with JPratt Designs. He did an incredible job and it seemed only natural to return to the jeweler he started with. They made an appointment to meet with Jennifer Pratt, who designs all the custom jewelry at the family owned and operated design studio in Dallas. Along with her husband Jeff Pratt, they create stunning pieces. Aside from engagement and wedding rings, they will also custom design anything you need. Of particular note, they will take your older pieces or jewelry that you no longer wear and repurpose them into something new.
During this meeting, Taylor and Jeff worked with Jennifer to decide which wedding band would be added to the engagement ring as well as what band Jeff would wear. Unlike most jewelry stores, you are not buying something out of a jewelry case. Jennifer only has samples for sizing and ideas such as which metal to select. From there, any custom design can be done. Jennifer’s drawing is made into a wax mold and then cast. The clients are asked to return to try on the wax mold for fit. You will see me holding wax rings above. The process is a fine art start to finish resulting in the exact ring you want in the metal you select.
Be sure to visit the JPratt Designs site to see some of the custom pieces that have been created. Call them at 972-386-8955 or contact them for an appointment. The possibilities are endless!
xoxo – Tanya
photo: Audrie Dollins
Thank you to JPratt Designs for collaborating on this post. All selections and opinions are my own.
Tags: jewelry
Really enjoyed this article – especially the photography. We rarely experience such great photography of the selection process for buying wedding rings. It really does make the experience far richer than selecting off-the-shelf designs. Today, it is all about the personal experience and making each wedding ring truly individual for the bride and groom.