A Brooklyn travel guide for wedding sh!t?

Hi there,

I've loved the travel guides you've been posting recently. As a new reader, please forgive me if I missed the Brooklyn wedding version. (I promise I did look through the archives.)  

Where besides Catbird should I go to find interesting/artisan/unusual/finely designed/ohpleasegodnotthis rings, and to browse wedding dresses that don't make me feel like the dress is wearing me? The honest truth is I used to live in Brooklyn, but at that time I was 100% never ever ever going to get married, so now that I'm eating my words I need someone to remind me where all those awesome places I saw out of the corner of my eye but insisted on ignoring can be found!

Thankyouthankyouthankyou

*****

Brooklyn is the jewelry-that-I-love capital of the world. Catbird, Scosha, Macha, and Erie Basin are all worth visiting, and if you don't find SEVERAL rings you love, there is something wrong with you.

Brooklyn is not, however, a good place to shop for a wedding dress. I am sorry to say. (Or maybe not that sorry actually. Go to Soho? Or make an appointment at Stone Fox Bride. While you're in the neighborhood, you should probs make an appointment with Anna Sheffield, too.)


Miranda Kerr by Terry Richardson for Harper's Bazaar

Brunch with Anna Sheffield

The ADORABLE Anna Sheffield was in town last weekend, and though I generally avoid meeting internet friends/colleagues IRL.... I couldn't resist making a date for chilaquiles* and seeing all the gorgeous sparkly things in person. 

Michelle Pullman of Rad + In Love was kind enough to tag along and snap some photos for you guys. 

(And I should also mention that they took very good care of us at Franklin & Company -- managed by this dapper groom.)

Are you noting the stacked two-finger rings? Fucking KILLER.

Anna explains how these little guys stack.

I came this close to recommending the amulet ring to our Fussypants bride, and I should have. It is really so lovely in person. *Everything* is so much more lovely (and more delicate) in person.

Sterling silver horse hooves. I mean, COME ON. 

And I fell in love with that egg bangle. I almost tried to wear it out of the restaurant.

How adorable is Anna in her Lindsey Thornburg dress?? Plus her bag coordinates perfectly with her tats. nbd.

(Photos by Michelle Pullman of Rad + In Love)

*Chilaquiles are not pictured. Bonnie + Bri may feel free to shoot me a big fat I TOLD YOU SO.

what if you can only decide on the shoes?

We are eloping. In Austin. You may decide that I can't be helped after you read this.

I can't decide on a ring. I can't decide on a dress. I can't decide on my hair or if I'll carry any flowers. I haven't even thought about setting or an officiant. I can only decide on these shoes (in either color). I'm surprised I can decide on that! The thing with all the other stuff is I don't have a precedent. I don't wear white or dresses much (NY. black. and yes I know I don't have to wear white, and I don't have to wear a dress, but I'd like to give it a shot since we are eloping and I think FH [and our families, if they were privy at this stage] would like us to keep a few things traditional) and I never wear rings. I'm a bracelet girl. I would love help with both because I'm at the point where the internet has swallowed my perception and intuition up and everything looks the same. or bad. and just not me. but I'll take whatever seems most fun to y'all.

Budget under $700, and something around $400 or less would be sooo great. My instinct says on the shorter side is the way to go because I don't want it to feel over the top. I'm not into the ball gown elopements. And I'd probably feel more comfortable in less-than-head-to-toe-white. And I wanna see the shoes! I'm 5'3", 32C-24"-34". I like interesting shapes, architectural details, and a modern clean feel, because it's more flattering to my midget body but I'm not opposed to a little lace, and a touch of gothy feel. I do not do bohemian. I do not do bling. Even subtle bling. I wanted to love this LOVER and this Manivet (with a slightly opened up neckline) before we were eloping, when we were having a tiny wedding, and a normal-ish one respectively. Of course the LOVER is not available in the US and it does not go with the shoes. There is this LOVER which is over budget and while I love it on the model, I'm not sold that it's for me.

Rings. I love Anna Sheffield. My favorite one was this. Then when my dear friend got engaged in November, she had her jeweler uncle make her a replica. What can I say. We have similar taste. So that's out. Other things: I like black. I'm not sold on diamonds (ethics, and said hesitation regarding over-blinginess). I like herkimers but I don't want the setting to look too crafty. I want it to look modern and polished and I haven't seen any that cut it. I also like rutilated quartz. I'm not sure that I want two rings, and so am also open to a stone laden band. I've thought about Mociun, Alex and Chloe, Macha, and everything on Catbird. There was this ring which is so out of character for me but it is also my birth stone. I also like Bario Neal but none of them sing to me. I'm open to stacking and I like the idea of mixing metals because I do that in my other jewelry. Oh budget on the ring(s)... under $2k and I do have my mom's setting from her first marriage (with my dad) to mine for stones if i somehow go blingy.

phew. After reading this it's probably easier to just help me with the dress even though the ring should come first. or neither. jeez.

thaaaaaanks.

eloping-naked-in jeffrey-campbell-shoes

*****

I found your dress.

It's from H&M's Conscious Exclusive collection, which will be in stores April 4.

You're welcome, FUSSYPANTS.


p.s. What about a wedding bracelet? Just throwin it out there. Nobody says you have to have a ring.

Anna Sheffield Digs East Side Bride!

After you guys clicked through like crazy to Anna Sheffield here and here, the staff took note. They just sent me these images from their first bridal campaign. I didn't even have to cop them off Refinery29!

The Astarte Ring is the centerpiece....

(UM $19,500)

But I like the Hazeline even better.

(Black Diamond, $2,500)

(Rose Gold with a hidden champagne diamond, $1,100)

Seeking: An engagement ring for a fat finger

Dear ESB

I'm having a lot of trouble finding larger engagement rings. I'm a size 8.5 and I like a lot of what you post. Our budget is under $4k but I really like stuff like this: 

Nora Kogan Rapture Ring (pictured above)

Anna Sheffield’s Hazeline Ring

Anna Sheffield’s Bea Ring

Satomi Kawakita Hexagon Ring (the only one that has my size)

Thanks!

*****

My little birdie at Catbird tells me:

We can order most anything in her size, including the Satomi hex ring. 

ALSO: 

Katie Diamond Suri ring

These guys are on sale! We can resize them for her.

p.s. If you do fall in love with a ring from somewhere other than Catbird (WHYYYYYYYEEEE? but anyway) don't be afraid to ask about special orders/resizing.