Living in Colorado, you better believe I’m going to be outside as much as I can. Hiking, camping, climbing – I’m down for all the adventures.
A lot of my couples have an adventurous side too, but sometimes that bling on their finger can get in the way. With more and more people getting outside to enjoy the sunshine, here are my top tips for keeping your engagement and wedding rings safe and sparkly AF.
- Exercising – take that thing off! Materials most rings are made of, like platinum and gold, are softer than you think. That means if you’re doing things that put pressure on your ring, like gripping a rock climbing wall or cranking out push-ups, you could potentially change the shape. If it gets too bent, you could even damage the claws holding your stone in and risk it falling out. If you feel like you need to wear something while you’re breaking a sweat, check out the cheap, synthetic bands on Amazon. They’re a great, safe alternative!
- Showering – after all that exercise, you best be taking a shower. While it might seem like the shower is a great place to get your ring squeaky clean, oily soaps will actually dull the finish and exfoliating soaps can potentially scratch it. No rings in the shower! If you do need to clean it, most jewelers recommend using warm water with a couple drops of soap or mild dishwashing detergent. Let it sit for a few minutes, or even overnight, then give it a quick scrub with a toothbrush before you rinse and pat dry. Easy!
- Moisturizing – you guys have heard me bitch about how dry it gets out here in Colorado, so I totally get the necessity of lotion. But if you’re rocking a ring on your finger, that lotion can build up and create a layer of film over it. Slip your ring off quick, lotion up, and then pop it back on to keep it looking brand new.
- Swimming – cue Kim K crying about losing her diamond earrings in the ocean. DO NOT swim with your rings on in the pool and especially in bigger bodies of water. Chlorine can damage or discolor parts of your ring, and cold water can make your fingers “shrink,” which means it’s even easier for it to fall off. Play it safe this summer and keep it away from the pool. Trust me.
Shit happens though, so if your ring does end up getting damaged, go visit a jeweler. They can make sure the prongs are tight, the stone isn’t loose, and there are no cracks anywhere. That’s what they’re there for!
Get that bling insured.
"Hiring McKenzie to photograph our wedding was single-handedly the best decision we made when planning our wedding. Wedding planning and vendor research was so stressful, and once we had Kenzie, she stepped in as support and helped us with narrowing down things that were important to us and to figure out what we really wanted. wish we could get married over and over again just to recreate these and work with Kenzie again! "
Nadia + Daniel
"You will not find another wedding photographer who has the McKenzie signature style- she can capture the absolute beauty of the area and people all at once. She can shoot in a variety of settings and lightings and the photos are all gorgeous. One of the main reasons we booked McKenzie was the fact that she showcases a diverse clientele and finds beauty in all beings- something not all photographers can say.As a plus size bride who was extremely worried about looking back at my wedding pictures with dread that I wouldn't look like those gorgeous girlies on Instagram- this meant so much to me. "
Sydnie + Nathan
"When we got engaged, we searched near and far for an elopement photographer - & we met with several different photographers but none felt right until we met McKenzie. My husband, my dog and I are avid hikers - we wanted a beautiful hike and view, but it was also very important that we could be our authentic selves and intimately celebrate our 10 years together in the way we wanted. I'll be honest, I was shy about wanting to elope (ya know, family opinions and such), but McKenzie made us feel so comfortable in our decision. She wholeheartedly welcomed us being.. us! We couldn't have asked for more."
