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Bauble

Engagement ring
shopping doesn't have to
be scaly, say jewelers.

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diamond is a girl's best
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Man's best friend, on
the other hand, is a dog.

Looking For
Information

Your first stop for planning a Jewish wedding
should be a synagogue, not a magazine.

LYNNE MEREDITH COHN

Scene Editor

Bridal magazines are good for generic,
universal information, but don't offer
much in the way of a Jewish wedding.
If you're looking for help on cutting
costs, finding the right locale to say "I
do," gown styles, china patterns or how
to write a nice thank-you note, check
out the magazines. But if you want
some guidance on making your wed-
ding more Jewish, magazines aren't
going to cut it.
For Jewish information, first stop
could be a rabbi or synagogue. Rabbis
and their families are more than happy
to school you in the tradition and cus-
tom of Jewish weddings, with vivid
explanations and descriptions. And for
information on making your wedding
more religious, this is the best way to
go.
Even the books that are available on
planning a Jewish wedding don't lean in
the more-observant direction.

6/12
1998

108

For a solid Reform or Conservative
wedding, try any of the big bookstores'
Jewish sections, where you'll find books
such as Anita Diamant's The New Jewish
Wedding. Diamant offers guidance for
making your wedding more symbolic,
and slightly religiously Jewish.
Here's a sampling of what the latest
bridal magazines have to offer the
Jewish bride:

Modern Bride, June/July 1998:
Four hundred-seventy eight pages
and not one mention of a Jewish wed-
ding.
There are lots of beautiful pictures,
however. Some of the best features
include two lengthy articles on the lat-
est wedding fashions, an explanatory
article on "the newest diamond rings,"
beauty tips, how to pick flowers or wed-
ding invitations, groom's checklist.
One of the more generic, helpful
articles focuses on tips for saving money
while throwing a splendid wedding.
This issue has a lengthy section on

DARCI SMITH

Special to The Jewish News

"dreamy honeymoons" and two articles
about making marriage work.

Detroit wedding pages, Bride and Home
magazine, Fall 1998:
This is the only strictly Detroit-ori-
ented bridal magazine, which doesn't
contain a Jewish mention other than
"churches and synagogues" in an article
about where to have the blessed event,
but that's it.

Elegant Bride, Summer 1998:
A sleek, chic magazine tailored to
upper-crust-type wedding questions and
issues, this tome features an excellent
article on "Saying Thank You From the
Heart."
Every bride wants to make her
thank-you notes poignant and personal,
but it's often hard to do. Here's some
help.
But again, nothing Jewish in these
pages. Even the society weddings fea-
tured are big church affairs. ❑

This may very well explain why the

mere thought of picking out an
• engagement ring sends many men
running and screaming into the
• night.
Choosing the perfect bauble was a
"frightening experience " said Mike
Weikert of Royal Oak. "I walked
into the store and:was just complete-
ly clueless. I was like a deer in head-
lights."
Since he and Carin had never
!lopped for rings together, Mike was
more than happy when the sales
associate at Tapper's Diamonds &
Fine Jewelry in West Bloomfield
asked if she could help. A desperate
"I hope so" was all he could utter.
Mike chose a single diamond with
a band that combined gold and
• white gold.
.
.
Weinstein of Weinstein
Jewel& in Novi said he finds that
most men, while shopping for an
ent ring, wish to make an
decision and be educated
' ' •:4
A 1.naonci quality. He suggested
ers establish a budget
*ng for a ring. "That
way, the jeweler can direct you a lit-
tle more easily into the proper cate-
iik," he said.
gories youliViii
While Weiiitein Jewelers special-
izes in ring design, many men just
• buy a diamond and have inset it in a
simple style, Weinstein said. After
the proposni, the bride-to-be then
brings it back and has it designed to
her taste.
Rob Davis had a somewhat
unusual shopping partner --- his