CMYK

A6 Thursday, February 18, 2021 Livingston County News

Do’s and don’ts of caring for wedding jewelry

BY KORI SCIANDRA
ksciandra@batavianews.com
Jewelry is a key component
of weddings. The financial
resource CreditDonkey notes
that, in the United States, the
average amount spent on an
engagement ring is $5,500.
Jewelry costs can add up, espe-
cially when adding in the cost
of wedding bands, which can
cost as much as $1,000.
The cost of jewelry only
underscores the importance of
learning how to care for it and
preserve its value.
“It is very important to treat
your jewelry with care to
keep it looking like new. You
should avoid harsh chemicals
and abrasive materials. You
should avoid exposure to
hairsprays, perfumes, lotions,
etc. It is recommended to not
wear your jewelry while doing
housework or showering,” said
Carrie Lawrence, co-owner of
Valle Jewelers of Batavia.
The best way to maintain
jewelry depends on the make-
up of the rings. The online jew-
elry guide Jewelry Notes says
gold rings without gemstones
can be cleaned effectively with
only soap and water. Simply
prepare a solution of lukewarm
water and mild dish soap in a
small bowl. Soak the rings for
20 to 30 minutes. Use a soft
brush or cloth to clean the jew-
elry of dirt. Rinse the residue
under clean water.
Rings with diamonds can be
treated similarly with a mild
soap-and-water solution. The
Diamond Information Center
also says to soak the diamond
ring in equal parts cold water
and ammonia for half an hour
and let it air dry. Brand name
jewelry cleaner also is another
good option. This method only
should be used with diamonds;
ammonia can’t be used with
other gemstones.
Maintaining jewelry also
should include twice yearly
visits to a jeweler who can
check the prongs and make
sure the setting is not loose;
otherwise, the diamond can
become dislodged, according
to Martha Stewart Weddings.
Avoid touching diamonds
and other gemstones as much
as possible when putting rings
on and taking them off. 
“An engagement ring should
be checked at least a couple
of times a year. We person-
ally recommend even more
frequently if possible. Being
proactive is better than waiting
until you have lost a cherished
stone. We offer to clean and
check jewelry free of charge,
no matter where you may have
COURTESY OF VALLE JEWELERS
Maintaining jewelry also
should include twice yearly
visits to a jeweler who can
check the prongs and make
sure the setting is not loose.
purchased it,” said Lawrence.
Precious stones often are
magnets for dust, dirt and
body oil, according to Taylor
Lanore, diamond consultant
COURTESY OF VALLE JEWELERS
The cost of jewelry only un-
derscores the importance of
learning how to care for it
and preserve its value.
and engagement ring designer
for Lauren B. Fine Jewelry and
Diamonds.
Grab the ring by the band.
Use discretion when wear-
ing rings while engaging in
hands-on activities. Activities
such cleaning dishes, moving
furniture, gardening, or diving
through waves at the beach
warrant caution; otherwise, you
risk damaging or making jew-
elry unnecessarily dirty. Store
the ring in a safe location until
you can safely wear it again.
One of the most important
steps to safeguard wedding and
engagement rings is to insure
the jewelry. The description of
the ring, its cut, carat weight,
metal, and other information
offered through a certified
independent jewelry appraisal
will be needed to insure the
ring.
“We do include a free writ-
ten appraisal on any jewelry
that we sell from our store. If
you have a family heirloom or
jewelry purchased from else-
where that you need us to pre-
pare a written appraisal on, we
ask that you give us a call to
set up an appointment. There
is a fee for this service,” said
Lawrence.
Take a close-up photo of the
jewelry as well. Other items
such as laser inscription or
a home security system can
qualify jewelry owners for dis-
counts on insurance. Consum-
ers also can add a jewelry rider
to a homeowner’s or renter’s
insurance policy. 
These are some ways to care
for wedding jewelry. Always
consult with a jeweler before
attempting to clean items made
of various materials. 
Metro Creative Connection
contributed to this report.

VALLE
Martha’s Majic JEWELERS
finds your dream home! 21 Jackson St.
Batavia
343-3372
CELL: 319-8517
81 Main Street www.ValleJewelersBatavia.com
Geneseo Martha Burns
Real Estate Services 346-8223 LIC RE SALESPERSON

All Your
Floor Needs In Consider the Lodge at
One Place! Batavia Country Club
• Carpet
• Hardwood
for your wonderful day!
• Laminate Now Booking
• Luxury Vinyl Tile Weddings and
• Sheet Vinyl Banquets for
• Ceramic 2021
• Area Carpets and beyond.

In Stock or
Special Order Call 344-8367
Professional to schedule
Installation your consultation
Available or DIY and tour.
B
Free Estimates 7909 Batavia-Byron Rd. Batavia, NY

0% Financing www.bataviacc.com
Available

M-W 8:30-5:30; Th & F 8:30-7:30; Sat 8:30-3 • 651 E. Main St., Batavia • 343-7830

te!
Save the Da
re a m
2021 D
g E xp o
Weddin th
t. 1 7
Sun., Oc
It will be a stylish marriage with gifts and
accessories from our Heartline Wedding and
Anniversary collection. Come look over our
beautiful new selection of items to honor
these special occasions...

from the magical day of matrimony...

to the golden anniversary.

75 N. Main St., Warsaw - 786-2330

 CMYK

Livingston County News Thursday, February 18, 2021 A7

How to find your wedding florist

BY KORI SCIANDRA
ksciandra@batavianews.com
Weddings join the lives of
two loving individuals, so
they can share their future
with one another. Various
elements help make weddings
both momentous and magical.  Allergies also may be
Some weddings adhere
to themes that are designed
to make an impression and
showcase couples’ personali-
ties.
Floral arrangements are
key components of wedding
themes, as they help to estab-
lish ambiance at both the cer-
emony and reception.
Local florists have noted
it’s tough to find a floral
trend at this time due to the
uncertainty of future events
due to the COVID-19 pan-
demic.
Flowers can easily help
couples achieve a desired
vibe, whether that’s rustic,
romantic, modern, or even
whimsical. Skilled florists
may use a variety of flow-
ers and foliage, as well as
dramatic displays to help
create the couple’s wedding
day vision. According to an
internal study from the wed-
ding advice and planning
resource The Knot, which
surveyed more than 27,000
couples who got married in
2019, the average cost of
wedding flowers was $2,000
in 2019. However, the cost of
floral arrangements can vary
depending on the scope of
the arrangements and choice
of flowers, including whether
they’re in season or not. 
It is essential for couples to
spend time vetting potential
florists to find one who will
produce their desired vision
at a price that fits their bud-
get.
These guidelines can make
the process go more smooth-
ly.
n Establish your theme
early on. Floral arrangements
will complement and enhance
other elements of the wed-
ding, including color scheme
and the wedding theme.
If your wedding theme ties
into a specific season, you
will work with the florist to
find blooms and other pieces
that coordinate. For example,
winter weddings with white,
ice blue and silver color
schemes may coordinate with
white ranunculus flowers,
dahlias, dusty miller foliage,
and viburnum berries.  On Site Wedding
When a bride and groom
are interested in choosing
their floral arrangements, its
best they start by researching
local florists and seeking out
which florist their friends and
family have chosen in the
past for first-hand experience.
“They usually reach out
and call us. We suggest a
consultation because it’s best
to discuss what they are look-
ing for in person,” said Barb,
Pictured are floral arrangements by Avon Floral World and
Gift Shoppe.
es, altar arrangements, pew
or chair decorations, and cake
decorations.
n Go easy on aroma.
Tread lightly when selecting
No Interest for up to 48 Months
tain look in mind, but it could
sometimes include a flower a
florist may suggest the bride
steer away from.
“Usually stay away from
anything fragrant, like star
gazer lilies,” said Barb.
exacerbated by flowers
with strong aromas. Discuss
options with the florist before
proceeding.
n Explain your budget.
Research the average cost of
blooms that have strong aro- floral arrangements and let
mas. They may be beautiful, the florist know what you
can afford. This can help the
but many people are sensitive florist narrow down options
to smells.  450 Ellicott St., Batavia
or make substitutions that fit
A couple might have a cer- your theme and your budget.
You’ll love your dress
and you’ll love our prices
even more.
New designer gowns
25%-70% off retail prices.
Call, text or email today.
You’ll “Say Yes For Less,”
and look great doing it!
4558 Main Street, Snyder
Photo by
(716)839-7833
Tomas Flint daliasbridal.com
Couples can take certain Shoppe, at 2 North Main St.,
steps as they choose floral Perry, call (585) 237-2550.
arrangements for their wed- For more information about
dings. Cost should not be the Avon Floral World and Gift
only factor in the decision, Shoppe, 63 Genesee St.,
even though it is an important Avon, call (585) 226-3496.
one.  
For more information about Metro Creative Connection
Bush Hill Florist and Gift contributed to this report.
BUS: (585) 344-1416
RES: (585) 344-1034
MOBILE: 356-5559 Bernadette Penfield
EMAIL: optimum@localnet.net Owner-Broker GRI
Restroom Trailers available
• Weddings • Campsites
• Big or Small Events • Weekend Outings
• Construction • Ball Fields
• Golf Courses • Farm
Portable Toilets
Vacuum Pumping of Septics
Repair/Installation
Proud to be a Certified Women-Owned
Business Enterprise
A beautiful, all-season venue is the
perfect setting for your special day!
Breathtaking views of our championship
golf course for up to 200 of your guests!
Open to The Public
Terry Hills
Banquet Facility
5122 Clinton St. Rd., Batavia
Just 30 minutes from Buffalo or
Rochester -1 mile east of Batavia
Family owned and operated
www.terryhills.com
585-343-0642
Coordinator
We specialize in:
• Ceremonies and
Receptions
• Bridal Showers
• Rehearsal Dinners
• Bachelor Golf Outings

The Wed Shed

a manager at Avon Floral
World and Gift Shoppe.
n Bring swatches and
photographs to consulta-
tions. It is easier to explain
color palettes to a florist with
examples in hand. Show the
florist the types of arrange-
ments you prefer and have
Rustic Vintage Rentals
actual fabric swatches from
bridesmaid gowns or grooms-
men vests so that colors can
by Julie Hess
be complemented.
“Set up an appointment ~ Rustic Decor & Props
with us. They (couples) can
come in, bring ideas they’ve ~ Arbors & Backdrops
looked at, and we have books
they can look through as
well,” said Bush Hill Florist
~ Wine Barrells & Furniture
and Gift Shoppe.
n Create a list of desired
~ Vintage Table Settings
items. Florists may sell items
a la carte or have packages & much more
of common floral pieces for
wedding celebrations.
Types of floral arrange-
ments include bridal bouquet,
bridesmaids’ bouquets, maid
of honor bouquet, corsages
585.993.2422
for mothers/grandmothers,
thewedshed@gmail.com
boutonnieres for groomsmen See Showroom By Appt.
and fathers/grandfathers,
flower girl headpiece, petals 2299 Swett Rd., Lyndonville
to sprinkle, table centerpiec-

A8 Thursday, February 18, 2021
Jessie Stablewski and Ron Snyder Jr. celebrated with
engagement pictures.
Pandemic wedding stories
RESILIENT COUPLES: Finding ways to celebrate special day during COVID
BY KORI SCIANDRA
ksciandra@batavianews.com
Like most other events in
2021, the exchange of wedding
vows may look different this
year.
Many couples were forced to
cancel or reschedule their big
day last year due to attendance
limits on indoor events due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Those cancellations caused
lost venue deposits, along with
the unrecoverable cost of wed-
ding invitations, unusable per-
sonalized décor, and much more.
The pandemic has brought
with it a great deal of loss. But
although the coronavirus is still
with us for the time being, who
doesn’t want to find the fun,
love, and excitement that a wed-
ding can encompass during such
uncertain times?
Resilient couples are seeking
alternate venues. They’re find-
ing ways around the obstacles,
so they can still celebrate their
special day together.
Many are hosting their events
outdoors with fewer guests, so
they can social distance.
Here are the stories of two
couples planning weddings for
2021, and another couple who
were married in 2020:
ARIEL AND JASON
Residents of Mount Morris,
Jason Carpenter and Ariel Gua-
rino purchased their first home
together in August of last year.
Jason, 41, works in debt collec-
tions and Ariel, 34, is an activi-
ties director at an assisted living
facility in Rochester. The couple
got engaged Feb. 14, 2020, at
Fratelli’s, in Avon.
“We had gone out for Valen-
tine’s day dinner with two other
couples that we are close with
and Jason had apparently already
talked about his plan to ask me to
marry him. After we had gotten
done with dinner, we were all
in the parking lot talking and I
remember it being so cold and
windy that I had turned away
from Jason because of the wind
and then one of my girlfriends
said something like ‘Aww,
look,’ and when I turned around
Jason was standing there with
his arm extended out holding an
Cookie Favors, Cookie Trays, Cupcakes, Bride & Groom Cakes
Cupcake Tier Rental Available • Delivery and Set-up Available
Hours: Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Closed Sundays
439 Main Street, Medina • 585-798-1676
open ring box!” Ariel said.
“I started to laugh, and he
said ‘Will ya?!’ and my response
was, ‘Of course,” she continued.
“One of our guy friends said to
him that he needed to get down
on one knee, but he told him that
if he did, it was so cold out that
his knee would probably freeze
to the ground ... When we got in
the car to leave, he handed me
a card and told me that he was
so nervous that he forgot to give
that to me first. So, I opened it
and it said, ‘Will You Marry
Me?’”
As they pass the one-year anni-
versary of their engagement, the
couple is planning to exchange
vows June 5 at Oakland Wes-
leyan Church, in Nunda, fol-
lowed by a reception at the Gen-
esee River Reception Center, in
Mount Morris.
“I bought my dress at David’s
Bridal and I am very lucky that
my mom is so talented that she is
going to be making all our cen-
terpieces, as well as my bridal
bouquet, the bridesmaids’ and
groomsmen’s boutonnieres.”
The couple is purchasing
their cake from The Cake Place,
in Avon. Their DJ is Kevin
Eustace, of DJ Kevin, and their
photographer is Larry Tetamore,
of Tetamore Photographic.
With an upcoming, 180-per-
son indoor wedding, Ariel and
Jason have had to overcome
some obstacles, so they can have
the wedding they foresee for
themselves.
“Oh, my, there have been so
many obstacles that we have hit
it’s not even funny,” Ariel said.
“Everything from rescheduling
trying on wedding dresses mul-
tiple times to having to discuss
our wedding cake via Zoom.
“I had to wait to try on and
even purchase my wedding
dress until December,” she said.
“When discussing our wedding
cake, it was a lot of texting pic-
tures of what I was looking for in
a wedding cake while we were
on Zoom and then (Melissa Sav-
ino, owner of The Cake Place)
sending sample cupcakes for us
to try home with my mom.”
Jason and Ariel will not be
wearing masks on their big day,
and their guests will not be asked
CMYK
Soon to be husband and wife, Jason Carpenter and
Ariel Guarino of Mount Morris.
to wear masks either.
“I am totally against making
my guests wearing masks on
my wedding day. I want to look
back on our special day and be
able to see people’s faces and
not just their eyes. The church
is not very big so that might be
hard to social distance in, but in
the reception center we have the
two large reception rooms so if
people wanted to social distance
they could,” said Ariel.
Although the couple has faced
some hiccups with planning their
wedding, they have still been
able to plan according to what
they hoped for and haven’t had
to go without anything at this
point in the planning process.
“So far, knock-on-wood, there
hasn’t been, but I’m sure with the
way rules and regulations change
daily I may have something that
I will need to go without at our
wedding,” Ariel said.
When asked if she felt she was
still able to have the wedding
she’d always imagined, despite
a hovering global pandemic, she
said:
“To be honest I do not feel as
though I can have the wedding
I want despite the pandemic.
When I was growing up dream-
ing about my dream wedding, I
never would have imagined that
I would have to be wearing a
face mask when going and try-
ing on wedding dresses or that
instead of me walking out of the
dressing room with the dress all
zipped, buttoned, and tied for
my mom who is sitting there
Bridal & Pro
ti on s and Specialty Sew
Altera re Framing
Custom Pictu
Hours by A
t (585)
Call or Tex
MEDINA’S FINEST CHOCOLATES
HANDMADE CHOCOLATES
Sponge Candy • Chocolate Patties
Milk • Dark • White • Sugar Free
Gift Baskets & Gift Cards Available
• Specialty Items
512 Main St., Medina, NY 14103
585.798.5815
dellaschocolates@yahoo.com
www.dellaschocolates.com
Family owned & operated by
anxiously waiting to see if ‘this
is the dress,’ I would have her
in the dressing room with me
to help me get in the wedding
dresses instead of the employee
at the bridal shop.
“I did not imagine that I would
be constantly worrying that I am
going to have to push my wed-
ding back due to the possibility
of the state shutting back down;
that I am going to be told that
all of my guests have to have
a COVID test before my wed-
ding and if they don’t they can’t
attend; that I can only have so
many people at my wedding and
that I cannot have dancing and if
I do have dancing then everyone
has to wear a mask and be social-
ly distanced. I am so blessed that
my family — mom, aunt and
uncle — are doing everything
in their power to give me my
dream wedding, but due to this
pandemic it just makes it very
hard because there are so many
‘What if’s.’”
Both Ariel and Jason are
looking forward to becoming
husband and wife, even though
they will celebrate with friends
and family differently than they
planned.
SAMANTHA AND TIM
Newlyweds Tim McGorray
and Samantha Tripi-McGorray,
of Bliss, were married Oct. 30,
2020 at the Sterling at Arrow-
head, in Akron.
With an original guest list of
130, state COVID-19 guidelines
forced the couple to reduce their
Medina, NY
m
ing
nt Only
ppointme
261-3866
Tim McGorray and Samantha Tripi-McGorray of Bliss were
married Oct. 30, 2020 at the Sterling at Arrowhead, in Akron.
list to 50 people.
“That was really difficult
because we have a big family,
so that took up a lot of the spots
and then we just had really close
friends …,” said Samantha.
Hosting their ceremony out-
doors allowed for some wiggle
room, but the venue was only
permitted to allow 50 people
inside for the reception, with the
exclusion of vendors.
Despite the disappointment
of having to don a mask on
their wedding day, the McGor-
rays’ guests wore masks to the
event to ensure they met state
guidelines and followed safety
procedures.
In addition to a reduced guest
list and masks, the couple could
not enjoy their time on the dance
floor with their guests.
“Cuomo’s mandates also
made it so we weren’t allowed to
dance,” Samantha said. “We did
get a DJ anyway as background
music but decided to hire a com-
edy hypnotist as entertainment
and that was a lot of fun. He
took volunteers from my wed-
ding guests to be hypnotized.”
Although Samantha never
considered postponing her wed-
ding due to COVID, she did
consider changing the venue to
better accommodate their wed-
ding checklist.
“I never considered postpon-
ing the wedding, but I didn’t
know if it would happen regard-
less of what I wanted,” she said.
“We were getting married to
have a marriage not a wedding,
Livingston County News
so the idea of postponing was not
something I considered.”
JESSIE AND RON
One bride has her sights set on
a beautiful outdoor wedding on
her family property in Arcade.
Jessie Stablewski, 29, and Ron
Snyder Jr., 28, both of Lancaster,
will tie the knot, joined by family
and friends, July 3, 2021. Since
Ron proposed last July 4, the pair
is thrilled to celebrate their love
during another Independence
Day weekend celebration with
a red, white, and blue themed
wedding.
While Jessie and Ron are still
planning to have the wedding
they anticipated, they have had
to stay conscious of the constant-
ly changing COVID guidelines
and restrictions. 
“When we first started plan-
ning, summer 2020, some ven-
dors we reached out to were not
available for booking or giving
quotes until January and Febru-
ary of 2021,” said Jessie. “…
Instead, we worked with other
vendors who were accepting cli-
ents.”
With a smaller than origi-
nally anticipated guest list of
50 guests, all attendees will be
expected to wear a mask, as will
their officiant.
“We have lots of space for
social distancing. Guests will
wear masks,” said Jessie. “…
We always wanted to have a
backyard wedding, it will just be
much smaller than we originally
wanted.”