Because 2 days is never enough.

Erik and I are working on our wedding scrapbook again after ignoring it for a few months. (I guess our 6 month anniversary kicked us back into gear. If we don’t do it now, we never will.)

It got me thinking about the DIY aspects of our wedding, especially our wedding rings.

When we decided to get married, like most couples, we wanted all aspects of the wedding to be personal to us. We were wary of the all consuming “wedding industry” that seems to turn ceremonies into stressful and expensive events. One of the best decisions we made in preparation for getting married was to spend a day with Sam Abbay making our own wedding bands in San Francisco, where Erik and I met. It was an 8 hour hands-on process that resulted in our beautifully handcrafted bands made from paladium.

Sam was helpful in in all stages of the process from choosing our precious metal to sizing, shaping, soldering and polishing. The process was educational, creative, and fun — and most importantly, it was something we were able to make together.

Sam has moved his studio to New York City (he’s following us!). You can see how to make your own ring along with testimonials (including excerpts of this post) on his site newyorkweddingring.com.  It’s the ultimate craft.