Star Struck

Making Magic

PHOTOGRAPHYCHRIS BERNEKING PHOTOGRAPHY CEREMONY VENUE EVANSVILLE MUSEUM OF ARTS, HISTORY & SCIENCE AND THE KOCH IMMERSIVE THEATER AND PLANETARIUM

FLORALS & DECOR JOELLE ELISE DESIGN CAKE GAYLA CAKES BRIDAL GOWN MAGIC MOMENTS BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES MAGIC MOMENTS SUITS JOS A BANK HAIR & MAKEUP AMANDA DOLEH MUSIC MONTE SKELTON

Camelot Jewelers

“My dad, Rodney, opened Camelot in 1986. Before that, he had worked in the jewelry industry working in the shop doing repairs and custom work just to name a few things. His work was so good and in such demand that he set up his own shop doing repair work that eventually led into the full service jewelry store you know today. With Camelot being a small business, my parents were there 24/7 working, so on the weekends I spent a lot of time at Camelot. Even as a child I remember my dad telling customers that ‘you have to love it,’ he would tell people that it doesn't do either of us good if you don't love it. You work hard for your money and deserve to have something you love, and I work hard so that you love and continue to come back to me and tell your friends. I think it's easy to hear things like ‘You have to love it” and assume it's a slogan that some marketing company came up with. That’s why I like to refer to it more as our mantra. Jewelry is such a powerful medium of communication and expression, and is one of the few things that you can pass down from generation to generation and have it grow in value a lot of times. Rhonda Williamson, our instore jeweler, who has been with Camelot for 27 years, and I, a GIA Graduate Gemologist, make a great team and love to help our customers not only repurpose their meaningfully jewelry, but also repurpose it in a smart way that will retain or enhance their value and will be something they will wear and will fit their lifestyles. At Camelot you truly have to love it.”

Natalie Lewis, MPSA, GIA GG Camelot Jewelers 2178 E. Morgan Ave Evansville, IN 47711 812-473-5440 www.ShopCamelotJewelers.com

After losing her wedding set and searching for months with no luck, we custom made this wedding set to replicate her old set. The left picture is her original set and the right is her new! I can’t tell you how much it means to us when we receive messages, cards and pictures from our customers. This is why we do what we do. BEFORE AFTER

BEFORE AFTER

An unworn ring turned into a cute bar necklace, on trend with the multishaped rubies.

BEFORE AFTER

We remounted the center stone from this old wedding set into the new halo diamond wedding ring for an updated look with the original diamond.

BEFORE AFTER

For this upgrade our customer kept her original mounting, traded in her .67ct center diamond and replaced it with an upgraded quality 1.01ct diamond

BEFORE AFTER

In this special piece, we took 4 rings that a husband had given his wife and turned them into one ring for her to wear everyday.

To celebrate a milestone anniversary, we took the center stone from an original wedding set and custom made a brand new mounting. The customer traded in her old gold towards the purchase of the new mounting. BEFORE AFTER

BEFORE

A custom Mother's Ring made from a rendering.

One of our all time favorite things to do is repurpose family heirlooms. The center stone from this wedding set was removed and remounted into a beautiful diamond pendant. AFTER

Don’t let worn out or broken jewelry sit around. Let us make it new again! AFTER BEFORE AFTER

A future mother in law gifted this old wedding set to her future daughter in law for her upcoming wedding. We remounted the diamonds into this custom wedding band so the bride to be will have the family diamonds with her always.

Disapointment

Many of us have been there, in high anticipation of THE BIG DAY. The venue selected, invitations sent, the photographer and DJ under contract, bridal attire on order and the cake maker chosen. THE cake! YOUR cake. The one like no other ever displayed and shared at a reception. All the months of planning, spending, deciding, done, and at last there is an appointment on the calendar, “our wedding day.” Then “Bam!” COVID-19 strikes! The appointment on the calendar turns into disappointment...crushing disappointment. How can you have a wedding when the orders are social distancing and no public gatherings until further notice. That hurts.

Hundreds of thousands of couples are in this situation right now and with them all the folks who make a wedding happen, wedding planners, caterers, florists, venue owners.... you get the picture. The trickle down economic impact of a canceled wedding is both seen and felt in these challenging times.

Of course there are always those who say unhelpful things. “Why are you so upset?” “It’s just a wedding.” “Nobody died!” “Pick another day.” Now all of those statements are true, but that doesn’t ease the disappointment. In fact, it sounds downright dismissive.

When disappointment comes, we can support those we love with some very simple steps: 1. Listen 2. Affirm 3. Sympathize

When someone is hurt, a listening ear is a gift. Listening deeply carves out a path for pain to be expressed and not internalized. If someone trusts you to hear their problem, reserve opinions and suggestions until they

ask. The initial hurt is raw and feels like a gut punch. One of my professors in seminary often said, “Listening is loving.” I think that is true.

Affirming simply means, “I do hear you. I can see this is devastating to you and I understand you feel awful right now.” Affirmation is a commitment to hold a space for a hurting person’s words and feelings. We hold space for others without judgment. To sympathize with a wounded person is is to feel with them and for them. It is not pity. It is kindness laced with respect. Engaged couples everywhere have been dealt a blow by this highly contagious virus and they are hurting. They need time and tenderness. True, there are more pressing issues in the world, but it helps to realize that disappointment is pressing too. Listen deeply and well. It is the most valuable wedding gift you can give.

Stay well! Ange Humphrey