When it comes to jaw-dropping jewels, celebrity jeweller Neil Lane is the king of bling. He has designed engagement rings for some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Simpson and Brooke Shields. You may also know him from a certain reality television show franchise, for which he has designed nearly every engagement ring over the course of its 25 seasons (we’re speaking, of course, about The Bachelor).

Famed for his dazzling and intricate designs, which always feature a luxe, vintage elegance, Lane is passionate about creating just the right engagement ring for each client. “The personal angle is huge,” Lane says via Zoom from his Los Angeles headquarters. “When I design a ring, I need to know all the details about who will be wearing it because it’s critical it fits their personal aesthetic.”

 

Neil Lane

Lane also believes it’s the ring that sets the tone for the look and feel of a couple’s wedding day. It’s this philosophy that lies at the heart of his latest venture: Fairmont Weddings By Neil Lane. Together with the historic hotelier, Lane has created a bespoke wedding package (currently launching at Fairmont Hotels in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Barbados and Bermuda) to create a perfect celebration.

Below, some highlights of my chat with Lane who shares more about his perfect marriage with Fairmont Hotels and the engagement trend he’s seen skyrocket during the pandemic.

Tell us more about Fairmont Weddings By Neil Lane

“I was looking to do something in the wedding planning space and to be able to bring the philosophies of my jewellery design to a new audience. I love the history and romance of Fairmont Hotels; they have so many incredible properties, which are a perfect match for my vibe. We both wanted to create a new type of wedding experience for couples that is beautiful, highly personal and low stress. People have been through enough in the last 16 months—they just want to get on with getting married and do it in a way that is perfectly them.”

What was important to you in creating these bespoke wedding experiences?

“I wanted everything to be very intimate, customizable and fresh! A wedding should never be routine, and my goal was to make sure every single angle of the party is interesting and exciting, from flowers to food and everything in between. We have created six core signature styles—romantic, lavish, modern, elegant, rustic and vintage—for the look and feel of the day, and every aspect can be tweaked so it’s on brand with every couple’s style.”

 

Fairmont Hotels

Do you have a favourite Fairmont wedding location?

“I think the Banff property is absolutely incredible—it’s literally a castle and a dream backdrop for an enchanting fairy-tale wedding. I’m from New York, so The Plaza is also a top choice. For a destination wedding, it would be The Savoy. London has so many incredible hotels, and this is one of the best. I love all the history.”

We obviously need to talk about rings! What are you seeing as big engagement trends happening in 2021?

“Fancy shapes are huge. It used to be just about a round or princess-cut diamond, but now pear, oval and square shapes are the most popular. Coloured gemstones are also having a major moment. I’m also seeing things get very personal with special little ring details—inscriptions inside rings are very hot right now. I would say the biggest trend I have noted during the pandemic with engagments is that they continued to happen! I have worked in the business for 30 years and it’s been my experience that more people got engaged during COVID than ever before.”

Fairmont Hotels

You play a huge role in people’s love stories. That must be so inspiring

“I’ve had such an interesting career and had the chance to design engagement rings for so many incredible people. I’m always inspired by the sentiment of this very special piece of jewellery that I have the privilege of being a part of. Playing such a special role in someone’s love story is truly wow.”

 

We’re giving away a signed copy of Neil Lane’s book, Style Your Wedding With Neil Lane! Check out contest details here.

 

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