Wedding Traditions

When Did Diamonds Come to Mean Forever? Guest: Rachelle Bergstein, author, "Brilliance and Fire: A Biography of Diamonds" Diamonds once were worn only by royal men, until a young courtier changed the jewelry world forever. The stories of the people who created the diamond market that so many of us have bought in to, and the ways that young people today are changing up the engagement-ring tradition.  Wedding Feasts Guest: Claire Stewart, author, "As Long As We Both Shall Eat: A History of Wedding Food and Feasts" What changes in the modern marriage feast—hamburgers, shakes, cupcakes instead of prime rib and elaborate cakes—reveal about the generations getting married today. Signature drinks, individual portions, exotic dishes all reveal a desire to have a celebration that stands out, rather than conforms to tradition. But does this focus on uniqueness ignore the historical community elements of a wedding feast?