So I live by the big lakes (MI) and I love the water. I don't want an outright beach theme, but a few touches that would give it a slight beachy feel. I do not live by the ocean, so think fresh water ideas.

So I live by the big lakes and I love the water. I don't want an outright beach theme, but a few touches that would give it a slight beachy feel. What touches would you add to a wedding to give it a very faint beachy feel

My mother passed away two years ago and I have her engagement ring that my step father gave her. They ended up getting a divorce, however he is still the only dad I ve known, and when she passed I specifically picked that ring for the emotional connection. I am thinking about proposing in about 2 years, and I m conflicted between keeping the ring, or using it to propose to my girlfriend. I wish my mother were here to ask how she felt, but as you know I cannot :( Here are my issues and/or plans, please help me make the best decision. *a week after I received the ring, my sister stole it and made me think a friend took it for about 6 months before giving it back. One thought is that if it s on my girlfriends hand, it is more protected than on mantle/jewelry box. *I would like to use the diamond and put it into a new ring, with the style and color my girlfriend likes, but feel bad about tearing my moms ring apart. Me and my girlfriend already talked about if she was given an heirloom and it didn t work out, she would of course return it back to me. But at that point, the diamond would already be centered into a new ring. This is so important to me. Should I hold onto it and let it collect dust and never be worn again, or should I give up possession and let it live once more? I would like to use it to propose, as I feel that it would be even more special than a standard ring, and safer. But i would never want to "ruin" or "let go" one of the most important from my mama.