The Smithery — Local services in Columbus

My Lady and I went to handcraft our own Wedding Rings. We were not sure exactly what to expect, being new to the whole process. Our intentions were to hand make our wedding bands as a way of bringing more meaning to the rings themselves. A store bought ring is all well and good, of course, but we sought to forge our rings with the same love and care we use to forge our relationship. Anne and Jen were excellent instructors, wonderful hosts, and experts in their craft! They guided us through the process of taking the raw, precious metal blanks to the finished product of our own unique wedding bands. We highly recommend the experience not only as a way of creating gorgeous rings, but forging golden memories.

As instructors, Anne and Jen were patient, knowledgeable, and flexible in their methods. They took the time to explain the processes and could go deeper into how and why the process worked the way they did.

As hosts, Anne and Jen were welcoming and took the lead in guiding us in making the right choices from the selection of precious metals to the designing process and all the way to the finished pieces. They also assisted us with information about places to stay, places to visit, restaurants to try, and the like while we visited Columbus.

Whether one is painting a painting, carving a sculpture, or smithing rings, sometimes the medium does not behave the way it is expected. That is were Anne and Jen, as experts in their craft, shone through. When our metal did not want to cooperate, they knew exactly how to encourage it. They knew what to do at each step of the process. When it appeared like we were taking steps in the wrong direction, they reassured us that it was all part of the process.

My Lady and I had a fantastic time that exceeded our expectations, we are thrilled with our Wedding rings and the whole experience, and we will remember our time with Anne and Jen fondly!

Some things to consider:

Trust in the process; Anne and Jen are experts with plenty of styling and crafting experience between them. They will not steer you wrong.

The price may seem daunting at first. When you consider the cost of the materials, tools, and the know how, however, you really get a good deal. For the same price you might pay at a store, you get the rings, the experience, lunch, gifts, and a deeper appreciation for your handcrafted wedding bands; not to mention your significant other with whom you share the time.

There are a couple of staircases one has to climb to reach their workshop. They are not impossible to climb, but may be difficult for heavy set persons such as myself. I was a little winded by the time I reached the top myself, but I managed. I am certain that Anne and Jen will make every possible accommodation for their guests that is within their power to do. Letting them know ahead of time will make it more likely that they can assist.

I personally recommend going in with an open mind and without a plan. Be creative, enjoy the process, go with the flow.

The learning curve is fairly easy. If something doesn't make sense, ask. Need feedback on how it is going? Ask. Experiencing some concerns about how it looks at a certain stage and/or are worried about the end result? Relax and ask.

In summary, we highly recommend...

We can only begin to express how grateful we are to have this goldsmithing experience with Jen and Anne in creating our wedding rings for each other. We were already thrilled to have the opportunity to make each others rings, but did not know what the experience would exactly entail leading up to it. The entire experience working with Jen and Anne surpassed every expectation. We were welcomed into their workshop and it was immediately apparent it would be a private session with thoughtful instruction and unrelenting patience that allowed us to be 100% hands-on for the entire experience of making our rings. Jen and Anne were masterful in their ability to guide us in the fundamental techniques to sure we would be successful while allowing for as much creativity as we desired in making these rings unique and special to us. Not only are they gifted instructors, they are beautiful people who made us feel incredibly welcomed and created a fun atmosphere that we will remember dearly for our lifetime. Looking at our rings reminds us not only of the craftsmanship we employed for one another, but brings us back to a day full of laughter, love, creativity and creation. We wanted to take the time to write this review to encourage others to seek out this one-of-a-kind experience that we will always cherish. Thank you, Jen and Anne, for presenting us with the opportunity to make rings that will forever encapsulate our love...

Jen and Anne at the Smithery are INCREDIBLE! I reached out at the beginning of June with a long shot question about coming to make a ring for my wedding at the end of June. Within 2 days of reaching out to them we had a plan for me to be there the following week. It’s even crazier considering I live in Texas and had to schedule a flight to Ohio. Nonetheless, they embraced my adventure and were flexible about when to start the workshop due to me flying in and out that same day. To top it off, the day before I was supposed to be there, they were having rolling outages due to the heat. They called and let me know they had no power, but they were willing to still be there or reschedule depending on what I wanted to do. It was already a wild adventure, so I said why not?! If we could make a ring without power, let’s do it! We had a great time that day regardless of the fact that we had no AC. We worked using the sunlight and lots of hard work. They made the day fun and definitely one to remember! I am so thankful I found them online and was able to have the experience of making a ring with them! They also do a wonderful job of taking pictures during the workshop to help you document the day. I have attached some here for my day. Thank you Jen and Anne for the experience and helping me make the ring of my husband’s dreams. We both love...