Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Adorn Yourself!

Even Kate went dainty for her wedding. 
Brides love their jewelry.

When it comes to jewelry, though, more can be, well, more. Too much, in fact, depending on the bride’s headdress and gown.

Wedding jewelry is supposed to catch the eye, but it’s not designed to be the main thing that guests focus on as the bride walks down the aisle. Instead, it’s the bride herself, her gown, and her veil that are supposed to draw the most attention.

The exception to this is a bride’s engagement and wedding rings. These are the main pieces of jewelry that guests will ask to see and ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’ over during the reception. However, these pieces are, usually, hidden when a bride walks down the aisle (by her bouquet), allowing guests to see her gorgeous dress and headdress.

Jewelry designers seem to have missed the memo detailing the fact that wedding jewelry should truly accompany and not dominate a bride’s wedding attire. This becomes obvious when brides begin shopping for jewelry and find that options for the pieces they seek are usually extremely intricate, over-the-top, large or quite heavy. Added to the fact that much wedding jewelry is extremely expensive for the length of time it will be worn and that it usually cannot be worn more than once, and brides may find themselves at a loss.

Therefore, we take this time today to provide hints about how and where to purchase wedding jewelry that won’t overwhelm a bride’s attire or credit card.

How to buy wedding jewelry:

Less is more: smaller, daintier pieces usually work much better with wedding gowns than larger, shinier pieces. Not only do these smaller pieces allow the bride and her gown to shine, but they usually appear better in photographs. Additionally, although only worn for a short amount of time, heavy earrings and necklaces are still worn for approximately eight hours and can cause quite an ear or neck ache at the end of the day.

Limit your sparkle: wedding jewelry that has only one or two types of sparkle shows up best in person and photos. If you love Swarovski crystals, go for it! Just don’t pair those crystals with rhinestones, pearls, gemstones, and metal. Stick to two types of sparkle, such as crystals and metal, for the best appearance.

Be mindful of your budget: wedding jewelry should have a small allocation in your budget, mainly because it’s usually worn only once and for a short time. Don’t break the bank on a bracelet when you might be able to add an extra appetizer for the same cost.

Don’t overlook your head: for budgetary purposes, hair combs, clips, and tiaras are typically considered wedding jewelry and not accessories. Make sure to spread your budget evenly so that your hair is not bare.

Where to shop for wedding jewelry:

Second-hand wedding gown stores: many of these stores offer small- to medium-sized jewelry selections of items they purchased from brides who sold their gowns to the store. Remember, the bride who previously owned that bracelet only wore it once, for about eight hours. Take advantage of those savings!

Large department stores: although these stores usually don’t specifically design their jewelry departments for brides, they often have several pieces that will work great for the occasion. Check local newspapers and online for coupons to save on any items you buy.

Quinceanera shops: being designed for girls 16 and younger, the jewelry at these shops may be a little on the small size, but you still may find earrings or headpieces that’ll work great – at less cost.

EBay: rather than sell their items in a resale shop, many brides turn to EBay to unload their wedding jewelry.


Etsy: looking for something custom? If so, Etsy is the place to go. Most sellers will customize their products, often at no additional cost.