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| 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.
