Brides through the ages have accessorized with wedding jewelry
to add a finishing touch to their bridal attire; however, many
brides who don’t wear jewelry in everyday life jump at the
chance to wear it on their wedding day. Is it the special
occasion or the chance to play dress-up that prompts these
brides to don the unthinkable—jewelry?
Those brides too practical to care about jewelry in real life
use it on their wedding day to check off all the “somethings”
that bring good luck—something old, something new, something
borrowed, something blue. Whatever your reason for wearing
jewelry on your wedding day, it should complement the overall
theme of the wedding, including the formality of the occasion,
the design of the wedding dress, and the bridal color scheme if
your jewelry includes color.
The traditional bridal jewelry ensemble consists of pearl and/or
diamond earrings and necklace, often heirloom pieces (something
old, something borrowed). Pearls top the list as the most
popular bridal jewelry. Originally worn as a symbol of purity,
pearls are understated, elegant and timeless. If you listen
closely and put your ear to the ground, you can almost hear that
chorus of all the Mothers of the Brides from here to Timbuktu:
“Dear, you cannot go wrong with pearls.” For once, Mother’s
mantra hits the mark.
The same holds true for diamonds. You can’t go wrong with real
diamonds. A rare bride can afford to be gaudy and showy with
diamonds, and those who can know better. It’s the blinding array
of affordable simulated diamonds that leads to trouble. On your
wedding day, less is always more unless you’re Elizabeth Taylor.
There’s a fine line between a fairy tale look and gaudy. If
you’re not sure whether you’re crossing the line, ask for help
from a trusted friend or relative with an air of elegance.
If you want to wear pearls and a little flash of diamonds, the
“Sweetheart” Swarovski line combines the two (something new),
and offers you a choice of colors in pendants and spacers, as
well as your choice of metals. Swarovski crystals and glass
pearls are the finest in quality from the Czech Republic, world
renowned for their crystals and semi-precious gems. Each
handmade piece is customized to match the colors in your
wedding. Their line also includes glass fresh water pearls. If
you want to introduce a little color into your wedding jewelry,
pick up a color in the bridesmaids’ dresses (something blue).
Guidelines for Bridal Jewelry
Semi-formal or formal attire guidelines apply to wedding
attire—the simpler the dress, the more elaborate the jewelry.
You can’t highlight everything, and you don’t want your jewelry
to compete with your gown. Intricate bridal gowns with elaborate
beadwork or hand-sewn lace call for simple, elegant jewelry
while unadorned bridal gowns can support jewelry with more
glitter, glitz and drama.
You may hear that a white bridal gown requires silver jewelry
and that an ivory bridal gown requires gold jewelry. Unless you
specifically selected your bridal gown to match your engagement
and wedding rings, select gold or silver jewelry according to
your personal preference. You’re going to find that almost
everyone with whom you discuss your wedding plans has an opinion
on nearly everything, usually stated as a rule.
When you select your wedding jewelry, ask yourself the following
questions:
Does the jewelry fit the occasion? Is it too formal or too
casual? Does the jewelry compete with your wedding dress? Does
the necklace follow the curve of the neckline? For example, if
your wedding gown has a round neckline, a choker follows the
neckline. If your gown has a V-neck, a longer necklace follows
the neckline. Does your jewelry accentuate your best features,
or does it attract attention to the wrong area of your face or
neckline?
Earring Options
Whether you choose studs, or dangling earrings, pearls or
diamonds, the key words are delicate and elegant. If your bridal
bouquet and floral displays are predominantly pastel, you can
select one of the pastels for your jewelry ensemble. Pale pink
pearls are stunning with a bouquet of pastel roses. Out with the
rules: wear whatever makes you look and feel good.
Neckwear Options
High necklines are the only necklines that generally cannot
support neckwear. The neckline is the neckwear! If you’re
wearing a severe neckline such as a bateau, you can wear a more
dramatic necklace: a larger, dramatic pendant or a longer strand
of pearls. When in doubt, a simple pearl choker complements most
necklines without overpowering the gown.
Tiaras
If you elect to wear a tiara, limit the rest of your jewelry to
simple stud or button earrings and understated neckwear. You
chose the tiara to make a statement; let it do just that. In
fact, you may want to forego a necklace when wearing a tiara so
that the eye wanders up to the tiara.
When selecting your jewelry, determine which asset you want to
emphasize, and use jewelry to draw attention to that asset.