All About Bridal Jewelry

Accessorize your wedding-day look with the perfect bit of sparkle.

OK ladies, here’s music to your ears (and neck, and wrist): Now that you’ve got your wedding dress, it’s time to accessorize it! There’s no doubt about it, the right bridal accessories are absolutely essential to your wedding ensemble. Here’s what you need to know to accessorize like a pro.

Bridal Jewelry Style Tips

Make it you
Above all, wedding-day duds should reflect your personal style. So stick to studs if you’ve never worn chandeliers, and if you’ve never left the house without your favorite strand of pearls, around your neck is where they should be when you say “I do.” 

To simplify or not to simplify
When it comes to your bridal jewelry, times have changed. Less is often more but not always. Making a bold statement with your jewelry can yield unforgettable results; we love seeing bright floral necklaces, layers of pearls, or lots of sparkle. But you don’t want your jewelry to wear you, so simple and understated still has its place. A pair of diamond studs or a string of your mother’s pearls may be all you need. Either way, your jewelry should make a timeless fashion statement.

Complement the gown
Obviously, your wedding dress style plays a major roll in jewelry selection. As a general rule: The more detailing on the gown, the simpler the jewelry while many unadorned gowns beg for bright embellishments or a bit of sparkle.

Formality rules
Along with all other accessories, the bride’s jewelry should reflect the formality of the wedding celebration. A small, informal wedding calls for simple jewelry, while a large, formal wedding calls for more elaborate pieces. A casual backyard celebration in spring may be the perfect place for bright pops of color, while a winter wedding in a lavish ballroom means you can put on the glitz.

Let your neckline lead the way
Your dress neckline will guide you toward what pieces and styles you’ll wear. Many gowns are strapless or have low necklines, which is a perfect style to showcase a great necklace. If your gown has a high neckline, you may want to forego the necklace and concentrate on finding the perfect statement earrings. Remember: There is no need to force a necklace when a bare nape may make a gorgeous statement.

Pick Your Metals

The shade of your wedding dress will guide you to which metals work best:

• If your dress is white: Choose platinum or silver jewelry, as yellow gold may clash with stark white. 
• If your dress is off-white: Either golds or silvers/platinums will work.
• If your dress is ivory: The slightly yellowish undertones may call for gold jewelry.

Pick Your Gems

Pearls – a classic choice
The tradition of pearl bridal jewelry stems back to the ancient Greeks, who believed pearls promoted marital harmony. And, of course, style icon Jackie O donned a strand the day she became Mrs. Kennedy, further cementing pearls as the refined gem of choice for brides everywhere.

Diamonds – a bride’s best friend
Diamonds didn’t get their “BFF” status for nothing. They’re always good to add a touch of sparkle to your wedding-day ensem. The good news for your wallet is that faux varieties work just as well. 

Add some color
Of course, colored stones/gems present a great way to incorporate some color into your wedding-day look, so don’t shy away from blues, pinks, yellows – you name it.

Pick Your Pieces

Necklaces

• The collar: This Victorian style consists of three or more strands fitting securely around the middle neck; this length is a great accent to a low or strapless neckline.
• The bib: This statement style can be found in a variety of colors and forms ranging from bright geometrics or soft, touchable florals to dark metals, twisted fabrics, and opulent gems.
• The princess: This length falls about 16 to 18 inches to the hollow of the neck and often supports a pendant; this style works with almost any but a high neckline.
• The matinee: This style hits the top of the bust and looks great with a bateau, jewel, or a lower neckline with sheer fabric covering the décolletage area.
• The opera: The opera necklace is a long single strand falling below the bust; it creates a dramatic look when paired with a very high neckline.
• The choker: A classic choker features one to three strands worn close around the neck; this length works well with a jewel or bateau neckline, as it may get lost if too much skin is showing. 

Earrings
Keep your earrings simple if your necklace is especially large or grand. You also may not want to wear earrings at all if you’re wearing an elaborate hairpiece, as the two may compete. On the other hand, if you’re going sans necklace, consider highlighting your look with dramatic earrings, like a chandelier style. Remember: The key to accessorizing is balance.

Deck your wrist?
Although not as common as necklaces and earrings, brides can wear a bracelet with sleeveless, short-sleeve, and three-quarter sleeve gowns; however, a watch is best left at home on your wedding day unless it’s a family heirloom or antique.