How to Choose the Right Bridal Party Jewelry

The biggest thing about a wedding day is the aesthetic. The look of the wedding party is absolutely everything because it is the one thing that will be seen in every single photograph, and one of the most important elements of that look is the jewelry that delights the wedding party. Here is a guide that should help make your wedding party look the best that it can on the big day.
Get Jewelry that Goes with the Theme
An easy way to decide on wedding party jewelry is to look at the theme of the overall wedding and look at the design elements of the jewelry and see if they match. For instance, a wedding held in a traditional cathedral by a traditional couple with a classic dress can appreciate classic jewelry that incorporates crosses and traditional designs on the hands and bodies of their wedding party members. Though in this example it was not subtle, even consider coordinating small elements. If there is going to be a dove release as part of the ceremony, then necklaces that look like open wings sitting atop open necklines would include the wedding party on the theme of flight towards a new life.
Another easy way to do this is by color association. If the bride is known for her red hair, for instance, then consider putting rubies near the faces of the wedding party members. This adds a fun, cheeky element to the wedding that everyone can see and appreciate.
A same-sex wedding might include jewelry from all colors of the rainbow to show their pride. The point is that having jewelry that goes with the wedding theme does not have to be limited to design. The limits of jewelry fashion only sit where you place them.
Remember the Importance of Variety
While making sure that the wedding party has cohesive jewelry pieces, unless you are absolutely sure that you want matching jewelry pieces on all members of the wedding party, then it is good to vary your jewelry pieces in your wedding party. Even if you want one element across the entire party to stay the exact same from person to person, be sure to vary other elements so the looks don’t look like cookie-cutter copycats of themselves.
An easy way to do this with a classic touch would be to have matching pearl necklaces for each member of the party, then get earrings that have the same cuts, but different colors. That way, the members of the wedding party can have an element of individuality while also retaining some of their identities. This would work with rings or jeweled hair pieces as well.
The same pearl necklace idea can also work if you vary the bracelets on each of their arms, putting different gems on each member or completely changing the bracelet type with each girl. Let one stack bangles and a select few colored gems and let another have one chunky jeweled bracelet and let another still wear a simple silver chain. This gives the wedding party a healthy level of variety so that wedding guests’ eyes never grow tired when looking at them, or when looking at pictures years later. The wedding party members may also appreciate the pearl necklace idea because they can wear pearl necklaces often outside the context of the wedding as well, and everyone loves a multi-use jewelry piece.
Remember the 4 C’s (then Add One for Coordination)
When deciding on jewelry for a wedding party, or for any occasion, there are 4 C’s to have in mind as you shop:
- Carat. This refers to the size of the diamond. The weight of the diamond is measured in carats.
- Clarity has to do with the stones of the jewels in the jewelry pieces only. The clarity of a stone has to do with whether or not it has any imperfections or any cloudiness. If it isn’t very clear, then especially of it is a colored diamond or other stone, the color and the way the light plays off of the stone will not be as true as it could be. Clarity can also change as a stone ages. For instance, if you want to incorporate some old family stones into the wedding party’s jewelry, then that is a nice, sentimental touch. However, age and lack of professional cleaning and care can mean the stones are cloudy and don’t look like they used to. For this reason, maybe hide a gem in a shoe or sew it onto some clothing, but let some new, clear gems play properly in the wedding day spotlight.
- Color is an obvious one: the color of the stone and of the metal. You can always mix metals and stones in a wedding party, but if so, be intentional. Sapphires and emeralds look beautiful when paired on the same pendant, but they may not stand out as well as when they are next to someone wearing rubies and yellow diamonds as part of their ensemble. Unless the couple wants this artsy, rainbow look, be intentional about who wears which color of stone so that the party and the ensembles look cohesive.
- Cut dictates the shapes of the stones in the jewelry pieces. There are a multitude of types of cuts, but some include: round, princess, teardrop, emerald, square, heart, and even others. Cut, in the grand scheme of things, won’t make or break the wedding. But cuts can help with themes of pieces or can just help make a single person’s jewelry ensemble look cohesive. Some stones look better in certain cuts as certain pieces of jewelry than others. Teardrops make lovely pendants, but they aren’t as perfect for bracelets. Round stones are good for studs and simple rings, but standing alone, they probably won’t make a huge statement on a necklace, which is perfect for minimalist looks. Consider the cut of the stone and the kind of statement it makes when curating the wedding party looks.
One that deserves an honorable mention is the element of coordination. Like with
Planning around the theme and being sure that the elements of the jewelry pieces are varied goes hand in hand with coordination. This wedding party will look bad if you set each member loose with their own ideas and don’t get them all together until the rehearsal dinner. There needs to be an element of planning so that the pieces on each person are complementary and that holistically, the pieces are also complementary. For example, make sure everyone has necklaces that are the same length. Someone with a long chain, unless distinguished, like the matron of honor, will stand out like a sore thumb if the rest have chokers and short-chained necklaces.
Design It Yourself
If you have the budget for it, this is the best option for making sure your wedding party looks perfect and you get exactly what you want. This way, you can talk one on one with a professional jewelry design team to be sure that the pieces fit the theme, look good with the wedding party outfits, and are made of the highest quality materials available. An artsy bride or couple will also appreciate the thought and effort put into just the wedding party jewelry alone.
This idea of self-design can also be incorporated with some pieces from existing lines. If you design some pieces for the wedding party and have them custom-made with the help of a jeweler, then you can also let each member of the wedding party select a new piece of jewelry from an existing line to pair with it. This is a great option for the person who wants a really personalized wedding party but also does not want to break the bank, either. This also allows for members of the wedding party to incorporate elements of antique jewelry that hold sentimental value, too.
With that, choosing jewelry for the wedding party should not feel like a chore. It should be one of the things that elevates this wedding from amazing to perfect. Accenting the right outfits, this will be the most beautiful wedding in history all thanks to good choices in jewelry. Coordinate, but remember that variety is the spice of life and the key element in a chic wedding. Invest in pieces that your wedding party will be proud to wear, not just feel obligated to. You have got this, and you are going to help make this the best wedding it could ever possibly be.
Denis Stepansky
Founder of ItsHot.com
Denis Stepansky is a founder of ItsHot, a diamond jewelry and watches store based in NYC. He has been in the jewelry business for about 20 years and owns such high-end jewelry brands as Luccello and Luxurman. As a jewelry expert, he has citations on well-known magazines and newspapers like Insider and Daily Mail.
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