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Wedding Day Jewelry
http://wedding.weddingchannel.com/jewelry/articleindex.asp
So Harry Winston isn’t lending you a diamond choker
and chunky diamond earrings like he does the Oscar nominees.
But you still want something to add a little sparkle, adorn
your neck and ears, and complement your gown on wedding day.
Check out our bride’s guide to wedding jewelry and you’ll
know just how to dazzle ’em on your special day.
Family Heirlooms. If you happen to have an amazing piece of
jewelry at your disposal, wear it. A bride friend of mine
wore a three-strand pearl collar with an emerald in the middle
that was drop-dead gorgeous. Don’t hesitate to ask family
and friends to borrow jewelry that you admire. Does Mom have
a pair of diamond studs that you’re dying to wear? Does
your sister have hanging pearl earrings? Those who are close
to you may feel honored to fulfill the “something borrowed”
category for your wedding day.
Borrowed jewels have sentimental value and wearing
them adds emotional punch to your wedding. Jewelry that has
been in your family for generations also has a special feel.
Imagine wearing the same strand of pearls that your mother
and her mother before her wore to their weddings (just make
sure that they have recently been re-strung). Plus, vintage
jewelry is hot right now and can lend an added dimension to
your bridal look. Be sure to take care of your borrowed jewels
and don’t lose them.
Fake It. If you don’t have access to the real stuff,
look for some fabulous fakes. These days it’s hard to
distinguish costume jewelry from authentic gems. Many bridal
salons and department stores offer an array of faux pearl
earrings and necklaces. Faux diamonds are wonderful as well,
and many of the pieces available combine the costume pearl
and diamonds together for a sparkly and classic look.
Pearl Primer. Pearls are a bride’s best friend. The
lustrous white color is a beautiful complement to a white
or off-white wedding gown. Although timeless, pearls are hot
now and evoke fashion’s current fascination with feminine
things. They have been worn by style mavens for ages; they
were a favorite of the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy as well
as Catherine the Great. Pearls are also extremely versatile.
Choose the strand length that best enhances your gown’s
neckline. A pearl collar, 12-13 inches, is usually made up
of three or more strands and hugs the middle of the neck.
It looks best with plunging or v-necks, boat necks or off-the-shoulder
gowns and looks fab if you choose to wear your hair up. A
choker, at 14-16 inches, is called the most classic and versatile
necklace a woman can own. It goes with just about any gown
neckline. Princess length is 17-19 inches and goes well with
high and very low necklines. Brides should probably not go
much longer than princess length to complement their gowns,
although an opera length strand, 28-34 inches, can be doubled
to make a lovely two-strand choker. A good size pearl runs
from 5.5 mm to 7 mm.
Earrings. Although mere trifles, earrings really do complete
a look. Do a trial earring run: try on various earrings and
see which look best with your gown’s neckline and the
hairstyle you plan to wear on wedding day. You want to make
sure that your earrings show up. Drop pearls and pearls with
some diamond (or fake diamond) sparkle are elegant wedding
selections. The white of pearls can illuminate your face.
You can also go for something more dramatic, such as hanging
crystal earrings, but make sure they don’t overwhelm
your dress. If your gown is heavily beaded and sparkly itself,
you may want to wear subtle or smallish earrings.
Colorful. Jewelry is a great way to add color to your wedding
day ensemble, if you dare. Sapphires, emeralds (or fakes)
and semi-precious stones can add just a bit of punch to your
necklace and earring choices. Colored pearls are all the craze
now, and the hues range from gray to golden to pastel pink.
Apricot pearls are among the trendiest selections. Be sure
to keep colored jewelry choices subtle, though.
Dare to Be Bare. The options in jewelry can be overwhelming.
How do you know which length necklace looks best with your
wedding dress? Is your trendy four-strand pearl collar strung
on wires a bit too trendy? One way to go is to keep it simple.
As for necklaces, you might decide to skip them altogether.
This allows you to show off your dress’ stunning neckline
whether it’s strapless or high or in-between. And it
allows you to show off your neck, which you might not want
to show off in 30 years. You can also completely forego bracelets.
Especially if you’re going to wear gloves, a bracelet
can look funny and get in the way.
Time Flies. Another piece of jewelry that you can leave home
when you walk down the aisle: your watch. Time does indeed
fly when you’re having fun, so you won’t need
a watch on your wedding day. You want to be caught up in the
moment, not checking on the time. A watch can induce stress,
especially if you’re trying to hit certain time targets
for the cocktail hour, the first dance, etc. In addition,
a clunky watch is not delicate enough for your wedding day
look. Unless you have a slim and elegant watch encrusted with
diamonds or pearls, or a special vintage bracelet-watch, it’s
better not to tick tock on wedding day. The same goes for
your bridesmaids. As for the men in your wedding party, watches
are okay. Dress watches with leather or metallic bands are
good choices. But tell your groom and his groomsmen to steer
clear of sports watches and any watches that may beep inappropriately
during your ceremony.
Bridesmaids. Give your bridesmaids some direction when it
comes to jewelry. You can tell them all to wear pearls or
no necklaces at all. You can let them show a little creativity
and individuality by choosing their own earrings (you reserve
veto power, however) or you can dictate the earrings you want
them to wear. Some brides give earrings, necklaces or both
that double as wedding day wear for their maids and wedding
party gifts. It looks great if all of your bridesmaids wear
the same jewelry; it’s also fine if you allow them to
make their own choices as long as they are in keeping with
the tone of your wedding.
Hair Jewelry. Another place for wedding day jewelry is in
your hair. If you do plan to wear a tiara, which is super-hot
right now as a headpiece selection, adding a necklace to your
look may be sparkle overkill. Little bejeweled clips or pins
strewn throughout your hair can add dazzle. If you opt for
hair jewelry, tone down the rest of your jewelry selections.
Keep it Simple. Let your gown, not your accessories, stand
out. Whether you go for classic jewelry or something a little
funkier, make sure that your whole ensemble works together.
Do some trial runs with your gown and hairstyle to see which
jewels really complement them and enlist your bridesmaids
for their input. Remember: proportion is the key. Jewelry
is an important accent on your wedding day, but the best choices
don’t take center stage.
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