How to Choose Your Bridal Jewellery
Words by Eleanor Hibberd
There’s a fine art to styling your wedding-day jewellery. Is your style more classic or are you a modern bride? Are you a De Beers woman or a Sophie Bille Brahe fan? Do you never leave the house without a ring stack or do you prefer a statement earring? Whatever you choose, it’s all about what works best with your dress and makes you feel special on the day. Don’t know where to start? Our guide has everything you need to know about picking the best bridal sparkle.
Necklaces: To Wear or Not to Wear?
Wearing a necklace is an elegant way to enhance your decolletage, but opting to wear one should largely depend on the neckline of your dress. As a rule of thumb, your desired piece should sit directly against the skin. High necklines, halternecks and one-shoulder gowns can look cluttered with a necklace layered over the top – let the dress speak for itself. Lower necklines like scoop, square, sweetheart and strapless styles, however, offer the perfect framing for a beautiful rivière or choker, while plunging necklines look best with pendants, drop necklaces and lariats.
“As a rule of thumb, a necklace should sit directly against the skin – think about the neckline of your dress when considering whether to wear one”
Earrings: Single Piercings vs the Ear Stack
Earrings can reflect an important part of your personal style as a bride. If you’re someone who likes to wear multiple piercings in your day to day, lean into it (especially if you’re sporting an up-do), whereas simple lobe piercings can achieve a more classic look. Either way, it’s important to take your decolletage into consideration when choosing earrings – if you forgo a necklace, you might want to choose bolder earrings instead. However, if your necklace is a centrepiece, go smaller on the earrings – a simple diamond stud, for example. Pearls, too, are a classic choice, and needn’t feel old-fashioned thanks to the likes of Sophie Bille Brahe and Persée.
Rings: How Many is Too Many?
Your engagement ring and wedding band are the focal points around which all your jewellery should revolve – the most important pieces of the day and, no doubt, those which will elicit the most admiration from your guests. With this in mind, many brides prefer to forgo competing rings and even keep all other jewellery to a minimum. Nevertheless, a modern bride need not worry about tradition – if you’re someone who wears a lot of rings, don’t be afraid to reflect your personal style by incorporating stacking pieces or even adding a cocktail ring to your right hand. There are plenty of complementary styles to choose from – think symbolic knot motifs, eternity bands, something-blue sapphires and bridal-white pearls.
Bracelets: Statement or Simple?
Just as you would with necklaces and earrings, consider how your bracelets and rings will appear together. If you’ve opted to stack your rings, you might prefer to stick to something delicate on the wrist – a simple chain or classic tennis bracelet – or perhaps avoid one altogether. On the flip side, something more ornate – a diamond bangle or chunkier cuff – can effectively draw the eye towards your hand, in the direction of your new wedding band (and ethereal manicure).
“If you want to attract attention to your new wedding band, wearing a beautiful bracelet can be an effective way to draw the eye”
More Bridal Jewellery Advice
Styling your jewellery is like frosting a cake. What you choose should enhance the main event – in this case, your gown – rather than compete. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to have your outfit secured before you think about adornments. Of course, if it’s the jewellery that most excites you or you already have an heirloom piece you plan to wear, there’s no reason why you can’t dress around it. Just remember to keep it in mind or even wear it at fittings.
Generally speaking, it’s best to err on the side of ‘less is more’ – while this is an occasion to go all out, you’ll want to be careful not to overwhelm your outfit. If you’re picking one statement piece, pare back your other jewels. Consider, too, what else you’ll be accessorising with. Will you be wearing a veil? Will your hairstyle include any bijoux? What will your make-up be like? It’s all about finding balance as much as it is to celebrate your personal style. Think about what pieces you wear every day, and go from there.
Diamonds and pearls are synonymous with bridal style and will forever be an elegant choice. Equally, floral motifs like De Beers’ Adonis Rose collection speak to the romance of the occasion – apt for summer garden weddings. But most importantly, wear something that feels like you. If traditional bridal jewellery doesn’t chime with your style, throw out the rulebook. There’s no enjoyment in seeing it gather dust in boxes once the wedding is over.
Many of us associate white gold or platinum with bridalwear, but metal type and colour should always come down to personal preference. Remember, jewellery is for life, not just for your wedding day! The good news? Everything goes well with white. Consider what colour you’ve picked for your wedding band and engagement ring – you may want to keep consistency with this, though there’s no rule to say you can’t mix your metals. As for your stones, it’s always diamonds if you want to keep it neutral, but sapphires can be a fun way to incorporate your ‘something blue’ into the equation.
