Every bride wants to amplify her gorgeousness for her ‘I do’ moment - and presenting the best version of yourself is absolutely key to this. Those little details from your accessories and jewellery help to pull everything together and make the bridal look unmistakably ‘you’.
Tabby and I have spoken to countless brides over the past four years. Bridezilla or bridechilla, with so much choice and self-imposed pressure to get it right, it’s little wonder that some brides can really struggle to make a decision.
Want the low down on the main points to consider when choosing your big day sparkle? Read our insider's guide here.
So, wedding jewellery... where do I start?
Like most wedding decisions, there’s really no hard and fast rules. But, a good starting point has to be the dress.
Choose pieces with a design that's sympathetic to your dress. Ideally, your jewellery will complement the style of your dress (and any hair accessories/veil you'll be wearing). For example, jewellery with beautiful filigrees or delicate drops of pearls look amazing with vintage-inspired lace dresses, while Grecian style dresses look chic with simple but bold pieces.
And then there are the more practical-led considerations. For example, says Victoria Fergusson “if you have beautiful long lace sleeves, you won’t get the most out of a bracelet and it may catch on the delicate fabric. On the other hand, a detailed headdress or statement earrings, especially if your hair is up, will really add to your ensemble”.
Your chosen jewellery can be used to highlight features that you love or to bring balance to your overall look. Designer Martine Wester says “long drop earrings are a great way to balance out a bottom-heavy gown, and strapless dresses just scream for a little sparkle around your neckline.”
Image credit: Rock My Wedding/Julia & You Photography
What necklace will suit the neckline on my dress?
Some necklaces styles look better with certain necklines. Here’s what to try:
Plunge/v-shape - choose a necklace with a pendant so that it falls in a "V" shape to mimic and complement your neckline.
Sweetheart - a simple short necklace or choker is always safe, but a necklace with a more ornate style will also really stand out (depending on the detail on your dress neckline). Choose a piece that falls higher than the dip in the neckline. If you're wearing an elaborate necklace, balance the look with a pair of simple stud earrings.
Image credit: Rock My Wedding/Julia & You Photography
One shoulder dress – we say less is more. Don’t risk ruining the asymmetric lines created by your gorgeous dress. Instead, try a pair of chandelier earrings and a bold cuff.
Strapless – try a string of pearls or crystals, a delicate pendant necklace or choker length necklace.
Round neck – opt for a fairly short single or multi-stranded necklace or a choker to sit inside the neckline.
Halterneck - don't wear any necklace at all with this style of neckline - earrings and bracelets will complement this type of neckline better.
Backless dress – try a beautiful backdrop necklace to make a focal point of your back. For example, the 'Eliza’ by Eliza Jane Howell shown below looks stunning with the Pandora lariat necklace by Chez Bec, as you can see. Imagine walking down the aisle with this gorgeousness behind you. Make sure your hair is up!
Should I match my wedding jewellery to the detail on my dress?
The detail on your dress can certainly be a guiding factor on the choice of your jewellery. Our designer, Victoria Fergusson asks “is it pearly, sparkly, cool tones or warm tones? She suggests having a close up picture of any embellishment on your gown at hand when you are shopping for your wedding jewellery. (Perhaps on your phone or on a secret Pinterest board so you can refer to it easily).
Victoria says “things don't need to 'match' exactly, but where there is softness, lace and pearls you would coordinate likewise. In a similar way, if the detailing is all sparkly beads and gemstones look for accessories where these elements are the main focus.”
Also, if you’re unsure, don’t be afraid of seeking the advice of experts and showing them the photo of the dress so that they can offer a second opinion. At Liberty in Love, we are often emailed photos of dresses and we can help whittle down the choices with the bride.
What earrings will suit my face shape best?
ost brides wear earrings on their big day, but getting the right pair is important as they are so close to your face! Try the following earring styles:
Oval faces – a highly versatile face shape, oval faces suit all types of earrings and necklaces, in particular teardrops and ovals.
Heart-shaped faces – try earrings that are wider at the bottom than the top. All lengths and types of necklaces work well with this face shape.
Round faces – long drop earrings are a good choice to balance out this face shape. V-shaped necklaces also add length visually. It’s perhaps best to avoid round, more chunky-style earrings.
Square faces - large, round or long dangly earrings flatter this square faces. It’s best to avoid large, angular styles.
Long hair – if you are wearing your hair down, small earrings may be hidden under flowing tresses, so choose bigger, more dramatic earrings.
Long/short necks – long drop earrings work well with a long neck, but this style may emphasise a short neck, where shorter drops look better. However, putting your hair up elongates the neck, so you can then go for those chandeliers!
I have very thin wrists! What bracelet should I wear for my wedding?
If you’re worried about your bracelet not fitting you correctly because of your dainty wrists, don’t be.
We can recommend certain designers or styles that work wonderfully for brides with smaller-than-standard wrist sizes. For example, bracelets made by Chez Bec fit wrists with a 14.5cm circumference quite snugly on their smallest size. Other types of more dainty cuffs/bracelets which tie with ribbon like the Miami cuff by Victoria Fergusson, also work very well with slim wrists.
In addition, many types of bracelets can be made to a custom length. Simply get in touch if you’re interested in this option.
Should I match the bridal jewellery with the jewellery for my bridesmaids?
These days, there’s no need to go too ‘matchy-matchy’, and a more eclectic approach can make things more visually interesting. Martine Wester says “bridesmaids love to add their own individual style to their outfit, so let them choose their own jewellery from within a collection you’ve chosen. That way they’ll be happy and you’ll get the look you’re after.”
I can’t find exactly what I’m looking for, can your designs be customised?
Yes, some jewellery designs can indeed be customised to suit bespoke requirements, but it’s pretty dependent on the designer and the piece in question. Simple customisations such as changing colours/shapes of pearls, using gold-plated metal instead of silver and making a piece smaller in length can often be quite easily carried out.
Also, handmade jewellery (as opposed to manufactured pieces of jewellery) has more scope for amending the design. If you love a certain piece of jewellery but need tweaks to make it perfect for you, it’s always worth checking with us to see what's possible.
How much should I spend on my jewellery?
We believe in investing in pieces that you’ll love and treasure for years to come. After all, for most brides, the jewellery is probably the thing that you will wear more than once (think anniversaries and special date nights with your husband!) and it’ll possess great sentimental value.
If you are watching your budget, perhaps you can buy one special piece and raid your own jewellery box or those of your loved ones.
How far in advance should I order my wedding jewellery?
As with the dress, the more time you allow the more choice you will have. As a general rule of thumb, it’s probably best to order once you’ve decided on your hair accessories.
For made-to-order jewellery, you should allow up to 6 weeks for delivery (depending on the designer), so we would recommend trying to order no later than 2 months in advance. For jewellery that’s held in stock, we would still advise that you order in plenty of time, just in case the piece sells out.
Having said that, we do try and help all brides, no matter how last minute their purchasing ends up being. If your wedding is next weekend and you’ve fallen for a particular piece that has a lead time of 4-6 weeks, it may still be possible! As always, just get in touch and we would be more than happy to advise more specifically.
I’ve fallen in love with a bracelet but I’ve not even found a dress yet. Should I just follow my heart and buy it?
We know that it may feel like fate, and as tempting as it may be to give in to your inner romantic, we would caution against buying your accessories first. Even if you have a clear vision of your dress in your mind, it’s a universally acknowledged truth that most brides can end up with a completely different dress to the one they would have initially chosen. Absolutely, most definitely order your dress first. That buy-me-right-now bracelet will almost certainly still be there after you’ve made that all-important dress decision.