| Brides through the ages have accessorized with | | | | everything, and you don't want your jewelry to |
| wedding jewelry to add a finishing touch to their | | | | compete with your gown. Intricate bridal gowns |
| bridal attire; however, many brides who don't | | | | with elaborate beadwork or hand-sewn lace call |
| wear jewelry in everyday life jump at the chance | | | | for simple, elegant jewelry while unadorned bridal |
| to wear it on their wedding day. Is it the special | | | | gowns can support jewelry with more glitter, glitz |
| occasion or the chance to play dress-up that | | | | and drama. |
| prompts these brides to don the | | | | You may hear that a white bridal gown requires |
| unthinkable--jewelry? | | | | silver jewelry and that an ivory bridal gown |
| Those brides too practical to care about jewelry | | | | requires gold jewelry. Unless you specifically |
| in real life use it on their wedding day to check | | | | selected your bridal gown to match your |
| off all the "somethings" that bring good | | | | engagement and wedding rings, select gold or |
| luck--something old, something new, something | | | | silver jewelry according to your personal |
| borrowed, something blue. Whatever your reason | | | | preference. You're going to find that almost |
| for wearing jewelry on your wedding day, it | | | | everyone with whom you discuss your wedding |
| should complement the overall theme of the | | | | plans has an opinion on nearly everything, usually |
| wedding, including the formality of the occasion, | | | | stated as a rule. |
| the design of the wedding dress, and the bridal | | | | When you select your wedding jewelry, ask |
| color scheme if your jewelry includes color. | | | | yourself the following questions: |
| The traditional bridal jewelry ensemble consists of | | | | Does the jewelry fit the occasion? Is it too formal |
| pearl and/or diamond earrings and necklace, often | | | | or too casual? Does the jewelry compete with |
| heirloom pieces (something old, something | | | | your wedding dress? Does the necklace follow the |
| borrowed). Pearls top the list as the most popular | | | | curve of the neckline? For example, if your |
| bridal jewelry. Originally worn as a symbol of | | | | wedding gown has a round neckline, a choker |
| purity, pearls are understated, elegant and | | | | follows the neckline. If your gown has a V-neck, a |
| timeless. If you listen closely and put your ear to | | | | longer necklace follows the neckline. Does your |
| the ground, you can almost hear that chorus of all | | | | jewelry accentuate your best features, or does it |
| the Mothers of the Brides from here to Timbuktu: | | | | attract attention to the wrong area of your face |
| "Dear, you cannot go wrong with pearls." For | | | | or neckline? |
| once, Mother's mantra hits the mark. | | | | Earring Options |
| The same holds true for diamonds. You can't go | | | | Whether you choose studs, or dangling earrings, |
| wrong with real diamonds. A rare bride can afford | | | | pearls or diamonds, the key words are delicate |
| to be gaudy and showy with diamonds, and those | | | | and elegant. If your bridal bouquet and floral |
| who can know better. It's the blinding array of | | | | displays are predominantly pastel, you can select |
| affordable simulated diamonds that leads to | | | | one of the pastels for your jewelry ensemble. |
| trouble. On your wedding day, less is always more | | | | Pale pink pearls are stunning with a bouquet of |
| unless you're Elizabeth Taylor. There's a fine line | | | | pastel roses. Out with the rules: wear whatever |
| between a fairy tale look and gaudy. If you're not | | | | makes you look and feel good. |
| sure whether you're crossing the line, ask for help | | | | Neckwear Options |
| from a trusted friend or relative with an air of | | | | High necklines are the only necklines that generally |
| elegance. | | | | cannot support neckwear. The neckline is the |
| If you want to wear pearls and a little flash of | | | | neckwear! If you're wearing a severe neckline |
| diamonds, the "Sweetheart" Swarovski line | | | | such as a bateau, you can wear a more dramatic |
| combines the two (something new), and offers | | | | necklace: a larger, dramatic pendant or a longer |
| you a choice of colors in pendants and spacers, | | | | strand of pearls. When in doubt, a simple pearl |
| as well as your choice of metals. Swarovski | | | | choker complements most necklines without |
| crystals and glass pearls are the finest in quality | | | | overpowering the gown. |
| from the Czech Republic, world renowned for | | | | Tiaras |
| their crystals and semi-precious gems. Each | | | | If you elect to wear a tiara, limit the rest of your |
| handmade piece is customized to match the | | | | jewelry to simple stud or button earrings and |
| colors in your wedding. Their line also includes glass | | | | understated neckwear. You chose the tiara to |
| fresh water pearls. If you want to introduce a | | | | make a statement; let it do just that. In fact, you |
| little color into your wedding jewelry, pick up a | | | | may want to forego a necklace when wearing a |
| color in the bridesmaids' dresses (something blue). | | | | tiara so that the eye wanders up to the tiara. |
| Guidelines for Bridal Jewelry | | | | When selecting your jewelry, determine which |
| Semi-formal or formal attire guidelines apply to | | | | asset you want to emphasize, and use jewelry to |
| wedding attire--the simpler the dress, the more | | | | draw attention to that asset. |
| elaborate the jewelry. You can't highlight | | | | |