Bridal Do's and Don'ts

When it comes to planning your wedding, there are a lot of details. From venue to food to guest lists to cost, it can all be a little overwhelming. With everything going on, it can be easy to forget about the small things, and wedding jewelry can be one of them. Have no fear, we’ve put together the go-to list on everything you should know about accessorizing for the big day! We've even included the groom and bridesmaids.

1. Don't "Overdo" It...Unless

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Let's be honest, it's the 21st century, the days of simple traditional weddings are not as common anymore. The majority of weddings incorporate some type of theme and couples work very hard to stand out from the norm. Some brides are opting to wear black gowns to their wedding. Brides are going bold these days, so why should your jewelry have to be modest? This is your wedding and you should do what makes you feel beautiful! Consider a dramatic bib-style necklace or forehead jewelry. With a ton of options and tutorials, you can create and customize your very own designs to make your wedding jewelry one of a kind.

2. Do Find Your Focal Piece

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Before choosing bridal jewelry or wedding dress accessories, determine what is going to be your focal piece. Obviously, as the bride, all eyes will be on you. YOU are the focal piece. But what do you want to stand out when the guests see you? What will be your statement piece? If the dress is the stand-out piece for you, don't wear too much bridal jewelry. This would be the time to be more modest or traditional and make sure nothing is taking away from the dress. If you are wearing a dramatic head piece, the initial focus won't be on the dress.

3. Do Let Go of Perfection

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Often enough, people have grand visions of their wedding day and spend a lot of time romanticizing the event. The trouble with this is that it can create a grandiose expectation of the day, resulting in the dreaded “bridezilla” mentality when things don't go as planned. Be flexible and open to letting the bridal accessories and bridal jewelry come together naturally with the style of the outfit and wedding. Instead of fixating on the perfect piece of jewelry you envisioned or matching the exact crystal color to your bridesmaids' dresses, be willing to consider other options.

4. Don't Blow Your Budget

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Mention the word wedding and prices tend to triple. This happens because people are usually caught up in the whimsical magic of "a once in a lifetime experience." This alone is enough to impair your judgment and cause you to justify paying triple. The reality is, you probably won't wear your wedding jewelry as much as you think. This will most likely be a one-day ensemble. You don't need to overspend to have beautifully crafted jewelry. Instead of choosing all the most expensive components, consider other lovely but more cost effective options. For example, choose Preciosa crystals, Crystal Passions® crystals, or Cubic Zirconia over precious gems, silver-plated or -filled instead of sterling silver, glass instead of gemstones, etc. Being conscious of your spending choices on bridal jewelry will allow you to be more frivolous in more memorable areas.

5. Do Consider Accent Pieces

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If your dress is making the statement at your wedding, you may choose not to wear traditional bridal jewelry like a necklace or bracelet. More subtle pieces may be a better option for you. Hair pins make gorgeous accessories to highlight your outfit that are incredibly easy to make and customize--they're also inexpensive to make! A more complex option would be a hair vine or hair comb. These add great dynamic and texture to your look.

6. Do Create Jewelry WITH Your Bridesmaids

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It's customary for the bride to give a gift to her bridesmaids on the day of the wedding. This is frequently a piece of jewelry to wear on the wedding day. While heartfelt, it can tend to have the "you can shorten it and wear it again" vibe--which you never do. Sit down with your bridal party and discuss some ideas and ways to personalize the jewelry. This is a great way to create meaningful pieces that they really will wear again--it's significant to you and them and it's crafted in their personal style!

7. Do Mix and Match

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Overly matching colors is a bit outdated. Broaden your color palette by incorporating a few different complementary colors. Mixing colors or adding a variety of color to your jewelry can be a fantastic way to highlight colors by giving them more life and intensity.

8. Don't Forget About Variety

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Aside from just colors, consider using a variety of textures, shapes, sizes, metals, etc. for wedding accessories. To use the same components over-and-over again to make everything match is a more traditional approach. It can also leave your outfit looking a bit flat. Revive your picture-perfect vision with a little diversity to add dimension.

9. Do Consider Wedding Photos

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Wedding photos are often the only surviving memento from the wedding events years or decades later. Be aware of how your jewelry might affect your wedding photos. Trendier pieces can overwhelm your outfit. You'll want to consider what you'll think of your outfit years later. Choose items that are authentic to who you really are and not who you are right now. What are some likes or dislikes to accessorizing that have remained true for you over the years? Choose hues or finishes, metals, and/or textures that you've consistently liked over the years. If silver is the metal for you because it goes great with your skin tone, don't switch it up on your wedding day. It is a highly sentimental day, and you won't want to look back at photos wishing you hadn't worn the over-embellished gold choker style necklace that was a fashion risk.

10. Do Try On Your Wedding Outfit Ahead of Time

Put all your pieces on with your dress--veil included. Don't wait until the day of the wedding to see how everything looks together. We all have visions of our outfit planned out in our head, then when we put it all together it might now be how we pictured it. Maybe the style or finish doesn't go as well as you thought it would. Or what if the earrings keep getting stuck in your veil. You don't want those annoyances to distract you from the big day. Trying it all on together ahead of time prevents unnecessary panic. With so much thought put into a single day, do yourself a favor and give yourself ample time to find what pieces work best.

11. Don't Forget Wedding Dress Accessories

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This may not be the right option for everyone (especially if your dress is already extravagant). Nevertheless, this is a great option to add some sparkle to the dress without feeling weighed down by traditional jewelry. Consider incorporating a sash or belt. This can be really fun to make! You can embellish as much or as little as you want. This can be done with minimal and inexpensive materials.

12. Do Dress Up the Bouquet

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Bouquet charms or accents are also great ways to add some sparkle to your wedding day outfit. These can be a nice way to remember someone special on your wedding day. It's a small addition to incorporate something meaningful and noticeable but not distracting.

13. Don't Forget the Groom

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This year, men are into bling! If your groom loves to dress up and show off a bit, consider adding some bling to the groom's outfit. You can go big and decorate the jacket or shoes with bling or take it down a notch and glam up the boutonniere or bow tie. A little glitz makes all of us shine a little more, grooms included!

14. Don't Wear Jewelry on Your Left Arm

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Keep your left arm and hand reserved for showing off the ring. However, if you must, don't wear more than a simple or delicate bracelet, such as a tennis bracelet or simple pearls. This can be a nice touch, but you really want to refrain from overshadowing the ring. After all, the ring is a symbol of your matrimony.