Choosing bridesmaid jewellery need not be a stress if you follow these simple rules.
1 Don't leave it to the last minute
It is only natural that your bridesmaids jewellery is not the top priority alongside choosing a dress, or booking a venue. However, it is not a task to be left to the last minute. Just like all accessories, finding just what you are looking for always takes longer than you might think and with so much else to sort, this is one added stress you do not need.
2 Scale it down
All eyes should quite rightly be on the bride, so you need to ensure that accessories reflect the hierarchy of the day. To aid cohesion, why not choose a scaled down version of your bridal jewellery for your bridesmaids? A headband or hairpins that echo your tiara. A simple pearl pendant instead of a whole strand. Your bridesmaids should echo your ensemble, not compete for attention.
3 Consider your maid's features
Understandably you want to look the Queen amongst your bridesmaids; this can be achieved whilst also playing to your maids' best features. So, as you would for you own wedding jewellery, consider their features and what style of jewellery would suit them. You could even consider having your bridesmaids in different versions of the same item. Perhaps one of your bridesmaids would suit a choker, but another a pendant necklace. Not everyone has to wear statement earrings, a member of your wedding party may be more comfortable in a pair of studs. Flower girls and young bridesmaids especially, will benefit from having jewellery selected especially for them and appropriate to their age.
4 Colour matching
Whilst as the bride, you are more than likely sticking with bridal whites and clear crystals, your bridesmaid jewellery is an opportunity to carry through the colour and /or theme of your wedding. If you choose handcrafted jewellery you will find that many designers will offer a colour matching service. Swarovski crystal is used in many wedding jewellery designs and there is a whole host of colours to choose from. When buying bridesmaid dresses, ask for a swatch of fabric to help colour match accessories. If you need to hang on to this, but also need someone to colour match away from you, pop to your local DIY store and find a paint swatch card to match. It's easy to pop in your purse or to post to wedding vendors for colour matching. Or for a more contemporary look, you could opt for a contrasting colour.
5 Check for allergies
Before committing to purchasing jewellery it is wise to double check with your bridesmaids that they are not sensitive to any metals.
6 Involving your Maids
Jewellery making parties are becoming more and more popular as a hen do activity. Perhaps you and your bridesmaids could actually have a hand in making all your accessories. It would be a lovely girly get together and very special to actually make the accessories yourself. If making the jewellery is taking it too far, consider whether you would like your bridesmaid to have a say in their accessories. To avoid any clash of opinions, it is worth setting out the colour or style you want them to wear from the outset. Viv Smith
