Pearl Bridal Jewelry by the Seasons
Pearl Bridal Jewelry by the Seasons
What with the myriad details required, planning a wedding can be overwhelming and more than a little stressful. Music, favors, seating arrangements, food, attendants’ gifts…it’s enough to make a frazzled girl elope. Luckily, bridal jewelry is easy to choose if you let your personal style—and the feel of the season—shine through. Follow this handy guide for picking the right bridal jewelry to go with the time of year in which you plan to wed and you can’t go wrong.
- Winter: Planning a winter wedding? Cozy indoor winter weddings are characterized by elegance and sophistication—think a softly lit, warm, festive party with the crisp, black night air as a backdrop. Classic pearls and diamonds are your best bet here. They’ll beautifully complement the heavier drapes and fabrics of a winter bridal gown, and look just gorgeous in the glittering night. Think pearl drop earrings, diamond and pearl pendants, or a multi-strand pearl or CZ-encrusted cuff bracelet. A popular trend right now, according to Bridesmagazine, is to add contrast to your wedding-day white with a black belt, clutch or hair accessory. “These cool opposites combine for graphic glamour.” This cosmopolitan look is perfect for winter. A long sophisticated black pearl necklace would look especially sharp against a black-sashed gown.
- Spring: A spring wedding is the perfect opportunity to lighten up your look. The choice here? Light green gemstones like aventurine or prehnite (think the color of new shoots of grass) or freshwater cultured pearls, which come in a wide range of pastel colors that are luminously beautiful and very affordable—and perfect for a spring wedding. Lavender pearls, pink pearls, and today’s hottest color—orange pearls—are all easy to find on the Internet. Bonus: These shades are so luminously flattering (not over the top color-saturated) that they’ll make your skin glow and your features pop. If you choose something green, choose one bold piece so as not to overwhelm your dress, like an aventurine cuff bracelet or a prehnite-and-pearls necklace. For a uniform look, choose jewelry for your attendants in a matching hue and consider a matching sash. If you’re wearing a lavender pearl strand, for example, have your bridesmaids wear lavender pearl pendants or lavender pearl bracelets and perhaps a dress with a lavender sash. Or try an elegant lavender clutch.
- Summer: Summer weddings just radiate a laid-back beach vibe. (Think Drew Barrymore with flowers in her hair, boho Kate Hudson or a barefoot Julia Roberts.) If you’re getting married in July, August or September, it’s all about the sandy beaches, outdoor dance floors, and coral, mother-of-pearl, pearl and jade jewelry. If your dress is sophisticated or ornate, stick to classic pearl jewelry, but if you’re a little more laid-back, mother-of-pearl, coral and even wooden accessories, depending on the setting, can look great. Superstitious? According to WeddingChannel.com, jade symbolizes good luck, health and prosperity in many Asian cultures, but don’t buy jade jewelry for yourself—tradition dictates that it must be given to you. Timeless picks: go for a jade ring or jade necklace.
- Fall: Why opt for all classic white? While diamond and pearl jewelry is always in style for brides, today it’s acceptable to incorporate blazing reds, oranges and browns. In fact, orange is all the rage right now. To incorporate a blast of color into your wedding day jewelry, choose a pearl choker with a stunning ruby centerpiece, a pearl necklace or pearl earrings made with rich brown pearls, or earrings or a bracelet made of citrine. You’ll stand out and feel beautiful, and best of all, you’ll be able to enjoy your jewelry long after the big day is over.
Tips for buying jewelry on the Internet:
- Consider the source. Who owns the site? A prominent toll-free or other contact number plus the site’s address should be clearly visible.
- Is the site secure? Only shop at sites that have a Verisign or other safe shopping seal. Check the FAQ page or the bottom of the home page for a SiteSafe™ or other logo—usually a lock—or call customer service.
- Will your information be sold to a third party? Check the site’s privacy policy.
- Check returns. A generous, 90-day money-back guarantee allows ample time for you to change your mind without remorse.
- Check shipping times. They vary, as do costs. Free shipping on a trusted carrier like UPS is a bonus.
- How happy are other customers? Check the site’s testimonials page for unbiased, third-party reviews.
- Does the site offer a free gift? Bonus! Give it to your maid of honor or mother-in-law to be.
We would love to hear from you! Share your ideas for just the right bridal jewelry.
Choosing Your Bridal Jewelry Should be FUN
BRIDAL JEWELRY FAQs
Does my wedding jewelry need to coordinate with my dress?
Yes. Just as you’d choose a veil or tiara to complement your hairstyle, bracelets, earrings and necklaces should be chosen to complement your dress. A single strand read more
When should I shop for bridal jewelry?
Don’t panic. With minimal planning, you can get your wedding jewelry without much fuss. Read our wedding jewelry checklist.
Is there such a thing as too much wedding day bling?
Yes! You want your bridal jewelry to enhance your look, not overpower it. The most important consideration is that people notice you on your big day more than they notice your jewelry or dress. read more
What jewelry is appropriate for a beach wedding?
For beach weddings, we like pearl jewelry, shell jewelry and mother of pearl jewelry. With their nautical connotations, these styles are highly appropriate. Just choose something breezy, read more.
What jewelry should I wear if I’m having a black tie wedding?
At black tie weddings, you can go all out. Tiaras, four strand pearl bracelets, four strand pearl necklaces, chandelier earrings…they’re all appropriate for a black tie wedding. read more.
Is faux jewelry a faux pas?
Not at all! Whatever fits into your budget and makes you feel beautiful is always appropriate. If you love the look of diamonds but can only afford CZs read more
I’m going for a vintage look. How do I choose vintage-looking jewelry?
With all the styles out there, it’s easy. Decide on what look you like and do an Internet search. You don’t have to splurge on real vintage jewelry read more
I have jewelry from both sides of the family. How do I choose what to wear?
If the pieces are in the same family—say pearl earrings and a necklace, they’ll typically look great together. But if your mom and his mom each want you to wear a pearl necklace, consider read more
Help! I don’t have pierced ears. Are there earring options for me?
You’re in luck! While clip-on earrings can be hard to find, Moon River Pearls has many styles of classic pearl clip on earrings that are perfect for the modern bride. read more
What do pearls say about the modern bride vs. other jewels?
There is no doubt that diamonds are popular and gorgeous, but pearls have symbolized romance and sophistication for centuries. read more
I want to wear pearls. Are they affordable?
Yes! Fortunately for pearl lovers, there’s no better time to buy pearls. Compared with many other gems, pearls are very affordable. read more.
BRIDESMAIDS
Should my bridesmaids’ jewelry match?
Absolutely not! In fact, it’s fun to choose different jewelry for each woman based on her style and personality. That said, if you want each piece to match, that’s fine too. read more
Can I give jewelry as a gift to my bridesmaids?
Yes, not only can you, give bridesmaid jewelry as a gift, it’s pretty much a tradition! Chances are, your maids are shelling out big bucks for their dresses, shoes, and hair, read more
When is an appropriate time to give my bridesmaids their gifts?
Ideally, before they go out and buy jewelry on their own. Traditionally, brides give gifts at their bachelorette parties or bridal showers—some even at the rehearsal dinner. read more
Should my maid of honor get something special?
If she’s the one planning your shower and going above and beyond to help with all your wedding day details, then yes, it’s appropriate to give her something extra. read more.
Help! My bridesmaid/maid of honor has tattoos/dreadlocks/gauges.
Celebrate it! Just as you have your unique style, your bridesmaid has hers. It’s more important that she’s standing up there with you, lending support, rather than read more
FLOWER GIRLS
What style of jewelry is appropriate for a little girl?
With their traditional and demure reputation, we love pearl jewelry for flower girls! Choose a tin cup style, pearl bracelet, or dainty earrings if read more
What size flower girl jewelry should I choose?
Most children’s necklaces are 12-14 inches and fit the average girl just fine. When in doubt, look for necklaces that have extenders—typically a one-inch chain read more
What jewelry is appropriate for a junior bridesmaid?
Any jewelry that is similar to the rest of the bridal party’s style. Just make sure read more
Need help from a real wedding jewelry consultant? E-mail bridal@moonriverpearls.com for personal recommendations.
Beautiful Brides Choose Pearls
Pearls and weddings have gone hand in hand for centuries. As far back as you can go in recorded history, royalty, from ancient princesses to Princess Diana, have worn pearls. Recognizing the gems’ elegance and beauty, modern brides everywhere continue to carry on the tradition.
A symbol of purity and class, pearls’ creamy colors complement bridal attire perfectly, making the gems the perfect bridal accessory. Today’s pearls are affordable even if you’re not royalty, but choose wisely. We guarantee you’ll be wearing your pearls with everything from business suits to jeans long after your wedding day.
Filed under Bridal | Comment (0)Pearl Jewelry Gifts for Your Bridesmaids
Wedding Party Gift Dilemma Solved
Wedding party decisions are perhaps the toughest wedding-related tasks you’ll tackle. Must you include the groom’s horrid sister? Will having twelve bridesmaids make you look too Liza Minelli? Do you have to pair your beautiful favorite sister with that drunken slob of a best man? What to do about eight-months-pregnant Donna? And should you force your nearest and dearest into ugly bridesmaid’s dresses for sheer retaliation? (Hel-lo giant royal purple taffeta butt-bow!)
Phew! A girl could elope just thinking about it.
If you haven’t yet chosen gifts for your bridal party, you’re in luck. Read this and you’ll have one less wedding dilemma. The perfect solution not only doubles as wedding attire but will thrill your bridesmaids and stay in style forever. This wonder gift? Pearl jewelry.
Before you flip out and cross the filet off your list, consider this: Real pearls are extremely affordable, especially when they’re freshwater cultured pearls. And no, that doesn’t mean they’re Rice Krispie-shaped either. For years now, the Chinese have been producing high luster, round freshwater cultured pearls that rival the beauty of Japanese akoyas. Gift your bridesmaids with pearls and not only will their accessories match on your big day, they’ll be thrilled with a gift they can actually use.
For gorgeous quality pearl jewelry your bridesmaids will flip over, keep these pearl buying tips in mind:
• Size counts. Pearls are measured in millimeters. A larger pearl takes longer to form, and the chances of finding a perfectly round, large pearl are slim. After the 7.5-8mm mark, prices rise dramatically. Choose a 6.5mm strand…it’s lovely and affordable, or, if you love the look of a larger pearl, pick a more affordable pendant.
• Pay attention to luster and surface markings. The higher the luster—seen in the sharpness of the reflection off the pearl’s surface—the more desirable it is. As for surface markings, if a pearl is perfectly smooth, it’s likely faux. Minor surface characteristics are natural and don’t detract from a pearl’s beauty. That said, avoid large pits, dents and obvious dimples.
• Check for shape: Round pearls are the rarest, and of course the most expensive. To test for roundness, roll a strand on a table or desk. It should roll smoothly. Any bobbing up and down means the strand has some clunkers and hasn’t been carefully matched. Don’t like round? The baroque pearl is a more affordable and unique option. Baroque pearls have no obvious symmetry, but are quite lovely to look at. In fact, baroques have been favored by jewelry designers for centuries. When you’re shopping for pearls, be sure to check out baroque pearl strands…they might just appeal to you.
• Nacre thickness is important. Nacre, the same substance as mother-of-pearl, is what makes the pearl a pearl. It should be sufficiently thick; if it’s thin it will flake and peel, and eventually the bead nucleus—the implanted object which irritated the oyster and started the pearl growing process—will show through. Many freshwater pearls are made from tissue-nucleated mussels, not beads, making them solid nacre. Freshwater pearls also tend to have beautiful luster. Ask a trusted jeweler about nacre thickness, as it is nearly impossible to tell nacre quality just by looking.
• Choose color carefully. A classic white strand is always in style and perfect for weddings, but pearls come in gorgeous pastels too. A lavender, pink or peach strand might work well with your bridesmaids’ dresses, but be sure to consider skin tone. Lavender strands in particular look beautiful with most skin tones and are “in” according to InStyle magazine.
• In a pearl strand, such as a bracelet or necklace, uniformity is important. This is called matching. While no strand will be absolutely perfect—subtle variations are to be expected from a natural gem—they should be very similar in size, shape, luster and color. Pay attention to the clasp area, as unscrupulous jewelers have been known to hide imperfect pearls near the clasp.
When it comes to style, the sky’s the limit. Pearls’ newfound popularity with designers has given way to tons of unique styles and unexpected gemstone combinations. Classic pieces are always in, but many of today’s modern styles are sure to become classics as well. Depending on the style of the dress, a beautiful pearl cuff bracelet, pearl dangle, stiletto or drop earrings, a pearl pendant or a pearl-and-gemstone combo style could look absolutely stunning. For a totally polished look, choose a pearl jewelry set which includes a pearl strand and matching earrings (sometimes even a bracelet!). Pearl sets are great as your bridesmaids can later wear them to work, parties, and other functions—classic pearls go with everything.
If your style is more Vogue than Town & Country, don’t get stuck on the traditional stuff that’s showcased in bridal magazines. Browse vintage shops, local jewelry stores and poke around the Internet until you find something that grabs you.
Remember, freshwater cultured pearls are gorgeous and very affordable. There is absolutely no reason to buy faux pearls. Your friends did shell out big bucks for wedding attire, accommodations and travel, and they’re planning to throw you a killer shower. Thank your bridesmaids with a gift of timeless and affordable pearl jewelry…and please don’t make them wear a big purple bow!