All that Glitters?Something Old, Something New...

Brides through the ages have accessorized with wedding jewelry to add a finishing touch to their bridal attire; however, many brides who don't wear jewelry in everyday life jump at the chance to wear it on their wedding day. Is it the special occasion or the chance to play dress-up that prompts these brides to don the unthinkable-jewelry?

Those brides too practical to care about jewelry in real life use it on their wedding day to check off all the "somethings" that bring good luck-something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Whatever your reason for wearing jewelry on your wedding day, it should complement the overall theme of the wedding, including the formality of the occasion, the design of the wedding dress, and the bridal color scheme if your jewelry includes color.

The traditional bridal jewelry ensemble consists of pearl and/or diamond earrings and necklace, often heirloom pieces (something old, something borrowed). Pearls top the list as the most popular bridal jewelry. Originally worn as a symbol of purity, pearls are understated, elegant and timeless. If you listen closely and put your ear to the ground, you can almost hear that chorus of all the Mothers of the Brides from here to Timbuktu: "Dear, you cannot go wrong with pearls." For once, Mother's mantra hits the mark.

The same holds true for diamonds. You can't go wrong with real diamonds. A rare bride can afford to be gaudy and showy with diamonds, and those who can know better. It's the blinding array of affordable simulated diamonds that leads to trouble. On your wedding day, less is always more unless you're Elizabeth Taylor. There's a fine line between a fairy tale look and gaudy. If you're not sure whether you're crossing the line, ask for help from a trusted friend or relative with an air of elegance.

If you want to wear pearls and a little flash of diamonds, the "Sweetheart" Swarovski line combines the two (something new), and offers you a choice of colors in pendants and spacers, as well as your choice of metals. Swarovski crystals and glass pearls are the finest in quality from the Czech Republic, world renowned for their crystals and semi-precious gems. Each handmade piece is customized to match the colors in your wedding. Their line also includes glass fresh water pearls. If you want to introduce a little color into your wedding jewelry, pick up a color in the bridesmaids' dresses (something blue).

Guidelines for Bridal Jewelry

Semi-formal or formal attire guidelines apply to wedding attire-the simpler the dress, the more elaborate the jewelry. You can't highlight everything, and you don't want your jewelry to compete with your gown. Intricate bridal gowns with elaborate beadwork or hand-sewn lace call for simple, elegant jewelry while unadorned bridal gowns can support jewelry with more glitter, glitz and drama.

You may hear that a white bridal gown requires silver jewelry and that an ivory bridal gown requires gold jewelry. Unless you specifically selected your bridal gown to match your engagement and wedding rings, select gold or silver jewelry according to your personal preference. You're going to find that almost everyone with whom you discuss your wedding plans has an opinion on nearly everything, usually stated as a rule.

When you select your wedding jewelry, ask yourself the following questions:

Does the jewelry fit the occasion? Is it too formal or too casual? Does the jewelry compete with your wedding dress? Does the necklace follow the curve of the neckline? For example, if your wedding gown has a round neckline, a choker follows the neckline. If your gown has a V-neck, a longer necklace follows the neckline. Does your jewelry accentuate your best features, or does it attract attention to the wrong area of your face or neckline?

Earring Options

Whether you choose studs, or dangling earrings, pearls or diamonds, the key words are delicate and elegant. If your bridal bouquet and floral displays are predominantly pastel, you can select one of the pastels for your jewelry ensemble. Pale pink pearls are stunning with a bouquet of pastel roses. Out with the rules: wear whatever makes you look and feel good.

Neckwear Options

High necklines are the only necklines that generally cannot support neckwear. The neckline is the neckwear! If you're wearing a severe neckline such as a bateau, you can wear a more dramatic necklace: a larger, dramatic pendant or a longer strand of pearls. When in doubt, a simple pearl choker complements most necklines without overpowering the gown.

Tiaras

If you elect to wear a tiara, limit the rest of your jewelry to simple stud or button earrings and understated neckwear. You chose the tiara to make a statement; let it do just that. In fact, you may want to forego a necklace when wearing a tiara so that the eye wanders up to the tiara.

When selecting your jewelry, determine which asset you want to emphasize, and use jewelry to draw attention to that asset.

M J Plaster is a successful author who provides information on shopping online for jewelry and engagement rings. M J Plaster has been a commercial freelance writer for almost two decades, most recently specializing in home and garden, the low-carb lifestyle, investing, and anything that defines la dolce vita.

In The News:

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St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Eloping to Vegas? Why Not Lower Manhattan?
New York Times, United States - Jan 7, 2009
“With these new digs, there might just be a new world wedding capital.” The city clerk’s office issued 66600 marriage licenses 2007 and performed about ...
Manhattan's new Marriage Bureau earns wows as a place to say your vows New York Daily News
NY hears wedding bells, aims to compete with Vegas The Associated Press
Wedding Bells Ring In NYC Marriage Bureau WNYC
Downtown Express - Gothamistall 254 news articles

Seattle Post Intelligencer
‘Bride Wars’ is a failed marriage | 1 ½ stars
Kansas City Star, MO - 11 hours ago
And their mutual friends will have to decide which wedding to attend. All would be well if only one of them would cancel (or if they would agree to a double ...
Video: Ann Hathaway's Stellar Year CBS
Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway are funny allies Los Angeles Times
Two Weddings and a Furor New York Times
Tampa Tribune - Washington Postall 711 news articles

New York Times
Movie review: Cliches nag 'Not Easily Broken'
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 3 hours ago
The opening wedding scene in the new Bill Duke film, "Not Easily Broken" is so overwrought and cliched, it's akin to sitting down with a promising novel, ...
Not Easily Broken ( ** ) AHN
Movie Review: ‘Not Easily Broken’ is a romantic soap opera that ... Providence Journal
» Inspirational drama anything but 'Broken' Chicago Daily Herald
Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Kansas City Starall 63 news articles

FOR FAMILIES: A guide for parents to Jan. 9 and earlier releases
Chicago Tribune, United States - 8 hours ago
By Roger Moore | Tribune Newspapers What it's about: Best friends become dueling brides when they both book the wedding they've always dreamed of in the ...

Wedding war: Las Vegas versus New York
KVBC, NV - 6 hours ago
The city has renovated it marriage bureau and even built a 24000-square-foot wedding complex with the hope of becoming the most popular wedding site. ...

Wearing white and eating cake, Brides magazine turns 75
The Canadian Press, NEW YORK - 18 hours ago
"The magazine is realistic about how people's lives are today, but still the focus is how to have a successful wedding and start a healthy marriage," says ...

New York Magazine
City to Make Your Shotgun Marriage Just That Much Nicer
New York Magazine,  USA - Jan 7, 2009
Photo: Getty Images Perhaps sensing the economic downturn (and having eventually watched the Sex and the City movie), the city spruced up its civil-wedding ...

MLive.com
Bay County gets older, refrains from marriage, likes guns ...
MLive.com, MI - 17 hours ago
Luczak said economics could be partly to blame, as young couples struggling to get a foothold in life may be putting off the expense of a wedding.

MSNBC
Couple goes from divorce to 'I Do Again'
MSNBC - 10 hours ago
Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs, founders of Hope Marriage Ministries, recount the slow destruction of their relationship, which ended in divorce. ...

KHOU
Houston wedding show could help brides on a budget
KHOU, TX - Jan 7, 2009
“I refuse to go into this marriage in debt, “ says Ashley. “That's no way to start out.” -- Watch the flowers. All those arrangements can quickly add up. ...

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