5 Chic Brides Share Their Ultimate Wedding-Day Jewelry Looks
Unsure what accessories to wear for your wedding? Let these five brides inspire you with their cool and contemporary take on bridal jewelry
Zeena Shah, stylist, author and presenter
“When it comes to jewelry, I’m like a magpie. I feel naked if I’m not wearing any, so my Indian bridal look just wouldn’t have felt complete without it – the jewelry I wore was pivotal. I’m British-Indian, so I wanted to celebrate my heritage; I’ve never thought of myself as a traditional bride, so I wanted to make sure my jewelry choices reflected me, as well as working well with my outfits. I wore a gold name necklace that my grandma had made for me, paired with a gold and black mangalsutra necklace – a piece that’s given to the bride by the groom in a very important part of Hindu wedding ceremonies. Zack and I also carved each other’s wedding bands using a wax-carving kit, so now we have solid-gold bands that are engraved with our wedding date and our initials – and there are diamonds scattered across mine, too. When it comes to choosing your wedding jewelry, I think it’s important to stay true to yourself: don’t overthink it and don’t feel pressured to do what you think you should do just because it’s a wedding. I loved wearing pieces that I already had, and things that I’ll wear over and over again.”
Edwina Hilton, fine-jewelry and watches buyer at NET-A-PORTER
“I decided on my dress first – I actually ordered it from NET-A-PORTER the day after we got engaged and that was that! As I had the dress sorted so early on, I really didn’t think much about my accessories until nearer the time. Matthew Harris, founder of Mateo, suggested a pair of diamond and pearl earrings that had already caught my eye – and I knew they would perfectly complement my simple dress. I now keep them for special events – I recently wore them with a black velvet blazer, jeans and heels, and I loved how they finished off my outfit. I would suggest that you don’t put too much pressure on your choice of jewelry, though, as there is no right or wrong. Pearls and diamonds will always be classic, but you can really modernize this look by choosing a standout diamond ear climber, or a contemporary pearl piece that isn’t just a plain string around your neck.”
Emily P. Wheeler, jewelry designer
“As a jewelry designer, my wedding jewelry was very important to me, so I designed different pieces for each look and mixed them with family heirlooms given to me by my mom and mother-in-law. I wore a pink Rodarte gown covered in sequins [for the big day], so I wanted to keep the jewelry more toned down and designed a classic drop earring with morganite and pear-shaped diamonds to complement my engagement ring. After dinner on our wedding day, I changed into another dress that was shorter and easier to dance in (but also very pink and sparkly!). I had a bit more fun with my jewelry for this look, wearing long, pink, heart-shaped earrings and a pink, heart-shaped tennis necklace. At the end of the night, I went swimming in nothing but these two pieces! I always encourage my clients to think outside the box [when it comes to wedding jewelry], because the designs you wear will be special no matter what, and it’s better that they’re uniquely you.”
Angela Koh, market editor at T Magazine
“I believe jewelry is a vital part of showing one’s personality in any ensemble, wedding day or not. Because my dress was quite big, I went with simpler pieces to finish the look, but my hair jewelry was a different story: I wanted to make sure it made a statement. My hair pin, for example, was a vintage binyeo – a traditional pin worn by women in Korea to symbolize marriage. For the rehearsal dinner, I wanted to wear something more playful to off-set my suit by The Row, so I chose a Sophie Buhai heart-shaped pendant and big silver hoops, along with my everyday Spinelli Kilcollin ring. When it came to our wedding rings, we opted for classic Cartier designs that we selected for their longevity – I went with a thick gold band, while my husband chose a thinner platinum band. Meanwhile, for my ‘something blue’, I wore a baby-blue enamel ear cuff by Melissa Kaye. My main piece of advice? Try on jewelry with your full look [before the day itself], and remember to use pieces to balance your outfit.”
Sarah Royce-Greensill, jewelry editor and consultant
“As a jewelry editor, I was so excited about choosing my jewelry and I dithered a lot over what to wear – even on the morning of the wedding itself, when I was still deciding between three pairs of earrings and two necklaces. As tempting as it was to pile the jewelry high, I still wanted to keep my look fairly minimal and it had to feel personal – like a wedding, not a red-carpet event. For my ‘something blue’, I borrowed a blue sapphire and diamond ring from my mom – I helped my dad choose it for their 35th wedding anniversary a few years ago, so it felt like a lucky charm. Necklace-wise, I wore my dainty, drilled diamond necklace, which I was given for my 30th birthday and have worn almost every day since. Not only was it the perfect delicate piece, but it also felt nice to wear something so familiar and part of me. We all know wedding budgets are tight, but jewelry is a far better investment than pretty much everything else on your spreadsheet, and it will forever remind you of your special day.”