Start with Our Diamond Quiz
How to Choose Wedding Jewelry: Tips & What to Consider
Choosing the right wedding jewelry involves several important considerations. From your neckline to the embellishments, color, and overall style, multiple factors will influence which jewelry pieces will look best with your gown.
1. Match Your Jewelry to Your Dress Neckline
The neckline of your wedding dress is perhaps the most important factor in determining what jewelry will work best, particularly when it comes to necklaces. Different necklines create different frames around your face and décolletage, which can be enhanced or overwhelmed by certain jewelry styles. By understanding how to pair jewelry with your specific neckline, you can create a balanced and harmonious look.
2. Consider Your Dress Embellishments and Details
If your dress is already adorned with beading, sequins, or intricate lace, you'll want to choose jewelry that complements rather than competes with these details. For heavily embellished gowns, consider simpler, more refined jewelry pieces. Conversely, a minimalist dress provides the perfect canvas for more elaborate jewelry. Remember that the goal is balance — you want your entire look to feel cohesive and intentional.
3. Color Coordination
While white gold and silver are classic choices for bridal jewelry, don't be afraid to explore other options. The color of your dress can guide your metal choices: yellow gold can add warmth to ivory or champagne-colored dresses, while rose gold pairs beautifully with blush-toned gowns. For pure white dresses, platinum or silver accessories create a crisp, elegant look.
When selecting gemstones, consider both their color and your dress's undertones. Blue stones like sapphires or aquamarines can serve as your "something blue" while adding a subtle pop of color to your ensemble.
4. Wedding Style and Theme
The overall style and theme of your wedding should influence your jewelry choices. A formal ballroom wedding might call for more elegant, refined pieces, while a beach ceremony might be better suited to natural elements, like pearls. Consider the vibe you're going for — traditional, modern, bohemian, vintage — and select jewelry that reinforces this aesthetic. Your bridal jewelry should tell the same style story as your dress and venue.
5. Consider Comfort for All-Day Wear
Your wedding day jewelry should be beautiful and comfortable enough to wear from morning preparations through the last dance. Test heavy earrings for several hours before your wedding to ensure they won't strain your earlobes, and check that bracelets won't catch on delicate dress fabrics. Necklaces should sit comfortably without shifting, and any clasps should be secure enough to withstand hugging, dancing, and movement throughout your celebration.
Bridal Jewelry Ideas Based on Wedding Dress Neckline
The necklace you choose should complement your look’s neckline. From delicate pendants to statement chokers, the options are endless. Let's explore the best jewelry options for common wedding dress necklines.
Strapless Wedding Jewelry
Strapless dresses leave the neck, collarbone, and upper chest open, giving you plenty of room when it comes to necklaces. This neckline creates a beautiful canvas for statement pieces.
A statement necklace with a strapless dress can make a dramatic impact. Consider a tennis necklace that cascades down the neckline or a bold pendant. Chandelier earrings also pair well with strapless gowns, adding movement and sparkle around your face.
If you prefer a more understated look, a simple pendant necklace can add just the right touch of elegance without overwhelming your dress. Bracelet options are virtually unlimited with this neckline, as they won't compete with any sleeve elements.
Sweetheart Wedding Jewelry
The sweetheart neckline, with its romantic curves that mimic a heart shape, pairs beautifully with pendant necklaces that follow its contours. A delicate pendant that sits at just the right height can enhance this feminine neckline perfectly. A pendant necklace with a drop that matches the angle of the sweetheart curve creates visual harmony.
Consider a pendant necklace that hangs at least a couple of inches above the neckline to avoid any visual clashing. Alternatively, skip the necklace entirely and opt for statement earrings if you prefer to draw attention upward toward your face.
V-Neck Wedding Jewelry
For a V-neck wedding dress, choose jewelry that complements the width and depth of the V shape. A pendant necklace with a drop that mimics the angle of the neckline creates a cohesive look. Drop or teardrop earrings can further enhance a V-neck, creating elegant lines that draw the eye upward.
Off-the-Shoulder Wedding Jewelry
An off-the-shoulder neckline is a focal point in itself, so you might not want to overwhelm by adding a bold necklace. Instead, consider statement earrings to add sparkle and drama to your look.
Drop earrings are a fantastic choice for off-the-shoulder dresses, as they elongate the neck and draw attention to your face. Dangly threader earrings or shoulder-dusting styles will balance the exposed shoulder area beautifully.
If you do want to wear a necklace, opt for a choker or collar-length style that sits above the neckline rather than competing with it. This creates a clear visual separation between the jewelry and the dress.
Halter Wedding Jewelry
Halter necklines, which wrap around the neck, eliminate the need for necklaces entirely. Instead, focus your accessorizing on your hair by decorating it with pins, combs, or vines.
For earrings, simple studs often work best with halter styles, as anything too elaborate may create visual clutter around the already-busy neckline area. If your halter has a deep enough neckline, a pendant necklace can add just the right touch.
Bracelets and rings are great ways to add sparkle to a halter-neck ensemble without competing with the distinctive neckline.
High Neck Wedding Jewelry
High necklines don't leave much room for necklaces, so make statement earrings your focal point instead. Consider a pair with some dangle or movement to balance the coverage of the high neckline. These can be sleek, bejeweled, or floral, depending on the effect you want to achieve.
One-Shoulder Wedding Jewelry
Similar to high-neck and off-the-shoulder styles, one-shoulder dresses make necklaces tricky to wear, as much, if not all, of the piece would be covered.
Instead, choose a pair of statement earrings, and perhaps a bracelet on the arm that's bare to help balance out your look. This creates a harmonious visual effect without competing with the dress's dramatic neckline.
Boat Neck/Bateau Wedding Jewelry
To complement this elegant neckline, consider a smaller necklace with a solitaire diamond that sits just above the neckline. This neckline works well with both stud earrings and drop styles, depending on your preference. The key is to keep everything in proportion with the horizontal expanse of the boat neck.
Bridal Jewelry Ideas Based on Wedding Dress Sleeve Length
The sleeves (or lack thereof) on your wedding dress can influence your jewelry choices, particularly when it comes to bracelets. A delicate bracelet or a stack of thin bangles can add a subtle touch of sparkle to your ensemble. Tennis bracelets, with their continuous line of diamonds, offer timeless elegance that works with virtually any wedding dress style.
Sleeveless and Strapless Wedding Jewelry
These styles give you complete freedom for bracelets and arm jewelry. Consider a statement bracelet or a stack of delicate bangles to add interest to bare arms. You can also explore upper arm bracelets or even temporary jewelry tattoos for a unique touch.
Long Sleeve Wedding Jewelry
With long-sleeved dresses, bracelets might be covered or could snag on delicate fabrics. Instead, focus on necklaces and earrings to complete your look. If you do wear a bracelet, make sure it's comfortable beneath your sleeves and won't damage the fabric.
Three-Quarter Sleeve Wedding Jewelry
This length allows for some bracelet visibility while still offering coverage. Choose bracelets that sit comfortably at the wrist and don't compete with any sleeve embellishments.
Cap Sleeve Wedding Jewelry
Cap sleeves leave arms mostly bare, giving you plenty of options for bracelets and arm jewelry. Balance is key here — if your dress has elaborate cap sleeves, keep your arm jewelry more subdued.
Bridal Jewelry Ideas Based on Wedding Hairstyle
Your chosen hairstyle will significantly impact which earrings will work best for your bridal look. Earrings are a must-have for most brides; they frame your face and can add a touch of sparkle near your eyes, which is perfect for photographs. Your choice of earrings should complement your hairstyle as well as your dress. If you're wearing your hair up, consider chandelier or drop earrings that will be fully visible. For hair worn down, studs or shorter drops might be more practical. Remember that you'll be wearing these earrings all day, so comfort is key. If you're not used to wearing heavy earrings, your wedding day isn't the time to start.
Wedding Jewelry for Updos
Updos expose the neck and ears, making them perfect for showcasing statement earrings. Dangling styles, chandeliers, or large studs will all be fully visible with hair pulled up. Hair vines, combs, and pins can be artfully woven into an updo for additional sparkle.
Wedding Jewelry for Down Hairstyles
If you're wearing your hair down, consider how much of your earrings will be visible. Studs or shorter drops might be more practical, while longer styles could get tangled in loose hair. A necklace becomes more of a focal point with hair worn down, as it's not competing with elaborate updo embellishments.
Wedding Jewelry for Half-Up Hairstyles
This versatile option gives you some flexibility with earrings. You can opt for medium-sized earrings that will partially show through your hair.
