How to Choose Your Wedding Day Jewelry

Now that you've said "yes" to the dress, it's time to start the process of looking for your accessories. From diamond earrings to pearl necklaces and tennis bracelets, there's so much to consider when it comes to selecting the perfect piece of wedding jewelry. “Jewelry and accessories make a dress belong to the bride,” says bridal stylist Lauren Hartman. “They really give it that personal touch.”

This means, of course, that you need to place time and thoughtful consideration into the accessories you select, as this can make or break your overall day-of look. Luckily, you don't need to completely reinvent the wheel when it comes to finding the right pieces to wear. All you need to do is trust your instincts, lean into your personal style, and follow the expert tips we've listed below. Interested in learning more?

Ahead, following the advice of Hartman, here's how to choose your bridal jewelry for a look you’ll remember fondly for years to come. 

How to Choose Your Wedding Jewelry

While it might not be every day that you get to wear a wedding dress, chances are you’re a bit more familiar with wearing jewelry. You know what works and what you feel most confident in, so let that be a baseline for your overall bridal look. “If you never wear earrings, let’s not use your wedding day as the first time you bring out a statement earring,” explains Hartman.

Instead, take note of the pieces you feel most comfortable in and turn those up a notch. Never leave home without a stud? Find a more formal version with multiple stones. Love a good arm candy stack? Layer two glitzy bracelets of the same style.

Next, consider your dress silhouette, and figure out whether or not it allows you to wear certain pieces. For example, if you're sporting a high-neck gown, focus your attention on finding earrings and, maybe, a bracelet that'll complement the look. Planning to wear a strapless dress? Find a necklace or pair of drop earrings that enhance your ensemble's silhouette. After that, your choice lies in the details, as highlighted below.

Earrings

Earrings are one of the most universal accessories a bride can wear, no matter the wedding dress silhouette. So when it comes to selecting a style that works best for the big day, brides should consider their personal aesthetics and overall day-of fashion vision.

For traditional brides, in particular, “There’s nothing more classic to me than diamonds or pearls,” says Hartman. However, if looking for a more romantic look, “Go with something that has a lot of movement or floral elements,” Hartman advises. More specifically, an etched metal with a leaf or a vine, complete with stones at the center of the flower buds, will look gorgeous at a garden or vineyard wedding. 

Rings

Your engagement ring and wedding band are meant to be worn every day of your marriage, so they should already reflect the personal style you’ll want to emulate on the big day. That said, you can wear additional rings, “just be intentional in your choices,” says Hartman. You can also forgo wearing extra rings altogether, and instead opt to make your wedding rings the star of your entire look.

Bracelets

When it comes to bracelets, think back on outfits you’ve worn and loved for other formal occasions—such as other people’s weddings—and pick pieces in a similar vein. If you need a bit more help selecting a specific style, though, follow the above advice and lean into specific bridal styles. For instance, a diamond tennis bracelet is a timeless piece for classic brides that’ll look just as elegant now as it will in 25 years. Brides with bohemian sensibilities, on the other hand, can wear multiple bracelets and mix metals, or opt or pieces with textured, woven, or braided designs.

Necklaces

If you are going to wear a necklace, Hartman says that the general rule of thumb is to pick one that follows the neckline of your dress. V-necks work best with a pendant, and chokers and statement necklaces go better with strapless and sweetheart necklines. No matter the neckline, however, your necklace should sit on your skin, not the dress, if there is skin showing.

Additional Tips for Selecting the Right Bridal Jewelry

Still not quite sure where to begin when it comes to selecting your wedding jewelry? Here are a few general tips to inspire your search. 

Know that you can always switch things up.

The jewelry you wear for your ceremony doesn’t have to be the jewelry you wear for the rest of the wedding. If your ceremony veil keeps you from wearing statement earrings, change into some sparklers for the reception. Or if your long-sleeve bolero prevents you from wearing bracelets, fill your arms with bangles when you take your sleeves off. Though you can also do an entirely new second-look dress for the reception, an accessory switch-up is a more budget-friendly approach that will still have the desired impact.

Prioritize personal style over trends. 

The wedding world is certainly not immune to trends, and there’s no shame in embracing the ones that truly speak to you. (In fact, that’s half the fun!) That said, don’t chase a look that doesn’t feel right for you just because it’s all over social media. “Trends are going to come and go, but your wedding photos last forever,” says Hartman. “It’s more important to make decisions based on personal style and sentimental reasons—that way, you can look back and say, ‘Those pieces really meant something to me’ rather than ‘I saw someone on Pinterest wearing this, so I wore it, too.’”

Don't feel pressured by outside opinions.

Different generations have different ideas of what bridalwear should look like. For mom, specifically, going formal might automatically mean putting on a necklace, but these days, Hartman says it’s all about the statement earring. (And, she adds, the décolletage is “such a beautiful spot on a woman’s body, you don’t necessarily need to embellish it any further.”) All that to say: don’t feel pressured to shop for a piece just because someone else thinks you should wear one.

Don't forget about your sentimental pieces.

While jewelry is a great way to work in “something borrowed,” the last thing you want is for Nana’s pearls or your favorite aunt’s bangles to feel like an afterthought. If there’s a particular piece you know you’ll want to wear, Hartman suggests bringing it along while dress shopping—that way there’s no risk of it not matching. 

Ditch the rules.

If you poke around the internet a bit, you might read that certain jewelry metals go with certain shades of dresses: platinum and silver for pure white; yellow gold for ivory and champagne; rose gold for blush. Hartman, however, doesn’t quite agree. “I love blush with a beautiful platinum, and a true white with a true gold—that is such a statement,” she says. While some metal tones and colors do fight each other, set aside the “rules” and trust your eye to tell you what works.

Let your hair accessories take the spotlight.

“You have to have a focal point,” says Hartman. “If your dress is the cake, choose one thing to be the icing.” And if that one thing is going to be a veil with appliqués or a lot of texture or embellishment, play it a little more simple with your jewelry.

“I’m also seeing a lot of headbands,” adds Hartman. “It’s a cool, refreshed way to do a flower crown or a tiara.” Another chic idea? An intentional piece of ribbon or silk organza as a hair bow.