Bridal Jewellery

Just like choosing a dress or venue, purchasing jewellery takes a lot of time. Don't rush into anything; shop around and see what styles are available. Who knows; if you see the perfect necklace set you might even change your dress to match it!

Of course there are the usual high street shops to check out; H Samuel for example and other jewellers. They carry a wide range of rings and other wedding jewellery to suit commercial tastes. Expect to find good quality pieces but nothing unique. On the other hand, they'll have every size imaginable which is great if you need an usual fit, and their service is likely to be quick.

For something a little different try antique and vintage jewellery shops; you never know what you might find, and even if you don't buy anything you might still see a design you like. This is great research if you're thinking about having your wedding jewellery custom-made. Although expensive, many designers offer this service and the uniqueness of your big day will be ensured.

The internet shouldn't be left out when searching for your wedding jewellery. Once again, high street shops should be the first port of call; they might have a lot of information about their jewellery and the sort of costs you should expect to pay. If you can't buy a certain size in the shop itself, you should be able to order it online. Browse designers' websites to see their work before choosing to make a commission; you can save a lot of time by visiting websites instead of far-flung studios!

You don't have to buy real jewellery for your big day; rhinestones, cubic zirconia and diamante have all come a long way in recent years and the quality of costume wedding jewellery is very high. If you still want to wear real diamonds but don't want the huge expense of outfitting your bridesmaids in the same way, you could buy wholesale wedding jewellery for them and the real thing for yourself. Costume pieces are so good that only you'll know the difference and wedding party will still look great.

A lot of brides are opting for contrasting jewellery to that of their bridesmaids; the bridesmaids will wear something clear whilst the bride's jewellery will match the main wedding colour. This is a striking look that can bring together the theme of a wedding and strengthen the bride's position as the focal point of the party.

Costume jewellery is especially good if you want a non-traditional look. Swarovski crystal is available in every colour imaginable so you're certain to find the shade you want. If your wedding dress is unique, an unusual piece of diamante jewellery can be the perfect match.

One of the best things about looking around for your wedding jewellery is the discounts you might find. Internet stores especially may be able to offer discounted prices because they don't have the same overheads that high street shops do.

Even if you don't see a discount, there's no harm in asking for one. If you're buying for a large party retailers might be happy to give you ten percent off rather than lose your business.

It's tradition to give a gift to each of your bridesmaids to thank them for supporting you on your big day. When I was a bridesmaid I got a teddybear dressed as a bride, complete with silk dress and flowers. I was 8 years old (!) but it's a reminder of the wedding that I still have today.

For older bridesmaids a more sophisticated gift is appropriate. Teenagers probably don't wear expensive jewellery, or their tastes haven't been cystallised yet, so a charm bracelet they can customise over the years would be a good choice. You can add charms that mean something for your big day, leaving space for them to add to over the years.

Older bridesmaids will know the kind of jewellery they like, so buying for them could be difficult. You need presents you can duplicate for each of them - buying one a costume necklace and one some expensive pearl earrings just won't do, even if it reflects their individual tastes! A good piece of advice is to go for timeless classics like something from Tiffany. Silver earrings will go with anything and are perfect for special occasions. You want something they'll keep as a memento and only wear occassionally, so a named item of jewellery is a great idea.