How to Choose Bridesmaid Jewelry

Once you’ve asked your bridesmaids to be a part of your wedding, the next step is to figure out the look that your party will rock on the big day. Are you thinking flashy and formal, or understated and elegant? Whatever the season, the venue, or the couple’s personal style, a wedding party look will help pull the whole aesthetic of the event together. If you’re wondering what bridesmaid jewelry you should select, we’ve broken down the top trends in wedding jewelry we’re breaking it all day so that you can say “yes” to the perfect sparkle and shine.

Match Your Metals and Gems

A good rule when selecting jewelry is to match your metal colors to your bridesmaid dress colors. For example, gold or rose gold would look stunning with a pink dress, whereas sterling silver or white gold would pop against a yellow or blue dress. As for colored stones for jewelry, bridesmaid accessories are a great way to incorporate other wedding colors into your wedding party ensemble. Consider a simple pendant or drop earrings in one of your more neutral wedding hues to pull together a cohesive look.

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Match the Bride

If you’re scratching your head over what accessories your bridesmaids should wear, consider what the bride is wearing as a solid jumping-off point. If she’s rocking crystal earrings or a pearl necklace, carry that over to your bridesmaid’s accessories. While you don’t want to have your bridesmaids match the bride exactly, pulling elements from her jewelry—like having the ‘maids rock pearl pendants or a crystal hair clip—is an elegant way to form a cohesive look.

Compliment the Neckline and Hairstyles

Once you have your metals and gemstones selected, deciding the style and assortment of accessories is next. You want to make sure that the pieces complement your bridesmaids’ looks, as opposed to taking away from the vibe. Consider how you’d like your bridesmaids to wear their hair (if you have a preference, otherwise they’ll be happy to decide on their own) and/or the neckline of their dresses. Dangle earrings are great for updos, whereas studs are great for looks where hair will be worn down. One shoulder, halter, and illusion necklines don’t need necklaces (so opt for a flashier pair of earrings or a bracelet), whereas strapless, sweetheart, and v-neck dresses create a lovely focal point for a necklace, whether it’s showstopping or simple.

Keep It Simple

While selecting accessories for your wedding party is fun, keep in mind that a few simple pieces will go further than a whole bunch of flashy in-your-face options. If you’re asking your bridesmaids to supply their own accessories, be conscious of the budget. Your pals won’t be excited to shell out money on new shoes, necklaces, and hairpieces in addition to their dresses and day-of glam. Even if you’re supplying the jewelry, opt for one or two focal pieces and keep the rest simple. A good rule of thumb is that if you have a chunky necklace, opt for simple earrings and visa versa.

As for how you’ll go about securing the bridesmaid jewelry and wedding party accessories, there are three major options that couples usually opt for:

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Let Them Decide for Themselves

If you’re outfitting your bridesmaids in matching dresses, allowing your bridesmaids to pick their own accessories is a great way to let their individual personalities shine. While it might be a good idea to ask them to send pictures to either the bride or the maid of honor to avoid surprises, this is a fun way to let your bridesmaids get creative with their looks and potentially keep costs at bay (if they already have something that they can repurpose for the wedding). This option is also great if you’ve settled on a fabric, but are letting them pick their own necklines. Since some necklines look better with necklaces or earrings than others, this will allow them to accessorize properly for their individual looks.

Give Them Guidelines

If you’re letting your bridesmaids pick their own jewelry, but still want an overall cohesive look, give them guidelines to stick to so that you don’t run into any surprises. Maybe you want to stick with pearls or yellow gold jewelry, or perhaps you’d like everyone to wear drop earrings with their hair up. Giving your bridesmaids an idea of what you’re thinking and what guidelines to stick to will not only make their choices easier, but it will ensure that no one feels accidentally out of place on the big day.

Gift Them the Jewelry

Asking your bridesmaids to buy new accessories can be tricky, especially if they’re on tight budgets or already shelled out a lot of money for things such as bridesmaid dresses and day-of glam. If you have the means (and you’re really set on them wearing matching jewelry), consider gifting them a bridesmaid jewelry set that you’d like them to wear. A pendant necklace with their initials or some drop earrings can serve as a great bridesmaid gift, and will also ensure that everyone looks uniform on your wedding day.