Choosing The Perfect Necklace For Your Wedding Day

Brides seek ways to make their weddings unique, fun and decidedly a reflection of the couple themselves.  Weddings are becoming increasingly less formal, and more personalized to the eclectic tastes of the bride and groom.  This is reflected in the food, venue, entertainment, décor, and of course, in the selection of the bride’s wedding jewelry.

Finding jewelry that is meaningful to the bride and expresses her distinct personality and heritage is a popular way to personalize her look, especially with her choice of a wedding day necklace.

But how can a bride choose a wedding day necklace that shows her personality and is still appropriate for a wedding?

 

THE STYLE OF THE WEDDING DRESS

A wedding day necklace is typically chosen after the bridal gown is purchased.  Once a wedding dress is selected, the neckline of the gown is a primary factor in selecting the perfect necklace to best complement the gown’s neckline, or the lack thereof.  If a dress has either a high, ornate neckline or a plunging neckline, a choker could detract from this detailing and a longer necklace would be more suitable.  For a plunging neckline, an adjustable lariat necklace allows for perfectly positioning the focal piece to enhance the visual impact of the low-cut neckline, while not seeming too bare or unadorned.

Another factor to consider is choosing necklace length based on the simplicity or complexity of the bodice detailing.  Would the length of the necklace detract from or enhance the dress?

A dress with extensive bodice detailing such as ruffles, pleating, fabric flowers or beading would not necessarily compete with a longer necklace, but a simpler style might be more suitable.  A strapless gown could look great with a chunky, ornate, or statement choker, or a necklace with drop beading.

In contrast, a simple style dress such as a slip dress, or a dress with little to no detailing on the bodice, could accommodate almost any necklace the bride chooses, as long as it does not seem too heavy or fussy.  A nice example of a long necklace with a larger focal piece is this pearl and chalcedony flower necklace, ‘Blossoming Romance.’ At 33 inches it adds a nice detail that complements but doesn’t detract from a simple line dress.

Pearl and chalcedony flower necklace, 'Blossoming Romance'

 

Avoid having the style of your necklace compete or overlap with the main detailing or feature of the wedding dress, especially if the latter has a more ornate design with ruffles, heavy beading or an extensively embroidered bodice.

A drop choker can complement a strapless or sweetheart neckline gown such as this Pearl Choker Necklace, ‘Precious Blossoms’:

Pearl Choker Necklace, 'Precious Blossoms'

A multi-tiered necklace with a pretty floral focal piece complements a simple, or no pattern, strapless bodice by incorporating pastel shades such as seen in this Cultured pearl and rose quartz flower necklace, ‘Sweet Bouquet’:

Pearls and Rose Quartz Strand Necklace Floral Jewelry, 'Sweet Bouquet'

 

THE PERFECT STYLE OF WEDDING DAY NECKLACE

Once the proper sizing and length of the necklace are determined, the style of the perfect wedding day necklace is the next factor to consider.

 

Wedding Day Necklace Style Options to Consider

 

CLASSIC PEARLS, BUT WITH A TWIST

Pearls are a classic for brides, and can be worn in an updated way for a twist on this traditional wedding choice. While you can never go wrong with a classic triple string of pearls, more modern options include floating pearls, pearl clusters, or a long draping 20’s style string. Pearls are available not just in creamy white, but also in a variety of colors.

The photos below show you can never go wrong with a simple, triple string of classic pearls. Whereas long pearls have movement and complement low cut or simple line dresses, floating pearls go well with strapless dresses. Also, colored pearls can be distinctive, especially if your wedding gown has a bit of color.

Try this Pearl Strand Necklace, ‘Triple Halo’ – a classic three strand pearl necklace with a blush hue.Pearl Strand Necklace, 'Triple Halo'

Another option is this 17″ Floral Quartz and Pearl Necklace, entitled ‘Elixir’.

Floral Quartz and Pearl Necklace Elixir

 

Wearing a lacy dress?  Mimic the style with this Collar Style Necklace with Cultured Pearls and Silver, entitled ‘Magnificent Lace’

Collar Style Necklace with Cultured Pearls and Silver - Magnificent Lace

 

Go with a modern take with the Unique Lariat Necklace with Cultured Pearls and Silver, ‘Lovely Lasso’ with dangling pearls.

Unique Lariat Necklace with Cultured Pearls and Silver, 'Lovely Lasso'

 

 

With a slimline gown or 20’s style dress, try something like this lovely ‘Pearl long chain necklace, ‘Harmony’” which is 47 inches long and adds enchanting movement when walking and dancing.

Pearl long chain necklace, 'Harmony'

 

 

ADD SOME COLOR

The vision of a bride clad all in white has frequently been augmented with a splash of color somewhere on her ensemble.  The choice of color can coordinate with the bridesmaids’ dresses, the bride’s bouquet or her signature color. A necklace is a good choice to add some color close to the face, especially for fair skin brides who may be washed out by an all-white ensemble or by the photography trends.  Counteract this by choosing colorful jewelry near the face.  Does your gown have a colored embroidery pattern on the dress? A colorful necklace is a nice way to visually tie your jewelry and gown together for a put-together look.

Popular wedding color palettes include silver, pastel and vibrant pinks, ocean and blues, and citrus colors.

Here are some colorful necklace ideas:

Silver/Gray tone: Moonstone pendant necklace, ‘Luminous Light’

Hand Made Moonstone Jewelry Sterling Silver Necklace, 'Luminous Light'

 

Lavender/Pink: Handmade Bridal Rose Quartz and Pearl Necklace, ‘Lavender Romance’

 

Necklace for a redheaded bride: Citrine and carnelian choker, ‘Fire Flower’

Carnelian and Citrine Beaded Choker, 'Fire Flower'

 

A NOD TO THE BRIDE’S HERITAGE OR BELOVED COUNTRY

A necklace can be a lovely tribute to a land of special significance to the bride, such as the native country of a beloved relative, or a favorite vacation spot. The local culture of a destination wedding can be incorporated into the necklace she wears as she walks down the aisle. Taking your honeymoon in an exotic location such as Bali, Mexico, Thailand, or India? Why not wear a necklace that shows your enthusiasm for your upcoming travels?

Pearl Bridal Jewelry Sterling Silver Necklace from India, ‘Romantic Glam’

Pearl Bridal Jewelry Sterling Silver Necklace from India, 'Romantic Glam'

 

Honeymooning in Mexico? How about this Sterling Silver and Natural Turquoise Necklace, ‘Wishes’

Sterling Silver and Natural Turquoise Necklace, 'Wishes'

 

These are just some ideas for finding the perfect wedding day necklace. Looking for more wedding necklace inspiration? A variety of handmade necklaces including chokers, lariat, long strings, and dangling in a variety of colors and gemstones can be found at NECKLACES – Unique Handmade Necklaces at NOVICA.

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 0 Average: 0]
Share this post:
More from Courtney Lyn
3 Great Ways To Display Mirrors In Your Home
Mirrors are a great way to decorate the home. Not only do...
Read More
0 replies on “Choosing The Perfect Necklace For Your Wedding Day”