How to Choose the Perfect Jewelry for Your Wedding Day
14 May
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The act of exchanging wedding rings while looking into each other's eyes and committing to a lifetime together is one of the most romantic and celebrated moments of any wedding day. And while this does symbolize your never-ending love for one another, wedding bands are far from the singular piece of jewelry worn on the big day.
Many brides want to create an entire look—from the dress to her hair and makeup—so selecting the perfect jewelry is key. For others, wedding jewelry can be a way of honoring loved ones past and present.
The right bridal jewelry can add romance and sparkle to any bride's look on the big day. Here, we take a look at some of the history and traditions of wedding jewelry, as well as how to choose the perfect pieces to complete your look.
First given almost 5,000 years ago in ancient Egyptian times, wedding rings were initially made of leather or woven reeds and considered to be an eternal symbol of love. In the 1500s wedding rings became a connection between the bride and groom, with interlocking Gimmel rings as a sign of their commitment, more like a traditional engagement ring than the modern wedding band.
The first recorded instance of a diamond engagement ring being used for a proposal was in 1477 when Austrian Archduke Maximilian proposed to Mary of Burgundy. Diamond engagement rings became much more popular from this point onwards, initially in the upper classes, but this has become more common over time.
Alongside the adoption of ornate and beautiful wedding gowns, many brides also saw their big day as an opportunity to show off their family's finest gemstones and jewels. Pieces may have been taken from the family's wider collection, to represent the traditional poem requiring "something borrowed" as well as "something new", and this trend for beautiful wedding jewelry has not waned over the years.
The traditions we have covered here are by no means the final word in wedding jewelry. There are many different customs from around the world that you might draw inspiration from.
Greek Orthodox weddings feature traditional crowns known as stefana, worn by both bride and groom, with modern crowns featuring precious metals, gemstones such as diamonds, and traditional leaf motifs.
In some areas of China, silver wedding jewelry is preferred as it is considered good luck, with the Dong people in Southwest China known to treasure and collect silver jewelry, especially for their daughters' wedding days. The traditional wedding attire of Yemenite Jewish brides also incorporates elaborate silverware built into ornate headdresses covered in beads, bells, and rings.
Gold remains a particularly important and symbolic metal choice in other cultures. In traditional Indian Hindu ceremonies, the bride will wear sixteen individual pieces of jewelry, usually made from vivid yellow gold and studded with gemstones.
A wedding is a celebration and a declaration of your love, so it's only natural that many brides want to honor special members of their family, including those who cannot be present. This is even more common at the moment during the pandemic.
Bridal jewelry can incorporate beautiful pieces from the family collection, those passed down from relatives, and anything of sentimental value. Some brides wear the first pair of earrings their husband-to-be bought them for example, while others want to walk down the aisle with their grandmother's favorite pendant necklace close to their heart.
There are many unique and wonderful ways you can use your bridal jewelry as a way of including your whole family on your big day. Even locket photos and treasured childhood costume jewelry can be tastefully incorporated with a little thought and creativity.
Many brides want to create an entire look—from the dress to her hair and makeup—so selecting the perfect jewelry is key. For others, wedding jewelry can be a way of honoring loved ones past and present.
The right bridal jewelry can add romance and sparkle to any bride's look on the big day. Here, we take a look at some of the history and traditions of wedding jewelry, as well as how to choose the perfect pieces to complete your look.
A Quick History of Wedding Jewelry
First given almost 5,000 years ago in ancient Egyptian times, wedding rings were initially made of leather or woven reeds and considered to be an eternal symbol of love. In the 1500s wedding rings became a connection between the bride and groom, with interlocking Gimmel rings as a sign of their commitment, more like a traditional engagement ring than the modern wedding band.
The first recorded instance of a diamond engagement ring being used for a proposal was in 1477 when Austrian Archduke Maximilian proposed to Mary of Burgundy. Diamond engagement rings became much more popular from this point onwards, initially in the upper classes, but this has become more common over time.
Alongside the adoption of ornate and beautiful wedding gowns, many brides also saw their big day as an opportunity to show off their family's finest gemstones and jewels. Pieces may have been taken from the family's wider collection, to represent the traditional poem requiring "something borrowed" as well as "something new", and this trend for beautiful wedding jewelry has not waned over the years.
Bridal Jewelry Traditions from Around the World
The traditions we have covered here are by no means the final word in wedding jewelry. There are many different customs from around the world that you might draw inspiration from.
Greek Orthodox weddings feature traditional crowns known as stefana, worn by both bride and groom, with modern crowns featuring precious metals, gemstones such as diamonds, and traditional leaf motifs.
In some areas of China, silver wedding jewelry is preferred as it is considered good luck, with the Dong people in Southwest China known to treasure and collect silver jewelry, especially for their daughters' wedding days. The traditional wedding attire of Yemenite Jewish brides also incorporates elaborate silverware built into ornate headdresses covered in beads, bells, and rings.
Gold remains a particularly important and symbolic metal choice in other cultures. In traditional Indian Hindu ceremonies, the bride will wear sixteen individual pieces of jewelry, usually made from vivid yellow gold and studded with gemstones.
Meaningful and Sentimental Bridal Jewelry
A wedding is a celebration and a declaration of your love, so it's only natural that many brides want to honor special members of their family, including those who cannot be present. This is even more common at the moment during the pandemic.
Bridal jewelry can incorporate beautiful pieces from the family collection, those passed down from relatives, and anything of sentimental value. Some brides wear the first pair of earrings their husband-to-be bought them for example, while others want to walk down the aisle with their grandmother's favorite pendant necklace close to their heart.
There are many unique and wonderful ways you can use your bridal jewelry as a way of including your whole family on your big day. Even locket photos and treasured childhood costume jewelry can be tastefully incorporated with a little thought and creativity.