Event venue? Check. Photographer? Band or DJ? Check, check. Florist? Rings? Check, check, check. Dress, check? Rabbi? Of course!
You’re on your way – mazel tov! No doubt you’ve taken great care in selecting all of the above. And what necklace will you wear? Aha – haven’t thought of that one yet?
It’s a common scenario: brides immediately choose the place, the music, the florist, the photographer, the caterer and the dress and then exhale for a while. The other stuff can wait, right? Sure, some of it can.
But not everything should. If you have a family heirloom that your mom and your grandmother wore as brides, you’re all set – just make sure your neckline works with Granny’s necklace. But if that’s not the case, perhaps your jewelry should be a priority as well. After all, you won’t need the band, the venue, the flowers or the dress after your wedding day, but if you wear beautiful jewelry, you’ll wear it over and over again.
And what bride doesn’t want beautiful jewelry? Once you know what you’re wearing, it’s time to think about jewelry. What type of neckline do you have? If it’s high and lacy, you may not need a necklace, but knockout earrings and a bracelet may be in order.
If you have a sweetheart neckline, something simple works best so as not to make the look too complicated or fussy. A classic, simpler neckline can handle a bolder necklace that makes more of a statement.
Is your dress ivory? White? Bone? All the subtleties of color can be enhanced and reflected in a custom-designed suite of jewelry that’s as unique as you as a bride. Some aquamarine, blue topaz or even turquoise in the piece can serve as your something blue. A bracelet will complement the necklace and earrings. Maybe you need a bold piece for the rehearsal dinner and a more traditional suite for the wedding itself.
What if you want to wear your mother’s pearls or your grandmother’s cameo for sentimental reasons, but they just don’t conjure up the image you have in mind? A good bridal jewelry designer can incorporate those pearls or other elements into a new piece that’s fresh and exciting, but respectful of your family’s tradition and history.
And there’s always the challenge of trying to please everyone! Coordinating jewelry for the bridesmaids and flower girls is the perfect thank-you gift – and you know they’ll be wearing exactly what you want! Sometimes brides have the same necklace made for each bridesmaid with a little something extra for the maid of honor. Sometimes brides commission a different piece for each attendant, based on tastes and personal styles.
Finally, you mustn’t forget mom and his mom! Once they’ve chosen their outfits, surprise them with jewelry as well. Jewelry is the finishing touch that literally lights up the ensemble and makes everyone sparkle. By commissioning pieces for yourself and your attendants and mothers, you unite the bridal party in a beautiful and lasting way.
The advantage of collaborating with a designer – instead of buying something mass-produced and on a rack somewhere – is that you can commission exactly what you want, within your budget for your wedding. When you confer with a designer, he or she will get a feel for your style (photos and descriptions help) and the two of you will work together to create the perfect complement to your perfect day.
Emily’s pieces are made primarily with semi-precious stones, fresh water pearls and Venetian (Murano) glass beads. Findings and accents are 14 karat gold, sterling silver, vermeil, or gold-filled. Emily personally selects her materials from all over the world, from countries including India, Israel, Germany, Italy, and here in the United States.
A self-taught jewelry designer, Emily began her jewelry designing in high school and continued to refine and develop her aesthetic and skills over the years. After college and graduate school in journalism, Emily worked as a television news anchor for several years, then went to law school and practiced law as an attorney and a corporate communications executive. Once she concluded that her true passion is jewelry design, Emily chose to make this her full-time career.
Emily lives in the Boston area with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Check out Emily Kuvin Jewelry Design on Facebook to stay up to date!
