by Amanda Applebyinfo@amandaappleby.comSomething old: vintage bridal jewellery
Planning the perfect wedding can be a physically - and sometimes an emotionally - exhausting experience! Juggling seating charts, defusing family feuds and keeping up with guests' nut allergies is enough to release anyone's inner Bridezilla!!
With such a wide selection of vintage and antique bridal jewellery available, looking the part of the radiant bride is the easy bit! If you are planning a traditional white wedding, pearls, diamonds and marcasite will complement the ivory or cream of your dress perfectly. Coloured stones like rubies, sapphires and emeralds can be worn to match the colour scheme of your décor and bridesmaids dresses. These precious stones can, however, be very expensive. If you are on a tight budget, you can create the same look with good quality costume jewellery.
Vintage engagement rings and wedding bands are very in vogue, but you can also get creative with vintage hair pieces, brooches and even tiaras. Feel free to mix pieces of different designs and eras, but be aware that the over-all look should be cohesive! If you are wearing a bold statement piece like an elaborate head band, keep the rest of your jewellery understated. It may be your wedding day, but the ''less is more'' rule still applies.
Some brides choose to wear a family heirloom as their ''something old''. Don't fret if there are no suitable contenders in your family's safe - now is the perfect time to begin a new tradition and invest in classic vintage or antique jewellery to hand down to your daughter on her wedding day.
It is not often that men have the opportunity to show off with fine jewellery. A pair of vintage cufflinks is the ideal wedding present for the groom, and will also make a charming thank you gift for the groomsmen.
A clever way to add a touch of old-world charm to your procession is to attach vintage brooches to the bouquets, but the most important rule of the day is to relax and have fun!