From helping you to choose a dress and plan the ceremony, to organising your hen party, your bridesmaids devote a lot time and energy to making your wedding as magical as possible. As a result, it’s become something of a tradition in recent years to give your bridal party some keepsake jewellery as a way of saying thanks. Plus, gifting your nearest and dearest some beautiful jewellery will help to make sure your bridal party looks flawlessly co-ordinated on the big day, too. So, here I’ll share my top tips for finding and giving the perfect jewellery to your bridesmaids.
Consider your bridesmaids dresses
You’ll want your bridesmaids to wear their jewellery on your big day, so it’s essential that whatever you pick works well with their outfits. It would be a real shame to spend a chunk of your wedding budget on some beautiful fine jewellery only to discover that it clashes with the style or colour of your dresses. For instance, if your bridal party dresses will be high-necked, then you probably don’t want to accessorise them with necklaces. Likewise, long-sleeved dresses will cover bracelets. So, if possible, I’d always recommend picking your jewellery after you’ve found the perfect dresses.
If you’d prefer to give out your presents when you ask your bridal party to be your bridesmaids, then bear in mind that you probably won’t have settled on the exact style of their dresses at this point. So, the jewellery will need to be versatile enough to suit most colours and styles.
Picking something versatile that can be worn again
Your bridesmaids’ jewellery should be a keepsake that they can treasure for years to come, so pick something which is versatile and timeless. Bracelets and necklaces in classic sterling silver and gold tend to be the most popular choices for bridal jewellery, as you don’t need to worry about finding the right ring sizes or whether everyone has their ears pierced or not. Silver and gold are also timeless colours and easy to style.
Whatever style you choose, I’d recommend going for the highest quality precious metals you can afford, as these will last for longer and be more resistant to tarnishing. If you’re on a budget but still want something elegant and long-lasting, go for a quality, hallmarked sterling silver over gold.
Make it unique and meaningful
You don’t need to give all your bridesmaids exactly the same piece of jewellery. Your friends and relatives probably have their own individual styles, so you can always choose different gifts for every member of your group. You can still have a consistent theme, like pearls or rose gold, as long as you choose jewellery with a similar style. For example, you could buy some pearl earrings for a bridesmaid with pierced ears, and a pearl hair slide or comb for another. Just think about the sort of jewellery you normally see them wearing, and work from there.
Charms can also make a great gift, as you can pick out a unique charm to suit each of your bridesmaids. Even if not everyone in your bridal party has a bracelet, charms still make a great gift as they can often be worn on a necklace instead. Chances are, your gifts will seem even more meaningful because the careful thought you’ve put in to choosing them.
Think about the theme
Your bridal party will be wearing their gifts on the day and, as your nearest and dearest, they’ll likely be front and centre during the ceremony and be featured prominently in your wedding photography. So, naturally, you want to pick out jewellery which will work well with the overall theme and colours you’ve decided on. For instance, if rose gold is going to feature a lot in your wedding décor, it’s only natural to go for this with your wedding jewellery, too.
Give your gift in style
Once you’ve found the perfect jewellery, you need to think about when — and how — you’re going to present it to your bridal party. You can surprise them with their gifts when you ask them to be a part of your big day, and even include a custom bridesmaid proposal card. Or, if you’d prefer to wait until you’ve chosen your bridesmaids dresses, you could present it as a surprise during your hen party, or as a ‘thank you’ gift on the morning of your wedding.
The perfect way to propose to your bridesmaids!
Whenever you decide to surprise your bridal party with their gifts, you should make sure they’re presented beautifully in a jewellery box and gift wrap, preferably with a handwritten note thanking them personally for their friendship.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
But most importantly, I need you!