The ring is traditionally worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. There are also various historical notes that attest to the reasons why the fourth finger is chosen. The most popular is the thought that the vein of love or “vena amoris” flowed from the third finger of the left hand directly to the heart. Since everyone believes that love comes from the heart, it is no surprise that this romantic historical anecdote is the most popular belief. When both wedding ring and engagement rings are worn, traditionally, the wedding ring is worn below the engagement ring to signify that it is closer to the bride’s heart. Other customs suggest wearing the wedding ring on top of the engagement ring to include the engagement into the marriage and also to show that the ring will stay where the groom has placed it on at the wedding ceremony.

The rings were not always made of precious metals. In the ancient times, hemps or a vine, and was replaced whenever it wore away. Iron was also used by ancient Romans to symbolize the strength of the couple’s union. The British were believed to have started creating the wedding ring from gold.  Diamonds are later added to the simple round ring. These days, some couples choose colored precious and semi-precious stones to embellish their wedding rings. Others even forgo the metal ring and opt to have the design of a ring tattooed onto one of their fingers. Albeit this is a more permanent commitment and a cheaper one at best. One wonders, though, what happens if the couple later on decide to part ways and the marriage ends up in divorce. Tattoo removal is not only expensive, but also painful.

Okey, couples do not marry with the intention that they will divorce if the marriage do not work out, at least the couples I know. So, let’s get back to the topic of wedding rings. What is becoming popular is the eternity ring – it is characterized by a band of stones that usually wrap all the way around, symbolizing the “eternity” of one’s love. The traditional eternity ring has stones all the way around the band. Some wearers prefer the “half” eternity ring because the thickness of the full eternity ring makes it impractical to wear.

Though other precious stones such as rubies, emeralds and sapphires are popular choices, diamonds are the most common stone used. For the “cost-concious” couples, there are designer-inspired eternity rings as budget-friendly choices. These are usually made sterling silver instead of gold and set in diamond CZ stones.

The choice of rings is a personal matter, however, the sentiment conveyed by an eternity ring is the most romantic and important part of the gesture.

For more choices for wedding rings, visit our CW Bridal Store.

Some brides give their bridesmaids the same gift for several reasons – one of them could be because she does not want her bridesmaids to feel someone else had a better gift because of favoritism.  Truly, it is also easier to give everyone the same gift.  To avoid “jealousy” among your bridesmaids, if you’re going to give each one a different gift, make sure that they are all in the same price range.

Speaking of unique gifts; check this website  – Dazzling Dangles for unique, handmade jewelries.   Just look at these beautiful handmade dangling earrings – embellished with Swavorski crystals.  You can choose the same or different jewelry pieces for your bridesmaids .  Your bridesmaids will love them!

Aren’t they lovely? Dazzling Dangles also offers wine glass charms and cell phone charms at affordable prices, featuring genuine Swarovski crystals! For your wedding, Sherry, the owner and designer, will make a set of unique custom bridesmaids earrings or champagne glass charms to match your wedding colors and theme! Contact her for details.

Bridesmaid Jewelry

Whether you decide on necklaces, bracelets, earrings or a combination of both, there is a great formula to follow to coordinate your bridesmaids’  jewelry with your wedding colors.  To begin your shopping process, keep in mind the colors of your wedding.  Do the flower bouquets that the girls will be carrying include one solid color flower, or are there multiple colors or shades?  Are all of your girls wearing the same dress, or will they be donning different dresses within the same color scheme.  These are the details to look for when selecting your bridesmaids jewelry.

For earrings, it’s quite simple. Figure out what color palate you are working with, whether it’s shades of browns, pinks, oranges, reds, greens, blues, whatever the color scheme keep that in mind.  Then browse through a wide variety of earring styles to find a different style for each maid in your wedding.  If you have a bridesmaid that always wears big hoops or chandeliers and loves that bold statement on her ears, then pick out earrings that go well with her fashion choices.  For the bridesmaid that is more understated and likes a simple and classic look, choose a simple drop style earring for her.

After you have selected a different pair of earrings to match the unique personalities and styles of your bridesmaids, you can then create your color palate coordination.  Try to keep all of the color choices within the same color theme of your wedding colors, bouquets and gowns.  If you have a brown colored dress, then light to darker shades look well and compliment each other nicely.  For each pair of earrings, pick the same color pearls or crystals for a congruent look.

Another idea to give your ladies a different look to match their own style is a variety of necklace styles.  Depending upon the dress style you’ve selected for your bridesmaids, choose complimentary necklaces.  For instance, a v neck style gown looks fantastic with a y drop or pendant style necklace.  Choose a different necklace for each maid and color coordinate the crystals and pearls to match your color scheme.

The above article is written by our guest blogger, Bonnie from BonitaJ.  Visit her online store and  get 15% off your entire order with this code: BLOG15.

Wedding rings are symbols of “eternal love” that bride and groom give each other to represent their commitment to each other with a promise to love and cherish till death do they part.  We do not know when this tradition started, but it is quite unusual to witness a wedding without the wedding ring ceremony.  The wedding ring, therefore, is an important element in your wedding ceremony.  The choice of which wedding ring to select is often made by the couple since they usually want a matching set.  The costs range from very expensive rings that are made of platinum or gold embellished with diamonds and other precious stones to tattooed wedding ring.  Part 9 of our 101  Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding gives ideas on saving money in choosing your wedding rings.

Saving Money Part 9: wedding Rings

67. Shop for your rings online – Purchasing rings online, from places like Completely Weddings Bridal Mall or Amazon can save you a bundle.

68. Opt for simpler rings – If you and your fiancé are on a tight budget, skip the giant diamonds. Get small, simple rings for each other. If you’re a girl who secretly longs for that perfect diamond, you can agree to get new, custom designed rings on your 1, 5, or 10 year anniversary when you may be more secure financially.

69. Use an heirloom – Many families have heirloom rings that they want to pass on. Your only expense may be resizing it.

70. Reuse stones – If you don’t want to use an heirloom ring, consider using the stones from an inherited ring to create your own.

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101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 1: Wedding Planing

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Bridal Jewelry

In our article Choosing Your Bridal Jewelry we pointed out that the bridal jewelry you choose should coordinate with the wedding gown that you have selected to wear for your big wedding day.  We also gave you a series of tips on How to Choose Your Bridal Gown.  Now that you have chosen your bridal gown, it is time to explore what bridal jewelry will match the style of your wedding gown.

Read our suggestions below on what style of bridal jewelry will match your style of wedding dress, specifically your bridal gown neckline.  Refer to our article Popular Wedding Gown Necklines to review the different bridal gown necklines.  Download a pdf file of our ‘Necklace Length Guide‘ here to see the length of the bridal necklace mentioned below.

Bateau Neckline

Bateau Neckline

The bateau neckline, also called boat neck or Sabrina, closely follows the collarbone and is formed by a straight line between the shoulders, often dipping in the front.  These necklines sometimes have a high back to them, but also can have a low or no back at all.  This classic neckline calls for a simple necklace of one or two strands worn close to the throat: collars or chokers with or without a pendant.  The choker style necklace is a tight fitting necklace that will wrap tightly around the upper neckline.

Square Neckline

Square Neckline

The square neckline has a straight horizontal bodice that meets with straps in a 90-degree angle.  The depth of the horizontal bodice can vary from just a few inches below the collar bone to several inches towards the cleavage area.  A bridal choker will soften the right angles of the neckline and shows off a great neck.  The choker can be a simple, single strand or double stand bridal jewelry necklace.  For low square neckline choose a choker with a pendant.

Halter Neckline

Halter Neckline

The halter neckline consists of two triangular points of fabric that rise along the chest and join in some fashion at the back of the neck, creating an upside down V.  The width of the points may vary by design.  If the halter is low and wide, consider a front tied lariat or Y-drop necklace or pendant necklace.  If the halter top rises close to your throat, nix the necklace.  Wear chandelier earrings and stunning bracelets instead.

Jewel Neckline

Jewel Neckline

The jewel neckline has a high round neckline at the base of the neck. For this type of neckline, choose a collar or choker necklace that fit close to your throat. If the jewel neckline is already embellished with beads, pearls or rhinestones, do away with the necklace and use gorgeous bracelet and/or chandelier earrings instead.

V Neckline

V-neckline

For a V neck style wedding gown, use a necklace that takes the same angles as the V neck wedding gown line such as the Y-drop necklace.  A single or double strand necklace or a choker style necklace will work just as well.

Scoop Necked Gown

Scoop Neckline

Scoop necked gown is a versatile neckline and almost any style of necklace that fits close to the neckline will compliment the gown.  A round necklace is recommended for this neckline as it mirrors the scoop neckline.  It could be a multiple stand necklace or a single strand pearl necklace.

Strapless Gown

Strapless Neckline

A strapless neckline highlights the shoulder and neck region.  Many necklaces suit this versatile neckline, but keep the length under 18 inches so the necklace frames both your neck and your strapless neckline.  Choose from choker to multi-strand to Y-drop or pendant necklace. This types of necklaces also works for gowns with spaghetti straps.

Sweetheart Neckline

Sweetheart Neckline

A sweetheart neckline begins 2 inches inside the shoulder line and is shaped like a heart. It may or may not be strapless. The vertical dip of the neckline elongates the face and gives balance to larger proportions making it the most popular style of wedding and evening gowns. The choice of necklaces is similar to the strapless gowns – choker to multi-strand to Y-drop or pendant necklace under 18 inches of length.

Off Shoulder Neckline

Off the Shoulder

An off the shoulder neckline sits below the shoulders front and back accentuating your collarbone and shoulders.  Any style of bridal jewelry necklace works well with this neckline.  Choose a choker to accentuate your face or a Y-drop necklace to bring focus to the gown and the bride who is wearing it.

No matter what bridal jewelry necklace you choose, make sure that you are comfortable with it and that it makes you feel gorgeous when you put it on.  The bridal jewelry you choose is one of the details that will complete your look and bring the entire ensemble together.

For more bridal jewelry ideas, visit Bridal ‘N Beauty’s bridal jewelry selections.

Photo Credit:  Unique bridal jewelry collections from Michal Negrin.

Choosing your Bridal Jewelry

Finding the perfect accents for your wedding day.

Though the wedding gown usually gets most of the attention when it comes to putting together your wedding day look, jewelry is an important and often over-looked part of pulling it all together. Before you start selecting pieces, keep in mind that everything should have a cohesive look and feel. Try not to select all your pieces separately, and always consider how everything will look together.

When deciding what type of jewelry to wear, it’s helpful to have already chosen a wedding gown. As a general rule, your bridal jewelry should coordinate with the bridal gown you have selected to wear on your wedding day.

• If your gown is strapless, sleeveless, or has a low neckline, you can choose a bigger, bolder necklace.
• If you have a high neckline, you may want to skip the necklace altogether and simply wear some stunning earrings.
• If your wrists will be bare, you should consider a bracelet.
• If you have a beach wedding where you will be barefoot, don’t forget to look into barefoot jewelry, too!

Something Borrowed

One advice before you go shopping, consider asking to look at your mother or grandmother’s jewelry to find great pieces. You can often find the best jewelry this way. These items can also double as your “something borrowed”. Don’t think that borrowed jewelry is only good for a classic look, either. You can often find very modern pieces if you know the right relative to ask.

Classic Look

For a classic wedding look, try on some pearls. Pearls are popular gems for weddings and they will look stunning with the right dress. You can also fall back on classic diamonds. If your budget doesn’t allow for real diamonds, don’t hesitate to wear cubic zirconia instead. No one will know the difference but you.

Contemporary Look

If you’re going for more of a contemporary look and feel, experiment with big bold pieces. Chunky bracelets, dangling earrings, and a necklace with a large pendant can complement your look nicely, especially if this kind of look reflects your personal style.

Colored Gems

To complement your theme, try adding some color! Not all bridal jewelry needs to be white or diamond. You can find beautiful stones to complement any color scheme. Along with colored gems, you can find many shades of colored cubic zirconia.

Keep in mind that you want your bridal jewelry to look good with your dress, shoes, hairstyle, and wedding ring.

• If your rings are gold, wear gold, or colored jewelry
• If your rings are white gold or platinum, choose white gold, silver, or platinum jewelry. The metal doesn’t need to be the same as long as the color matches.
• If you have a stone other than a diamond in your wedding ring, consider repeating that stone in the rest of your jewelry to accent this unique part of your personal style.

When it comes to selecting your bridal jewelry the most important thing is that you are comfortable and feel beautiful in it. Try on your whole outfit together as soon as you have all of the pieces to make sure you have the look you want. If your hair will be up, pull it up to see how this looks with your jewelry. If everything looks and feel great together, you’ll know you’ve selected the right jewelry and you’re ready for the big day!