Choosing the Right Bridal Accessories

Photos provided by the couple

Some brides prefer to wear traditional jewelry for their wedding. However, we sometimes encounter brides-to-be who prefer customized costume jewelry instead. Jem and Teng tied the knot last December, kindly Melai Creations, their wedding coordinator asked us to be their supplier for the bride's accessories. 

Initially we were only supposed to make Jem's hairpiece, but eventually she decided to have her earrings and bracelet customized as well, when she couldn't find designs that she fancied at retail stores. To tailor costume jewelry to be more appropriate for a formal wedding, we diversified the materials by including Swarovski Crystals and rhinestones.  

In designing her accessories, we made sure that it fit her style, preferences, and most importantly, for them to be in sync with her gown design and hairstyle. 

Here are some tips in choosing your bridal accessories: 
1. Make sure that the design is consistent with your bridal gown design and hairstyle.
2. Choose comfort. In Jem's case, knowing that it will be an all day event, she wanted her earrings and bracelets to be light and not cumbersome. 
3. Base the design on your preferences. There are so many bridal accessories offered in the market, but the key is to choose a style that reflects who you are and what makes you feel beautiful on your special day. 

We have a new blog focused solely on weddings and debuts.  

Visit http://www.weddingsanddebutsbypjv.blogspot.com 

Filipiniana Wedding

We were inspired by the Philippines' National Flower, the Sampaguita, in making these accessories for the Tan-Asinas wedding. Their theme was a celebration of their roots: Filipiniana; with a motif of silver, brown, and sapphire.

We first met the soon to weds during a Bridal Exposition two years ago. A brief chat with the bride, Marx, revealed that she booked us as their primary supplier for their wedding. This truly warmed our hearts. She ordered a complete set of accessories for her entourage, including her own bridal hairpiece. Each hair piece came with its very own customized pouch, customized specifically in detail, to match their wedding theme.

Bridal hairpiece; final sketch

We used rhinestones and Swarovski crystals as features of our wiring technique. 

Hairpieces for Flower Girls, using craft beads and acrylic crystals.

Hairpieces for the female entourage

Two different designs for the mothers of the bride and groom.

All accessories were based on the Sampaguita hairpiece, for the sake of consistency.

All That Sparkles Gives Gold by Krizia Eleni Patrocinio

We met Kim during a two-day bazaar at the Asian Institute of Management, December of last year.  The very first items she bought from us were gifts for her cousins. Afterwards, she began purchasing our embellished necklaces, which she stylishly pair with her outfits! 

When you have no more time (or money) to shop, on a budget, with a wardrobe consisting of mostly blacks, greys and browns, and you suddenly find yourself receiving an invitation to attend a very special occasion with only 3 weeks to prepare, what do you do? You rely on your creativity, originality and pizzazz of course! 

" Everyone noticed my necklace and told me they liked it. No one even noticed that I repeated my outfit! It was a great and unforgettable fashion moment.  "

This happened to me in December, while in the thick of preparations for an office Christmas party, a family reunion, a block dinner, etc. I received a message from my high school friend informing everyone that she was getting married in three weeks! Because I already spent most of my money on gifts and I had no energy, or time, to go to the mall (or online) to look for the perfect wedding guest outfit, I resolved to recycle one of my dresses and wear it for her big day. Heck, if Kate (otherwise known as the Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge) can be photographed wearing the same dress twice, I can too!

Since wearing black was my personal faux pas when attending weddings, I decided to wear my beige dress. I was worried that it looked too plain, but I was running out of options. I figured that I can look for accessories at home that I can pair it with so I that I would look more interesting. Serendipitously, PJ of PalamutiStorytelling Jewels was at an AIM bazaar that week, selling her one-of-a-kind accessories! It was the perfect solution to my predicament! I immediately fell in love with her embellished necklaces, but I bought the clip-on earrings and the cocktail rings because I needed to give my cousins Christmas gifts. 

With 2 more weeks to go, I was getting more anxious. I didn’t want to spend more than PhP2,000 for a dress I will rarely wear, but I did not want to look plain at the wedding. As if fate was calling out to me, I saw a photo of Precious Lara Quigaman wearing an Amatullah necklace with her nude dress, on my Facebook news feed. It was Palamuti Storytelling Jewels posting her photo! It was exactly the look I was aiming for: classic yet sophisticated, subdued yet trendy, stand-out but conforming. The perfect look for a wedding guest. I took it as a sign and called PJ to ask for the availability of the embellished necklace. Thankfully, she can have one made in time for the wedding!

The rest, as they say, is history. I made my Amatullah embellished necklace the focal point of my entire ensemble. Everyone noticed my necklace and told me they liked it. No one even noticed that I repeated my outfit! It was a great and unforgettable fashion moment.

In the time of Facebook and Instagram, when photos are everywhere, and discerning people can tell if you repeated outfits or not, it is more practical to invest in accessories that redefine and recreate totally different looks. More than adding a bit more sparkle in a regular outfit, an embellished necklace provides added glamour and a lasting impression on the taste and style of its wearer.

The Practical Bride

It has become customary for soon-to-wed couples to shoulder the entourage's outfits and tokens. Of course you’d also want your bridal entourage to be beautiful, as they march before your grand entrance.  Weddings can be expensive, but it should not prevent you from being practical. There are ways to achieve the wedding you have always dreamed of without breaking the bank.

Practical tip #1 : Hit two birds with one stone. Skip the heavy beaded gowns and instead add a necklace to complement their ensemble. In addition, they can use the necklaces even after your wedding. 

Practical tip #2: Give your female godparents a necklace and bracelet set which they can opt to wear during your wedding. Choose a set that matches your motif.

Practical tip #3: If you want more embellishment, you can give embellished necklaces to your entourage and godparents. You can even choose to give them different designs but maintain the feel of your theme and motif for each piece. 

Costume jewelry has its own perks. There are three reasons why they grow in popularity: price, variety and versatility. They are more affordable than “real” jewelry, but can be as elegant and priceless nonetheless. The great thing about costume jewelry is that you can choose a design which will go with your theme and motif. Depending on the material and design intricacy, you can get a great deal for your money. Plus, trinkets are a woman’s best friend; your female entourage and godparents will truly appreciate it. It’s something you will see them use even after your wedding. 

Sources: www.polyvore.com 

Accessories: www.pjvalenciano.com