Montreal Wedding Planning: An unconventional glossary for memorable wedding celebrations: : Letter J: Jewellery Joy

The adornments and accessories that you choose for your wedding day will hold a special place in your family history. They are items that will hold the significance of being chosen for one of the most important days of your life, and they may be passed down from generation to generation.

“Trust and love are wonderful, but don’t forget the earrings.”

— Estée Lauder

Here are a few things to consider around your jewellery on your wedding day and the effects of your choices on your photography:

This bride opted for shoes that resembled jewellery and chose a simple pendant to complement the open neckline and delicate straps of the dress. The whole look was feather light and romantic, just like the personality of the bride.

Your personal style

If you wear very simple jewellery, or none at all, a wedding doesn’t automatically mean you must adorn yourself with a myriad of items for the sake of the day. Wearing jewellery we aren’t used to could make us feel self-conscious or just not ourselves when there is weight and presence from a necklace or earrings throwing us off. That said, a wedding is a very special occasion for you, where you are already getting dressed up beyond a normal day, so if there is any time in our lives to get a little glam, it’s this day. From a photographic perspective, comfort and ease are important. If you feel draped with items you don’t usually wear and you feel more uncomfortable than beautiful and confident, it will show in your photos. Since a bride often has an updo, earrings take a featured spot, but you don’t want something so heavy that it will pull your earlobes. Close up photos are popular!

If you’re usually minimalistic about it, choose subtle and lightweight pieces that add a bit of sparkle without adding discomfort. If you’re a bit more bold (or just want to be on your wedding day!), opt for something with a little more presence. If your taste is on the classic side, a string of pearls can never go wrong!

Lucy is a

Montreal WEdding Photographer

I’m here to photograph your joy, and [hopefully] make you ugly-cry (even if in private or just on the inside!)

My mission is your dream wedding.

Find out more about Weddings

Generational dedications

Many a bride will incorporate jewellery that has been passed down from her mother or grandmother. The moment of a mother helping her daughter with her accessories is an extremely meaningful and emotional moment of the bridal preparations and important to photograph. There also could be an element of honouring a relative that has passed. I’ve had brides who have pinned special items to bouquets, or if they don’t choose to wear an item, they have discreetly pinned it on the inside of the dress.

I always ask if there is something special to photograph related to heirloom family pieces, to ensure we have it captured. It’s not only meaningful to include in the wedding day, but also important to capture as part of a story that connects the past to the present and future.

Brides aren’t the only ones who pay attention to their accessories on the wedding day! A proud mama will also be heavily featured in photographs, and with a place of honour in a wedding, she also wants to look her best! Sometimes the mother of the bride (or groom) may also be wearing family heirlooms, but if not, she may especially focus on rings and bracelets, to be ready for the close up photographs of helping her daughter/ daughter-in-law with the dress.

This bride honoured her grandmother that had already passed, by pinning her rosary to the inside of her dress.

A beaming mom helps her daughter with her pearl necklace

A mother’s beautiful bracelets sparkle as she helps her daughter into her dress.

Honouring cultural traditions

Some jewellery choices will be dictated by the traditions you may choose to include in your wedding festivities. In Chinese culture for example, it is customary for the bride to be adorned with large, beautiful gold necklaces, bracelets and earrings. These items not only provide both complement and contrast to the traditional Chinese red dress, but the items are chosen to symbolize good fortune for the marriage and to convey the status of the family.

Dress Style

The style of the dress itself can be helpful in making decisions around jewellery choices. Certain wedding dress necklines may not lend themselves well to necklaces, whereas others will. The amount of detail and adornment can also make a difference. A dress that is elegant yet plain may benefit from some texture of jewellery, whereas a dress that has more beading and lace already has lots of texture, and the best jewellery may be more subtle as to not compete.

In photographs, we seek pleasing balances. In the photo below, the hair piece breaks up the darkness of her hair to echo the details in her dress. Your eye is first brought to her face, and the line of her hair piece brings the eye down through the earring and to the stunning open back and lace of the dress. In terms of photo composition, this combination of dress and jewellery work beautifully!