Weddings are the best day of a couple’s life and the beginning of life together. They can also be a very daunting thing to plan with the combination of choosing your vendors, making a seating arrangement and getting your outfit ready for the big day.
Wedding fashion goes beyond a dress or tuxedo, too. According to most sources online, a wedding gown (if purchased traditionally through a boutique) is supposed to be purchased anywhere between nine and fifteen months before the day of a wedding. But when should you buy your jewelry? Well, once you have your base chosen (dress, suit, etc.), then jewelry can come into the mix. It’s easier to accessorize an article of clothing than to build around a certain accessory. Certain necklines and hairstyles complement certain jewelry styles better but arbitrary fashion “rules” shouldn’t dictate the choices you make for your wedding as long as you’re happy with your choices. If you’re buying something off the floor with zero alterations, you have more time to start choosing but should have an idea of what style you’re looking for. Pinterest, Instagram and other websites of the like are a great way to find ideas and inspiration for your wedding jewelry. While not every piece is available in store, special orders can take as little as a few days to arrive. For quick special orders or buying things off the floor, three months pre-wedding is the ideal amount of time. Alterations can be done to those pieces within this time frame (if needed) and buying earlier will alleviate the stress of finding the right jewelry under a strict time constraint.
If you’re looking for something particular or want a completely one-of-a-kind piece for your wedding, custom design is always an option that can be explored. Matching sets to channel Elizabeth Taylor levels of glamor or even pieces that coordinate can be custom designed, ordered or purchased right out of the case. It all depends on what you want and any budget that was set in the early planning stages. For custom wedding jewelry, this should be planned around six months out from the wedding day. This will allow time to design, source gemstones, fabricate and alter (if needed).
Engagement rings kick off the excitement but a wedding band seals the deal. Whether you want a completely custom ring made exactly to your specifications or just a plain band, there are still time constraints with this. Anywhere between a few days to a few months is what it takes to make a wedding band. Research in your free time and a consultation at a jewelry store can help find exactly what you’re looking for. A plain band is often more complicated than expected. Material, width, fit (comfort, standard, etc.), profile and finish are all factors that go into choosing a simple band. Companies like Lashbrook Designs and Toby Pomeroy are great options to have something simple, but uniquely tailored to your style. Lashbrook Designs offers many alternative material options to fit into any budget or just to fit the wearer’s lifestyle, which are often the biggest determining factors when purchasing a band. Other bands may need to be customized in order to fit against a specific shape or style of engagement ring, especially if the engagement ring was custom made. These special orders can take a week or a few months, depending on the vendor and style. Start planning to order your wedding band at least four to six months before your wedding (this can be done at the same time as orders for other wedding jewelry). Aside from any fabrication timelines, this will also allow wiggle room for last minute sizings and getting used to the fit/feel of wearing your ring. Wedding band options may seem infinite and complicated but are easily tailored to the preferences and lifestyle of the wearer.
Aside from purchasing any new jewelry for your wedding, there’s also the maintenance beforehand. A few weeks before, plan to stop in for a free inspection. We will assess the ring for any possible repairs that are needed or simple services like polishing and/or rhodium plating. A few days before the big day, drop off your rings and any other jewelry you may be wearing for a deep cleaning so they’re sparkling during the ceremony and any other festivities leading up to it. As for soldering your wedding set, this can be done before or after the ceremony. If both rings were purchased through us, this is a complimentary service that can be done within a few hours or by the next day. Just call ahead and we’ll make the arrangements to have it done as soon as possible.
Weddings shouldn’t be stressful. Countless websites help couples and their families find resources and advice for planning their perfect wedding, but jewelry seems to be forgotten in the flow of everything. That’s why we’re here to help alleviate any stress and make the process of finding your wedding jewelry as easy as possible.
Ready to start looking for your perfect wedding accessories? Book an appointment or stop in during our open hours to meet with a sales associate about curating your wedding look. We are open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and are always happy to help create or find the jewelry of your dreams.