Your Devon and Cornwall Wedding - Jan/Feb 2020 (Issue 23)

DRESSING THE BRIDAL PARTY 75 Choosing your wedding jewellery should be the icing on the cake after picking your wedding dress, veil and shoes. Whether it’s a classic necklace, bracelet and earrings, vintage pieces, or more statement items, they will become keepsakes to treasure. Your wedding band might be your first big bridal jewellery purchase because it shows off your newlywed status. It needs to complement your engagement ring but not overshadow it. You need to consider the metal, shape and type that you want and think about how they will both look on your finger together. Do you want them to sit flush or be a close fit? The best way to start is by trying some on. Experiment with different thicknesses and concentrate on how the ring looks on your finger, not in the jewellery tray. Usually it’s best to buy a wedding band in the same metal as your engagement ring, although mixing and matching styles can also work really well. If your engagement ring is a sparkler, then opt for a plainer wedding band, whereas if your stone is subtle then add some extra bling. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, or are they? If you want something a little bit different but can’t afford the hefty price tag of a pink diamond, then pick a precious gemstone like a ruby or a semi-precious stone such as a chalcedony. Should you wear a necklace, earrings and a bracelet? If so, should they match? The answer is there are no rules. You can either pick coordinating pieces that complement your dress or mix and match items to add different styles and even colour. Just think about your bouquet if you’re picking something colourful so that they don’t clash in your photographs. Drakes is a family-owned jewellers dedicated to offering quality, value and a memorable in-store experience (drakesjewellers.co.uk ). There’s a wide selection of branded jewellery from Annie Haak, Swarovski, Clogau and Nomination and the company offers its Drakes Jewellery Hospital, where the talented workshop team repair jewellery and watches and also create bespoke commissions. Tamsin Worley from the Drakes Group comments how a diamond-set wedding band for the bride is the most popular style sold at Drakes. “This style sits beautifully with a variety of engagement rings and is great for adding a bit of sparkle to your finger,” she says. In terms of other bridal jewellery, Drakes often get requests for pearl jewellery, blue gemstones such as topaz, sapphire and tanzanite, and Swarovski crystals. Drakes also offer a wide selection of pieces for the bridal party. “When it comes to bridesmaids jewellery and gift ideas, Annie Haak and Swarovski are our go-to brands,” Tamsin tells us. “Both have some beautiful pieces that would make the perfect bridesmaids accessories. Mother-of-the-brides love Swarovski and Coeur De Lion ranges both offering beautiful pieces to match many different outfits. For the groom, plain wedding bands are the most popular and Drakes have seen an increasing number of men purchasing two wedding bands. “This is so that they can wear one every day and keep one for best,” Tamsin tells us. A popular choice is a ring made of titanium for durability. For the groomsmen, Drakes often see matching cufflinks purchased. “These are not only a great gift for the groomsmen to say thank you for being a part of your day, they're something they can wear on the day and again in the future.” Claire Austin is an award-winning bespoke headpiece and accessory designer (claireaustinengland.com) . Her Flower Collection features pretty floral combs, headpieces and hair grips, while her new White Collection features pieces adorned with handmade ceramic flowers, pearls, diamanté and rhinestones. She wore the style called Claire on her own wedding day, turn to page 34 to read more. WHAT’S TRENDING Rose gold is hugely popular at the moment and looks pretty teamed with coloured gemstones as well as diamonds. Check out bespoke Cornish jewellers stephaniestevensjewellery.co.uk and their 18-carat rose gold engagement ring set with aquamarine. Dazzling diamond pieces from Drakes. Photography of Claire Austin hair accessories courtesy of kevincowellphoto.co.uk