Just when it seems that you’ve navigated hundreds of decisions, and had near-missed tizzies with just about everyone involved in your wedding - ANOTHER hard decision! What to give your best friends for helping you through this blessed event?! Here are some helping guidelines:

• A gift that will remind them of your wedding after it’s over. Think durability.
• A gift that is conducive for all your bridesmaids irrespective of fit or size
• Think of something that they can wear or have with them on the day itself
• It would be ideal if your gift helps co-ordinate their look at the same time.

For all the reasons above jewelry makes an ideal gift. By buying affordable jewelry gifts for your bridesmaids you solve two problems at the same time: their jewelry will now co-ordinate with each other (while matching their dresses) AND you’re giving them a wonderful gift that they will be able to appreciate long after your wedding.

Some great ideas are: matching earrings, matching pendants, or a matching set. It’s even better if you can incorporate an accent color at the same time. For instance, if you have pink as an accent color you can choose pink stones (cubic zirconia) in the jewelry.

You may also want to think of your own bridal jewelry and select toned-down versions of that theme. For instance, if you are wearing multi-stranded pearls, you can choose simpler single-stranded pearl necklaces for your bridesmaids. Freshwater pearl necklaces would also be lovely since they are more playful than traditional pearls.

A very popular trend in jewelry right now is cubic zirconia set in sterling silver. Cubic zirconia, or CZ for short, have come to resemble diamonds so much in recent years that the diamond industry is seriously worried. It is also very common practice for people who can afford diamond jewelry to buy cubic zirconia instead. It’s easy to understand why with the price difference. For example, a gorgeous “O” or “Circle of Life” pendant with real diamonds is prohibitively expensive compared to a sterling silver and CZ pendant at $49 from Custom Couture Bridal.

Far from costume jewelry, these quality pieces are made with the same care as their diamond counterparts. At this modest price point it is possible to deck out your girls (and yourself!) in beautiful bling without breaking the bank.

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Authored by Christianne Brunelle of Custom Couture Bridal

Christianne Brunelle is a wedding dress designer, jewelry designer and is the founder of Custom Couture Bridal (http://www.customcouturebridal.com)