Bridal Day Jewels — Don't let the poor bride spend $500 on faux bridal jewellery for her big day, says Eve Alfillé of Eve Alfillé Designs, Evanston, Ill.
"Suggest taking the bride's (or her mother’s or grandmother's) diamond studs and attaching them to long fine chains or to straight 20-gauge wires as drop earrings for the wedding day, perhaps set in a bezel rather than prongs.
Then after the wedding, the bride can come in to have the chains shortened at no charge, as your gift to the couple." She advises creating jewellery that is convertible because there is life after the wedding. "Even if she opts for a ready-made pair of earrings, suggest making them convertible, with dangles that detach. If she is going to wear her diamond studs, you can make her wonderful drops to add to them.
Remind her that a wedding is theatre, and people need to see her from a distance. Similarly, if the bride is going to wear her mom's pearls, tell her they will look more up-to-date with a delicate enhancer of pavé diamonds, or the addition of a South Sea pearl in a matching shade. Suggest incorporating the groom's birthstone somewhere in the piece."
Alfillé says families often come up with odd leftover diamonds or other smaller gems from various sources that can be used to create a new heirloom.
"Have the bride and her family put each little diamond in a small bag labeled with the name of the person in the family it comes from. You can create a special bangle for the bride to wear at the wedding, with each of these stones set into it. No need to set them symmetrically if the stones are all different – that is the charm of the piece. Then suggest having the name of each donor in the family engraved on the back near its stone – a keepsake to pass on for generations."
"And remember, that pearls look wonderful on a bride. And, with today's wide array of different pearls available, there is something for every bride, and every budget! And, in addition to making the bride look radiant, they also photograph beautifully!
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