A vintage brooch in your bouquet?  Faux pearls on the tabletop? Clip-on earring place-card holders?  Get creative with vintage and costume jewelry- and put some bling in your big day.

Tip: Costume “pearls” can be purchased by the yard at craft stores. Use them lavishly to bind, drape, and wind through other decorative elements.



Almost every little Girl has spent a day playing in Grandma’s jewelry box, trying on everything - all at once - and feeling like a princess or a movie star. What better time to recapture that sense of over-the-top fantasy than on your wedding day?  “Every bride wants to sparkle and shine on her wedding day, and to create an atmosphere for her guests that reflects this brilliant quality,” says Nancy Jeffries-Dwyer of NJOY Events, who has noticed many brides forgoing the more traditional pearl stud earrings and
opting for showy swarovski crystal chandeliers instead, a choice that’s
especially suited to today’s trendy strapless gown styles.

Antique clip-on earrings - mismatched, of course - are a whimsical solution to the practical problem of fly-away place cards and menus, and the kind of vintage detail that guests will remember.

But why think of jewelry only as something to wear?  “I am seeing a trend
toward more glamour, elegance, and sophistication in tabletop and wedding design,”  says Amy Parker of Vermont Tent Company.  Think chandeliers and centerpieces dripping with crystals, pearls, beading, and other baubles joining romantic elements like candlelabras, mirrors, and lace.

Consider dressing up your wedding cake with pearls, or adding chandelier
crystals or clip-on earring to place cards.  Flowers also play well with jewels, which add a glittery accent when nestled among the blooms.  And table linens in bold jewel tones of deep red, vibrant orange, aquamarine, emerald, and amethyst are definitely a hit with stylish brides. Remember, though, that it is possible to overdo it - so if in doubt, leave it out.

Where to look for this wedding-day treasure? Start with stray and seldom worn pieces in your own collection, and branch out to friends, family, and flea markets. The hunt is at least half the fun!