Wedding Day Jewelry: The Best Ways to Save Money

As brides begin to plan their wedding, most of the focus is on the wedding gown, shoes, makeup, and hair. Often some of the budget isn’t set aside for the bridal jewelry, and this is an important accessory on your big day. If you forgot about purchasing bridal jewelry, or simply want to find affordable jewelry for your wedding, we’re here to help. You can plan ahead and shop smart to save money on wedding day jewelry. We compiled our best tips to help you save on wedding day jewelry.

Say Yes to Lab Diamonds

Diamonds are rare and expensive, so if you want diamonds for your bridal look, consider lab-made diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds share the same chemical composition, optical properties, and physical features as natural diamonds. They essentially are “real” diamonds but at a more affordable price. You can find lab-made diamonds at different price points so they’ll fit within your budget.

Choose Affordable Metals

Metal prices vary greatly, so the metal that you choose impacts the cost (and your budget). Generally platinum is two to four times more expensive than gold. You can stick to more affordable metals, such as sterling silver, if you want a whiter-hued metal. Sterling silver will also be more affordable than white gold. If you want rose or yellow gold, 14K will cost less than 18K. Be open to different metals as you shop for bridal jewelry.

Stick to Heirloom/Ancestral Jewelry

To save some serious money on your wedding-day jewelry, you can wear heirloom jewelry or buy vintage pieces. Not only does this help your budget, it also satisfies some of the wedding-day tradition of “something new, something old, something borrowed, something blue.” Consider borrowing jewelry from a friend or family member. You can also check estate sales, garage sales, or consignment shops for some affordable, pre-owned pieces of jewelry. You never know what kind of vintage finds you might discover! Some jewelry stores sometimes sell pre-owned jewelry. In addition to being budget friendly, this is also an environmentally-friendly option. Another way to save on wedding jewelry is to rent jewelry. Some companies allow you to rent pieces at a fraction of the cost of buying them. This is especially worthwhile if you want several pieces for your wedding.

Keep it Minimal

You don’t have to wear tons of bridal jewelry. Instead, you can keep your jewelry minimal by wearing no jewelry or simply stick to a pair of stud earrings or possibly a classic chain necklace. Smaller, elegant pieces will save you money and offer a sophisticated look for your big day.

Wedding Day Jewelry Final Thoughts

Some brides and grooms carefully plan their wedding budgets, but often the jewelry gets forgotten. Some brides may be too worried about the dress, shoes, hair, and makeup and then realize that bridal jewelry adds a significant amount to the wedding’s cost. However, you do have options to save money on your bridal jewelry. First, consider lab-made diamonds. They provide the drama and sparkle of natural diamonds at a more budget-friendly price. Second, look at the price of metals. Some metals, like platinum, are more rare and expensive, so consider other metals for your bridal jewelry, such as sterling silver or gold. Sterling silver will be the most affordable, but consider 14K white, yellow, or rose gold as well. Third, consider borrowing or wearing pre-owned jewelry. See if your friends or family have some jewelry you could borrow for your wedding. Also consider purchasing pre-owned jewelry from estate sales or consignment shops, or think about renting jewelry for your big day. Finally, go minimal with your jewelry. You don’t have to have adorned rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets. You can have simple jewelry and still look gorgeous and sophisticated. Your wedding jewelry should reflect your style and personal preferences. You want to look at your wedding pictures and like what you see, and not see who others wanted you to be. It’s your big day, and you want to look and feel your best.