Creating the perfect look for a beautiful wedding involves a great deal of preparation. Arguably the most important part of the process is finding the wedding dress and bridesmaids’ outfits. This can take days of research, in order to find the dresses that will compliment each other. The bride’s outfit is the focal point of the wedding ceremony and will be under close scrutiny from the guests.

To compliment these special dresses, it is essential that the jewellery worn by the bride and bridesmaids is extra special. Wedding bands for the bride and groom are of particular importance, but so too are the other pieces of jewellery that can give a dress a completely original look. A low cut or open neck dress cries out for a necklace or choker and this can be enhanced with a pair of drop earrings.

Bare arms require bangles or charm bracelets which make excellent gifts for the bridesmaids. If you have a particular design in mind but are unable to find it or are dissatisfied with anything ready-made that you see on the high street, an alternative approach may be to have bespoke jewellery created especially for the occasion. A sympathetic independent jeweller will be happy to work with you and combine his or her design ideas with your own.

You can sketch your own ideas, cut images from magazines or go completely with suggestions from the jewellery designer. Consider what materials and stones to include in the designs. Gold comes in a variety of hues, from reds and oranges through to yellows and creamy shades. Platinum is ever popular and will compliment any colour of outfit.

If you are traditional you will probably opt for diamonds as the stone of choice. However, there are many beautiful coloured precious stones that can look fabulous with contrastingly coloured fabrics. The white or cream dress will look great with any colour of stone. When thinking about designs, you may prefer a traditional design that will not date over time, or choose instead a highly contemporary style.

Either way, your design will be unique to you. Consider how you are going to use the piece of jewellery after the big day. It is best to design a piece that is going to be wearable to other events, or even one that can be worn proudly on a daily basis.

Take advice from the jewellery designer wherever possible, as he or she will more than likely have experience in these matters. Choose a designer on the basis of recommendations from friends, or look at some jewellery designers’ websites in order to get a feel for their particular style.

It is a good idea to select a designer that you can meet face to face in order to track their progress, embellish or alter designs and have fittings for rings. This way, you will not be disappointed when you see the finished products.

A bespoke piece of jewellery made especially for your wedding is a lovely way in which to mark the occasion, representing a beautiful keepsake that can be worn again and again, each time bringing back happy memories of the day.