Heirloom-inspired jewelry presents itself as the perfect ‘something old,’ and it never goes out of style. From the bows and swags of the Georgian period to the romance of the Edwardian era to the drama of the Art Deco era, a vintage ring, necklace, bridal veil, or hair clip will add beautiful sentimentality to your special day.
What you need to know to get it right:
Match your metals
White wedding dresses: If you’re wearing white, stay away from gold jewelry. Instead, opt for platinum, silver or pearl. (Gold tends to clash with a traditional white dress’ hue.)
Off-white wedding dresses:Â If your dress is off-white or ivory, a rose gold or gold jewelry accent will look great.
Take note of your neckline
Sweetheart necklines:Â Dresses with a sweetheart neckline look great both bare and adorned with a bold statement necklace.
V-necklines:Â A V-neckline dress is the perfect silhouette to show off an heirloom-inspired choker or pendant necklace.
Halter necklines:Â A halter wedding dress is best accessorized with a vintage-style bracelet, headband, hairclip or three-to-four decorative hairpins.
Famous heirloom wedding day jewels
Prince William presented Kate Middleton with an 18-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire and diamond engagement ring that was worn by his late mother, Diana, upon her engagement to Prince Charles.
Photo by  Mario Testino
Decades before, Queen Elizabeth gave Princess Diana a diamond and pearl tiara that dated back to when Queen Mary commissioned the crown jeweler Garrard to create a copy of a tiara owned by her maternal grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse-Cassel.
Photo: The J A Report
Rethink heirloom jewelry
Take a piece of your mother’s wedding dress and turn it into a necklace or a lace garter.
Photos: Bridal Guide
Wrap a chunky heirloom necklace around your wrist to make a beautiful bracelet.
Photo: Custom Made
Repurpose your grandma’s brooch into a chic hair ornament.
Photo: Glam Radar
Three things not to do with heirloom jewelry
- Don’t mix delicate curves and bold, straight lines, such as an Edwardian piece with an Art Deco piece. The two different styles will clash and look gawdy.
- Stick to one or two vintage pieces in one type of metal; more than this is too much and will compete with your wedding dress, which should be the main focal point.
- When wearing big statement earrings, keep your hair simple and your accouterments limited.
The most important thing is it’s YOUR wedding day! Wear what you love, and everything else will fall into place.