ABS Allen Schwartz Dome Fireball Earrings

If you’re a regular reader, you may have noticed that I adhere to the “less is more” school of thought. Fashion is meant to enhance us, not overpower us, and every item we put on should complement each other, not compete for attention. This is especially true on your wedding day. You, as the bride, should shine, not be a a mannequin draped with a bunch of lacy, frilly, sparkly crap. There’s nothing wrong with lace, frills, and sparkle—but in moderation. If you can manage to bring everything you wear together in such a way that it’s noticeable, but not going to cause stares, or make it difficult for anyone to look you in the face because they’re so distracted by everything you’ve got going on in your ensemble, then you’re doing it right. When it comes to bridal jewelry, I can’t stress this enough. Forget the chandelier earrings. Just think about what those are called for a minute. Since when do we wear interior decorating items on ourselves and call it good? What’s next, doorknob earrings? Chain link necklaces? Blah. Keep it simple, and keep the focus on you. I’m not saying you can’t go dangly with the earrings, but leave the chandeliers on the ceilings, ok? Let’s start with some simple but standout studs, like these ABS Allen Schwartz Dome Fireball Earrings.

I love the fact that they’re called Fireballs. Try matching your jewelry to your personality, and you can get away with things you might not have thought you could. These fireballs are silver-plated, so no worries about anything turning green during the course of the ceremony. They have a post back, so your ears do need to be pierced. If you’ve got more than one part of your ear pierced, keep your other adornments simple to let these stand out. They’re half an inch wide, so they don’t leave a lot of room for other earrings anyway. If you choose a bridal handbag that has a little sparkle to it, these are a great complement. And they’re on sale! Usually $81, you can get them for just $65 at Zappos.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 1

Nothing says classic like pavé jewelry. Well, except maybe pearls, but we’ll get to them later. These Marc by Marc Jacobs Starlight Pave Heart Studs add sparkle, and enhance your bridal ensemble by being heart-shaped. I wouldn’t normally wear heart-shaped jewelry, but your wedding day seems to be the perfect opportunity to make an exception. They’re also post back, so require pierced ears. But they’re silver-tone metal posts, so make sure you’re able to wear metals other than gold and silver before you put them on. They’re half an inch long, so there will be no mistaking their lovely shape, even from afar. They’re just $58 at Zappos.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 2

Here’s a wedding fashion tip—if you don’t already have pierced ears, a week or two before the wedding is not the time to do it. There’s a chance your ears can become infected, or just be swollen, red, and sore, and that’s not the most attractive look for your wedding day, or the honeymoon. If you don’t have pierced ears, you’re better off finding a nice pair of clip-ons for the big day, then get them pierced later, if you want to. In the meantime, check out these Carolee Tonal Pink Pearl earrings. They clip on, so anyone can wear them, pierced ears or not. They’re set in gold-tone metal, so if you have any metal allergies, maybe coat your earlobes with some antihistamine cream before you wear them. The pearls are simulated, but rather than plain white, they have a blush tinge to them. They’re rather large, though, at three quarters of an inch wide. Remember those doorknob earrings I was talking about? If you can get away with larger earrings, go for it. But if you’re on the petite side, you might want to go for something smaller. They’re $46 at Zappos.com.