Bridal Earrings

Bridal earrings that don't compete with the dress. Freshwater pearls, CZ solitaires, pavé drops and small hoops — 18K gold vermeil at 3 microns over solid sterling silver, or gold plated. Gold, silver and rose gold, so they match whatever the dress and the ring are doing, from $25.

Bridal Earring Questions

Should bridal earrings be pearls or stones?

Pearls if the dress has texture — lace, beading, anything busy — because pearls read soft and don't fight it. Stones if the dress is plain, where you want a point of light near the face. With a veil, keep them small; anything hanging catches tulle.

Should earrings match the wedding ring metal?

It's the simplest rule and it works — match the earrings to the ring rather than the dress. If the ring is yellow gold and the dress is stark white, gold still wins, because the ring is what stays in the photos for the rest of your life.

Studs or drops for a wedding?

Depends on the hair. Hair up leaves the ears exposed and drops read well. Hair down half-covers them, and a drop that only appears when you turn your head is wasted. Studs work either way, which is why they're the safe answer.

Are pearls bad luck at a wedding?

There's an old superstition that pearls represent tears. There's an equally old tradition in which pearls signify purity and are the correct bridal jewel — which is why generations of brides have worn them. Both beliefs are real, neither is load-bearing, and pearls remain among the most-worn things at weddings.

Will they survive the day?

Two practical points. Put earrings on after hairspray, not before — spray is what dulls both pearls and plating, and it happens during getting-ready. And if you're wearing pearls, keep them off until the last moment; nacre absorbs whatever it sits in.

What about bridesmaids?

Pearl studs or small huggies, bought in multiples. They suit everyone, need no sizing, and get worn again afterwards — which is more than most bridesmaid gifts manage. Buying them in one metal keeps the party looking coherent in photos.

See also pearl earrings, CZ diamond studs, pearl drop earrings and gifts for her.