Wedding Blog
Um… I’m the worst decision-maker ever. I still don’t know what necklace I’m going to wear with my wedding dress!
Remember my wedding dress? Good.
I know this is obviously not the most important part of the wedding. Why am I not spending more of my time on silly things like venue insurance and lighting? But you ladies like jewelry & style, right? Can’t go wrong with the hive! 
Here’s the dish: I have a rather particular look I’m going for. Call it grandma-boho-chic, flapper-tastic, or waterfalls of pearls dripping from my nape. Call it whatever you want, but it looks kind of like this:
photo credit: Ashley Garmon, via OnceWed
photo credit: Julie Harris, via A.Mountain.Bride
More like the bride in the first pic, I love it when the pearls drape past one’s balcony. It adds beautiful length to your torso - especially for Shorty McShortcakes like me!
Also very important is the neckline of the dress I’ll be wearing. I love how the bride in the second & third pics layered her necklaces - it makes her look so carefree and rich with life! - but my dress isn’t strapless. It definitely has “straps“, not unlike the bride in the 1st pic (no peeksy, Mr. Bear Cub!!).
So here’s my deal - I love the look of long, layered pearls, but I just don’t know which gosh darn necklace to get! I’ve been poring over Etsy for the past few days, and it’s just getting worse.
I bought these necklaces a few months ago:
I love both of these necklaces - especially the non-white aspect - but I think the second necklace doesn’t really come down past my balcony far enough (and it clasps behind the neck, it’s not one super-huge necklace doubled up). BTW that dress I’m modeling the 2nd necklace with is NOT my wedding dress - just an example. But remember that my dress isn’t strapless!! We must lengthen the torso, and draw attention to my balcony! 
all photos from Etsy.com
I think the style I’m going for is called “lariat” - the necklace on the bottom right is most like what I’m looking for, but I’m not sure it’ll ship in time (from Asia!). I’d prefer real pearls, if possible, but this necklace has caught my eye:
… Layered, perhaps, with the two necklaces I already have. Maybe pearls strung on a long piece of ribbon would work…
If I’m to wear anything around my neck, my frame needs length. Then again, I could just forgo a necklace altogether…
Which of these necklaces would you pair with my wedding dress? Do you have any other necklace suggestions for me? How would you best achieve that grandma’s pearls/boho-chic look?
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I really like the necklace you own that you’re modeling, but you’re right, it’s a little too short. I think a lariat would be beautiful, and just the look you are going for, if you can get one in time!
I really love the top left image on your etsy collage…although layering multiple necklaces would be a cool look too!
I think the layering look would look really cool! It’s worth a try.
I like the last one. But the best thing for that grandma flapper look (which I totally love) is an opera-length necklace or longer that you can double up (where one part is almost a choker and the other drapes low). I wish you lived closer, I have one — real pearls from China no less. But they’re cream colored, so too boring for the look you’re going for.
Anyway, this is a GREAT look! I love it! Lat minute, I put an antique sterling locket on a really long silver chain for the flapper look! Go for it! It’ll look great on you!
Honestly, I think I’d very much so consider foregoing a necklace .. however I would go for a look like the first picture if you feel “naked” without a necklace!
@Mrs. Perfume: I was going to mention lockets, too - I love when they drape oh-so-gently into the bosom . I’m still looking for opera-like pearls, like what you mention, too. So hard to find last minute! Since I already have pearl of differing colors, ivory/cream would still go, I think!
Check out the designer that I wore.
http://www.in2designing.com
The specialty is lariats. I wore the louise mixed pearls on natural leather and got a thousand compliments. My dress was too an alencon lace gown and it worked perfectly to balance the formality of the dress with the casualness of me.
i think something really long that, like mrs. perfume said, drapes down past the “v” in your bodice is the way to go. i’m wondering if the “pendant” of the lariat necklace may not be long enough and that it would fall too squarely within the “v”, which may make it look crowded (i’m just guessing though so you could give it a try!). i think the last one looks best because the top strand adds something but doesn’t clutter the v area, while the longer strand looks like it hangs down far enough.
I like Mrs. Perfume’s idea of using an opera length strand of pearls that you can loop around to achieve the layered look.
I love the first “flapper” look. I went looking on etsy for a few more (even though I’m sure you’ve done almost every search possible) and here’s a few I found..
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26192757&ref=sr_gallery_21&&ga_search_query=opera+pearls&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=date_desc&includes=tags&includes=title Would ship from TN, and free shipping!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29586684
Those are fake, but great price, great length, and it would help fund a trip to South America! The seller has two in this length if you wanted to layer.
I hope either of those help! Good luck!
I honestly think that if you are going for boho vintage chic, then you’ll need either a few strands or something with a bit more oomph than the individual strands you’ve shown here.
I think the photo at the top captures that look best, but I think it would be stunning to use a strand of darker ( like the brown) pearls in the mix.
I have to agree with Mrs. DG here. If you look at these inspiration pics you have up here, note that there is at least one necklace that is chunkier or larger than the others, in addition to the stark color contrast that the necklaces have. I would definitely not try to worry too much about making them gel or making them matchy-matchy– the whole idea is that it’s boho, so you’re mashing a lot of different things together!
i love the layered pearls look….so classy and classic, yet free-spirited——such a great combo, btw! and, this is the first time i’ve seen your dress….the lace is absolutely gorgeous! *sigh* lhuillier is so dreamy. i could totally see you wearing the layered pearls look with it. can’t wait to see it all put together;=)
I want pearls going everywhere, different sizes, colors, everything. I’m 5′10″ so I kind of need bigger stuff to make a statement, but at 5′2″, I think you would look great with a couple of delicate strands. Freshwater pearls are incredibly reasonable at bead shops.
Honestly, you had me at that very first picture. Is there a way to recreate that look with some non-white pearls? I’m thinking possibly pale gray or pink. I love the one shorter, thicker strand layered over the longer, thinner, knotted strand.
Now that I’ve seen the look you’re going for, I have a better idea. Sis, consider it done.
-Meimei
i like the last one. try expedited shipping? most of the ebay asian sellers seem pretty quick so far.
honestly, i prefer the look w/o the necklaces, because the lace of your dress is already gorgeous enough as it is, and the addition of capsleeves adds more detailing to your upper body already. my two cents’.
i’m sure you’ll still look great.
Oh Miss Brushcetta posted about a site that has really inexpensive real pearls…I found it. http://www.pearlsonly.com. I’m planning on getting pearls from there for my girls and possibly for myself
Oh I love the look!
This one from etsy isn’t real pearls but 55″ is totally long and awesome.
And this one is 36″ of light peach freshwater pearls.
I really love the look of the multiple colored strands.
I really love the layers! looks so good on you, but your right with you kind of neckline it might look too busy - I loved the “drop shapes” those look amazing!!
in the series of etsy photos I love the ones on the very bottom. Such a cute idea! Your inspiration photos are great.
I think you need more than one strand to acheive the look you are going for. Maybe 2 shorter strands, and one longer one that you can double loop.
I love lariat necklaces…and as a fellow short girl, I know how it can be frustrating to have a necklace hit you in the right spot. I love that with a lariat you are able to “tie” the knot at the height that you prefer. Yay for the ability to adjust! And…it does give a bit of a layered effect with the two end strands hanging! Personal opinion, I know…can’t wait to see what you pick!
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Mrs. Cub, Chile/Portland
Age and Occupation: 26, Astronomer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Astronomer
Engagement Date: May 10, 2008
Wedding Date: September 2009
Venue: Westwind YWCA camp
About Me: I'm a small-town girl who's making a living in Chile, with her heart in the Pacific Northwest. I grew up in Southern California, went to high school in Texas, grad school in New Mexico, and now I can't wait to settle down in Oregon! I love pears, hazelnuts,
knitting, traveling, running, baking, and long talks on the phone with
good friends. I'm planning my Oregon coast summer camp wedding while
abroad with my best friend - I'm always at home when I'm with him!
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