Getting married soon!

[SAzzollini]

Hello everyone. I'm getting married soon and my fiancé has tasked me with the job of finding pearls for the wedding. I've started poking around online because I need several necklaces that match for the bridesmaids and then one necklace (should be nicer) for my fiancé.

I know I need to buy white pearls but there's a lot of white pearls out there. Could anyone help with some advice? Is there a big difference in say 6-7mm instead of 7-8mm? Are either of these too small? Should i be looking at Akoya or fresh water?

I'm really clueless at this point so any advice would certainly be appreciated.

 

[that_someone_special]

Well aren't you a sweet fiance!

First, let's talk numbers

1) Budget
2) How many bridesmaids.. and just one bride right? (just kiddding)
3) Your timeframe
4) what is your brides skin tone/ hair color?
5) Does she normally wear pearls? Would she wear these again?

 

[SAzzollini]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I don't have am solid budget, but if I could keep it around $3,000 that would be good.

She has six bridesmaids and yes, just one bride. I couldn't handle doing this more than once

We are getting married the weekend before Halloween so I have some time but would feel better if I didn't put it off until the last minute.

My fiancé is 5'3 and around 115 pounds. She's Italian and has dark fair and eyes with just a bit of olive complexion. Her bridesmaids range with three of them with similar complexions, one dark haired caucasion, one light brown to blond girl and her college roommate who is a mix of Chinese and Italian.

She does wear pearls so i think she would wear themm again. But her pearls are black so they wouldn't really work for the wedding.

Thank you again!

 

[that_someone_special]

OK So I'm kind of thinking outloud here..

6 bridesmaids-- wow! I have two and I can barely handle them

If $3000 is your budget (but I assume less would be ok too?) I have a few sugguestions if you are leaning towards akoya.

First, I have purchased through pearl paradise many times. I LOVE THEM. They have great customer service and they are always willing to help if something does go wrong (see yssies threads a bit back). I sound like a pearl paradise pusher

Ok, so since your fiance is on the smaller side, I think she has a wider range of pearls she could do. A common size that looks good on anyone (in my opinion) is the 7.0-7.5 range.

I know you said just a necklace.. but here is a set- 7.0-7.5 akoya in the 16" AAA quality (drop down menu), with a bracelet and earrings, $981. You can also do the longer length for $70 more. The good thing about this is you could keep the bracelet and earrings a surprise and give them on the day of the wedding, or give the whole set together and let her decide if she wants to wear them at the wedding or not.
(Note: this set will range in price with the size of pearls. I would also ask her if she would prefer a smaller, delicate strand, or a larger strand.. it can really be up to personal preference!)
http://www.pearlparadise.com/Full-Set-o ... ls111.aspx

So, there is one set!

If she absolutely does not want to do a set, that's perfectly fine too, and leaves more for the necklace budget!
Here is a Hanadama strand that is GORGEOUS!! Wowee! I recently saw some of these in person (Don't own any yet) and they are gorgeous, and classic, and just so pretty! This strand comes in the 18" but if she would prefer it 17" or 16" they can remove the extra pearls. You could always do drop earrings or something with the extras!
http://www.pearlparadise.com/18inch-707 ... -2253.aspx


What do you think of these options?

If you did the above necklace at $1550...

$3000 - $1550 = $1450 left in the budget for bridesmaids, divided by 6 = $241 a bridesmaid.

For them, I recommend freshwater pearls
A few options:
6.5-7 White Freshadama 16" is $220, 18" is $247
http://www.pearlparadise.com/6570-mm-Wh ... ce921.aspx

6.5-7 White Freshwaters (AAA option, not AA+) 16" $125, 18" $134
http://www.pearlparadise.com/6570-mm-Wh ... ce534.aspx

A few people have said that the Freshadamas and the AAA are very close in terms of luster, so me, personally as a bride as well would rather go with the AAA 18" (size fits more people) than the little bit more.

If you did the Hanadama necklace ($1550) plus six of the AAA 18" Freshwaters it comes to $2354 pluuuusss, they have something called pearl points. I can't give you the code, but if you google it, or call to make your order, you will get an additional $75 off.. so $2279.


But, if you want to max out the budget, These hanadama studs would make a good gift to your lovely bride as well! Also, a lot of times I've seen people get the same size pearls as the necklace, but I don't think it's completely necessary, as to me my 7-7.5 studs seem tiny compared to my 8mm studs, so I prefer the little larger, but you know it's really only personal preference!

$228 7.0-7.5 http://www.pearlparadise.com/7075-mm-Wh ... -2609.aspx
$313 7.5-8 http://www.pearlparadise.com/7580-mm-Wh ... s2610.aspx
$363 8.0-8.5 http://www.pearlparadise.com/8085-mm-Wh ... s2611.aspx

What do you think? Sorry if this is un-organized. If your bride thinks she wants bigger pearls, let me know and I can look through more options with you

 

[that_someone_special]

Here is a screenshot of different overtones that you could choose from in the akoya (not the hanadama it seems though)

 

[SAzzollini]

Thanks so much. I can't get the web links to work but I'm searching on the Pearl Paradise site now. I've got pen and pad and will be back!

 

[that_someone_special]

Oh GRRR!! When I posted them I made sure the links were working..! and now they won't work.

Here is the akoya set:
http://www.pearlparadise.com/Full-Set-of-7075-mm-White-Akoya-Pearls111.aspx

Here is the hanadama:
http://www.pearlparadise.com/18inch-7075-mm--White-Hanadama-Akoya-Pearl-Necklace-2253.aspx

Freshwaters for bridesmaids 16" $125, 18" $134 (AAA not AA+)
http://www.pearlparadise.com/6570-mm-White-Freshwater-Pearl-Necklace534.aspx

Freshadamas for bridesmaids 16" $220. 18" 247
http://www.pearlparadise.com/6570-mm-White-Freshadama-Freshwater-Pearl-Necklace921.aspx

Hanadama earrings:

7-7.5 http://www.pearlparadise.com/7075-mm-White-Hanadama-Pearl-Stud-Earrings-2609.aspx
7.5-8 http://www.pearlparadise.com/7580-mm-White-Hanadama-Pearl-Stud-Earrings2610.aspx
8-8.5 http://www.pearlparadise.com/8085-mm-White-Hanadama-Pearl-Stud-Earrings2611.aspx

 

[SAzzollini]

Thanks Bean. I am going to be calling in my order today. Can I ask just two more questions?

If I were to buy the hanadama earrings and the freshwater necklaces for the bridesmaids, would they look good together. It would put me a little high on my budget, but I'm thinking some of them might wear earrings more than a necklace. What do you think?

I also was searching google and found this 7-8mm freshwater necklace AAA that looks cheaper than Pearl Paradise smaller pearls.
http://www.americanpearl.com/fw775n.html
Would this one be a better deal on the freshwater necklaces?

 

[SereneSolange]

These earrings look like my own signature earrings, which I adore. Could the bridesmaids have these sets (earrings, pendants), which are simple enough to compliment your fiancee's pearls, no matter which direction you go with them?

http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Wa...Earring-and-Necklace-Set/4281543/product.html

....or, they could have the same in pale pink, which would make your fiancee the center of everything in gleaming white:
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Wa...Earring-and-Necklace-Set/4281544/product.html

I promise I'll post something that costs more for your fiancee.

 

[SereneSolange]

More blingy, as promised:
pendant (South Sea):
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Wa...Sea-Drop-Pearl-Necklace/3867915/product.html

earrings (SS):
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Wa...ngs-10-11-mm-H-I-SI1-SI2/3936808/product.html

bracelet (Freshwater):
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Wa...ter-Pearl-3-row-Bracelet/2537380/product.html

(with this for the bridesmaids! http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Wa...5-inch-Bracelet-7.5-8-mm/5162883/product.html)

AAAAaaaaand a right hand ring (SS):
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Wa...mond-Ring-9-10-mm-I-J-I2/4034966/product.html

 

[that_someone_special]

Hello!

If you mean each bridesmaid would wear necklace and earrings, I think that might work if you did the freshadamas or the AAA quality. If you mean 3 would have earrings (no necklace) and 3 would have necklaces (no earrings) then I absolutely think that would work! They girls won't be smooshed ear to ear all night and no one will even notice.

However here is a link to some freshadama studs (I have 3 pairs and they are gorgeous!) and might help for the bridesmaids instead of the hanadama:
6.5-7 $57
http://www.pearlparadise.com/6570-mm-White-Freshadama-Freshwater-Pearl-Stud-Earrings1620.aspx

7.5-8 $67 (I recommend this side or bigger, this is a size that would look good on a variety of women)
http://www.pearlparadise.com/7580-mm-White-Freshadama-Freshwater-Pearl-Stud-Earrings771.aspx

8.5-9 $97
http://www.pearlparadise.com/8590-mm-White-Freshadama-Freshwater-Pearl-Stud-Earrings-774.aspx

Remember, you don't need to spend a ton of cash for the bridesmaids to look good! Being in budget is good

As for the American Pearl link.. I have not purchased from there. It looks like they have stock images that look "ok"?

Ultimately, if you want to mess with it, (If they have a good return policy) I would order them from both places and just return the ones you like the least. If you don't want to mess with it.. I highly recommend PP as you know what kind of quality you are getting before you even order them.

Apparently pearl grading can be subjective across companies. So one persons AAA pearl could be another companies AA pearl, with a big price difference.

I hope this helps. I hope other people chime in too!

 

[SAzzollini]

Thanks for all your help bean. I really do appreciate it. I am moving forward with this and will report back on all the goodies that come in!

 

[that_someone_special]

Very exciting!! Please let us know how everything goes!

 

[SAzzollini]

So my first pearls arrived! I took your advice and ordered from both of the companies and you were completely right. There is a huge difference between the two companies and I do mean huge. With American Pearl I received no responses to my initial email which should have been a warning sign, but Pearl Paradise got back to me within minutes. The difference in the AAA pearls from one company to the other is huge too.

I tried to take pictures of the necklaces with no luck. Does anybody have advice on the best way to photograph them? They come out really blurry unless I'm taking the picture from a distance.

Thanks for all your help bean. I'll be sure to write an update when all the pearls have arrived!

 

[that_someone_special]

Yay!!!
Hope to see them soon!!

 

[Steel]

Great advice from Bean & SS! This is the PS I knew and love.