Little details

Here's what I'm doing;

Nails - I wear black stiletto nails every day, and have for years. So I'm sticking with them, but my nail designer and I are working on making them just a little more special, with gold incorporated somehow (probably as a really thin V shaped tip...). I'm a fan of still feeling like yourself on your wedding day and if I did anything but black nails it would be anything but me.

Jewelry - I am also incorporating my something blue into my jewelry! I'm doing small aquamarine studs in my top piercing (I have three) as it also happens to be my fiancé's birthstone. I love both the photos you added - you could always do the more bling-y one for the ceremony and then change into just the pretty drop earrings for the reception.

Gifts - I'm doing mostly the same gifts for all of my bridal party. But I am adding a single gift for each of them that is more them. I haven't 100% decided on what that will be, but it'll be something along the lines of a piece of jewelry or an accessory that reminds me of them. My MOH is probably getting jewelry, while one of my other bridesmaids is gonna get custom ears for Disneyland etc.

Here's my plan:

Nails: I shape my natural nails square, but the corners ALWAYS seem to break before they get to the length I like them to be. Not a huge issue in my day-to-day, but I want them to look perfect for the BIG day (especially when they'll be photographed), so I'm planning to get acrylics a few days before just so they stay nicely shaped and have some length. I love a good French manicure, so I'm planning to do that with some rhinestones added for an extra touch.

Jewelry: I ordered a set of earrings and a matching necklace from Etsy. I didn't want earrings that were too heavy (that would tear at my ears) or dangly (that would no doubt get caught in my hair or veil), but they do have about a 1 inch drop. The pattern on my necklace sort of matches the patterning on my dress too. It's not QUITE a statement necklace, but it is pretty bling-y. I thought about doing colored gems, but ended up just going with clear ones.

Gifts: I really struggled with this one too. I knew I wanted to do zip hoodies for getting ready, so I ended up getting everyone a monogrammed zip hoodie, monogrammed leggings, and fluffy slippers with their names on them. All of those will be in totes with each person's name. Before the wedding police come for me about how all those aren't considered gifts, I'm also getting each person's favorite wine with a custom label (saying something like "pairs well with being a bridesmaid/ MOH" or something), and I'm writing each a handwritten note about how much they mean to me and how grateful I am that they're there to support me on my big day.

Here is what I did:


Nails: I got my nails done three days before my wedding! I did a neutral color on all nails except the ring fingers, which were a sparkly silver.

Jewelry: the week of my wedding, I bought a new necklace (which I now wear it daily). My earrings were ones I already owned, and my bracelet was one I bought a couple years ago for my original date. For your something blue, if you prefer to wear the sparkly set instead of the blue earrings, you could always either sew a blue patch into your dress, and have a blue flower in your hair (or a hair piece with something blue)!

Gifts: I got each of my bridesmaids a tote bag with their name on it (mainly so I could tell them apart, lol!), a lightweight hoodie in a color they chose, and with wording they chose as well (some wanted their names, some wanted a fun phrase, like "Hakuna Moscato" or "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good", etc), a bracelet, and a beverage cup, where each one was different depending on the person: one bridesmaid got a camping mug since she loves camping, another got a mug with the logo of her favorite whiskey company, another got a reusable water bottle with a fun design, another got a tumbler with a funny quote on it, etc. This way, the gifts were all similar, yet different. Since your sister isn't a jewelry person, I would get her something that is more aligned with her interests, instead of something similar to the person you got the jewelry for.

Not silly to think of this stuff right now at all! I found that if I could check things like this off even that early, it was relieving stress and pressure 😌


Nails: I did French manicure on fingers and peach on my toes (that was our accent color in the florals since I love blue, but there’s few naturally blue flowers). I figured I would regret whichever color was on my fingers, so that’s why I did the French there. My shoes were closed-toed so I felt like I could get color there and not regret it because it wouldn’t show anyway.
Jewelry - this is where I say the style of your dress matters. My bodice was very detailed with leaves and flowers so I didn’t want a necklace to make it look too busy. But when it comes to earrings, I LOVE to go big 🤩 (I was known in school for having big interesting earrings all the time) so I decided this is where I would splurge. I got the most beautifully sculpted floral earrings from Twigs and Honey. They were very “me” and matched my very floral dress perfectly 🥰 They we’re my something new. My something blue was my late grandmother’s garter. It felt comforting to have a small part of her there.
Bridesmaid gifts - I tried to stay on a budget, so in addition to the robes and PJs, I got them jewelry for the wedding that could also be worn casually or other occasions (simple leaves) and as something totally non-wedding, I put the stuff in color-block tote bags that I had embroidered with their first initial.

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We have a veil by Twigs and Honey. It has gold colored twigs with leaves which lead to white flowers on it. The name sounded familiar. I think we got this twice halved in price.

I'm just doing a French manicure for my nails. I'm waiting until I get my dress to decide on jewelry.

For gifts, the women are getting: a watch, personalized jewelry (not necessarily to be worn for the wedding), personalized tote bag, personalized wine tumbler, and pajamas. My MOH is getting a t shirt quilt as well. By personalized, I mean to their interests, not necessarily with their name on it.

The men are getting: personalized fountain pens, personalized bracelets, personalized wine tumbler, personalized tote bag, and pajamas.

The only "prop" is the pajamas, but I actually think most people will wear them afterwards.