From wedding jewellery to everyday essentials: what you need to build your trousseau
“I wore a gorgeous Kundan mathapatti for my pheras. It was stunning, and soaked in family history — worn by my cousin, my grand and great-grandmother at their weddings, it was part of my wedding jewellery. Through the rest of the functions, I also wore a silver ring that my best friend gave me for good luck, a Cartier trinity band, and lab-diamond tennis bracelets and necklaces. All these became part of my jewellery trousseau — which is an eclectic, and usable mix of wedding jewellery and practical pieces,” says Chandni Sehgal of her wedding jewellery and trousseau.
Like most modern millennials her trousseau is (quite literally) a mixed bag — some of her pieces are heirloom designs drenched in sentimentality and stories of her family, others are thoughtful gifts and the rest, are contemporary classics featuring lab-diamonds (more affordable, more sustainable) and easier for a young woman building her collection to purchase.
A bridal trousseau, in today’s day and age should be just that — varied, and versatile. While a bridal trousseau refers to everything: the clothes, linen, jewellery, crockery, that a bride takes with her to her married home, today a trousseau can be an independent woman’s collection of things to start life in her own home. Now we’re jewellery experts, so we’re spotlighting the jewellery part of the trousseau: whether you’re meandering towards the mandap, or just want to create your very own jewellery collection, here’s what you need to know.
First, pick your wedding jewellery (or festival-friendly pieces if weddings aren’t your thing), then start adding practical pieces suitable for everyday wear, and lastly, look for the family jewels (mum’s Polki paayals or temple jewellery-inspired jhumkas, nani’s kamarbundh) to complete the collection. Lab-diamond jewellery, a sustainable, more budget-friendly option is the place to start for practical everyday essentials (even suitable for work), bigger festival and wedding jewellery options if you prefer modern designs and even for more traditional pieces like Polki designs. The cost-effectiveness of lab-diamonds allows families and couples to get larger-sized diamonds or more elaborate pieces without compromising on quality.
Don’t forget the heirloom jewels to round off the trousseau — look in the family locker! We skimmed through Everbrite Jewellery’s extensive collection for our favourite pieces to help inspire you, and get you started.
1. Statement Shaadi stunners: Wedding jewellery essentials
If you’re planning your wedding, and don’t know where to start, here’s a tip. Start with the functions and pick your wedding jewellery accordingly. Modern brides, your wedding jewellery doesn’t have to be staid, traditional pieces that you’ll balk at wearing again — instead pick shapeshifting pieces that can be re-worn, and re-styled.
Pre-wedding festivities: The vibe at mehendi function is convivial, the dress codes are all about fun, colour and jewellery must keep up. We love Everbrite’s dazzling Emerald-hued Verde Statement Earrings that’ll go perfectly with any mehendi outfit you’re choosing (from sharara to ghagra). PS: They’ll look as good on a slick black dress, even years after your mehendi.
Pair them with the Floral Verde Pendant for a mehendi look that’ll have you looking fresh, and in full bloom. The key to picking mehendi-jewellery is fuss-free pieces that you can dance and move around in.
A cocktail ring like Cobalt 1 ct Emerald Ring is a crucial part of a trousseau, it’s for those days you want to look like you’re making an effort but don’t want to feel bogged down by big jewels — a statement cocktail ring will make your outfit pop without hurting your ears, or giving you a sweaty neck. It will go great at your bridal shower, or wedding welcome lunch — as long as you pair it with the complementing Cobalt Astral Hoops.
Wedding ceremony and reception:
If you’ve decided that you want to be a contemporary bride, you already know you’re not wearing Kundan, Polki or Temple jewellery at your wedding. We suggest the unbeatable combination of lab-diamonds and rose gold — with Everbrite’s Gleaming Extravaganza Diamond Necklace and Gleaming Extravaganza Dangle Earrings. Whether you’re taking pheras, or exchanging vows at the altar, or just signing a register, these dazzling designs will complement both Indian, and Western outfits.
If you want to add a traditional touch to these designs, add the Gardenia Mangalsutra to your collection. The floral design goes perfectly with the Gleaming Extravaganza pieces, and adds an Indian touch to your ensemble. All three designs can be custom-finished in rose, white, yellow, or two-tone gold.
If you’re opting for traditional, heirloom pieces for the wedding ceremony, pick the above for the reception, or cocktail night. Lab-diamond studded, modern designs like the Gleaming Extravaganza are essential additions to a contemporary trousseau because of their ability to complement a range of outfits and be layered and re-styled depending on the event.
2. Practical pieces: Designs for daily wear
From Vogue magazine, to every jewellery designer worth their salt, everyone recommends that you start investing in modern-day classics for your trousseau. We’re thinking:
1. Subtle solitaires like the Classic Round Diamond Earrings, that are so comfortable and chic, you forget you’re even wearing them.
2. A timeless tennis bracelet that will shimmer up a staid day at work, or add that final gleam to a brunch with the girls.
3. An eternity ring, like the Classico Half Eternity ring, that’s both playful, pleasant and practical.
For Gen Z celeb inspiration, look no further than Suhana Khan’s studs and Khushi Kapoor’s tennis bracelet.
If you’re more of a ‘matching-matching’ Barbie, we suggest investing in earrings and ring set than can be worn together (naturally) and as seamless separates when required. We love the chic Front Back Earrings (can be worn with or without the drop) and Pear and Emerald two stone ring (Similar to Aditi Rao Hydari’s engagement sparkler).
3. Heirloom jewellery: Memory makers and storytellers
While the wedding jewellery you design, and choose, and the everyday essentials reflect your personality and the girl you are, it’s the inherited heirloom pieces that are dipped in love and tell stories of those that came before you. Everbrite Jewellery customises bridal pieces to your liking — everything from a delicate diamond-dotted maang tikka to dainty hathphools to even Still to bring your trousseau full circle, your wedding jewellery must have heirloom pieces — like perhaps the bridal nath and maatha patti your mom wore all those years ago, or the iconic saatlada haar you’ve seen in your great grandma’s wedding photograph. These are the traditional pieces usually designed in Kundan, Polki styles or traditional temple jewellery style which are best found in your family’s treasury.
Heirloom pieces don’t always start out as heirloom, of course: they’re new once upon a time, and become heirloom as they’re passed down through generations, and come to hold emotional or financial value. A particularly stunning custom-designed bridal piece can become the heirloom piece for your descendants, so you can reach out to Everbrite Jewellery to help you design that too — and don’t forget to check out their new rose-cut and polki diamond jewellery collection, exclusively in-store.
Whether modern wedding jewellery, everyday essentials, or bridal pieces you aspire to turn into heirlooms, start building your trousseau with Everbrite — click your way to affordable luxury.
** All Everbrite Jewellery pieces can be customised based on your size, and tone preferences. Visit the Opera House, Mumbai showroom to have entirely custom-designed pieces made for you.