As a wedding blogger I’m sensing a real subcurrent in wedding media right now – amongst all the noise and AI-fuelled extravagance on instagram, creators and suppliers are calling for authenticity and more genuine wedding content. Yes, we all love to see breathtaking florals, Taylor Swift style – but authentic and achievable wedding styling feels so much more beautiful to share. Inspired by our English Wedding members, here are ten simple, affordable ideas for bringing a little luxury into your wedding, without blowing your budget.
- Choose classic accessories: pearls and heirloom wedding jewellery can be affordable and more meaningful than expensive pieces. Think of timeless pearl earrings which will become family heirlooms over time, or pieces treasured by your mum or grandma.
Freshwater pearl earrings by Carl Oliver Jewellery; calligraphy by By Moon & Tide
- Opt for calligraphy: a beautiful personal touch which, used sparingly, doesn’t have to cost the earth. Place name calligraphy from By Moon & Tide starts at £1 – £2 per guest. Add a handwritten menu or two for gorgeous, understated luxury – and for just £10 each.
- Don’t blow your budget on masses of blooms. Instead choose seasonal flowers, locally grown: ethics is where it’s at and florists working with local growers often have a luxe aesthetic.
- Embrace laid back, all-day wedding wear: day to night doesn’t have to mean an outfit change. Prioritise comfort and quality fabrics over trends, mass market suits and dresses – and start your day mid afternoon so you won’t need to change. And if you want something you can dance in? Wear it from the moment your celebrations begin!
- For elegant signage think fabrics, not plastic. Acrylic (a single-use plastic) is OVER. Fabric and banners are where it’s at. We love Alice Gabb’s custom banners (and everything she stands for too).
Bespoke banners by Alice Gabb
- Clear tables to create space. Clean and minimal styling costs less and screams sophistication (albeit quietly). Soften straight edges with bud vases or simple fabric napkins, but don’t be tempted to add more.
- Opt for chic and elegant over whimsical and rustic. While a rustic barn wedding might sound like the affordable option, styling a space like this can cost more. Whimsical generally means lots of stuff, while chic is pared back – and so is your budget.
- Personalise it: notes mean more than trinkets. Think individual polaroids (or postcards printed at home) with your guests’ photos and a handwritten thank you on the back, as place settings. (Ramp up the luxury with calligraphy, or hand write them yourselves: as a calligrapher I promise they’ll be just as special, if not more, in your own scribbles!) Pop them in mini envelopes or just place them on plates – and they’ll mean more than any favour you could buy.
- Hire your glassware. Wedding hire companies are helping the industry down on waste and single use items. They also specialise in gorgeous glassware and crockery – at an affordable price. Luxury handed to you on a plate. In a plate. As a plate! Literally!
- Cake is optional: but make it a showstopper – no Colins or Connies – sorry. Yes, grabbing a wedding cake from Aldi or M&S is cheap. It can be cute, and we’re not knocking the caterpillars – but luxury they are not. Find a wedding cake designer who’ll create an exquisitely made modern wedding cake: their attention to detail and aesthetics are where luxury lies: not in the seventh tier of a cake that’s as tall as you!
Exquisite modern wedding cake design by Wren Cake Design (Lake District). Photography by Tiree Dawson.
A guest blog by English Wedding members Carl Oliver Jewellery
Few bridal accessories possess the poetic grace and enduring allure of drop pearl earrings. With their fluid elegance and understated opulence, they have long been favoured by brides seeking a refined, timeless expression of beauty. Neither ostentatious nor fleeting, drop pearl earrings combine tradition, femininity, and a quiet luxury that transcends fashion trends. If you’re a bride who understands that true elegance lies in simplicity, they will be your ultimate finishing touch.
The Quintessence of Bridal Refinement
Pearls have forever been synonymous with purity and grace, qualities that lie at the heart of the classic bridal look. When suspended delicately from gold, platinum, or diamond-accented settings, drop pearls take on an even more enchanting quality. They’ll sway gently with your every movement, creating a soft interplay of light and form to flatter your face and draw the eye without feeling overwhelming.
If you favour a classic bridal aesthetic, drop pearl earrings are a natural choice harmonising beautifully with traditional lace, duchess satin, or tulle gowns. Yet their versatility ensures they are equally at home with contemporary silhouettes: minimalist sheath dresses, tailored jumpsuits, or off-the-shoulder creations all find a perfect partner in the clean lines of a well-proportioned pearl drop.
Tailored Elegance for Every Bridal Style
The beauty of drop pearl earrings lies not only in their elegance, but in their adaptability. If you’re inspired by Edwardian romance you might pair freshwater pearls with intricate filigree details, echoing the delicate craftsmanship of a bygone era. For a modern look, a single oversized South Sea pearl, suspended from a slender bar of white gold, creates a striking statement that remains undeniably bridal.
Even as your wedding day unfolds, your drop pearl earrings can evolve in mood. Worn during the ceremony, they evoke demure charm. As the day transitions into evening, their shimmer catches candlelight and champagne toasts alike, unfailingly elegant in every frame, from aisle to afterparty.
A Symphony with the Bridal Ensemble
Styling pearls is a delicate art, one that favours harmony over excess. Drop pearl earrings are particularly well-suited to bridal hair swept up into a soft chignon or elegant bun, allowing the jewellery to take centre stage. When worn with cathedral-length veils, they add a gentle punctuation; when paired with bare shoulders or bateau necklines, they lend an air of classic sophistication.
Brides often seek cohesion in their bridal party’s accessories and drop pearl earrings offer the ideal solution. Whether gifting them to bridesmaids or suggesting them for the mother of the bride, their timeless appeal ensures elegance without distraction. Each woman may wear her own variation with slightly different settings or pearl types while still aligning with the overall bridal vision.
A Legacy of Style: From Aisle to Everyday
While drop pearl earrings make a natural choice for the wedding day, their legacy extends far beyond. One of their greatest charms is their longevity not only in design, but in sentiment. Long after vows and rings have been exchanged, they remain a wearable memento of a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
Worn again at anniversaries, christenings, or formal gatherings, they serve as a gentle reminder of love’s most elegant day. Paired with a silk blouse or tailored dress, they become part of a woman’s lifelong jewellery wardrobe bridging the past with the present, occasion with every day.
Indeed, pearls particularly in their drop form embody that rarest of qualities: timelessness. They are not bound to the fashions of a single season, nor to the formality of a single day. They are as appropriate at the altar as they are at an art gallery, a garden party, or an evening at the theatre.
In Conclusion: Timeless, Not Trend-led
For the bride who seeks more than fleeting trends, who cherishes beauty that endures, drop pearl earrings offer an exquisite choice. Rooted in heritage yet ever relevant, they elevate the bridal look without overshadowing it. And perhaps most beautifully of all, they continue to shine long after the last dance has been danced: quietly elegant, unfailingly graceful, and always, unmistakably timeless.
