I created my own Top ten customer service for online internet wedding vendors that I think you will find very helpful as you continue to build your bridal customer base.  I am asked quite often about how I go about providing such personalized customer service to my customers who are ordering their bridal jewelry online. It truly can be very simple! 

I have been in business for 18 years as a custom handcrafting jewelry artist.  I spent many years participating in art festivals, wedding shows and opening my own private showroom. My Looney Maiden Bridal and Bridesmaid Jewelry website went online in 2002 and I won’t lie, there certainly was a learning curve. I was so used to meeting my customer in person and they were able to develop a personal connection with me.  I create custom, personalized and handcrafted wedding day jewelry for the entire bridal party that become cherished keepsakes.   So how was I to keep that personal touch that my local customers love?

Below I have shared the top ten ideas I have for providing personalized customer service that has worked for me over the last 8 years. Certainly every wedding business is unique in it’s own way so these ideas are offered as guidelines to inspire you as you continue to look at ways to grow with your online website. Enjoy!

1. Have easy to find contact information and answer your phone! This provides for your customer to feel increased confidence in your business being bonafide and trustworthy.  If I could count how many times a customer is shocked but delighted that I actually answer the phone you would truly be amazed. That personal connection with your bride is so important and not only will she be confident in purchasing from you but your future referrals will continue to rise.

2. Make sure to answer your emails on a daily basis.  State how quickly you will answer. I have a policy to reply same day or by next morning if the email comes in during closed hours. Your customer has taken the time to email you questions or concerns about her choices. Doing this, she is already saying I really want to purchase but I want to make sure I choose the right item. Your quick response will reinforce your commitment to customer service.  In this day and age of automated systems, it is a breath of fresh air to find businesses that still offer that personal touch.

3. Offer free consultations to your customers. Looking at a picture is not always a thousand words.  The customer truly appreciates your honest feedback and professional guidance when choosing their items. On a daily basis I receive emails with photos of wedding dresses and bridesmaid gowns.  I am asked about styles and colors that would suit their dresses best. The customer truly wants your help and if they take the time to email you, then the likelihood is that they are wanting to purchase from you.

4. Offer online and telephone ordering options. To be honest, the majority of my orders I receive are completed online.  We are in a new age where online ordering has become more comfortable for customers and they can easily order 24/7.  Goodness knows how many times I am ordering online in the wee hours of the morning! Keep in mind though that many customers may still feel uncomfortable ordering online and will want to speak with a “live” person.

5. Keep your FAQ section simple.  I understand the need to certainly have all of the “legal stuff” on your website however try to keep this section as simple as possible so your customer does not feel like they are reading a lengthy legal document and signing their life away!

6. Send a personalized order confirmation to your customer.  Let  them know when their purchased items will be created and ready to ship out. I am still amazed how many emails I will receive from customers with a simple thank you and stating how impressed and appreciative they are to have received the personal email confirmation. Now only does this reinforce their confidence in your company, but it also provides another way of opening communication to and from your customer. They won’t feel like an order number!

7. Keep your customer in the loop! Send an email when their item ships out with all of the shipping information. This is one of my biggest pet peeves when I order on the internet. I call it the “wondering when and if my item will truly arrive.” Even if you have an automated system, there are ways to make sure you send an email to your customer when their item ships out. I send a personalized yet form letter email that includes the ship date, tracking number and approximate time for arrival.

8. Ask for feedback from your customers.  Whether your customer provides feedback on Google, Yahoo, etc or provides direct feedback to you, asking for feedback is one of the best ways you can get a feel for how the customer feels about your business. 

9. Encourage your customers to communicate directly with you. In addition to feedback, I always ask my customers to let me know that their package has arrived safely and that they are pleased with their order.  This not only shows you care about them as a customer, but that you also care that they are pleased with their purchase. I finds this gives that personal touch that opens up communication with your customer.  After all, they are your future customer and customer referral base and they are entrusting you to provide a service or item for one of the most special days of their life..

10. Remember to keep the “Joy” in your business. I am asked quite often if I ever burn out from running my business. Absolutely not!  I love what I do and I really love keeping as much of a personal connection as I can with my customers. I always say my customers continue to inspire me and that is the truth.  Every day I may receive fabric swatches from my bridal customers to match crystals and pearls to create their wedding or bridesmaid jewelry, emails with pictures and requests for ideas to match dresses, wedding colors and so forth. I love working with colors and textures. It is exciting to look at my order board to see what colors and styles I will be creating for the day. My business is truly joyful work and never boring.  My customers can feel that enthusiasm and passion even over the phone or through an email.

These Top Ten Customer Service Ideas are truly my own and based on my own experience and philosophy of doing business.  I hope that this article may inspire those of you online wedding vendors who are seeking ways to grow your internet business and at the same time retain some of the personal touches of your business.  After 8 years in the wedding jewelry business, I can honestly say that all of the extra work I put into creating that personal touch has certainly paid off in the continued growth of my bridal customer base and customer referrals. I look forward to that continued growth in the future and you can too!

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Pearl Bridesmaid Jewelry Sets can be perfect keepsake gifts. Your bridal party will feel elegant and sophisticated adorned in classic styles of elegance to match their bridesmaid dresses.  You can choose your style and choose your pearl colors for a perfect accent that will look beautiful in wedding photographs.

Top 5 Most popular styles of Pearl Bridesmaid Jewelry Sets

• Below is a classic Y style Swarovski Pearl and Crystal necklace and drop earrings set which is perfect with just about any neckline. It is shown in Gold pearls with Light Smoked Topaz crystal and has been a popular color combination for brown palettes. Of course you can choose any combination from the Swarovski Pearl color chart and the Swarovski crystal color chart to have a perfect color combination to match your bridesmaid gown.

• Below is a lovely Y style pearl and crystal necklace with tassel drops and longer style drop earrings. This bridesmaid jewelry set also includes a matching bracelet. The Mauve pearls and Tanzanite crystals as shown has been very popular for dresses in the purple tones.

• The bridesmaid jewelry set below is a new one this year and has been very popular. The set features a pendant drop style teardrop pearls with matching teardrop pearl earrings. The color shown is Powdered Almond with Smoky Topaz crystals and this color combination ahs been fantastic with mocha and espresso color dresses. There are so many colors to choose from and no matter what colors you choose, this set gives a lovely elegant look.

• This classic round style pearl and crystal necklace and earring set has been so popular over the years. It features a light lacey elegant look to the necklace. As shown in the Rosaline pink pearls and Clear Ab crystals, this combination is a beautiful accent for cotton candy and pink dresses.  This bridesmaid jewelry set looks great even in neutral pearl colors such as white or Light Creamrose with the crystals in your wedding color.

• For the budget conscious, the Pearl pendant necklace and earring set continues to be a great under $30 gift and adds a simple elegance to your bridal party jewelry. The girls will love having matching jewelry keepsakes.

There are so many more Bridesmaid Jewelry Set Specials to choose from and it is important to choose just the right style for your girls. Choosing wedding jewelry that is high quality with the materials used is very important so they will have long lasting gifts they can wear for years to come. These are the Top 5 most popular Bridesmaid Jewelry sets in 2010 and hopefully I have inspired you to feel creative in choosing your bridal party gift!

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Wedding color trends for this coming Fall 2010 continue to have variations of the rich purples, reds and chocolate browns as well as golden, coral and turquoise tones.  The latest  Fall 2010 Pantone report shows a continuation of these colors that we saw in the spring however with some deeper rich colors added in to reflect the Fall season.  You can easily choose Swarovski crystal colors which will match your wedding colors and have beautiful wedding, bridal and bridesmaid jewelry that will add that finishing touch.

Here are some color ideas that I hope will inspire you as you think about having custom wedding bridal and bridesmaid jewelry created for yourself and your brdial party. As you think about colors, keep in mind that you can easily use two colors in your design. You can choose your main color and then add in the perfect accent color to create a truly unique gift. A Swarovski Crystal color chart will help guide you here.

Endive – Light yellow-green which has very soft tones. — Most popular matching and accent Swarovski crystal bead colors are Jonquil and Lime (for the tones that are deeper).

Golden Glow– A range of medium bright golden yellows to deep autumn gold. Most popular matching and accent Swarovski crystal bead colors are Topaz , Light Topaz and Jonquil.

Living Coral– Warm coral tones that are more orangey to salmon which has more pink – Most popular matching and accent Swarovski crystal bead colors are Padparadscha and Indian Pink ( for the pinker Corals) .

Lipstick Red– In deep rich reds ranging from deep red to dark watermelon tones Most popular matching and accent Swarovski crystal bead colors are Siam and Ruby.

Purple Orchid– Violet with a deeper tone can range from a medium violet with a slight pinkish tone to deeper orchid colors to a — Most popular matching and accent Swarovski crystal bead colors are Violet Ab, Lilac and Purple Velvet .

Chocolate Truffle– Deep rich browns to almost Espresso browns. Most popular matching and accent Swarovski crystal bead colors are Mocca, Smoky Topaz , Light Smoked Topaz and Golden Shadow.

Lagoon — A beautiful shade of Turquoise — Most popular matching and accent Swarovski crystal bead colors are Blue Zircon or Indicolite.

Woodbine– Shades of Olive Greens and Moss Greens. Most popular matching and accent Swarovski crystal bead colors are Olivine , Khaki and Green Tourmaline.

Oyster Gray– A very light cool gray. Most popular matching and accent Swarovski crystal bead colors are Black Diamond,Crystal Moonlight, Crystal Cal and Jet Hematite.

Rose Dust– A light Dusty Rose color that has a slight brown undertone — Most popular matching and accent Swarovski crystal bead colors are Vintage Rose, Silk and Light Amethyst.

There are many Swarovski crystal options available that will be perfect for the Fall 2010 Wedding color trends so take some time to look at wedding, bridal and bridesmaid jewelry designs available to you and then look at the Swarovski crystal color charts available to choose just the right colors!

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Choosing matching bridesmaid bracelet jewelry create a beautiful bonding moment between you and your closest girlfriends. I love this picture below of the bridal party with the bride wearing their matching Swarovski crystal and pearl bracelets.  The bride in this wedding chose to have her bridesmaids wear the same colors of pearls and crystals to match her jewelry as a symbol of their friendship and this made for a perfect bridal party gift.

When selecting their bridesmaid bracelet jewelry gift, you have lots of choices for styles and colors.  You may want to match the bridal party bracelet to your bracelet signifying a unity of friends. You may want to choose your wedding colors or choose to put their birthstone color in each bracelet to give that personalized touch.

Here’s a sweet pearl and crystal wedding party bracelet that has their wedding color added in with the Rose pink crystals. Also, a great example of choosing a bracelet style that you can add in their birthstone color.

Below is a photo of a wedding party bracelet and earring set created in all Swarovski crystals to match the bridesmaid dresses

You will want to make sure you purchase quality jewelry that will last for years to come so your bridesmaid can wear the bracelets long after your wedding day. Whatever you choose to do, your bridal party will be so delighted and feel so special to receive their beautiful bridesmaid bracelet jewelry gifts. Surely a gift they can wear again and again!

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Bridal Headbands created with Swarovski Crystals and Pearls can be the perfect added Hair jewelry detail to finish your wedding day look. Before choosing a headband it is helpful if you choose your hairstyle and veil if you are wearing one. If you have met with your hair stylist then you should have a good idea of where your headband will be placed which makes choosing your wedding hair accessory easy.

You can choose neutral or several colors for your bridal headband. In the picture above, this Bronze and Cream pearl and Golden Shadow crystal headband is popular for those who are wearing dresses with trims or embroidery that is in another color. These colors are particularly pretty with Cream , Champagne and Latte Wedding Dresses and adds a special custom look.

You May decide that you want only pearls in your headband.  You can choose several sizes for your pearl headband. You will want to choose the pearl color that is closets to your fabric color. There are many selections of colors to choose from but typically if your dress is White or a light Diamond White you will want to choose the White Pearl. If your dress is a light to medium ivory then choose the Light Cream rose Pearl.  If your dress is a deep almost yellow ivory then the Cream pearl is the perfect choice.  You can easily view all of the Swarovski Pearls colors on a color chart.

If you have crystal beading on your bridal gown then adding in an all Swarovski Crystal headband can be a perfect way to create a perfect photo!  Most dresses usually have Clear crystals so staying with the Clear is your safest bet. If you have any iridescence in the beading then adding in the Clear Ab Aurora Borealis crystals can add to your sparkle. The crystal headband shown above is in all Clear AB crystals. Many times I like to blend Clear and Clear AB together so you still get the iridescence but not to much of the rainbow sparkle. By looking at the Swarovski Crystal Color chart you can easily gain ideas on different colors available.

This Swarovski crystal and pearl wedding headband shown above is very popular style for those who want to add sparkle with accents of pearls creating a soft effect.  This wedding headband is perfect when your dress has a mix of pearl and crystal beading.

You will want to think about whether you will be wearing your headband regular style or at a slanted style.  This will help you in picking out designs.  If you are wearing your headband at an angle, you may also want to consider a tiara headband too.  It truly is a matter of personal style.  Lastly, you want to wear a comfortable headband as  you certainly do not want a headache on your wedding day!   If you are purchasing your headband custom hand made from a bridal jewelry designer then contact your designer directly and discuss sizing.  I hand stretch out each headband to give adequate flexibility so they will be comfortable to wear all day.

I will be adding more articles in the future on different styles and choices for Bridal Headbands and there are truly are so many headband styles to choose from that can be perfect for you. I hope this was helpful to you!

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Finding your perfect wedding day jewelry set to match your special bridal gown can be easily found on the internet.  Many of you have probably looked in your local department stores for wedding jewelry to match and may have left disappointed with the selections available. Most jewelry carried in department stores is mass produced manufactured items that are perhaps great for every day wear but not perfect for your special day. If you are reading this then this means you are also ready to venture online to find your perfect bridal jewelry!

As you think about your perfect wedding day jewelry, think about your own personal style of the types of shapes and designs you usually like to wear for special occasion. With bridal gowns that have lace overlays with crystals and or pearl beading, it is important to bring a balance to your jewelry. By adding in the perfect bridal jewelry accents, you can easily bring you entire look together.  The multi strand wedding necklace above has a perfect balance of crystals and pearls which will not overwhelm  a strapless gown.  Add in a lovely pearl and crystal drop earring and you are set to go.

Don’t get worried about taking away from your beautiful wedding gown!  By selecting jewelry that has a mix of pearls and crystals and delicate look to the design, you will actually make your dress stand out even more. Plus you really do want everyone to look at the entire you!  The pearl and crystal bridal jewelry set shown above is an extremely popular choice.  The pearls picks up the color of your wedding gown and the crystals add in that light delicate lacey look to match your bridal dress.

For wedding gowns that have higher necklines and sleeves, adding in a beautiful cluster chandelier earring along with a fancy multi strand bracelet will finish your perfect look.

As you can see, all of the designs pictured have a light lacey look to them.  The blending of the pearls and crystals in a delicate matter creates a beautiful textured look that follows the look of your bridal gown fabric. My final advice is to choose your wedding day jewelry pieces together. Your jewelry designer can create your bridal jewelry necklace, earrings and bracelet to match each other creating the perfect picture!

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Trying to match your Bridal Jewelry and Hair Accessories for your Maggie Sottero wedding gown? Maggie Sottero is one of my favorite designers. They are known for their exquisite gowns that are designed to flatter a woman’s curves and figure.  Their dresses are created with beautiful fabrics, embelished with Swarovski Crystals and pearls and many have gorgeous lace overlays to give that old style romantic vintage look. 

I have found over the years that choosing a combination of pearls and crystals is the best choice for Maggie Sottero gowns. My thought is the pearls bring in the fabric color and the crystals will compliment the beading on your dress creating a truly balanced look.  Because the design details of Maggie Sottero gowns is light and delicate looking, you will want to do the same with your jewelry.

Here are my Top 10 bridal jewelry and hair accessory ideas that will help you achieve a perfect compliment to your bridal gown!

This 3 piece Swarovski Crystal and Pearl bridal jewelry set is one the favorites and goes perfectly with Maggie Sottero Gowns that have scattered beading, light beading around the bodice and lace overlays. It has a classic and elegant look and does not overpower your dress. You can choose your crystal and pearl colors to match from the crystal color chart and the pearl color chart.

For your wedding hair accessory, you can add in a matching tiara hair comb to match.  These hair combs are flexible and comfortable and are handcrafted for you.

For dresses that have more beading throughout or has lace overlays with scattered crystal beading, this bridal necklace is the other runner up for most chosen jewellry.  There is a light hint of pearls running throughout the designs and the lightness of the crystal adds the perfect touch to create a perfect picture.  The design has a lacey feel to it.

Here is the perfect tiara comb to match with a similar feel of crystals and pearls. The combs can be worn as a wedding tiara or as a back side comb for a french twist style up do.

This multi strand Swarovski crystal and pearl necklace has been very popular with Maggie Sottero gowns that have light or no beading.  The necklace is so stunning on and gives a very dramatic look. Add a pair of pearl and crystal drop earrings to complete the look and you’re set..

These Swarovski crystal and pearl wedding hairpins are perfect for up do’s and can be placed with a scattered look throughout.

For wedding gowns that have a lot of Swarovski crystal beading, this all Swarovski Crystal Necklace with diamond look rondelles is a perfect choice.  Not only does it have a classic design, but this jewellry gives enough sparkle to blend perfectly with your gown.

Add in a Swarovski Crystal Bridal tiara headband to add a light hint of sparkle to your hair style or you could add in the Swarovski crystal hairpins below.

Now for brides who wish to not wear a necklace, I recommend going with a multi strand bracelet with chandelier earrings to create a balance to showcase your gown.

This 3 strand crystal and pearl bracelet is a nice added touch and adding in the cluster pearl and crystal wedding chandelier earrings give just the right amount soft sparkle and texture to accent your Maggie Sottero gown.

Ok, girls, this is start for thinking about matching your bridal jewelry and hair accessory to your Maggie Sottero gown!  I hope this has been helpful with inspiring you to think about what jewelry designs suit not only your gown but your own personality,  I always like to say that the perfect jewelry and hair accessories are those that when you put everything together, they look as if they were all purchased at the same time! You can always email a picture or link of your dress to the jewelry designer you choose to create your special jewelry or call directly to discuss ideas. Now that you’re inspired, take a look at more of the bridal jewelry selections available for ideas on your perfect wedding day jewelry!

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Bridesmaid jewelry sets can easily be created to match your Bill Levkoff dress colors. Choosing your bridal party accessories to match can be fun too!  Not only will your bridesmaids receive a truly unique bridal party gift created just for them but your wedding day photos will also look fantastic with the coordination of their colors.

I have compiled a list of popular colors for Bill Levkoff’s 2009 and 2101dress collections.  Bill Levkoff is a company based in New York that has been offering beautiful bridesmaid gowns for over 60 years! Not only are they a third generation family owned company, but they truly have gorgeous contemporary and classic style dresses in a multitude of colors.

Below are different options of matching or accent colors that match the color tone of your bridesmaid dresses. Depending on sash colors, wedding theme colors and so forth, you may want to combine two different colors in their jewelry as seen in the bridesmaid jewelry set below.

I invite you to look at examples of bridesmaid jewelry set specials as this can inspire you in thinking about the style and look you want for your bridesmaid jewelry.  You can also view the Swarovski crystal color chart too. Keep in mind, the crystal color will always look slight darker against the skin.

Most popular Bill Levkoff Bridesmaid dress Satin colors.

1. Eggplant -Amethyst, Amethyst AB, Light Amethyst, Light Amethyst Ab, Burgundy
2. Wine – Ruby, Ruby AB, Siam, Siam Ab, Garnet, Garnet AB
3. Watermelon – Rose, Rose Ab, Fuchsia, Fuchsia AB, Indian Pink
4. Scarlet – Light Siam, Light Siam AB, Siam, Dark Red Coral
5. Cinnamon – Indian Red Satin, Crystal Copper, Padparadascha Satin
6. Terracotta – Padparadascha, Padparadascha Ab, Indian Red compliments and is a shade darker
7. Sage – Chrysolite, Chrysoltie Ab, Erinite, try Golden Shadow to compliment
8. Clover – Peridot, Peridot, Erinite, Erinite Ab, Green Tourmaline
9. Celedon – Olivine, Chrysolite Satin
10. Violet -  Violet, Tanzanite
11. Sky Blue – Light Sapphire, Light Sapphire Satin
12. Royal Blue – Dark Sapphire, Sapphire Satin
13. Periwinkle – Light Sapphire, Lavender
14. Lilac – Tanzanite, Tanzanite Ab, Lilac, Light Amethyst AB
15. Latte – Light Smoked Topaz, Light Colorado Topaz, Smoky Topaz for contrast
16. Champagne – Golden Shadow, Silk, Light Colorado Topaz
17. Taupe – Light Smoked Topaz, Light Colorado Topaz
18. Sable – Mocca, Smoked Topaz and Light Smoked Topaz accents
19. Grey – Black Diamond, Black Diamond Ab, Jet Hematite, Crystal Cal
20. Silver – Black Diamond, Crystal Moonlight, Clear
21. Rose – Peach, Peach AB
22. Rose Petal – Rose, Rose Ab ,Light Rose
23. Red – Siam, Light Siam
24. Glacier – Blue Zircon, Indicolite
25. Canary – Jonquil, Jonquil AB
26. Cornflower – Light Sapphire, Light Sapphire AB, Medium Sapphire ( ltd. Edition special order) Sapphire is contrast color
27. Fuchsia – Fuchsia,Fuchsia AB, Rose, Rose AB crystals
28. Berry – Light Rose, Light Rose Ab, Rose, Rose Ab, Vintage Rose, Rosaline

The Taffeta fabric colors are slightly different than the Satin colors due to the sheen of the fabric.  I always recommend if you are in any doubt, always feel free to contact your custom jewelry designer directly for assistance in creating your color combinations. Now you know that you truly can match your bridesmaid jewelry sets to your Bill Levkoff dress colors!

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Choosing your Bridal Earrings for your wedding day is an important decision as your earrings will be shown in most of your wedding photo’s. With this in mind, here are some questions that are helpful to answer in guiding you through how to choose just the right style to match your wedding gown. You may even want to have your bridal earrings created custom for you!

• Do you want to wear pearls, Swarovski crystals or a combination of both?
• What length of earring do you usually feel comfortable wearing when you go out to special events? After all your wedding day is truly your most major special event!
• Will you be wearing a necklace? If so, you will want to coordinate your earrings in length and style to match the essence of your necklace style. If you are not wearing a necklace you may want to wear a chandelier style or a longer drop style earring to provide a lovely visual balance.
• How will you be wearing your hairstyle? If you are wearing your hair down then short earrings can get lost and not seen in wedding photos. You might want to choose a chandelier or bolder sized earring.  If you are wearing a partial up do or wearing your hair up, then you have lots of choices to choose from.

Here are the Top 10 Bridal Earring styles for 2010 so far!

Elegant Teardrop pearl and Swarovski crystal Bridal drop earrings for that hint of something classic continue to be a very popular wedding jewelry design..

Longer style pearl and crystal drop earrings perfect with or without a wedding necklace.

Cluster pearl and crystal chandelier bridal earrings give a delicate lacy look to the design and match lightly beaded wedding dress quite well.

Stunning large pearl drop wedding jewelry with Swarovski Crystal accents are a perfect addition when you want a stunning and dramatic look to your earrings..

The Classic pearl drop earrings are perfect alone or with a matching necklace.  These have been popular for bridesmaid jewelry gifts too.

These gorgeous long Swarovski teardrop crystal earrings are perfect worn alone and match beaded crystal wedding gowns.

These Swarovski crystal teardrop earrings continue to be a front runner with a medium length style that can be worn with or without a necklace.  Notice the tiny hints of pearls in the design.

New this year, these wedding day Chandelier earrings have been very popular for brides who are not wearing a necklace and want to have dramatic and stunning chandelier bridal earrings to either adorn or match the beading on their wedding gown.

These Swarovski Crystal Chandelier earrings are fantastic for adding movement and sparkle for any wedding dress. They give enough sparkle and yet still have this delicate look to the design.

This cluster style chandelier earring is a a mid length style that is fantastic worn alone or with a simpler style drop wedding necklace. The pearls and crystals blend together so nicely for bridal gowns that have scattered to medium beading on them. Shown here in the Golden Shadow crystals, this is a fabulous combination for champagne and deep Cream wedding gowns.You can truly find your perfect Bridal Earrings custom made to match your wedding gown!

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