Jewelry is clearly an important part of wedding fashion. Beyond accentuating the couture of the bride and groom, it can act as a complement to the overall theme of the wedding.
That said, beyond the obvious exception of engagement rings and wedding bands, jewelry is not always the first consideration made for planning a wedding.
Planning ahead, however, can ensure that you get the perfect pieces of jewelry for your wedding and, perhaps, at a better price. Broadly speaking, there isn’t any set rule that says that buying jewelry at a specific time of year will be cheaper, but there are, let’s say, guidelines that can point you in the right direction. Prices can vary considerably at different times of the year, depending on sales, so a little planning and patience can pay off.
Track Retailers’ Jewelry Sales
The first thing to say, however, is that it can depend on the retailer. For instance, a major wedding jewelry retailer like James Allen famously holds significant sales with big markdowns in and around Black Friday, yet there will also be sales during other periods of the year, including end-of-year clearances (typically in December or January), spring promotions, and so on. Also be on the lookout for when a store launches a new collection, as it may mean there could be discounts on older collections.
Here’s an overview of periods where you can track the best wedding jewelry deals:
Black Friday/Cyber Monday (November): Widely recognized as a good time to buy, it’s worth remembering that Black Friday tends to be a longer event now, so you won’t be limited to buying on the day.
End-of-Year Clearances (December–January): Jewelers often reduce prices to clear out unsold inventory and make room for new collections.
Valentine’s Day (February): Clearly an important date for jewelers, many will capitalize on the spike in online searches for jewelry by offering sales and promotions.
Spring Promotions (March–April): Some retailers offer discounts in preparation for wedding season, targeting early planners.
New Collection Launches (Various): When a retailer introduces a new collection, older designs are often discounted to move inventory.
Overall, we can say that the best deals tend to be in the late fall and winter months, although, again, let’s stress that there are always exceptions. The late spring and summer months are the peak periods for weddings, and that may coincide with fewer bargains. Jewelers are like any other type of retailer in that there is little incentive to drop prices when there is a lot of demand, so it’s logical that securing your pieces ‘off-season’ may add up with some savings.
It should be apparent, then, that planning is key. Rather than going online specifically looking to buy items, you can begin to track retailers and their prices. While there are specific apps for this, it’s also easy to do via Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Both web browsers give you the option to track the price of products, including jewelry, across the web. They can give you an indication of price history and alert you when the price drops. The tools are free, easy to use, and can save you a lot of time.
Social Media and Blogs Can Inspire
Beyond apps, you can also go directly to the retailer, subscribe to their newsletter, check their blogs, and follow them on social media. It’s not totally unheard of to get discounts for registering an account, and there’s certainly no obligation to buy. Blogs and social media content from jewelers can also provide plenty of inspiration for your wedding jewelry, and they can keep you in the loop for upcoming sales events. There may also be an opportunity to capitalize on bulk sales, say, for matching pieces for the extended wedding party. We tend to think of old-school ‘deals’ as a thing of the past in the internet era, but the jewelry sector tends to have a traditional approach to customer service. In the end, it won’t cost you anything to enquire about a deal.
Aside from picking the right pieces, planning ahead also means you can anticipate the unexpected. For instance, some online jewelers will offer re-sizing services for an extended period of time, but leaving things to the last minute may lead to unexpected costs if, for example, you do not have enough time to ship the jewelry back for re-sizing. Giving yourself more time will also help should things go awry with shipping.
Of course, not everyone has the luxury of time when planning a wedding. For the jewelry, we would advise making a priority list, starting with the bride and the groom. Secondary pieces, such as gifts for the bridal party or additional accessories, can be purchased after prioritizing the must-haves. And remember, what you don’t want to do is simply buy jewelry for the sake of it. It’s your wedding and your budget, and the perfect pieces are out there. Take some time, shop around, and use some of the tools suggested in this piece, and you’ll land on the perfect options to complete your style on the big day.
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