What Should Families Consider When Planning Jewellery Purchases for a Wedding?

When thinking about wedding jewellery, it will be better if you know a few details before heading into a showroom. Things like, how much you’ll spend and quantity of gold needed, a timeframe, purity requirements, exchange policy, etc helps you while purchasing gold. This will make your shopping experience in Kerala a stress-free experience with a predictable final cost. Gold is inevitable for a Kerala wedding. There will be a lot of feelings involved and everyone has an opinion from your brides’ grandmothers to your grooms’ cousins. From the groom’s mother to the bride’s younger cousin, everyone will have their own opinion while choosing the ornaments for a wedding.

Plan & Calculate Your Needs

As gold prices fluctuate almost daily, if you’re planning your budget in Rupees, this can cause issues. Instead, plan your budget in Sovereigns (1 Sovereign = 8g). Once you have worked out your total weight, split into necklaces, bangle, earrings and other pieces that you wish to buy. This also helps to control your budget without excess stretching.

Decide before Purchase

Many families like to get everyone involved in buying the wedding jewellery. Parents, grandparents and even the groom’s family will be buying and making decisions about the purchase. Take some time to sit down and plan out who is buying what. This may sound formal but makes sure you don’t end up with 2 Kasu Malas in the same week. Dealing with expensive jewellery should be done carefully. If we purchase the wrong item, or we purchase the same sort of item twice, it will lead to loss of money and time.

Check Your Locker Before Making a Purchase

Most families in Kerala will have some gold already. Often, it will be pieces that is passed on from your mothers or grandmothers. Some pieces will hold sentimental value; however, others can be used to exchange for new designs. Ask your jeweller to test the purity of the gold in front of you and if there are any deductions. At Rajakumari, there are 0 deductions, so your gold will gets its real value and with that you can buy modern pieces without much effort.

Choose pieces for your bride to wear post wedding week

A heavy bridal set looks great in photos but will spend most of its life in a locker. A good idea is to have a variety of pieces. 1-2 statement pieces for the ceremony, light sets for family events and festivals, and maybe a diamond piece for the receptions. Try everything with your wedding saree. For matching with different sarees, different set of necklaces will be needed. For example, a Kasavu saree will look good with a Palakka maala, while a modern lehenga will be good if combined with a choker or a diamond necklace. Comfort is key, no one will use a earring that pull down on their earlobes after just 2 hours of usage.

The 6-Month Timeframe

You can set up all of this in a less time, but 6 months gives you enough time to breathe.

• 6-4 months ahead – Decide how much you’ll spend (in weight), look at designs and ask about monthly gold schemes (if applicable).

• 3 months ahead – Finalise designs. If you want a bespoke piece, allow time for the craftsmen to create. Because quality can’t be rushed.

• 1 month ahead – Conduct the final fittings, confirm delivery dates and make payments without panic.

Ask These Questions Before You Pay

• Are all the pieces BIS Hallmarked?

• Is there a breakdown of charges per piece?

• What is the exchange/sell back policy?

• Do you offer maintenance post-wedding?

• Can I receive an estimate?

An honest jeweller won’t mind any of these questions. If they get uncomfortable at these basic questions, then it’s a warning sign, look for another jeweller.

Choose A Jeweller That Your Family Can Walk Back To

Anyone can claim themselves as the best Jewellery in Kerala, but to make that claim a reality, a jeweller must be genuine and transparent in their processes. They should be friendly and helpful if you have any issues with the clasps coming loose 2 years down the line! Ensure they offer 100% BIS Hallmarked gold, fair pricing and a clear exchange/sell back policy. Rajakumari Gold & Diamonds offer all of this. We have bridal sets from 5 sovereigns upwards to 200. We also offer guaranteed maintenance for lifetime on all purchases. Visit our showrooms in Trivandrum, Kollam and Thrissur and browse through our Kerala bridal jewellery collections. Bring your family along as the more opinions the better!

Purchase it Simply

Your jewellery won’t just be worn on your wedding day. It will be worn during festivals, your daughters first Onam and will be in photos for years down the line. Take your time, be honest in comparisons and choose pieces that will fit into your family’s story.