Wedding Jewellery Planning: What You Need and When to Order
December is one of the busiest wedding months in Sri Lanka, and wedding jewellery is one of the few things on the list that cannot be rushed. Here is how to plan bridal and groom’s jewellery for a December wedding in Negombo: what you need, when to order it, and how to keep the budget under control while the gold rate moves.
The short version: choose designs six to eight weeks before the wedding, order at least four weeks before, and plan a final fitting about a week before the day. Our pieces are made to order and take about two to three weeks.
What a Sri Lankan bride usually needs
Every family and community is different, but most bridal sets are built from the same core pieces:
- Necklaces. One statement necklace or a layered set. Kandyan brides traditionally wear several layered necklaces; Tamil and Catholic brides often choose one or two fuller pieces.
- Earrings to match the necklace, usually heavier than everyday earrings.
- Bangles, often in pairs or sets, sized to slide over the hand comfortably.
- The wedding ring or rings, and for Tamil weddings, the thaali on its chain.
- Headpieces such as the Kandyan nalalpata, for brides wearing traditional dress.
Our Sri Lankan bridal jewellery guide explains the traditions behind each piece in more detail.
Don’t forget the groom and family
- The groom’s ring or a matching band.
- A signet ring or chain for the groom, often a family gift.
- Gifts for parents and the wedding party, such as small pendants or earrings.
Your wedding jewellery timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks before | Set a budget in grams as well as rupees, and collect design ideas |
| 6 weeks before | Visit or message the jeweller, choose designs, confirm sizes and weights |
| 4 weeks before | Place the order and agree the price at the day’s gold rate |
| 1 to 2 weeks before | Fitting: check necklace lengths, bangle and ring sizes, earring comfort |
| Wedding week | Collect, check certificates and weights, store safely until the day |
For a wedding on 20 December, that means ordering by about 20 November. Families travelling home from abroad can choose designs on WhatsApp before they fly and collect when they arrive.
Budget in grams, not just rupees
The gold rate changes every day, so a rupee budget set in October may buy less gold in December, or more. Thinking in grams keeps you in control: decide how many grams you want for the necklace, bangles and rings, then convert to rupees using the day’s rate when you order. Our guide to how gold jewellery prices are calculated shows how weight, making charges and stones add up.
Many families also exchange old gold to fund new wedding pieces. Bring older jewellery when you come to choose designs, and its value can be set against the new order.
Tips for wearing it on the day
- Do a wear test. Wear the full set for an hour at home. Heavy earrings and long necklaces feel different after a few hours.
- Check necklace lengths against the neckline of the saree blouse or dress.
- Size bangles in the evening, when hands are slightly larger, and in the heat.
- Keep a soft pouch for each piece so they don’t scratch each other in the bag.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I order wedding jewellery?
Choose designs six to eight weeks before the wedding and place the order at least four weeks before. Our pieces are made to order in about two to three weeks, which leaves time for a fitting.
Can I lock in the gold rate for my wedding jewellery?
The price is confirmed at the day’s gold rate when you place your order. Ask us how long a quote is held before you decide.
Can I exchange old gold for new wedding jewellery?
Yes. Old gold is tested, valued at the day’s market price with stones removed first, and the value can be set against your new pieces.
Can we order from abroad for a wedding in Negombo?
Yes. Choose designs on WhatsApp, we make them while you travel, and you collect them in Negombo before the wedding.
Planning a December wedding?
Send us your wedding date and the pieces you need, and we will suggest designs and a timeline.
