By the time the typical bride takes to the aisle, her wedding dress will have hung in the closet for nearly a year; she will have looked at and admired it upwards of a billion times; and nothing ? not even her adorable niece-turned-flower girl ? is going to distract from it on the big day. That makes choosing bridal jewelry kind of a catch-22. How can a bride find jewelry that complements her dress, her hair, her glowing smile, without taking away from all of the above? Sarah Stephens, Fashion Director for Dasha Boutique, shares some advice.

1. Gold is Great

Gold is a traditional metal and therefore not a distracting one. Be it an earring dangle, necklace chain or bracelet clasp, gold conveys quality and class, and nothing more. Additionally, gold reflects less glare than sterling silver in photos and will not stand out too strongly against any skin tone. Try "goldfill" for a high quality, less pricey option.

2. Spread the Love

Scatter petite gemstones or pearls evenly around a delicate chain to create a look that is feminine and flattering. As opposed to a single stone necklace, this style spreads visual attention around the neckline, making it easy for wedding guests to appreciate without stealing their focus.

3. Shorten It Up

There is nothing more distracting than a shimmery piece of jewelry dangling precariously near cleavage. Not only will a shorter necklace move around less while you say your vows, you can bet that any time it catches the light, fewer eyes will be on it (read: keeping the focus on you) when the backdrop is not your chest. Try a keishi pearl choker, which will easily redirect the attention to your face.

4. Fit 'n' Pretty

Think of your wedding as equivalent to swimming the English Channel or hiking Kilimanjaro and you'll start to understand why ill-fitting jewelry is not logical. Buy your jewelry from a designer who can personalize the piece to fit you precisely and you'll have a bracelet that sits on your wrist and stays there.

5. Lavish Lobes

Earrings are allowed a bit more leeway because of their location so near your face. So if a pair of cascading emerald stones is a little bit flashier than you would wear to, say, church, then don't fret. Pick the earring style that best complements the shape of your face and the style of your hair and you're guaranteed to love the pictures ? not to mention the attention.

6. Remember You're Gaining a Ring

We're quite sure this could have gone unsaid, but it's important to remember that you will be adding a piece of finger bling during your wedding. If you just can't stand the idea of naked fingers on your right hand, we suggest a fashionable piece, like a coiling metallic ring, that does not include any kind of stone on top.

7. Do a Dress Rehearsal

Remember that donning simple accessories is as much about letting you focus as it is about anyone else. Try your jewelry on ? all of it ? with a hair style, neckline and sleeve length similar to your wedding day ensemble. Wear everything around your house for a couple of hours. This will give you some insight into whether things need to be tightened, loosened or replaced before you're standing at the altar desperately attempting to untangle your earring from your necklace.

8. Careful with Color

A small amount of color ? such as small jade stones alternating with pearls in your bracelet, or a cluster of citrine beads on your earrings ? can go a long way to bring out the color of your bouquet, the bridesmaid dresses or another subtle theme in your ceremony.