Jewellery For Weddings: Sneak Peek Behind The Scenes of Charlotte's Bali Wedding Magic

Jewellery For Weddings

Ah, weddings! They're a whirlwind of love, joy, and, of course, stunning jewellery - what’s not to love? I’m excited to share the magical journey of my daughter Charlotte’s wedding, full of jewellery rituals, unforgettable memories, and a few surprises along the way.

Making An Engagement Ring

It all began with the engagement ring. Taylor knew he wanted to propose, and he had a dilemma, what did she want and would it be possible to make it quickly? He wanted to propose on their upcoming snowboarding holiday in New Zealand. I was happy and excited to be able to tell him precisely what she wanted and knew the exact diamond and the setting she dreamed of. Somethings are just meant for mother-daughter conversations, right?

There was a bit of stress once he had the ring, he was worried he'd lose it, or she'd find it. But the surprise was kept.

Of course, Taylor asked her dad for permission, which was a really traditional and respectful thing to do.



Planning A Bali Wedding

Then, the wedding planning kicked off. With Charlotte being the perfectionist she is, we knew the celebration would be nothing short of amazing. And where better to celebrate than Uluwatu. Although this was Taylors idea, he's spent many childhood summers surfing Ulus, the beautiful surf spot in Bali is a place where they’ve made special memories together.

Together, Char and I took a couple of trips that beautifully combined business and pleasure. Venue scouting, food tasting, deciding on cocktails to serve, flower trialling, you name it, we did it. Those times spent together in Bali were truly special, and I’m so grateful for the excuse we had for the get aways together.

Bridal Earrings

Now let’s talk about jewellery. Designing Charlotte’s earrings was an absolute delight. She had a clear vision, and I helped bring it to life with stunning moonstones that shimmered with blue flashes and lovely baroque pearls in a statement drop. They turned out so beautifully that I just had to create a few variations and release them as part of a special occasion bridal collection.

But wait, I wasn’t done there. As the mother of the bride, I wanted to have something special too. So, I crafted my own gorgeous earrings with sparkly white topaz and shimmery keshi pearls. Spoiler alert: they’re now part of the bridal collection as well because they are too stunning to keep to myself.

Wedding Planning Problems

Of course, no wedding journey is without hiccups. Sourcing the perfect moonstone took a bit longer than expected, and there were some bridesmaid dress drama moments with fabric shortages and fit issues. But in the end, every bridesmaid looked absolutely amazing.

Then both Charlotte's father and I ended up in hospital right before the wedding. Talk about a plot twist. I faced major surgery for my back, which meant I wouldn't make the big day. But I opted to postphone surgery, and on a heavy pain relief schedule and, in a wheelchair, made it to the ceremony. Her father battled kidney problems yet still made it, and while we weren’t physically jumping for joy, we were mentally cheering for the day ahead.

Wedding Hair and Makeup

On the wedding day, being with Charlotte and the bridesmaids for hair and makeup was so special. I had a surprise of my own: a beautiful diamond tennis bracelet that had been mine for years. I cleaned it up, and as I fastened it around her wrist, we both shed a few tears - it was my “something old.”

While I couldn’t walk her down the aisle in a wheelchair, I watched as a very special moment unfolded between Charlotte and her dad. 

Even my grandson Zen got to be part of the ceremony, throwing petals like a champion.

The ceremony was heartfelt, with beautiful vows,  and the venue overlooking the surf was nothing short of breathtaking. Jade the celebrant, was absolutely wonderful, she spoke beautifully and, as a close friend, added a personal touch that made the ceremony even more special and memorable.

Wedding Speeches

During the reception, we had a two-minute speech rule due to the number of speakers, but let’s just say her father went a bit over time (apparently he had 5 mins). My speech was more succinct but both were packed with heartfelt moments that got a few laughs and some tears. My older son spoke, and even Taylor’s dad reflected on how he knew something special was brewing between Char and Tay from the beginning.

Wedding Cake Toppers

One memorable moment came courtesy of the wedding cake toppers. Charlotte envisioned adorable little figurines resembling her and Taylor to sit on top of the cake. Although Taylor wasn’t keen on the idea, I encouraged Charlotte to go for it.

But just hours before the ceremony, our wonderful planner Jo came to me with a bit of a crisis: “Janine, there's a problem with the cake toppers, and Charlotte needs to see them.” When I took a look, I realised the issue: they were supposed to be 12 cm, but they ended up being 12 inches! With time ticking away, I thought it best not to stress Charlotte any further. I told Jo, “Just put them beside the cake, by then she’ll be more relaxed and laugh.”

When the cake was brought out, Charlotte spotted the oversized figurines immediately and used hand signals to gesture them away. What could have been a disaster turned into an absolute highlight. Those cake toppers ended up being featured in more photos than they would have if they’d simply sat on top of the cake, bringing smiles and laughter to everyone around.

What an unforgettable evening full of love, laughter, and of course, beautiful jewellery. Here’s to all the memories made and the sparkling symbols of love that will always be cherished. 

I had to share a photo of my family.