Why is the bracelet the new hot wedding accessory? Gowns have a lot of sparkle to them now, with lots of crystal and rhinestone accents at the bodice and waist, and even the veil has gotten into the shine act with hundreds of tiny crystals reflecting the light around the bride’s face. In short, there’s just a whole lot of sparkle going on with the gown and the veil, so a diamond-studded necklace would just be too much. As would dramatic diamond earrings.

But brides want to wear something special jewelry-wise, and they also want to have a wedding-day jewelry piece to hand down as an heirloom. So the distance from the face to the wrist has opened up a new world of bracelet accents that can sparkle and shine without competing with what’s going on up top.

We’re seeing everything from ornate, diamond-studded wristlets that are three inches across to more delicate tennis bracelets, a color band to match the flowers, ornamental pieces in channel settings, even gemstone-dotted charm bracelets for the whimsical bride. These go on the right wrist if the wedding band is on the left hand. Spread the sparkle around a little bit.

Grooms love the bracelet as a wedding gift option, because it’s often far less expensive than traditional diamond stud or dangle earrings, it’s still something very special to give to the bride, and guests tend to notice a great bracelet far more than they would even the most valuable diamond earrings.

So check at your local jeweler for great bracelet ideas, and you’ll also see more of these at bridal shops and salons across the country. Department stores are also a great source for stylish bracelets, and the one-size-fits-all could mean that you can wear a family heirloom bracelet of your mother’s, grandmother’s or future in-laws’.