Beautiful, Customizable Jewelry For You & Your ‘Maids

From one of our favorite local designers.

By Alexandra Leshner· 2/7/2012, 4:39 p.m.

Amethyst cubic zirconia bracelet with gold pave crystal sphere, $165 from Mina Danielle. All photos in this post courtesy of AMC Photography.

From the instant you scream, “Yes!” until the moment you whisper, “I do,” so much of preparing to tie the knot is all about making your Big Day as beautiful as it can be. And, as we all know, the most important part of all that is you!

We know that after you find the Dress, you’ll be meticulously selecting every last detail of your look, from the shoes to the veil, from the hair to the makeup, from the finishing touches to what you’re wearing underneath. And when it comes to bling? We also know that’s not going to end with the giant sparkler you’ve got on your left hand.

That’s why we had to tell you about Penn Valley designer Marissa Small and her blossoming jewelry line, Mina Danielle. After graduating from college, she spent years dabbling in teaching and real estate before finally deciding to pursue her true passion—which meant turning her hobby of collecting stones and stringing beautiful beads into her career. She started designing jewelry full time, and today, not only has dedicated customers throughout the Philadelphia area, but far-flung ones, too (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards is a fan, and can often be spotted wearing a thick stack of Mina Danielle bracelets on the show).

Small designs all kinds of pieces, but we can’t get enough of her bracelets, which she makes by hand, drilling holes in the semi-precious stones (rubies, sapphires, amethyst, citrine, turquoise and more that she sources from as close as Philadelphia bead stores to as far as India and Istanbul) and lacing them, along with various accents (we love the pave crystal spheres), into styles that are impossible to choose between.

For brides, Small recommends styles from her South Sea and Tahitian Pearl collections that will look elegant and classy on your wedding day—but that can be dressed down and worn afterwards for years. Or, she’s got no shortage of bright colors, whether you’re looking to add a pop to your bridal-white ensemble, or want to gift your ‘maids with a style of their own. (We love the idea of giving them colors that contrast their dress: Coral beads with navy dresses, or amethyst pieces to offset sage green.)

There’s no extra charge for custom design, and Small loves seeing brides’ ideas and collaborating with them on designs. Plus, she only needs about three weeks to present you with a piece that’s your very own. Prices for bracelets start around $95; look for Mina Danielle jewelry in Center City boutiques this spring, or shop now online. Check out the pictures below for a small (seriously!) sampling of our faves. — Alexandra Leshner