One of the most fun parts of wedding planning is choosing what you are going to wear. Not only does that include the dress, but also the shoes, the jewelry, the hair pieces, a jacket, and anything else that you can think of! But with so many options, how do you know what to choose when it comes to wedding accessories? These 10 tips will help you choose the perfect bridal accessories for your wedding day!
Wedding planning is a whirlwind, and some parts of it are more fun than others. Paring down the guest list? Probably not your favorite task. But finding your dream wedding gown? That likely ends up a little higher on the list.
Now that you have a wedding dress that makes you feel like a queen, it’s time to put the finishing touches on your wedding day look — that means finding the right accessories to complement it. Here are 10 tips to keep in mind when you start to look for bridal accessories.
Bridal Accessories Tip #1: Stay True to Your Style
Of course, on your wedding day, you want to look like a princess — that’s probably a bit different from your everyday appearance. But, you also want to look like yourself. After all, you’ll enjoy the photos from this day for the rest of your life. If you are someone who never dresses up, you may not want to opt for an extravagant ballroom dress. On the other hand, if you love to dress up, you may not want something super simple. This goes for your bridal accessories, too. After you choose a wedding dress that fits into your specific sense of fashion, start scouring the internet and bridal boutiques for accessories that also suit your style.
Bridal Accessories Tip #2: Keep It Simple
On a similar note, you should fight the impulse to go totally over the top with your wedding-day accessories. What’s trendy now won’t necessarily be trendy 20 years from now, and your wedding photos might go from heart-melting to slightly embarrassing. If you have any relatives who fell prey to the big hairpieces of the ’80s weddings, then you’ve probably experienced this phenomenon firsthand. I always recommend sticking to classics – a lace veil or a delicate hair piece, a strand of pearls, a simple necklace, and things of that nature. You don’t want your bridal accessories distracting from you and your dress, and you definitely don’t want to be wearing something that will be completely out of style a few years from now.
Bridal Accessories Tip #3: Find Matching Metals
Wearing matching metals on your bridal accessories can help everything really flow together without clasing. You don’t necessarily need to match your bridal accessories to your engagement ring and wedding band exactly, but this is a good place to start. In general, jewelry metals fall into three categories: platinum, gold and sterling silver. Of course, there are also more modern metals, like rose gold.
Use whatever metal your rings are made of as a jumping-off point to pick the rest of your jewelry. For instance, if you have gold rings, you could probably get away with silver earrings, but rose gold earrings would clash. You’ll want to keep this in mind when you are looking for your wedding shoes, too. Many of them have embellishments or other metallic accents, and you want to make sure that these match any jewelry that you are going to wear on your wedding day.
Bridal Accessories Tip #4: Dress Up in a Cover-Up
If you’re getting married in the autumn or winter, you have one extra bridal accessory to think about: a cover-up. If you have a simple dress, a faux fur wrap, or a chic shrug could add a little flair to it and keep you warm at the same time. Complement your bridal look with a shawl, a shrug, a cozy piece of faux fur or another creative cover-up. Make sure that you have tried this on with your dress before the big day. You want to make sure that it matches well and also that it is comfortable. The season is also something to consider when you are choosing these. If your wedding is in the spring or summer and you want to have something to wear over your dress, opt for something lightweight. In the winter, feel free to go all out! I love a good white fur overcoat.
Bridal Accessories Tip #5: Get Creative with Shoes
When it comes time to choose the shoes you’ll wear on the big day, you might be tempted to go for a simple pair of white heels. But consider this — your gown is going to cover your shoes for practically the entire day. So why not have some fun with your footwear?
For example, you could make the shoes your “something blue,” swap heels for a pair of cute sneakers or find a pair of booties with a bright pattern. Your wedding shoes are a fun way to add a little more personality to your wedding day. If you search custom wedding shoes on Etsy, you’ll see all sorts of fun options! You can also search Pinterest for some cute, unique wedding shoe ideas.
Bridal Accessories Tip #6: Consider Your Neckline
The neckline of your wedding dress definitely impacts what type of jewelry you should wear on your wedding day. Depending on your neckline, you may want to wear a necklace on your wedding day — but not necessarily. If the neckline of your dress is rife with beading and lace accents, a necklace might add too much visual noise. However, if you have a classic sweetheart neckline, pick a simple necklace to accentuate the cut. If your dress has a straight neckline, feel free to go a bit bigger and pick a statement piece instead. Make sure that you keep the neckline of your dress in mind when you are choosing your bridal accessories.
Bridal Accessories Tip #7: Know Your Gown Color
No one wants bridal accessories that will clash with their gown, right? Whether you’re choosing a necklace, earrings or a cuff bracelet, you should consider the exact hue of your gown when you select it. Not all gowns are simply “white” — there’s champagne, ivory, traditional bright white and many other options. Figure out which category your dress falls into, then choose jewelry accordingly. For example, a bright white gown will look best with light metals like platinum, but it may clash with gold. This is also true if you are opting for a dress that is a color other than a shade of white. Take a picture of your dress and bring it with you or pull it up when you are choosing your bridal accessories.
Bridal Accessories Tip #8: Make Sure Jewelry Meshes
You might choose to accessorize with something other than metals — such as pearls — and that’s fine, too. Just keep in mind that everything should go with your dress. If you opt for a simple, chic and elegant dress, statement jewelry probably isn’t the way to go. You want to complement the style of your dress with equally sweet and simple accessories. However, if your ball gown is totally over the top, then your jewelry should be, too. Not only do you want to make sure that your jewelry meshes with your dress, but also with each other. Too many different types of statement jewelry may end up clashing with each other. Try on all of your bridal accessories together before making your final decision on what to wear.
Bridal Accessories Tip #9: Don’t Forget Your Updo
Brides no longer only decorate their earlobes and their décolletage — they also jazz up their updos. This is such a fun way to accessorize on your wedding day, and it can be really beautiful! Many brides are even straying away from the traditional veil. Bridal vines, tiaras and bridal combs are just a few ways contemporary brides embellish their hair on the big day. I’ve even seen hair pins with delicate pearls, which can mesh really well with pearl jewelry. Whether you plan to get an elaborate updo or leave your curls down to flow freely, think about incorporating a bridal hair accessory. There are nearly endless options to suit any taste.
Bridal Accessories Tip #10: Keep Your Venue in Mind
You have one last thing to consider when picking your bridal accessories: your venue. You’re probably thinking, “What on Earth does my venue have to do with my bridal accessories?” I promise that it matters! The venue doesn’t need to be the make-or-break factor if you really love a piece of jewelry, but it can be part of your decision-making process. Again, if the venue is over the top, you are free to go in the same direction with your dress and accessories. If it’s simple and casual, then keep your wedding day look in the same general vein. You basically want to consider the overall aesthetic of the day when you are choosing your bridal accessories.
Now that you have the tips you need to pick out the perfect bridal accessories, there’s only one thing to do: get shopping. Just remember, you can choose to keep it simple — or not — because this is your day.
