Once you have chosen your wedding dress, it’s time to complete the look with bridal accessories. You can purchase almost everything you need at a bridal salon but you save money by shopping at your favorite mass retailers or online. You may also decide to DIY a few pieces of your bridal ensemble. Shop at vintage stores for the perfect one of a kind piece fit for a one in a million bride!
Non-bridal accessories can easily be worn again and will carry sentimental meaning for you each time you do.
Looking for your “something blue”? Shoes, jewelry, purses, and shawls offer a playful way to add this tradition to your big day.
Veils: Veils are traditional, but not mandatory. A veil adds an element of drama to your grand entrance, but make sure it fits your personal style, hairdo, and type of dress. They don't have to be expensive and are easy to DIY. With all of these styles, there's something for every bride:
- Birdcage - cropped netting that just barely covers the face (perfect for a retro bride)
- Blusher - delicate fabric, hits just below the chin
- Elbow - elbow-length for a flirty, yet sophisticated look
- Fingertip - falls at the tips of fingers
- Ballerina - somewhere between knee and ankle length, long but not too long
- Tiered - blusher + elbow + floor-grazing (which is often detachable)
- Mantilla - lace edge, delicately draped over head
- Cathedral - 9-25 feet long (think royal wedding)
Hair Accessories: If you opt not to wear a veil, consider headpieces like a headband, comb, clip, tiara, feathers or flowers (real or faux) to complete your head-to-toe bridal look. Stunning!
Shoes:
- Your venue dictates, to a degree, what types of shoes are appropriate. Heels work better in a ballroom than on the beach.
- What is your personal style? If you don't normally wear heels, stick to kitten heels, wedges, or flats. You could even skip heels all together and show your personality with cowboy boots or sneakers.
- Comfort is essential. Choose shoes that you can wear all day - or at least until you can change into more comfortable dancing shoes.
- Neutrals are a classy option, but don’t be afraid to show your personality with a pop of color. Your shoes do not have to match your dress. We checked the rulebook and it’s fine to mix things up a little, we promise!
- Show your groom that you are his “sole”mate with fun shoe accessories.
Optional Additions:
- Jewelry - Show your personality! Choose a statement piece like a glamorous necklace or a delicate pair of pearl earrings.
- Garter - Find a pretty garter to match your wedding dress (it's tradition!).
- Outerwear - Will it be a chilly wedding day? If so, you'll want a shawl or wrap to keep you warm!
- Pre-wedding robes - Get a Personalized White Satin Robe for yourself and pink floral matching robes for the bridesmaid's while you all get ready before the wedding ceremony!
- "Something Blue" - Check out our fun Something Blue DIY Bling Wedding Heels. It's an easy way to incorporate the tradition and it also adds some sparkle to your day.
Great job wedding planning, bride-to-be! Just seven months to go! Keep it going by shopping for the groom’s tuxedo, designing your wedding website and creating a chart-topping wedding reception playlist.
See more tips for every phase of your planning process in our Month-by-Month Wedding Planning Guide. Feeling crafty? We’ve included unique DIY wedding projects too! Don't forget to use these Free Wedding Planning Printables.
Article written by: Melissa Collier
