How to Accessorize Your Wedding Dress
“Playing dress-up begins at age five and never truly ends.” – Kate Spade
You searched through hundreds of dresses online and tried on dozens more. You debated with family, your bridesmaids and maybe even yourself. You dreamt of this moment and when it would one day come. Until finally. One look and you immediately knew – the perfect wedding dress for what promises to be the perfect day.
But before you’re ready to move on to cake tastings and floral arrangements, remember that your wedding dress is only one piece of a look that will be celebrated in photographs for the rest of your life. How you accessorize your dress can be just as important as the dress itself.
Understand the Fundamentals of Your Bridal Look
You probably know this already, but we’ll go over the basics just in case. A refresher course never hurt either! Your biggest focus is symmetry and complementary shapes when adding wedding accessories.
Start with your neckline and work up for all accessories you’ll wear around your neck or in your hair. If you have a high neckline, you want to keep symmetry by going simple with your jewelry and keeping it close to you. Maybe a simple choker in that scenario. If you want to dial it up a notch, add a pop of color by picking a rose gold choker or other classic metal color.
If you’re going with a lower dress neckline and a bold décolletage look, you’ll want your accessories to do some of the heavier lifting. You want your necklace then to be your statement piece in that scenario. While you can go with stud earrings or something bolder, you want to focus on the necklace to keep balance. Pendant necklaces work really well in this scenario.
Accessorizing with Wedding Jewelry
“I’ve always thought of accessories as the exclamation point of a woman’s outfit.” — Michael Kors
Bridal jewelry is the perfect way to add elegance or a bit of glam to your wedding look. Whether you’re getting married under the sun or beneath a chandelier, the reflection of a bride’s jewelry can have a stunning effect – one which every woman deserves, no matter their budget. That is why Modern Gents is proud to offer high-quality, hand-crafted jewelry that is both affordable and made from conflict-free materials.
The right jewelry choice depends on a variety of factors. How do you plan to wear your hair? Up or down, this will impact the type of wedding earrings or hair accessory you should showcase. When your hair is in an updo, drop-down earrings with greater volume are an excellent way to balance the space. Less is more, however, when you wear your hair down, making studs a strong but subtle selection. The same philosophy applies to the cut of your dress and the wedding necklace you choose. Smaller straps and lower necklines, like a v-neck dress allow for larger pieces of jewelry, while thicker straps and higher necklines, like a halter neckline, make smaller pieces ideal. And if you’ve chosen a strapless sweetheart dress, congratulations because pretty much anything goes.
The color of your dress is also an important consideration. Traditional white dresses exude silver hues that are best paired with silver- and platinum-toned jewelry, while off-white dresses exude warmer hues that are best paired with gold- and rose-toned jewelry. Don’t be afraid, however, to express your creativity. Wear a bracelet in the back of your hair or a necklace like a crown for a flash of metallic. Stack two or more bracelets on your wrists for movement that will draw in the eyes of your guests.
A simple pair of earrings is always a good place to start. Whether you want to go with simple drop earrings or go bold with statement earrings, this is the quickest way to elevate your bridal accessories.
Beautiful jewelry will always make a statement. It’s up to you what statement you want that to be.
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Wear a Wedding Veil
“A glamorous woman is always elegant, but she also possesses an air of mystery and excitement. She’s dramatic-almost untouchable.” – Ralph Lauren
The wedding veil dates to at least ancient Rome when brides would cover their faces to ward off evil spirits. In later centuries, the veil would come to represent purity in the bride. Whether that’s what you wish to convey or not (hey, no judgment!), a veil is still a simple way to add a lot of drama to your ensemble.
The key to choosing the right veil is length and style. The general rule of thumb is not to obscure portions of your dress that are intricately detailed. If your dress is adorned with beading and sequins, a simpler veil is a smart choice. If you’ve chosen a dress with a cleaner design, a veil with lace or beading could be a beautiful way to enhance your look. And always choose a veil that is the same color as your dress or one shade lighter.
Most wedding veils are single-tiered or double-tiered. A single-tiered veil is one layer of tulle that attaches to the back of your hair and falls against your back. A striking way to elevate this veil is adding a decorative comb with ornate detailing or a flower arrangement meant for hair styling. A double-tiered veil is two layers of tulle — one that also falls against your back and the other draped over your face. During a traditional ceremony, brides often walk down the aisle with their faces covered before the person “giving” them away pulls the front tulle over their head prior to the ceremony’s beginning. Just how ornate your veil is (and which type you choose) will also depend a lot on your hairstyle. Make sure the two complement each other and you’re set.
There are numerous other veil options, from the shorter “birdcage veil” for a retro vibe to the floor-sweeping “cathedral veil” for a statement of grandeur. But whatever your choice, wearing a veil pays homage to millennia of brides and adds just a little bit of mystique to a ceremony for those who know you best.
If you like the idea but don’t want to go with a veil, a tiara, headband or any elegant headpiece can be a perfect substitute.
Wedding Shoes
“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.” – Marilyn Monroe
And finally, what outfit would be complete without the perfect pair of shoes?
It’s important to shop for them as soon as you can (after finding your dress) to ensure your size is available and that they fit comfortably. With this in mind, you’ll want wedding shoes for your dress’s first fitting. The heel size will let the tailor know the appropriate length to hem.
Your shoes do not have to be white, just as your dress did not. They can be similar in tone — ivory, nude, cream, off-white — or you can go with a bold metallic or statement color (perhaps one that matches your florals or bridesmaids). The same can be said for style. A lace dress will pair beautifully with lace shoes, while satin or sequins will add a bit of glitz on the dance floor.
But before you start scouring every website and store, remember that venue and comfort should not be secondary concerns. An outside wedding on grass or in sand makes certain heels nonstarters. Remember, too, that you’re going to spend a lot of time on your feet during the ceremony, taking photographs, visiting tables and dancing. For this reason, you should either purchase one pair of shoes that provides optimal comfort or a second, more comfortable pair, just for the reception. Finally, make sure you take the time to break your shoes in. You’re welcome!
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Be Beautiful Inside and Out in Your Wedding Gown
“Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is beautiful.” – Sophia Loren
In the end, the only opinion that truly matters is your own. The right accessories and embellishments are important, sure, but you don’t need to feel any pressure to look a certain way or fit into a certain style. As long as you love your wedding day look, you’ll radiate confidence that everyone in attendance will notice.
This is your day. And there is no day better than that to be completely true to yourself — from top to bottom. Who that is, after all, is the person your fiancé is choosing to spend the rest of their life with.
From Modern Gents, congratulations! Now, knock ’em dead.