Essential Accessories for Brides

January 8th, 2010

Veil: Nothing says “bride” quite like a veil. Although not every bride will wear one, it is the veil that truly transforms the wedding gown from a beautiful white dress into a bridal gown. The vision of the bride making her grand entrance softly silhouetted in a cloud of tulle is the classic image that we all have in our imaginations. Even a non-traditional bride may wish to consider wearing a veil, if only for the duration of the wedding ceremony and formal pictures.

Headpiece: There are many wonderful styles of bridal headpieces available, and there is one to suit any taste or style. The most formal is an elaborate tiara or even a small crown, usually bejeweled with crystals or rhinestones. Smaller combs featuring pearls, crystals, or porcelain flowers are a beautiful and versatile option. One of the hottest trends these days is a bridal headband. A double headband with two rows of crystals or pearls is a gorgeous accent to any wedding hairstyle. Wide fabric headbands are also very trendy right now.

Bridal Jewelry Set: No outfit is complete until you have added the jewelry. For brides, the sets of bridal jewelry usually consist of a coordinated suite including a necklace, a pair of earrings, and a bracelet or two. Your wedding is your chance to have some fun wearing special jewelry, even if your everyday style is fairly minimal. Bridal jewelry sets can run the range from elaborate and dramatic to classic and demure to modern and fun. Crystals and pearls set in sterling silver tend to be the most popular types of bridal jewelry sets.

Shoes: You certainly can’t walk down the aisle without a fabulous pair of wedding shoes! Choose ones which complement the style of your gown and feel as comfortable as possible. Closed toe styles are more traditional and formal, whereas strappy sandals are great for a modern wedding. Your wedding is a great excuse to splurge on a really spectacular pair of shoes, so go ahead and indulge yourself a little.

With this list of accessories in hand, you will be well on your way towards creating the perfect bridal ensemble for your wedding!

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Sparkly Wedding Gowns

November 16th, 2008

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If you are anything like most brides, you want lots of sparkle for your wedding day! There are lots of ways that you can use sparkle throughout your wedding, but the best place to start is with you. You wedding gown is the perfect way to set the tone, so make it as sparkly as you want.

Sparkle can come in different forms. One of the most popular is beading done with Swarovksi crystals. When used on a wedding gown, they are typically clear or ab finish, but you can also add some crystals in your wedding colors for that extra punch.

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If you choose a gown with crystals, you will want to accessorize it with crystal wedding jewelry to coordinate. Because crystal beading on a gown shows as sparkle, but not as much as a bold design, you have the freedom to choose crystal wedding jewelry that is as ornate as you like. Of course, a simple strand of Swarovski crystals glittering at the throat is also fabulous, if your style is more streamlined.

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When creating a super sparkly bridal ensemble, don’t forget about your veil. You can add a row of crystals to the bottom edge of a straight cut veil, or all around a shaped veil. Larger crystal briolettes look absolutely stunning when they are dropped onto a long veil. However, even if you like the silvery look of rhinestones for your gown, you should stay away from them on your veil; in photographs, the rhinestones will look like dark spots. Best to stick to the crystals.

Your wedding day is your time to shine! Make this come true by choosing a wedding gown with lots of sparkle, or by adding crystals to a plain gown. When you walk down the aisle all a-glitter, the effect will be spectacular.

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Veil Alternatives for Brides

October 17th, 2008

There can be a variety of reasons why a bride would not choose to wear a veil. She might think that it is too much for an informal wedding, or she might think a veil is inappropriate if she is a second time bride. Some brides just feel silly with a long piece of tulle draped from their heads. Whatever the reason for not wearing a veil, you will want to find a different option to finish off your look while still suiting your style and situation.

One alternative to wearing a veil is to wear a hat. At outdoor garden weddings, you sometimes see the bride wearing a large portrait style hat adorned with silk or fresh flowers. This is a particularly nice option for an informal wedding where the bride is wearing a very simple dress, perhaps with a touch of subtle handmade wedding jewelry. It makes for a very genteel look.

If hats are not your thing, there are many other types of adornments that a bride can choose. Ditching the veil does not have to mean forgoing a tiara, if you like the princess bride look. Tiaras can be large and ornate, covered in rhinestones and Swarovski crystals, or they can be delicate and airy, with more of an emphasis on pearls.

You will want to make sure that they match the general style of your handmade wedding jewelry, so if your overall look is more glitzy, choose a crystal tiara, or if you are wearing pearl bridal jewelry, then a pearl headpiece is the right choice for you.

Not every bride feels that a tiara is right for either her taste or her wedding. A big crown is rarely a good idea on an older bride, or one who is being remarried. Those brides should seek more subtle and sophisticated hair jewelry. A very wearable option is hairpins. They can be tucked into any type of updo, from an elaborate wreath of curls to the most classic chignon.

Brides today worry less about doing what is conventional. They are more interested in expressing their personalities and being true to themselves. If you decide that a veil is not right for you, there are many other stylish alternatives.

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Choose the Perfect Veil for Your Wedding Gown

June 10th, 2008

After you find the wedding gown of your dreams, the next step is to accessorize it perfectly. One of the accessories with the biggest impact is your bridal veil. There are many more to choose from than some brides realize, from plain tulle to beaded edged to lace mantilla styles.

It used to be that a blusher was de rigueur, but many modern brides will skip the blusher unless it is customary in their religious tradition. Don’t be too quick to dismiss the blusher, though. One man I knew was watching a movie with a wedding scene, and kept asking why the bride was not wearing a veil. Well, she was wearing a veil, a very long one, but she did not have a blusher over her face. To this man, and many others, the blusher is what really says “veil”. If that is what your groom expects to see when you walk down the aisle, you don’t want to disappoint him.

Veils can be embellished in many special ways, from Alençon lace appliqué to satin ribbon trim to handbeaded edges. If you choose a veil with beading, it is a great idea to coordinate the elements with your bridal jewelry. For instance, a veil decorated with Swarovski crystals and silver beads should be worn with handmade earrings to match it.

Take the time to find a veil that makes you feel very special. Your veil is your crowning glory – you want it to look perfect on your wedding day. For many women, it is only once they put on their veil that they truly feel like a bride.

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