How to choose your accessories

The way you decide to accessorize your wedding dress can alter your look completely. From a chapel length to a birdcage veil or a tiara to a bun comb there are so many options available for you to get the look you are going for. I love that there are no rules nowadays as to what you ‘should’ be accessorizing with and how much, or how little, is appropriate.

I had a wonderful veil delivered this week that had mocha netting with ivory lace edging, it was stunning and would work perfectly well with both a coloured or an ivory dress. Your accessories can dictate your look by adding a vintage feel, glitzy glamour or understated elegance and that’s what I love about them!

The Headpiece

Lets start with the headpiece. Things have moved on from the tiara being the standard accessory, you can now have a bit of sparkle anywhere in your hair to complement your hairstyle. Combs are a really great way of having the headpiece exactly where you want it rather than where the headband or tiara dictate where it will be. They are so versatile and can be moved around throughout the day, for example once you take your veil off it can be moved further around the back of your head to catch the light during your first dance. Ivory & Co are my supplier for jewelry and headpieces, all products are designed in the UK and of superb quality.

The Tiara is still huge and gives the quintessential wedding look that many brides are after. They can vary widely in height and glitz but always look stunning. A mixture of pearls and crystals is a very popular look as not only is it timeless but the style complements all the pearls and lace currently in fashion whilst still bringing the bling!

A side headband can offer a beautiful vintage look and is very flattering to all hairstyles. Some side bands can have all the detail in one area and some have it spread out across the band but more built up to one side. Try all types on to see which suits you best and achieves the look you are aiming for.

If you are worried about your headband staying in place for the whole day then just talk to your hairdresser who can pin it in place for you and design your hairstyle around it. Your headpiece supplier might even let you borrow a few for your wedding hair trial to see which will work best.

Veils

I love to see the look on a brides face when she tries on a veil for the first time (if they are goinlg to cry then this often the moment!) A veil can turn a lady in a beautiful dress into a bride and complete the fairy tale look.

The most popular length of veil is 72″ which will end mid thigh and frame the back of your dress perfectly. I’m seeing more and more brides come in now wanting to have the front of the veil over their face as they walk down the aisle, this is a romantic tradition and I’m glad its still popular. Chapel length veils work beautifully matched with dresses of the same train length, especially the fitting lace dresses.

Veils can be designed to complement your dress perfectly, with crystal scatters to pick up the crystals in your belt to a ribbon or lace edge to match the dress material. My veil stockist, Elizabeth Dickens, are based in Cambridgeshire and are exceptional when it come to ordering bespoke pieces so don’t be afraid to ask for something a little different!

Birdcage veils are also a more vintage option and will look great with a tea length dress or could even be your second look of the day after the ceremon

Necklace, Earrings and Bracelet

Some dresses might not make it possible for you to wear a necklace as maybe they have a higher neckline or there is enough glitz on the dress already so it would be too much to add anymore. I often advise my brides that it is their wedding day and so they have the best excuse to be a little over the top and a touch of extra glamour is definitely appropriate! Adding a necklace, earrings and bracelet set is a great way to do this and it makes a lovely keepsake of your day that you can wear again and again. This could also be the perfect opportunity to have something borrowed and wear a family heirloom or your mums diamond necklace.