The dos and don’ts of bridal accessories

Dos

Tie everything into your style

Be sure that all your accessories, be it your headband or your garter, reflect a little bit of you and your personality. It’s YOUR big day and, at the very least, your outfit and accessories should show the world who you are, not what someone else wants you to be or what other people think a bride should look like. If, for example, you’re a modern girl who likes something a little bit offbeat, standard pearl earrings and a tiara probably aren’t your thing. Conversely, if you’re a traditional girl, don’t be afraid to choose the most princessy of tiaras or most traditional of updos. Your accessories are there to accessorise YOU!

Use colour to enhance your overall look

White may be the traditional wedding colour and there’s nothing wrong with tradition, but you’d be amazed at how much personality even the smallest pops of colour can add to an all-white outfit. Add colour to your outfit by way of jewelry, belts, sashes, boleros, hair bands and, of course, shoes.

Look like you’re a princess (because you are)

Let’s face it, unless you’re born with blue blood, most of us don’t get too many opportunities to be and dress like a princess. But on your wedding day, at least, you should absolutely feel like a princess and what princess doesn’t have her very own tiara? There aren’t too many times in life when you can get away with wearing a tiara, so, as long as you’re comfortable with the concept, get yourself a shimmering, glimmering tiara and wear it like you’re walking down the aisle at Westminster Abbey! If tiara’s aren’t your thing, a fabulously blingy necklace will suffice, something that is stunning, a real statement piece that you probably couldn’t pull off at any other event.

Remember the small details

Don’t forget about the accessories that may not be seen, every element will add to how fabulous and comfortable you feel on your big day. This goes for accessories such as your lingerie, the perfume you wear and even whether or not you decide to carry a small purse with you on the day so that you have items such as make-up or a mobile phone immediately at hand. It all counts, so put thought into every accessory, not just the big, obvious ones.

Work around your wedding dress

Your wedding dress will be the focus of your overall look on your big day, and it’s the one thing everything else you wear should emphasize. Don’t think about any other accessories until you’ve settled on your dress. That way, you can choose the accessories that will best highlight your beautiful gown.

Don’ts

Don’t leave things until the last minute

By not planning ahead, you could find yourself in a pickle in the precious weeks and days before the wedding. The perfect earrings may be out of stock and take weeks to arrive; you may hate your haircut and wish desperately that you had a month or two more for it to grow out or, perhaps, you bought your shoes just a few days before the wedding and won’t be able to break them in in time for them to be worn comfortably on your wedding day. The potential perils of leaving anything wedding related, not just accessory related, until the last minute are too great to risk on one of the most important days of your life.

Don’t forget about your feet and nails

Modern wedding photography is a huge departure from shoots of the past and the chances of your feet and nails appearing front and centre are very high. After all, how many times have you seen wedding photos like those above – or a close up of the bride’s hand with her shiny new ring? So, if there’s a chance that your photographer might be zooming in on your extremities, be sure to have them buffed and polished as best you can!

Don’t forget about your flowers

When it comes to your bouquet, remember that you have to hold it for a considerable length of time. A large bouquet of flowers looks lovely on a table, but try carrying it around for a few hours and see how your arms feel. So, be sure to consider how practical your dream bouquet is, in addition to how lovely it looks.

Don’t over-accessorise

Just because you can wear earrings, headpiece, rings, bolero , an anklet, a belt doesn’t mean you should. Of course, depending on your choice of items and your styling, this combo may work beautifully, but less is usually more, so, if you do wish your look to have an immediate (and good) impact, perhaps, opt for one or two statement pieces for maximum impact.