When it comes to wedding accessories, some brides have it all figured out. Some others, however, don't quite have it on their sleeves. The wide variety of wedding accessories available can be overwhelming, but you shouldn't decide to just skip them altogether. If you're not quite sure on which accessories you should choose for your own wedding, read on carefully to learn more about your options.
Accessories are often seen as unnecessary details, but that doesn't have to be case. Bridal accessories add a touch of elegance that can enhance even the simplest wedding dress, and can connect your wedding outfit with your overall wedding theme. Just think of how a feather headpiece can complement a 1920s flapper look, or how a sparkly tiara perfectly suits a princess-inspired wedding gown.
Some bridal accessories started out as a tradition. A veil, for instance, has long been part of a tradition that symbolizes a bride's purity. These days, though, most brides forgo the symbolic meaning and focus more on the aesthetic values of accessories. At the end of the day, it all comes down to you. Feel free to go with anything that makes you feel beautiful and comfortable on your wedding day.
How To Choose The Right Bridal Accessories
Among the many accessories a bride can choose to wear on her wedding day, we will focus on only a few popular ones today. We'll cover veils, headpieces, boleros, and gloves. Read on to get started.
A veil is a piece of fabric a bride wears over her head. There are a few types of veils according to length, and each one comes with its own styling tip. Lately, a lot of brides have decided to ditch the veil entirely and walk into a wedding ceremony without one. Therefore, before we tell you more about all the veils you can choose, let's address one question:
First and foremost, ask yourself if a wedding veil is really a must for you. Some people from the older generation might think so, and they would also argue about a veil being inappropriate for second-time weddings and pregnant brides. Consider whether these considerations are important to you before making any further decisions. You should also ask yourself, do you really want to wear a veil at all? It's a tradition, yes, but technically it's not absolutely necessary, meaning that you can still get married even without one. In the end, it all comes down to you. To veil or not to veil, it should be the bride's personal choice.
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If you've decided to wear a veil after all, let's get on to the fun part. As you may have noticed, veils come in different shapes, sizes, and materials. Based on length, there are a few types of veils. Scroll right down to see them.
Different veils require different styling. We'll go over the styles one by one while also covering the perfect ways to these flowing beauties from the shortest to the longest.
First up is the birdcage veil. This veil comes with a short cover-up on the face with ranging lengths. Some cover down to the eyes, the nose, even the entire face. This veil matches really well with a vintage 1950s or 1960s feel. Wear a sheath dress with this veil and add some feathers or vintage brooches as accents. One thing you might want to consider is the fact that as the veil will come so close to your face, you might find it hard to blink especially if you're wearing fake lashes.
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The flyaway veil is a wispy, multi-layered veil that falls over the shoulder at its longest. At its shortest, it usually falls behind the head. The flyaway would be so perfect for a more casual wedding, especially worn by a simple bride with a playful personality. A styling tip is to wear it with a short or sheath dress. Gowns without trains would also work well with this one. If you're short-haired, this veil would be placed wonderfully over your head. One with long locks? Create a simple, low-key hairdo and you'll be all set.
Now for medium-length veils, the elbow veil passes over the shoulder and floats along the upper arms, ending just above the elbow. This casual veil was a favorite in the 1950s. We love this length in that it's long enough to instill elegance, yet short enough to be practical. You can wear the veil with short casual dresses and with dresses with no trains or short trains. Long pencil sheath dresses would work best in our opinion. As for the hairdo, the versatile length works well with any type of hairstyle.
The fingertip veil stretches a bit longer down. It floats around you like a cape and extends as far as your outstretched fingertips. This veil was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s and was worn by Kate Middleton when she married Prince William. The fingertip veil complements any long dress but will not be suitable for petite brides as they can sink in the cape-like the veil. We also don't suggest wearing this veil at night, for its length will interfere with your activities, especially if you plan on dancing the night away.
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The waltz veil, also known as the ballet veil, normally ends between the calf and the ankle. It's usually worn with a double layer and a blusher up front. This veil adds a touch of drama and is also unique as not many brides choose this veil for their wedding day. This comes with another catch, though, because you might not easily find it at shops or bridal salons. You can wear this with a figure-hugging dress without a train or with a very short train. As for other accessories, choose ones that are small and understated as the veil has so much drama going on already.
Up next are the sweep veil and the chapel veil. The two names are often used interchangeably even so there is a slight difference between them. As its name suggests, the sweep veil sweeps the ground lightly, while the chapel veil extends a few inches above the floor. Both are perfect with flowing gowns and floor-length trains. They would also look extremely well with specialty fabric as they add a wonderful touch of glam and drama.
The cathedral veil is the longest, most regal, most formal, and most dramatic veil of all. So dramatic that the veil draws more attention than the dress at times. Wearing this veil is a surefire way to make a statement and give the bride a certain presence. It will also bring in such a wonderful visual impact as well as drama to the scene. The veil usually extends up to five yards beyond the gown's train. Considering its length, this veil is also guaranteed to give you breathtaking pictures. When wearing this veil, do not wear short dresses. Mermaid, trumpet, and ball gown dresses with delicate materials will look perfect with the veil. Also add a jeweled hairpiece for a maximum impact.
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Last but not least is the mantilla veil. The mantilla veil brings forth a unique feel since it's pinned to the crown of the head. Originally from Spain, it usually comes with demure detailing on the edges of the fabric, giving its wearer a feminine look.
Now that you're familiar with veil types and styles, here are some dos and don'ts for getting the veil of your dreams.
If you're fond of simple and practical things, go with the short- to medium-length veils. On the contrary, choose a long veil if you consider yourself more glamorous. Also consider up to which point of the wedding you will wear the veil. If you want to wear it to the reception, think of what you will be doing and how active you're going to be, especially if you're the kind of bride that loves to move around saying hi to everyone. Will the veil be a burden?
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To not ruin your hairdo, find a veil that can be easily attached to a headpiece so you can easily take it off. If you are planning on completely changing your hairdo after the ceremony, however, you can attach it straight on to your hair.
The venue also plays an important factor in your veil decisions. How will the weather and temperature be like? What kind of veil would be suitable for that kind of weather? If you're having an outdoor wedding, we suggest picking a veil that's short- to medium-length to prevent your veil getting stuck while you're walking down the aisle.
Find a veil that complements your dress, not one that covers, competes, or overpowers it. Also adjust your veil with the part of dress you want to showcase. If you're wearing a backless dress, it would be best if you find a sheer veil so you can show-off your back gracefully. For embellishments and color, you don't have to find a veil that matches the dress completely. A little variation is okay as long as they don't clash.
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Still on the head area, we're now moving on to headpieces. There are a few types of
