How to Style Your Wedding Dress: A Complete Guide to Veils, Jewelry & Accessories
So you’ve got your dress…now what? It’s time to style! Starting with the dress itself gives you a strong foundation, but styling your wedding dress is what transforms it from a beautiful gown into your bridal look. The right finishing touches can elevate your gown without stealing the attention away from it and allow you to express your personal style!
Start With Your Dress: Understanding Its Style
It’s important to remember that you’re the star of the show, your dress is the main supporting character, and your accessories are the props that elevate you and your dress. The show can’t go on without accessories, but they shouldn’t overpower. Your primary goal should be to find accessories that complement your bridal look—they add rather than detract.
To do this pairing effectively, you have to understand the style of your gown and your overall wedding vibe first. Here are some things to consider:
- Matching accessories to the gown’s silhouette—whether you have a princess ballgown or a sleek and modern mermaid, it’s essential to carry that mood throughout your vision.
- Considering fabric, texture, and embellishments—if your dress already has a lot going on, perhaps you want to go more simple with your accessories.
- Neckline rules for jewelry—if your dress has a plunging neckline, perhaps a necklace could be complementary, but if your dress has a halter neckline, perhaps statement earrings are a better direction.
- Color tone coordination—if your dress is ivory or has ivory detailing, an ivory veil would pair well. If you have a unique undertone, consider ways to use this contrast to your benefit.
Choosing the Perfect Veil
While there are many options, picking a veil doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Once you know the basics, it’s such an exciting part of completing your bridal look. Different lengths can totally change your vibe: fingertip and waltz veils add soft movement and work great with fitted dresses, while cathedral length veils bring all the drama for those big, dreamy entrances. You can also decide whether you want to keep things simple with a plain veil or add a little sparkle or lace if your dress is more minimal. Think of it like choosing the finishing touch that either balances or boosts your gown.
Many brides ask us “Do I have to wear a veil”? At Adore, we support you in the fact that this is your day, and you should do whatever makes you feel like the most beautiful bride. For some brides, that is a veil, while for others, it’s a sparkly headpiece. Do what makes you happy! If you do go for a veil, matching the shade and lace to your dress makes everything look seamless. Just look for a color that blends well with your gown and, if you have lace, pick a veil with similar patterns or textures.
Either way, we absolutely recommend trying on your accessories when saying yes to your dress. If you go forward with a special order gown, you aren’t going to see this gown again until it arrives from the designer which averages 6-9 months. Trust us, it’s much easier to say yes to accessories when you can see the whole look together. You don’t have to necessarily purchase them that same day, but at least make note of which ones you love!
Jewelry: Completing Your Bridal Look
Jewelry is the fun part—it’s where you get to add a little extra sparkle and really tie your whole look together. We’ve touched on this a bit already when you were understanding your dress style.
Start with earrings since they’re usually the most noticeable. Go bigger if your dress is simple, or keep it soft and dainty if there’s already a lot happening near your neckline. Necklaces depend on your dress shape: a small pendant works great with a sweetheart or V-neck, but if you’ve got a high neckline or detailed straps, it’s totally okay to skip a necklace altogether. Bracelets are an easy way to add shine without competing with your ring, and they’re perfect if you want just a touch of glam.
When it comes to metals, matching makes everything look effortless. Silver tends to pair best with bright ivory dresses, gold looks gorgeous with warm ivories, and rose gold is beautiful with blush tones. Many brides use their ring as a starting point for their metal matching. Whether you stick to one metal for a clean, put-together vibe, or follow the latest mixed metal trend, adding jewelry to your bridal look is a must.
Hair Accessories & Headpieces
Headpieces are such a fun way to add personality to your bridal look, whether you love tiaras, combs, pins, or headbands. The best place to start is your hairstyle: soft waves and half-up styles pair beautifully with combs or pins, while updos can easily support tiaras or statement pieces. Headbands work with almost anything and add a chic, modern touch.
Once you’ve narrowed down what works with your hair, think about how it plays with your veil and jewelry. If your veil has lots of detail, choose a simpler headpiece, and if your jewelry is bold, keep your hair accessories a bit more subtle. Coordinating everything keeps your look balanced and cohesive.
Shoes: Comfort Meets Style
As difficult as it is for some of you to swallow, choosing the perfect bridal shoes is about more than just style—it’s about comfort and practicality too. Think about your venue and the season: grass or sand might call for flats or wedges, while winter weddings might need closed-toe options. Heel height is key—pick something you can comfortably wear all day, especially if you’ll be walking or dancing a lot. Some brides also like to keep the height of their partner in mind when choosing their shoes, don’t forget about this if this is important to you!
Color and embellishments are another way to tie your shoes into your overall look, whether that’s a pop of color, sparkle, or a subtle metallic. Finally, consider your dress length and bustle: your shoes should peek out just enough to complement your gown without getting lost or looking awkward.
Also, there’s no rule that you have to stay in the same pair of shoes all day! Many brides have their “getting ready” slippers, their “walking down the aisle” showstoppers, and their “dancing the night away” flip flops.
Bringing It All Together: Find Your Bridal Aesthetic
Whether you’re drawn to modern minimalist clean lines, romantic timeless silhouettes, vintage-inspired details, glam and glittery touches, or soft boho-ethereal vibes, knowing your style makes everything else: veil, jewelry, shoes, and accessories so much easier to choose. You may be noticing that your personality is starting to shine through your accessories, and that’s proof that you’re on the right track. When all the elements work together, your bridal look will feel polished, intentional, and effortlessly beautiful.
At the end of the day, the best accessory is the confidence you feel wearing your dress, so trust your instincts and choose pieces that make you feel beautiful and comfortable. Remember, jewelry, veils, shoes, and headpieces are there to enhance your look, not overwhelm it, so focus on what feels right for you.
For personalized guidance and expert styling support, visit us here at Adore Bridal, where our stylists will help you pull every detail together so you feel radiant and ready to walk down the aisle feeling gorgeous, comfortable, and confident.
