Boho Wedding Dresses for the Laid-back Bride
Dresses | December 17, 2024
How To Accessorize Based On Your Wedding Dress
DressesTips and Trends | July 13, 2024
Accessories incoming! If you love a certain type of neckline, silhouette, or bridal aesthetic in a wedding dress but are unsure of how to accessorize it, we’re here to help! Wedding gowns are so much fun to shop for, but once you take your dream gown home, collecting the rest of the ensemble can seem daunting! We totally feel you. So, here’s our comprehensive styling guide! Read on to see our best tips for how to accessorize based on your wedding dress! And if ever need more inspo, feel free to check out our Instagram! We’re always busy posting the latest bridal tricks, trends, and advice!
What Makes A Wedding Dress Look Expensive?
So you want to spend $3,000 on your wedding dress but look like you spent $10,000? We love it. Honestly, that’s totally doable with the right styling! Accessories are a great way to make your wedding dress look more expensive! Adding stunning veils, jackets, trains, and detachable sleeves gives you the option of multiple wedding day looks without the enormous price tag of purchasing a second dress! And then with an added frosting of glistening jewelry, beautiful bridal shoes, a fresh mani-pedi, and a killer hair and makeup artist, you’re sure to look expensive! Read on to get the 411 on how to accessorize, and be sure to check out our other blogs to see Your Guide to All Things Bridal Accessories and more!
What Are The Bridal Accessories?
PC: Phoebe Jane | Gillie Bird
- Veils: A flirty, timeless, or ultra-dramatic bridal veil can add that “tradition meets modern” flourish to your look. Veils come in three lengths, fingertip-length, chapel-length, and cathedral-length.
- Jackets and wraps: These bridal accessories are like sleeves — with a little more coverage across your chest and back. They’re ultra-sophisticated, totally chic, and add just a little intrigue to your bridal look, especially for cooler temps or cozy venues.
- Trains and overskirts: This is an extra piece of fabric, often sheer, lace-covered, or shimmery, that attaches to the back of your wedding dress to add extra length or layers of fabric to glide behind you as you walk. Wedding trains and overskirts are sure to wow your guests and level up your bridal look. Plus, your dress is so gorgeous, so why not add even more of it to your silhouette? Want more info? See how you can Add A Detachable Wedding Dress Train or Overskirt on our blog!
- Detachable sleeves: Sleeves can be a fantastic addition to your already-stunning gown… Maybe you’re a two-in-one look kind of girl, maybe you’re looking for more coverage, or maybe you just want something a little more unique and timeless. Either way, sleeves are just the bridal accessory you need.
How Do You Embellish A Plain Wedding Dress?
- Check for personalization options like the extra shimmer offered on Paxton by Maggie Sottero! (Psst! Make sure to read our blog about all our Wedding Dress Customization & Personalizations with Maggie Sottero!)
- Choose different fabric options for otherwise simple gowns like the unique, shimmering champagne Jacquard of Aspen Marie by Sottero and Midgley, a sparkle fabric like seen on Elizabeth by Rebecca Ingram, or the luxe liquid satin Mercury by Sottero and Midgley is made of. Love the look of Aspen Marie? Read our blog, What are Jacquard and Brocade Wedding Dresses?
- Look at similar styles like Leilani and. Leilani Marie by Maggie Sottero for one with a little more bling!
- Consider a two-piece like Bennett by Maggie Sottero
- Lean into trends like Pezy by Rebecca Ingram and Marilyn by Sottero and Midgley‘s oversized bows, Derrick by Maggie Sottero‘s basque waist, or Jasper by Sottero and Midgley‘s pearl and corset accents. BTW, if you’re a trend-loving bride, you can’t miss the Wedding Dress Trends In Our Fall 2024 Collection!
How Can I Add More Bling To My Wedding Dress?
The bling doesn’t necessarily have to come from the dress itself. There are tons of other ways to accessorize an otherwise simple wedding gown! Here are a few of our favs that we see brides using all the time to up the shimmer:
- Jewelry
- Belts
- Hairpieces
- Shoes
- Bridal clutches
How To Accessorize My Wedding Dress: Necklines
Square
For dresses with a square neckline like Bentley by Maggie Sottero, we think angular necklaces or chokers look fabulous, especially with a slick back bun or a soft low half-up, half-down hairstyle to show off that unique and trendy square shape!
Scoop
We would recommend a short, round necklace or a longer rounded necklace that falls no less than an inch above the neckline (a good rule of thumb for any necklace, really!) for a bride who is head-over-heels for a gown like Aspen by Sottero and Midgley. The best part? Pretty much any hairstyle suits a scoop neckline, so have fun with it!
V-neck
A V-shape necklace that mirrors your neckline will suit a V-neck wedding dress like Ladonna by Maggie Sottero perfectly! And for a hairstyle, we think soft waves serve as a stunning contrast next to a sharper V-neck gown!
High neck
We find that a dangly statement earring pairs beautifully with a high-neck dress, as well as a soft updo with face-framing pieces. Don’t believe us? Just picture Kern by Maggie Sottero styled that way! The picture of elegance, right?!
Sweetheart
As far as hairstyles for a sweetheart neckline wedding dress like Ruby by Rebecca Ingram go, we love either an intricate updo or soft curls! If you’re obsessed with the classic aesthetic of a sweetheart neckline, we’re guessing you’ll probably love a simple pendant with a classic gemstone like a pearl or diamond to accentuate your decolletage further!
How To Accessorize My Wedding Dress: Bridal Aesthetic
Beach Babe
For this aesthetic, we love the idea of a wet hair look or some sea salt-sprayed waves! Pearl accents are super cute to amp up the beachy vibes too! A mermaid silhouette is a fun nod to the aesthetic, as well as light, airy summer fabrics. Did we mention we love a barefoot beach bride? Add that to the list! Here are a few gown and accessory ideas we’ve pulled for this aesthetic:
- Danica by Sottero and Midgley
- Drew Marie by Maggie Sottero
- Betsy by Maggie Sottero
- Ladonna Pearl Veil
Psst! Check out more of our beachy wedding dresses!
Vintage Lace
For this look, we envision lots of demure lace, some stunning drapery, and romantic sleeves. We’d suggest pairing your gown with some antique pearl jewelry, or a vintage art deco ring. A locket pendant could also make a beautiful addition to your bridal look. Old Hollywood waves and a long, lace veil are also stunning alongside this look! Looking for lace wedding dresses and ways to accessorize them that match this vibe? Here are some options:
Boho Bridal
For boho brides, we recommend accessorizing with a carefree “undone” hairstyle incorporating loose waves, braids, and maybe even some floral accents! We love a natural makeup look for this aesthetic. Dried flowers and gold jewelry including anklets, bracelets, and stacked dainty necklaces are a must. Soft, woven textures suit this vibe perfectly and look right at home in a nature-inspired venue. Some of our fav boho wedding dresses:
Classic Romantic
When we think of classic romantic wedding dresses, we think of A-line and ballgown silhouettes, flowing fabrics, romantic sweetheart necklines, and bridal style staples like florals and basque waists. If effortlessly romantic is your vibe, we’d suggest keeping accessories minimal, but impactful. Delicate necklaces and dainty bracelets sparkling against your skin, a bouquet of fresh flowers in hand, and a romantic veil sweeping behind you. Soft curls and romantic makeup are a must and floral-accented white heels are perfect for your special day!
Sultry Glam
This aesthetic is all about a more is more mentality. We love seeing our sultry glam brides dripping in diamonds, skin sparkling with a body shimmer, hair swept up to showcase their neck and shoulders, and bedazzled one-of-a-kind shoes. Keeping the makeup a little more dark and sultry, with a smokier eye look or a bold lip looks spectacular on sultry glam brides. Drop earrings suit an updo beautifully as well. Take a look at our sexy wedding dresses!
Modern Minimalist
Our modern minimalists love the simple things in life. Fashion-forward but effortless designs are stunning on these brides seeking simple wedding dresses. Think clean lines and luxe fabrics when it comes to choosing a wedding dress. For accessories, we love simple pearl necklaces and earrings, a fresh neutral manicure, minimal makeup, and pristine white pumps!
Totally obsessed with seeing all the ways you can accessorize your wedding dress? Same! Go check out a few of our accessory options on our website, and then get yourself an appointment at one of our Authorized Retailers to find the perfect dress and the accessories that go with it! Happy shopping, brides!
More Blogs Like This:
Wedding Dress 101 – Parts of a Wedding Dress
Wedding Dress Customization & Personalizations with Maggie Sottero
