Wedding Day Accessory Tips: Do's and Don'ts

Put the cherry on top of your wedding day look with the perfect selection of accessories. The right wedding day jewelry will enhance your dress, but a piece that doesn't go with the style may look awkward and out of place. There are a few different factors that go into picking out the perfect bridal accessories for your big day.

Do's for wedding hair accessories
Complement the style of your dress. If your dress has a vintage feel, don't go with modern jewelry. No matter how pretty the pieces are, they simply won't fit with the style of the gown.
Match all your metals. If your engagement ring is silver or white gold, make sure to choose the same color for your bridal accessories. Mixed-and-matched metals create a trendy look that can work with an everyday outfit, but it doesn't look good in pictures. Opt for all the same color metal, even if you have to purchase faux gold or silver to do it.
Incorporate an heirloom. Borrow jewelry from family or in-laws for your wedding day. It'll make looking back at the jewelry in your wedding pictures that much more meaningful. If you don’t have jewelry you can borrow, start your own tradition. Purchase a string of pearls or a pair of earrings that you can pass down to the future bride in your life.
Consider hair accessories. Even if you're wearing a veil, you can still rock an embellished headband or lovely comb. If you want to change up your hair accessories from ceremony to reception, try removing the veil and putting on a fascinator for the big party.
Wear pieces that enhance your gown. Short-sleeved dresses look pretty with bracelets, while strapless and sweetheart dresses look fab with bold earrings Halters go great with hair accessory jewelry, and V-necks look stunning when paired with pendants or chokers.
Remove excess body jewelry. Those eyebrow and nose piercings are not something you'll love seeing when you flip through your wedding album at your 50th anniversary party, no matter how cool it looks right now.


Don'ts for wedding accessories
Don't look at jewelry until you pick out your dress. This seems obvious, but brides often get hooked on statement pieces that models are wearing or that they see in bridal salons. Building a look around a piece of jewelry limits your dress options and makes it a lot harder to find a gown.
Don't worry about adorning yourself in diamonds. It's just one day; you can wear cubic zirconia and other faux gemstones if that's how you want to complete your look.
Don't wear wedding jewelry on your left arm. Keep the focus on your left side, on your engagement and wedding band. There will be tons of pictures and guests looking at your left hand; large bracelets and excess rings can take away from your bridal set.
Don't overload yourself with accessories. You don't need to wear one of every type of jewelry. A simple necklace and pair of earrings, or a hair piece and bracelet will do the trick. Less is definitely more when it comes to accessorizing on your wedding day.
Don't focus on trends. In thirty years, you'll most likely regret that super chunky necklace you just had to have. You won't look at pictures and say, "I shouldn't have worn those pearls" or "Those diamond studs were way too gaudy."
Don't forget about the bag. Even though your maid of honor will most likely be keeping tabs on it the entire night, a clutch will look nice in pictures and carry everything you need to touch up your makeup throughout the evening.

Kins od the Veil Length

Veil length highlights you and your wedding dress. A long veil can lengthen your look while a short veil can add interest to the top of your dress. We can help you! Here you can learn about the different lengths and how to measure. Feel free to contact us or call us for personal assistance!


To get an idea of a custom veil length on yourself

Find a friend and a full length mirror
If possible try on your gown, definitely wear the same height shoes
Start a long string (or tape measure) on your head where you plan to wear your veil
Run the string down your back
Mark where you may want your veil to end
Measure to the mark(s)
For a blusher veil

Mark where you want the blusher to end in back
Holding the string in place on top of your head, move the string to the front
Adjust if needed to where you want it to end in front
Keep in mind wedding day hairstyles can take up extra veil length, so it’s best to go a bit longer

Shoulder Veil
The shoulder length veil is a short veil that touches your shoulders or slightly covers them. The Communion Veil falls in the shoulder length category. For the short veil it is very important to know where you will attach the veil on your head because that will make a big difference in the veil length.


Elbow Length Veil
The elbow length veil reaches your elbows or your waist. An elbow veil can be used to cover your shoulders. An elbow length veil will highlight a wedding dress with a spectacular skirt. Be sure to measure as our “elbow veils” can be up to 36 inches which can fall at fingertip level for many brides.

Fingertip Veil
The fingertip veil should just graze your fingertips when your fingers are extended. Fingertip wedding veils fall below the waist and do well to keep the focus on an amazing bodice. Mantilla veils are a good size at fingertip length.


Waltz Length Veil
The waltz length veil should end just about knee length, usually 8 to 12 inches above the floor. Think of a waltz a dance gliding across the room. A waltz length veil is not as fluffy due to the longer length. To show off a stunning waist or bodice on your dress, choose a waltz veil.

Chapel Length Veils
Chapel length veils fall just above the floor or to the ankles. A chapel veil can lengthen your overall look.Chapel length veils tend to hang straight down and not get as fluffy. It’s important to measure to find ankle or floor length on yourself…with shoes on and starting where you will wear it on your wedding day.


Cathedral Veil
The cathedral veil trails behind the gown on the floor like a train. A good way to add a train when your dress does not have one. For a dress with a train, end the cathedral veil 4 to 6 inches or more beyond the dress train so the veil will spread out and allow your dress to show through. Even at full width cathedral length veils are quite transparent.


Royal Length Veil
A royal length veil is even longer than the cathedral veil. Royal veils are more than 120 inches long, we’ve made some as long as 240 inches. For the most dramatic effect chose a royal length veil.

Useful Tips for Choosing Wedding Veils

Colors should match. Don't choose an ivory veil for a white dress. Even though the difference may look slight, the contrast will show.
Embellishments on a veil should match those on the dress. If your dress is studded with pearls, you'll probably want pearl embellishments on the veil.
Make sure the weight of the headpiece and veil combined is something you can deal with. Most headpieces are secured to the head with combs. If the veil is heavy, the combs can play havoc with your hairdo.
If you're in love with your veil but don't feel it will be comfortable for an all-day affair, consider getting a veil with a detachable headpiece. After the wedding ceremony and pictures, you can detach the veil and wear the headpiece only. You want to feel light as you dance the evening away.

Once you choose a veil, you'll be able to choose your hairstyle. If you'll be having your hair and makeup professionally done, it would be a good idea to bring your veil to the hairdresser's with you when you go for your initial consultation. You can discuss styles in advance and perhaps try a few for your consideration.

If you'll be doing your own hair, take some time and practice with styles that work best with your veil. The last thing you want on the day of your wedding is to have to experiment with different styles.

Where to Buy Veils
While brides often purchase their veils from the salon or shop where they purchased their dress, others may not find quite the right one. In this case, check out other retailers and shops for a wider selection.

Bridal Veils and Jewelry
Bridal Veils and Jewelry features affordable veils and headpieces, along with jewelry. With 15 colors, 14 edge options, and the choice between one and two tier veils, brides are sure to find something to suit their style at this shop.
Birdcage Veils
A birdcage veil is a short, chic, netted veil style that allows you to see clearly. At Birdcage Veils, you can choose wedding fascinators with different types of nets. Check out their video gallery to get good examples of all the cool bridal styles they offer. Owner Melody Ginn receives each email order.
Illusions Bridal
Illusions Bridal has wedding hair accessories and veils, including headpieces. These beautiful headpieces fit on the wedding crowns or tiaras. Choose a simple or more complex style to pair with your veil. They typically ship within just a couple days of the order.
Occansey Designs
Want more control over your veil design? Partner with Occansey Designs and get the exact look you want. You'll choose important details like fullness, layers, cut, and color.


Store Your Veil Carefully
Before the wedding, hang the veil in a closet, preferably away from sunlight, moths and other elements. If it came in a garment bag, you'll want to keep storing it that way for protection. After the wedding, take your veil, along with your dress, to the person preserving the dress. The veil will be stored in the same box for future generations to use.

How To Pick Your Perfect Wedding Headpiece

We caught up with renowned South Florida hairstylist and owner of Phairis Bridal Hairstyling, Rebecca Mousseau to get some expert tips for our brides-to-be.  One of the tricky bridal beauty decisions to make is choosing the right hairstyle and the right headpiece to match your dress.


A common problem brides battle is a disconnect between their fabulous hairstylist and their equally fabulous bridal wear consultant.  While both may be experts in their own domain, it is imperative that the looks created are complementary. Great hair and a great dress don't necessarily equal a great overall look.  Both elements have to fit together flawlessly.

In today's Bridal Beauty blog, Rebecca shares the tricks to choosing the perfect bridal headpiece to complete any bridal look.


According to Rebecca, finding the perfect hairpiece for your special day is no small task. One rule of thumb to always follow is her “Busy & Simple” Theory. If your dress is busy and has a lot going on, such as frills, lace, beading etc. you’re hairpiece should be simple and smaller in size.

If your gown is more of a simple style, your hairpiece should be busy! Large flowers, bird cage veils, beaded and feathered hairpieces add that extra glamorous touch to your look.

You want your hair accessory to flow seamlessly with your gown and not be overbearing. Creating a style board is a great way to see which hair piece would best suit your personal style and your gown.

Here are a few great tips for narrowing down your chooses!

Bridal gowns adorned in lace are a huge hit this season and Rebecca has put together a few options for hair pieces that not only enhance your look but flow beautifully with your gown.

Lace gowns are so eye catching and elegant you don’t need a whole lot in your hair. Small to medium sized vintage pieces are your best bet. Whether you wear them on one side or in the back, they add just enough sparkle and bling to your look. Fresh flowers and feathered clips also add that special touch.

Nothing shows curves like a mermaid bridal gown and Rebecca has chosen the best hair pieces to suit each style. Whether you’re wearing a simpler gown or an all-out extravagant dress, here’s her picks!

For dresses with lace, frills and glamorous embellishments, your hair piece can take the back seat. Opt for something simpler such as a fresh flower, small rhinestone hair clips or a feather creation.

For mermaid gowns that are stunningly simple, opt for something a little more over-the-top when it comes to your hair piece. Large faux flowers and full headpieces as well as bird cage veils will add a vintage twist, adding timeless style to a modern gown.

Ballroom Gowns are the Cinderella story, played out by every bride who chooses one!

Fresh flowers or small to medium sized hair pins work best with this style of dress. Fresh flowers are soft and romantic while embellished hair clips add just enough sparkle to your already WOW gown.

The "flower child" look has become quite popular, especially for outdoor weddings. These whimsical hair accessories can be made of either fresh or faux flowers.

Halo’s are usually worn with more simple dresses in either lace or taffeta and can be made from a wide variety of flowers. They can either sit on the forehead or be worn like a head band. You can make them extra special by incorporating a brooch or your “something borrowed” to add a little bling and personality.

DOs and DON’Ts: 5 Tips for Picking Your Wedding Jewelry

I rarely wear jewelry—besides my wedding and engagement rings—but when I do, my instinct is to get all Mary-Kate Olsen and pile on everything in my jewelry box. Which means I’m probably the wrong person to ask about choosing your bridal wedding jewelry. So I got in touch with someone who’s much more qualified!
Urvi, an expert jewel stylist and the owner of Tejani, put together some DOs and DON’Ts to help you pull together your wedding day look. And I went ahead and picked some pieces from her collection that I think you’ll adore. Just promise me you won’t try to wear everything at once.

DON’T wait ’til the last minute!
You never want your accessories to be an afterthought. Order everything at least a month in advance. You’ll want to have enough time to try it on with your wedding dress and make sure you’ve achieved the final look you want.

DO go big!
Especially if you’re wearing your hair down! Dainty earrings will get lost in your hair. Punch up your look with some dramatic statement earrings!




DON’T over-accessorize!
The only thing worse than under-accessorizing is over-accessorizing. If your wedding dress has a lot of lace or heavy embroidery, choose light pieces to compliment it. If you have your heart set on a chunky necklace, skip the armful of bangles and shoulder-grazing earrings. Ask a stylish friend to help you edit your look!

DO accessorize your bridesmaids!
You spent countless hours finding the perfect bridesmaid dresses, so take a few minutes to complete the look with fabulous accessories. Keep the style consistent, but let your bridesmaids express their individuality. (Trust me, they’ll thank you!) The styles below match, but they’re not matchy-matchy. p.s. You can choose any color stones to match your palette!



DON’T be afraid to change your look!
You can have a classic look when you walk down the aisle, then change up your jewelry when you’re going to let loose at the reception. Add a few bangles or switch out your elegant pearl studs for statement-making chandelier earrings.

Diy Wedding Accessories-Silk And Lace Blossom Pin Tutorial

 Is everyone is excited for the new book, Adornments from Twigs and Honey and Elizabeth Messina? It is filled with with tutorials and gorgeous pictures, and it’s a must-have for anyone who loves to craft.
In honor of her new book, Myra put together this DIY Silk And Lace Blossom Pin tutorial exclusively  for our readers. The final product is incredibly pretty and can be worn anywhere. It would look so cute tucked in an updo or loose bun. We also love that the tutorial is quite easy and only requires a few supplies and takes a few steps.

Materials & Tools
4-6 squares of silk fabric that are from 2-3” (I’m using silk organza and silk chiffon)
Assorted beads
Assorted piece of lace (preferably with light beading)
Bobby pin
Scissors
Needle & thread



 A special thanks to Myra for putting this together for us and be sure to check out her new book. Adornments. Read on to learn how to make these silk and lace blossom pin diy wedding accessories.
Step 1: Cut the silk squares in to rounded shapes. These don’t have to be perfect circles. A few wobbles and jagged edges are a good thing.
Step 2: Pull with on the edges of the cut silk using your fingers to fray the edges.
Step 3: Continue fraying your silk rounds until all are nicely deconstructed. Layer the silk pieces on top of each other and tuck in a few lace accents. Pinch the center and hand stitch together, sewing a few beads into the center as you go.
Step 5: Sew onto a bobby pin. You can create 1 or multiple of these pins for a layered effect.

What To Do With Your Wedding Decorations After the Wedding

You put months of thought into your wedding day details and it paid off. The centerpieces were flawless, the table runners were crisp, and the reception decorations stayed put throughout the party. Congratulations. You’re married! Now you’re looking at overstuffed boxes of tulle, mason jars, lanterns, table settings, and linens in your living room. What’s a newlywed to do? It’s time to gift, sell, DIY (again), donate, and store. Read on to get the details!


Gift Your Wedding Decorations
Look at your decorations and get creative. Which ones can you gift to friends and family? You can turn a mason jar, for example, into an instant gift by filling it with dry chocolate chip cookie mix, tying a ribbon around the top, and sticking a recipe on it. Freebie Finding Mom has 25 mason jar recipes that span all holidays. Or, use small vases or jars to hold cutlery, tea, or sugar in your kitchen.

And the lanterns you used to light the aisle or provide reception ambiance? Add a citronella candle and bring one as a hostess gift to your next outdoor get-together!

Sell Your Wedding Decorations
This may seem the most appealing option for budget-savvy brides looking to recoup some of their wedding day expenses. The best part? You already have professional photographs of your wedding decor! Peruse Craigslist, Etsy, and eBay and you’ll find plenty of brides looking to unload used/unused wedding decor, wedding clothing, and even some wedding gifts. (Yikes, don’t be one of these gift-givers! Get the newlyweds a gift they won’t return!)

If it seems like too much of a hassle to list individual items, post pictures of your wedding and sell your wedding decorations as a themed bundle. You may not recoup all of your money, but you’ll be one step closer to clearing the clutter and still make a little cash.

The best site for reselling gently used wedding decorations and accessories (in my opinion) is Tradesy. They help you list literally everything from your wedding, including your shoes, veil, accessories, paper products, centerpieces, chandeliers, and more.

But you don’t have to go high-tech to make a buck or two. Want to get things out of the house fast? Host a garage sale. While you may not make top-dollar at a garage sale, you’ll certainly clear things out quickly.

No matter how you choose to sell your wedding decorations, you can help them sell faster and at a higher price if you showcase how YOU used them at your wedding. Other brides will be inspired to re-create your look!

Donate Your Wedding Decorations
No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. Know a coworker or friend’s daughter that is getting married soon? The bride-to-be may be able to re-purpose your decorations for her own big event. Do you really need three beverage dispensers? Or, donate your centerpieces to a hospital or elderly home in your area. Your decorations could also go to supporting an up-and-coming young photographer! Talk about some stylish photo props.

Store Your Decorations in a Sentimental Way
Get a large wooden trunk or plastic storage trunk and decorate it with paint, pages from your favorite wedding magazines, and enjoy an afternoon DIY-ing a memento that could be in your family forever. Here, you can keep extra copies of your invitations, “save-the-dates,” the robe you got ready in, and the hanger that held your dress. Wrap vases and lanterns in table linens or table runners to make the most of your space.

So, what did you do with your wedding decorations after the wedding? Sell them? Donate them? Store them? Which decorations did you keep? Help out brides-to-be everywhere and let us know in a comment below!

Choosing the Right Bridal Accessories

After you've selected your wedding gown, it's time to shop for your accessories. It's important to be sure that your accessories match the style and feel of your dress - and that you don't overdo it. Just one or two carefully chosen pieces are usually all you need. Check out our advice on selecting the right accessories for your gown.

Veil

A full-length veil looks just right with a classic ballgown


Gloves

While gloves are most frequently seen with traditional gowns, we love playing up the retro, Marilyn Monroe factor by pairing them with a glam, sexy style.


Birdcage Veil

Brides who want a vintage look gravitate toward a short birdcage veil. This style looks particularly lovely with a short dress.


Floral Wreath

For a full-on boho-chic garden fairy look, a floral wreath is just the right hair accessory. We suggest pairing it with a sheath style gown, perhaps with some floral details to match.


Statement Earrings

If your gown has just a splash of sparkle, a pair of statement earrings can ramp up the look. But if you're wearing a gown that's covered in head-to-toe bling, select smaller earrings.


Jacket or Coat

If you're getting married in the wintertime, consider sporting a cool cover-up if you decide to take pictures outside. Jackets or other outerwear look best on a less-adorned gown.

Hair Flower

A large hair flower looks particularly lovely with a fitted gown or sheath with just a hint of sparkle.

Headband or Tiara

Sparkly headbands or tiaras look picture perfect with a grand ballgown. It's the ultimate princess look.

Necklace

We normally think that statement necklaces look best with strapless necklines, but this pairing of a cool necklace with an illusion neckline gown by Amsale changed our mind.