Who says choosing your wedding accessories has to be stressful? Not us! We believe that picking out a bridal tiara or headpiece can be just as much fun as choosing a wedding gown. In fact, it might even be better because you probably won't have an audience throwing their opinions into the ring. For some brides, choosing a tiara or headpiece feels special because it's one of the first accessories they choose on their own. That's not to say you can't shop with your bridesmaids at your side – it's just that shopping for accessories is your time to choose exactly what you want.
Where do I Start?
The first step – and we mean the very first step – is choosing your wedding dress. Without that, it's almost impossible to choose any
wedding crowns and tiaras. Why? Because the tall, golden crown that looks so beautiful in pictures might not look as beautiful with your rum pink gown. Your goal should be a coordinated look, and that means matching your accessories to your dress, and not the other way around.
The second step is having at least a rough idea of your wedding day hairstyle. An elegant updo may warrant a very different bridal headpiece than a long, loose style featuring dazzling mermaid curls. Not sure what you should be looking for? Your stylist will be able to tell you what kinds of tiaras and hair accessories go best with which hairstyles.
What style is best for me?
This is a question that only you can answer, but we're happy to give you a little input into your choices!
Traditional tiaras offer the most dramatic look, and work with everything from simple sheath dresses to traditional ball gowns. They're also versatile in that they can be worn with of without a veil – so your options are wide open. We see tiaras paired with updos more often than other hairdos, but tiaras can be worn with almost any kind of bridal hair.
Wedding Headbands are totally on trend. For brides who want to wear their hair down, a headband adds a touch of elegance to loose hair or a side-swept ponytail. Short hair? No problem! A bridal headband is the ideal compromise for brides with hair too short for other accessory options. Hint: Try asymmetrical headbands for a modern look.
Double Headbands do double duty. They can be worn flat on the head as a headband or tilted forward in tiara style. Some can even be wrapped around a bun!
Bridal Combs are a simple headpiece style that can be worn with almost any hairstyle. Some resemble tiaras and are worn similarly, while others are worn at the side of the head or in the back. A comb-veil combination makes having a second look for the reception easy.
Hair pins are also very versatile. They are a great option for any hairstyle, whether formal or tussled, up or down – but especially in structural updos where they can highlight the dimensionality of the style.
How do I choose a tiara?
Finding the right tiara is usually a matter of not only finding one that harmonizes with the color and decorative elements of your wedding gown, but also thinking about the shape of your face. Any tiara should draw attention to your face by framing it, not draw attention away from it. How do you make that happen?
• Round/Full face: To make your face appear longer, choose a bridal tiara that has a delicate, high peak.
• Long face: Choose headbands or tiaras with little or no height that extend over your head from one side to the other at an even height.
• Oval face: Avoid peaked tiaras, and look instead for asymmetrical headpieces that have the most volume at the side of the head.
What is color matching all about?
Your bridal headpiece should be a part of your overall wedding day ensemble. In other words, it should add to the beauty of your gown – not steal the show! The same rules that you follow when choosing bridal jewelry will help you choose the perfect tiara or headband.
WHITE GOWN: Choose a tiara that is silver-tone and has clear rhinestones or white pearls to emphasize the brilliance of your dress.
IVORY GOWN: Choose a tiara that is gold-tone or has ivory pearls to highlight the softness and femininity of your dress.
DIAMOND WHITE: This is a fairly new shade of white that is lighter than off-white but not stark white. Choose either gold, silver tone, or white pearl.
CHAMPAGNE OR DARK IVORY: Choose a gold tone tiara or dark ivory pearls, because these will let the unique color of your dress shine.
What pattern should I choose?
It's so tempting to look at all the gorgeous tiaras or bridal headpieces out there without thinking about colors or your wedding jewelry, but remember that your hair accessories are part of a whole. There's no one perfect pattern for tiaras, but try to match the pattern in the detailing of your gown to the pattern in the tiara. If you have floral pattern in your gown, look for a headpiece with similar detailing. A modern, plain white gown usually looks best with a tiara with straight lines or a geometric pattern. Again, this is all about unity! Your dress and your accessories shouldn't be fighting for attention.
And a few more helpful tips…
• Match the beading of your dress to the accents in your tiara. If your dress is dripping with pearls, choose a tiara with some or all pearls. If your dress sparkles with crystals, choose a headpiece with crystal accents.
• A tiara with only Austrian clear crystals (rhinestones) and no pearls will match any gown.
• A tiara with pearls should match either the pearl accents on the gown, the color of the gown itself, or the pearls in your other wedding jewelry. Most pearl tiaras go great with off-white or ivory gowns, but some pearls are brighter white, so be sure to check the description of the headpiece.
• Be sure to take a step back and make sure that all the pieces of your bridal ensemble work together and that no one piece overwhelms another. Your guests should be looking at you, not staring at your tiara.
• Women with short hair look absolutely beautiful wearing tiaras! Pick a lighter, more delicate tiara that won't require lots of pinning to hold it in place or try headband style tiaras with a more petite shape.
