As you dreamed of your wedding day as a little girl you may have thought about the style of your dress, or where you’d be getting married, but you probably didn’t think too much about the accessories that add to your look. But, ask any fashion designer or stylist and they’ll agree: Accessories are everything. As a DFW bridal boutique, we love to find all of the best new trending dresses, but we also love to provide guidance on styling your bridal look and creating a style that is personalized to you.

Accessorizing can range from choosing your wedding jewelry and picking the right pair of shoes for your walk down the aisle, to finding the best veil style to complete your look Diane’s Bridal will help you create your look. Here are a few accessorizing styles to consider when you’re styling your bridal look.

Let’s start with the most obvious, whether to wear a veil or not.

VEIL:

Whether or not you plan to wear a veil or not, a veil should be one of the first decisions you make when it comes to accessories, because it will help add to your look considerably. If you’re going for a more traditional look, nothing says bride more than a veil. If you have an embellished gown, opt for a simple, sheer veil. If you chose a classic gown, you can go for a more detailed veil, but as a general rule of thumb, you should always make sure to match the color of your veil to your wedding gown to avoid any appearance of discoloration or yellowing. If you aren’t sure if a veil is right for you, there are also many other hair accessories that are great options for your wedding look. Consider bows, barrettes, or a statement headband for a more cool-bride elegance.

JEWELRY:

Jewelry is a huge component of your wedding day look. When considering jewelry, remember that not all dresses (or necklines) are the right fit for necklaces, some are a better fit with statement earrings or an even more simplistic addition of a bracelet. If your gown has a strapless or sweetheart neckline, skip out on a necklace altogether and instead opt for a drop or statement earring that is chic and follows the eye line to your neckline. For a V-neckline gown, a necklace and drop earring combo are perfect to help accentuate your neckline. If you’re opting for a halter gown, forget the necklace and let your neckline shine with stud earrings and a dainty bracelet.

In addition to picking which pieces will complement your dress, it’s also important to consider which metals work better with each specific shade of white or ivory. Generally, gold is best paired with ivory to highlight the creamy hue of the fabric. Silver, platinum, or pearl jewelry pairs well with a bright white gown. If your wedding gown has a lot of beading or appliques, let those details determine your metal base, whether that’s silver, gold, or rose gold.

COVER-UPS:
Depending on the season, you may be interested in adding a cover-up to keep you warm in the Texas winter (where temperatures can change without much notice).  While a jacket or cardigan may seem like the obvious choice, you shouldn’t limit yourself. Consider opting for a cape, capelet, shawl, or bolero. If you’re looking for a more whimsical cover-up, think about getting a leather, jean, or satin jacket personalized with “bride” or your wedding date.

SHOES:
We all love a classic stiletto and wedding gown moment, but shouldn’t forget that shoes can be an excellent way to add personality to your look. If you’re into heels, it’s always a good idea to keep some backup shoes that are comfy to help you get through a long day and night. Not into heels? Opt for a chic pair of sandals, sneakers, flats, or boots that complement your gown. When it comes to color, a pop of color always adds a personal touch to your bridal look, but if you want to keep it more traditional, go for the same hue as your jewelry! Ultimately, you should pick what you’re comfortable in and what feels most like you. Your wedding day shouldn’t just be what everyone else expects – it should be a direct reflection of who you are and who you and your partner are as a couple

PURSES:
One item that is often overlooked on your wedding day, is the addition of a wedding purse. While you might not have considered that you’ll need a bag when you’re a bride, the truth is, you probably still want access to some essentials, even on your special day. The contents of what’s inside will be far different (and scaled-down) from what’s in your day-to-day purse, but you will likely want to have your phone, hotel key, lipstick, or anything else for vital day-of touch-ups. Keep in mind your planner and bridesmaids will also be able to help you with the “emergency kit” and other items that you don’t want to carry around in the small handbag. Rather than selecting a purse for the sole purpose of the contents, keep in mind that the purse you select will also be visible in certain pictures (likely the send-off), so select a purse that complements the dress you’re wearing and the style you’ve put together for your event and your look.

GLOVES:

Possibly inspired by the royals, but far less common than a veil or shoes, gloves can also be a perfect accessory to add to your wedding day look. Gloves can add a dash of nostalgic or vintage flair to your wedding-day look. From delicately embroidered and crocheted pairs to elegant opera-length gloves in silk, there’s no shortage of options to choose from. For a more modern take on bridal gloves, long, full-length styles complete with ruffles or edgy embroidery add drama to fashion-forward, simplistic dresses. While gloves are traditionally worn during the ceremony—from walking down the aisle to the exchanging of vows—trust us, this is one accessory you won’t want to skimp on.

Interested in shopping for your wedding gown and wedding day accessories? Contact us today for guidance, or start shopping!

Bridal gown online shopping.

Have you considered it?

If you’re like most brides, you’ve envisioned shopping for your wedding gown at one point or another in your lifetime. To some, the ritual of gathering your best friends and closest family members to sip champagne while you search for the perfect dress to “say yes” to, is one of the first to-do’s on the wedding planning checklist. But, have you considered shopping for your bridal gown online?

“According to The Knot 2020 Wedding Attire Study, nearly half of females (45 percent) said COVID impacted how they searched for attire,” says Shelley Brown, The Knot’s senior fashion and beauty editor. “The main change being they did more research online.”

Shopping online can inspire numerous opportunities.

Here are a couple of the pros of shopping for your bridal gown online:

1. When you walk into a store, you’re often limited to what’s inside those four walls, but the internet opens the door to unlimited possibilities. You are suddenly able to have access to any designer, style, trend or variation, whether it’s local to your or states away.
2. You can be much more efficient with your time. Let’s face it, we’re all busy, and time is not a luxury that most of us have at our disposal. Using the internet to locate or narrow down your top wedding gown options, can be much more efficient than visiting multiple boutiques and trying on dresses that may not fit what you’ve been daydreaming about.

With any large purchase, you may be hesitant to press the order button, so it’s important to remember a few key factors before making your purchase:

1. REAL REVIEWS
   Look for “real-life” reviews. What can be more valuable than hearing the words of other shoppers who were in your same boat not long ago? Be sure to look at the reviews every company posts to ensure that they are a reputable source for one of the most important dresses you’ll be in your lifetime. (Hint: Diane’s Bridal Boutique posts real reviews, from real brides who have shopped with us. You can visit our reviews page, as well as submit your own if you’ve shopped with us before).
2. IF IT’S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT’S PROBABLY NOT TRUE
   A good rule of thumb is if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. We recommend brides be wary of stores promising high-end designer gowns for unbelievably low prices. Pay attention to the URL and the overall look and feel of the online store.
3. DON’T FORGET TO LOOK AT THE FINE PRINT
   Understand the fine print before making your purchase. From the return policy to the shipping costs and the length of time between order and delivery, it’s essential to understand what you are purchasing and what the expectations will be.
4. SIZING
   Sizing for bridal gowns can be different than any other clothing that you’ve purchased before. It’s important to take your measurements and compare them to a size chart or talk to the boutique staff to ensure that you are ordering what will work best for you.

What to look for:

When shopping in person at a bridal boutique, you can likely rely on the staff to point you in the right direction as to what dress styles are trending or may work best for your body type. When shopping online, you’ll find endless inspiration but a little less hand-holding through the purchase process. At Diane’s Bridal Boutique, we want to provide you with as much direction and inspiration as we can, to help you make the gown purchase that’s right for you. We are in agreement with Brides.com about a few of the top trending gown styles this year.

Sexy Cutouts:

A trend we continuously saw throughout Bridal Fashion Week was cutouts. Designers dared to be bold and used this design element to turn traditional gowns into modern masterpieces. These cutouts truly embodied this sexy silhouette with both tasteful and contemporary pieces.

Example: Lihi Hod

Colorful Hues

Break the rules, it doesn’t have to be white anymore! Designers fully understood the assignment this season, creating showstopping looks that break the all white tradition, embrace individuality, and push the boundaries within bridalwear.

Example: Andrew Kwon

Square Necklines

A dress’s neckline is one of the most noticeable components of an ensemble, though oftentimes, within bridal fashion it becomes an afterthought. Thankfully, this season’s collections brought the attention back to this design detail. While sweetheart necklines had their moment to shine, square necklines also made a huge debut down the runways.

Example: Dana Harel

Voluminous Ruffles

Nothing says bridal quite like ruffles, and we couldn’t be more excited to see this trend within the majority of the Fall 2022 collections. From full voluminous skirts to ruffled hemlines and tiered tulle, this cascading style is quintessential for those who want to feel like the belle of their ball.

Example: Marchesa

Bell Sleeves

These beautifully flared sleeves emerged during the Medieval Era, made their way through the 70s, and are now back as a top trend today.

Example: WONA Concept

Corset Bodices

Back and better than ever is the re-emergence of corset bodices. This structural element allows brides to accentuate their figures, while still paying homage to the traditional silhouette of a wedding gown.

Example: Nadia Manjarrez Studio Bridal

More than just a gown:

At Diane’s Bridal Boutique, we offer more than just the gown. With any gorgeous wedding look, there are other items to consider. From hairstyle and shoes to veils and accessories, a bridal look involves more than the gown. As with gowns, in 2022 bridal accessories and styles are no longer following traditional rules. From chic birdcage veils and unexpected gloves to multiple dress changes, splashes of color, and unconventional accessories like sunglasses, chokers, and tights, nothing is off limits to a modern bride. Today’s bride should feel comfortable expressing her personality and style, without having to follow “old school” bridal rules.

Are you interested in shopping our online gown collection? Click here. 

Interested in discussing your wedding day look and wishlist? Contact us today to set up a time to chat.