How to Style Your Wedding Day Look: From Veil to Vow

Written By Sue Ferreira

So, you've found the dress! Amazing! But your wedding day look isn't just about the gown—it's about turning up the volume on your personal style until it's a jaw-dropping, cohesive vibe. It's the whole shebang: the dress, the dazzling extras, and the feeling you want to create. This guide is your new best friend for nailing the accessory game, making for a look that's 100% you and totally unforgettable.

Choosing the Right Accessories: The Art of Complementing Your Gown

The goal of accessories isn't to overpower your dress, but to enhance it. Consider the style, silhouette, and detailing of your gown as your starting point. A heavily embellished dress might call for more minimalist accessories, while a simpler gown offers a canvas for bolder statements.

Veil Lengths and Styles

The veil is arguably the most iconic bridal accessory, adding a touch of timeless romance and drama. Its length and style can dramatically alter your overall look.

  • Birdcage Veil: A short, playful veil that typically covers just a portion of the face. Ideal for vintage-inspired or less formal wedding

  • Shoulder/Elbow Length Veil: Reaching to the shoulders or elbows, these veils are versatile and offer a classic bridal feel without hindering movement. They are perfect for showcasing intricate back details of a gown.

  • Fingertip Veil: A popular choice that extends to the fingertips, offering a graceful flow without being overly dramatic. 

  • Waltz/Ballet Veil: Falling between fingertip and floor length, this veil reaches mid-calf and is perfect for brides who want more length without a train. Chapel Veil: Extending to the floor, often slightly longer than the dress's train. This creates a more formal and traditional look, adding grandeur without being as dramatic as a cathedral veil.

  • Cathedral Veil: The most dramatic and formal veil, extending several feet beyond the dress's train. This length is perfect for grand church ceremonies and creates a truly majestic entrance. It's often chosen for its breathtaking visual impact in photographs.

Tip: Consider the venue and the aisle length when choosing your veil. A very long veil might be impractical in a smaller, more intimate setting.

Jewelry Recommendations

Jewelry adds personal flair and sparkle, drawing attention to your décolletage, neck, and hands.

  • Necklaces:

    • Strapless/Sweetheart Neckline: A delicate pendant necklace or a statement choker can beautifully frame the collarbone.

    • V-Neckline: A Y-shaped necklace or a pendant that mimics the "V" shape can accentuate the neckline elegantly.

    • Halter/High Neckline: Often, no necklace is needed. If you choose one, a delicate chain that sits close to the neck can be effective.

  • Earrings:

    • Simple Studs/Pearls: Timeless and elegant, perfect for intricate dresses or when wearing a statement necklace.

    • Drop Earrings: Add a touch of glamour and length, ideal for up-dos or when you want a subtle dangle.

    • Chandelier Earrings: Make a bold statement, best paired with simpler necklines and updos to avoid competing with other elements.

  • Bracelets: A delicate tennis bracelet or a cuff can add a touch of sparkle to your wrist, especially if your gown has shorter sleeves or no sleeves. Consider matching the metal to your other jewelry.

Tip: Less is often more. If you have a dazzling necklace, opt for simpler earrings, and vice-versa.

Hair Accessories

Hair accessories can complete your bridal look, whether you choose an updo, a half-up style, or loose waves.

  • Hair Combs: Versatile and elegant, they can be tucked into an updo or used to secure a side-swept style. 

  • Hairpins: Small, often embellished pins that can be scattered throughout an updo for a subtle shimmer or used to accent braids.

  • Headbands/Tiaras: Offer a regal touch. Headbands can range from simple and elegant to intricately embellished.

  • Floral Accents: Fresh flowers woven into your hair or silk floral pins can add a romantic, bohemian touch, especially for outdoor or garden weddings.

  • Hair Vines: Flexible and often adorned with crystals, pearls, or delicate flowers, these can be woven through braids, coiled around buns, or worn as a halo.

Transforming Your Gown

The right accessories can entirely transform the feel of your wedding gown.

  • Example 1: The Classic Ball Gown

    • Without Accessories: A beautiful, traditional dress.

    • With a Cathedral Veil and Diamond Studs: Becomes a majestic, timeless bridal statement, evoking grandeur and formality.

    • With a Birdcage Veil and Pearl Choker: Transforms into a chic, vintage-inspired look, perfect for a sophisticated city wedding.

  • Example 2: The Simple A-Line Gown

    • Without Accessories: Elegant and understated.

    • With a Sparkling Statement Headband and Chandelier Earrings: Elevates the simplicity into a glamorous, red-carpet-ready ensemble.

    • With a Delicate Floral Hair Vine and Barely-There Jewelry: Creates a bohemian, ethereal vibe, ideal for an outdoor or rustic wedding.

By thoughtfully curating your accessories, you're not just adding adornments; you're crafting a complete and unforgettable bridal vision that reflects your unique personality and the dream of your wedding day. From the whisper of your veil to the gleam of your chosen gems, every detail culminates in a look that is truly, beautifully you.So, when you're pulling together your wedding day accessories, you're doing way more than just adding some sparkle! You're actually building your full, jaw-dropping bridal look that shouts you and perfectly captures the vibe of your big day. 


Sue Ferreira
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