Your big day is going to be, well … big. And while your wedding dress is obviously the main focus as far as your fashion will go, it doesn’t hurt to take a critical eye to your accessories, too.
In fact, it doesn’t matter if it’s your wedding day or just a chance to dress up. The way you accessorize your main garment can make or break your look. Fortunately, many have done so before you and have proven it’s easy, so long as you follow some tried-and-true tips for making your look distinctive.
01. Your Dress’s Color
Not every bride will walk down the aisle in a crisp white dress — in fact, slight variations in hue can make all the difference for your skin tone. Once you’ve found the right fabric to match yours, consider which metals look best with each color family. (Photo via Peaches and Mint Photography / Style Me Pretty)
Pure White
Bright on its own, a stark white will look way too flashy with gold. Try and find jewelry in muted, cooler hues such as platinum or pearl.
Ivory
Most gowns will fall into this category, as ivory’s warmth tends to flatter more skin tones. Of course, its warmth can come from different undertones. Most go well with gold, since they come from a yellowy base. If yours seems pinker at its core, try rose gold.
02. Your Dress’s Neckline
This is perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind as you shop for jewelry. You’ll have to consider the specific cut of your dress to know what to look for — and what to avoid. For instance, as a rule of thumb, your necklace should never overlap your dress’s neckline. (Photo via Krista A. Jones Photography / Style Me Pretty)
Here are a few other things to consider as well:
Strapless or Sweetheart
Most gowns these days tend to be strapless, which leaves you with plenty of bare skin to accentuate with baubles. Try to find a necklace to play up the traditional, modern, sexy or cute cut of your gown. Of course, if you’d rather let your shoulders and décolletage speak for themselves, a pair of statement earrings could be enough sparkle to balance everything out.
V-Neck
The V-Neck is another story, as it seems to just beg for a pendant necklace to make the entire look complete. Even a very simple chain and stone will be enough to accentuate the elegant cut of your dress.
Halter
A halter ties around the neck, so wearing a necklace with a dress of this style would break the cardinal rule of necklace wearing that we shared above. Go for statement earrings or bracelet(s) instead.
03. Your Hair and Veil Vision
Whether you’ve poured over bridal mags or built the ultimate bridal board on Pinterest, you have a vision for your hair and veil on the big day. You should most definitely keep both of these game-changers in mind when you pick out your jewelry. (Photo via Style Me Pretty)
For example, you wouldn’t want to pair simple diamond studs with voluminous waves that you wear down. No one would see the earrings. Instead, go for bold chandelier earrings or extra-large studs that will be visible. The same goes for your hair accessories — why bother spending hours finding the right earrings if they’ll just be under your veil all night long? In other words, go for the necklace and bracelet instead.
04. Your Personal Style
How do you want to look when it comes time to walk down the aisle? This is perhaps the most important guideline for choosing your jewelry. Some might say not to overdo it, while others suggest not overthinking it. The truth is, your personal style should be what guides you to choose the right baubles for your big day. Try on a bunch of styles to see what works or seek out very specific pieces that match your particular vision. (Photo via Nancy Neil Photography / Style Me Pretty)
In following your own intuition, you’ll ensure that you’ll feel zero regrets in your choice of accessories when you look back at your wedding photos — on that day, they were exactly what you wanted to wear. And that will make you feel just as great on that day as you do when you walk down the aisle.
By Sarah Landrum
Anonymous Buyer