The most basic accessories are often the hardest to choose. There are so many different styles of shoes, veils, and slips that a bride can go crazy figuring out which ones to wear. Help is on the way. By simply following these steps you will be able to pick out these accessories free of stress.
While some brides choose not to wear a veil or slip- all brides wear shoes. Brides’ shoes can range anywhere from flip-flops to platforms and from tennis shoes to pumps. Every bride has her own style, and her own dress style. Try to find shoes that will complement your wedding dress and wedding theme. If you are wearing a simple dress at a beach gathering, you may just choose white beaded flip-flops. If you are wearing a ball gown for a winter wedding, pumps will be your best bet. If you are wearing a long dress and are more interested in comfort than beauty, tennis shoes are becoming a growing trend. No matter what shoes you choose, make sure you are comfortable in them. There is nothing worse than getting blisters on your wedding day. Also, if you are a “flats” kind of girl- don’t go for the stilettos, you’re just risking falling on your face on the most important day of your life.
A veil is a very traditional part of the wedding outfit. Even if you think you don’t want one, try one on to just see how you’d look. Many brides end up getting a veil even after deciding not to just because it flatters everyone. There are a couple of guidelines for matching face shape with veil styles, but if you love a certain style, don’t be afraid to get it. Veils are so sheer and billowy, it will be hard for people to tell that it “doesn’t look good”. One important guideline to follow is matching the veil with the wedding style. If you are having a casual wedding, you will not want to go for the cathedral-length veil. Another guideline to keep in mind is to keep you veil simple if your dress is ornate. If you have a simple dress, the veil can be simple or embellished. Just make sure you don’t over-do the designs.
Some brides choose to wear a slip under their dress for two main reasons: to increase the “pouf” of the skirt or to protect the skirt from your legs (or visa versa if the skirt has scratchy seams). If you choose a slip to increase the fullness of your skirt, there are many different options out there. If you want a thinner look, or simply want to enhance a sewn-in slip, you should try a thin or medium slip which will add up to 4″ of fullness. For a bigger look, try a full slip which can add up to 9″ of fullness. To go all out, an extra full slip will add even more fullness, and a hoop slip (a slip with hoops at the bottom) will add the most fullness because it will keep its shape better than regular slips. If you are just using a slip for protection/comfort, you may just want to buy a one-layer slip from a department store, or try a thin slip.
Once you get these basics taken care of, you’ll be able to focus on more detailed accessories like jewelry and makeup. No matter what accessories you choose, make sure they coordinate not only with the wedding style, but also with your own personal style so that you can feel great on your big day.
