Popular Bridal Accessories

Bridal accessories range from the purse a bride will carry into the reception to the earrings and headpiece she will wear during the service. Choosing the right bridal accessories takes some time and must come once you have selected the dress and shoes you will wear.

Handbags and Purses

Brides don’t carry their handbags with them to the altar, but they do typically use them in the hours before the wedding. Brides will have their cell phone and likely some makeup for touchups available, and these will be in the handbag. Any bag purchased for the wedding day should be large enough to carry these items as well as tissues, as carrying tissues is a must for the bride. Anything else can be handed off to bridesmaids or relatives who aren’t in the service.

Try to find a handbag that will match both your wedding gown and your reception dress if you will be changing before the reception. An all-purpose bag for the entire day is far simpler that getting one bag for the service, one for the reception, and possibly one for the honeymoon trip. A simple, elegant bag should do the trick for the entire wedding day.

Earrings and Other Jewelry

Traditional advice warns against wearing necklaces for brides. Because most wedding gowns have low necklines, a necklace, especially a thin chain, tends to make it look as if the bride’s neck is cut in half. This look can be odd on pictures, which is why most photographers advise against wearing a necklace. The only exception is a chain that cannot be seen but has a large pendant on it. This type of bridal accessory works really well with a plunging neckline.

Brides have a bit more leeway when it comes to earrings. Different types of earrings work with different types of hairstyles, which is the primary consideration when choosing earrings. With swept-up hair, the best earrings are dangling so that they draw attention to themselves. When the hair will cover the ears, diamond studs or pearls are a good choice because these earrings provide a classy look without detracting from the bride’s hair.

Headpieces

The traditional headpiece for modern brides is a non-descript comb with veil. Now that veils aren’t as popular, there are more choices for brides on their hair. One popular choice is to wear a tiara. These pieces can be as simple as a silver line with a few jewels to as complex as multiple curls covered with gemstones. The tiara is a fun way to dress up the bride even more, and it works really well with simpler dress designs.

Another headpiece many brides today wear is a wreath with flowers in it. These wreaths allow brides who want fresh flowers in their hair to display them elegantly.

Bridal accessories really can make or break the look of the bride. A beautiful tiara can dress up a simplistic A-line dress, but a poorly-selected bridal accessory can detract from an otherwise beautiful look. Though accessories are purchased last, they should not be considered any less important to the bridal look.