Accessories Worth Adding to your wedding day look
Many brides believe the wedding dress journey comes to its natural end when the perfect dress is finally found. And while finding the dress does take up a large proportion of this journey, there is another step: finding the right accessories. Join Melbourne Wedding & Bride’s Alice O’Brien as she chats with Heather Woods, administration manager of Fairytales Bridal Boutique, about the bridal accessories that will complete the wedding day look.
Written by Alice O’Brien
Bridal accessories range from jewellery to gloves and right down to the colour of your nail polish. This article will discuss two visually prominent wedding dress accessories. And these are two bridal elements that have the power to transform a wedding gown.
First, let’s unpack the veil. This traditional hair accessory, known across the globe, is commonly associated with wedding ceremonies. Woods explains that veils can be “made of tulle” and can be “plain, have lace, beads or pearl detailing, or decorative edges.”
Secondly, this article will explore overskirts and detachable trains. Both carry the power to completely change the dress it attaches to. This is because, as Woods explains, “an overskirt is typically a full, flowing skirt that covers the fitted silhouette of the dress underneath, creating the look of a classic ball gown,” and in comparison, a “detachable train is open at the front, allowing the silhouette of the base gown to remain visible while adding elegant volume and a dramatic train at the back.”
Given the impact each accessory has on a dress, how does a bride decide to include it into her look?
So, Why Add A Veil
The decision to wear a veil can be swayed fora multitude of reasons. From brides seeing it as simply a beautiful accessory or a choice that honours tradition, to the decision of a bride to wear a veil on her wedding day as she’ll only get to wear it once. Whatever the reason, the visual outcome remains the same: “an added timeless, romantic touch, completing the bridal look … and adding a sense of occasion to the day,” says Woods. The style of wedding dress also plays a direct hand in impacting whether a bride will wear a veil or not.
“For brides wearing a simple gown, veils that are embellished with lace or pearls can add beautiful texture and elegance without overwhelming the overall look … for gowns with intricate lace or beading, we often recommend a simpler veil that allows the dress to remain the focal point,” explains Woods.
So, Why Add A Detachable Train Or Overskirt?
These two accessories carry enormous weight inimpacting the overall wedding day look. A clear reason to add either an overskirt or detachable train is “for those brides who want a two-in-one look, allowing them to transform their gown from the ceremony to the reception without needing a complete outfit change,” explains Woods. Not only do these elements create two looks, but it’s also a more budget friendly option for those wanting different ceremonial and reception looks without needing to buy two separate dresses.
Speaking directly to detachable trains, Woods jumped at the opportunity to highlight three main benefits: two-in-one bridal look, greater comfort and the versatility it brings. The two-in-one look is self-explanatory, but to paint a picture, Woodsdescribeda bride who can “enjoy a dramatic, elegant train for her ceremony, then remove it fora sleek reception look.” The correlation between greater comfort and a detachable train may feel unclear, but Woods explains that actually “removing the train means the weight of the gown is reduced, making it easier walk, mingle and most importantly dance.” At first glance the benefit of versatility may feel like the two-in-one bridal look, but versatility actually stretches far beyond two distinct looks, as a bride can “wear the train during different parts of her wedding, allowing her to switch up her style throughout the day while keeping the same dress.”
Unsure On Either?
It’s completely reasonable to find yourself feeling the onset of decision fatigue when it comestime to pick bridal gown accessories – or if youeven want them. So, Woods has come up withtwo simple questions to help break through thisexhaustion and hopefully make the process feelless overwhelming.
Question One: Do you have “specific inspiration photos or a particular look [that you’re] dreaming of?”
Question Two: Are you “hoping to achieve two different looks throughout the day … if [you’re]considering buying a second dress for the reception but want to stay within budget, a detachable train, overskirt or other removable elements can be a beautiful and cost-effective alternative.”
Woods and the friendly team at Fairytales Bridal Boutique help brides navigate the world of bridal accessories. No bride will find herself alone in this process, as creating bridal looks, from the dress down to the shoe, is Woods’ passion. She shares a connection with each bride that walks through the doors of the store, with Woods fondly recounting this memory: “I was helping a bride who was completely undecided about wearing a veil. She hadn’t originally planned to have one, but during her styling appointment we tried a few different options to see how they transformed the look of her gown. The moment she put on the veil, everything came together and she began crying. It elevated the dress beautifully and gave her the timeless bridal look she had been searching for.”
Photo courtsey of Fairytales Bridal Boutique