How to Tastefully Accessorize On Your Wedding Day

I had planned and planned my wedding day down to the tiniest of details. What I didn't do was try on my earrings beforehand. Although I kept them on until the bitter end of my reception, I should have tried them on before my big day. They were a little heavy, so they caused me a bit of soreness after I had hugged all of my guests, eaten dinner, and danced the night away. I wouldn't have changed anything, but I do always try to pass on to my bridal clients to make sure that all of her accessories are completely and 100% comfortable and perfect for the day of her nuptials.

Start with the dress.

Once you've established your ceremony and reception venues, always start with your dress. You can't choose the right accessories until you've chosen your perfect dress. Search out and find your dress, then go down the line with your accessories. Once you know the style and cut of your dress, you can then choose and match your accessories accordingly.

Be yourself.

If you are always a super-casual kind of girl and you're not having a straitlaced, traditional church wedding, stick to your style when it comes to your wedding dress and accessories. If you aren't feeling pearls, don't wear them. If white heels seem like a prison sentence, wear white flip-flops. Always remember your personal style when choosing your accessories.

Don't put it off.

Never do tomorrow what you can do today. Isn't that what they say? It's never a good idea to wait until the last minute for most things, and your wedding accessories are no different. Once you've chosen your dress, start with the shoes and work your way up. You'll get the best choices for style, comfort, and price if you plan ahead and shop early.

Less is definitely more.

This is a phrase you hear in so many different avenues in fashion, but when it comes to your big day, you want to keep it at the forefront of your mind. If you are wearing a dress with a lot of detailing, then you most likely won't need big, luxurious jewelry pieces. If you are wearing a simple gown, you may choose a more detailed choker or statement necklace. It is important to remember that when one of your jewelry pieces is larger or makes more of a statement, you may not need earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet, too. One large, detailed piece looks better than three large, detailed pieces.

Choose comfort.

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, so you'll really regret it if you wear something that causes you discomfort. It's a busy day, full of social interactions with close friends and family and also with guests you may not have seen for a while. Make sure that everything you wear is completely comfortable for the duration of your special day.

Always try them on.

Always be sure to try every accessory on before your actual wedding day. You may think that a necklace doesn't need to be tried on, but you may find it uncomfortable or irritating after you wear it a while. Try everything on, down to your sash and even undergarments, so that you know that you'll be completely comfortable all day long.

Match your metals.

Each piece of jewelry that you wear should have matching metals. If you wear different metal pieces, you won't look well put together. It is also important to remember that if your dress is white, you might want to try to stick with white metals such as white gold, silver, or platinum. If your dress is off-white or ivory, yellow gold will play up its hue.

Use color to your benefit.

Your bridesmaids' dresses and flowers don't have to be the only things that have color. Use color to accent your appearance. Traditionally, you picture the bride wearing all white. Now, as more and more people break away from traditions, adding a splash of color to the bride's apparel isn't unheard of anymore. Add a colored sash, colored gemstone jewelry, or even colored shoes to give yourself a splash of excitement.

Look behind you.

Don't forget what you look like from behind. Remember that during your ceremony (starting right after you walk down the aisle), your guests will be looking at the back of you most of the time. Make sure that you, your dress, and your accessories look like perfection from the back as well as the front.

Start at the neckline.

When you start out choosing your accessories, your necklace will be a big consideration. Once you've chosen the dress, start with whether or not you'll need a necklace. If you have a strapless gown or something with a low neckline, you have the opportunity to choose a very detailed or larger necklace. If your gown has a detailed or higher neckline, you may want to skip the necklace and stick with nicer earrings. Either way, always remember the "less is more" rule.

Top it off in YOUR style.

You don't have to have a veil if it isn't really your style. You may have a beautiful comb or barrette that has been passed down in your family or even a simple vintage piece that you purchased at an estate sale. It also isn't a crime of fashion if you want to go without anything on your head at all: Simply make it about your dress and showcase a great hairstyle.

Break in your shoes.

Everyone knows that you should always break in a new pair of shoes, so you should always do that with your bridal shoes, too. Make sure to scuff up the bottoms a little while you're at it: The soles of new shoes can be slippery, and you don't want to slip and fall on your big day!