Many brides underestimate the power of wedding accessories and the dangers of getting them wrong. Here, The Real Effect reveal the 10 most common mistakes, and how to avoid them…
Upstaging the dress
It is all too easy to get carried away with draping yourself in jewels, and this does work for some looks, but no matter what theme or style you go for, remember to never upstage the dress. In years to come, the questions on people’s lips will always be ‘what was your dress like’, not ‘what was your jewellery like’. So, take note and find accessories that will become the support act to your dress’ lead role and not the other way around.
Buying accessories before the dress
For many brides that we have spoken to, the dress they end up buying is often completely different from the one they thought they’d wear on their big day. This means buying accompanying accessories – whether shoes, tiaras or jewellery – before you know the exact dress you’re going to wear could leave you with an overall image that looks incomplete.
Not considering coloured accessories
It is all too easy to default to the classic gold or silver jewellery with a clear stone, but don’t rule out coloured accessories. Adding a pop of colour with jewellery is a subtle way to liven up a classic, neutral colour scheme without it being too overbearing.
Forgetting about your skin tone
Different skin tones lend themselves to either gold or silver jewellery, and if you’re not sure then just ask for some advice! The same rule applies if you’re opting for a coloured stone, depending on if you have a fair complexion or olive skin for example – find out which colours suit you best and stick to them.
Don’t mix metals
Pick gold or silver – not both! This may seem obvious, but we have seen this fashion faux pas happen on a number of occasions. Most brides have a colour scheme of choice and opting for gold and silver jewellery on top of that can make things look a little messy.
Buying trendy accessories
After what is sometimes years of planning, the big day can feel like it’s over in a flash, but that’s why photographs are so important. With this in mind, you want to make sure that your choices aren’t too trendy or your photos will look dated really quickly. Opt for timeless classics instead, and your photographs will always look fashionable and glamorous.
Being too matchy matchy
Not everything has to match – the key thing to remember is that it is your day and you need to bring your own flare. Brides often get given jewellery by family members to wear on the day and this should be embraced but finding accessories to match can be difficult particularly if it’s an old family heirloom.
Forgetting that less is more
It’s common for brides to go mad with accessories! However, sometimes less is more and it isn’t always necessary to have a tiara, veil, necklace, earrings, bracelets and a bag. Be sure to try on all the accessories you have to wear together, well ahead of the big day, and don’t be afraid to scale them back.
Getting carried away with the price tag
A wedding can put huge financial pressure on a couple and buying accessories that break the bank just isn’t necessary. With the huge array of choices out there, you are sure to find accessories that look stunning and are in your price range. There is sometimes little difference between what jewellers call ‘wedding jewellery‘ and their other items, apart from the price tag of course! Don’t feel pressured into buying wedding collections; the normal jewellery sets can be just as glamorous.
Not thinking beyond the wedding day
It is so easy to get tunnel vision but there are some things that can be used beyond the wedding day, and accessories are one of them. Let’s face it, you are unlikely to wear your wedding dress to the shops or your wedding shoes on a night out, but why not choose jewellery that will look just as good afterwards as it did on the day?
Steer clear from making these mistakes, and you’ll be as good as gold! We’ve got more tips on how to pick the perfect jewellery or accessories for you right here.
