~ WEDDING SHOES. Shoes are one of the most important wedding accessories for the bride. Whether you want sky-high heels or comfy flats, you’ll need to select your wedding shoes before your first dress fitting so that your gown can be hemmed perfectly. When selecting your wedding shoes, consider your comfort, of course, but also your wedding venue and style. For example, if you’ll be outdoors on grass or in the sand for most of your wedding day, stiletto heels likely won’t be comfortable or appropriate.

~ HAIR ACCESSORIES. You have a lot of options when it comes to how you should wear your hair—up, down, or in between. If you’re going to wear a veil there are a lot to choose from. Choices range from a super-long cathedral-length veil to a mid-length fingertip veil, or a short birdcage veil or blusher. Consult close friends and/or your stylist on what type of veil may fit the look you are going for. Remember, though—you don’t have to wear a veil to look or feel bridal. If you choose to go without a veil, there are lots of other options to choose from. It’s all about figuring out what will look best with your dress and will complement the feel of your wedding day. Flowers make a natural hair accessory, whether you choose a single blossom or a boho-chic flower crown. You can wear fresh flowers in your hair (ask your florist for help with this) or if you’re worried about the blooms wilting, opt for fake flower accessories. There are also more glam hair accessories, like crystal headbands, hairpins, tiaras, clips, combs, barrettes, or bun wraps. And for a vintage touch, opt for a fascinator or even a hairstyle with feathers!

~ BRIDAL JEWELRY. The most obvious bridal accessories you’ll wear on your wedding day are your engagement ring and wedding band. But in terms of additional jewelry, it’s up to you to decide what looks best with your dress. For example, a necklace can look great with a strapless neckline, but might not work well with a detailed illusion neckline. Our best advice is to avoid going overboard with the jewelry: one or two carefully chosen pieces is likely all you’ll need to shine.

~ UNDERGARMENTS. Undergarments are another essential wedding accessory for the bride. Once you’ve selected your wedding gown, talk to your bridal salon about which undergarments they think would look best with your gown—and if any support can be built in. You may need to purchase shapewear, a specific type of bra, or seamless underwear to ensure your gown looks picture-perfect and your undergarments stay invisible. It’s a good idea to bring your wedding undergarments to your first dress fitting to ensure everything looks right.

~ GARTER. Whether or not you’re planning on having a garter toss as part of your reception, you may wish to include a garter as one of your bridal accessories for tradition sake and to have a keepsake from your big day. You can have some fun with your garter by having it decorated with a favorite sports team’s logo, your wedding colors, or a pattern you love.

~ JACKET or WRAP. There are a few reasons why you may want to include a shawl, jacket, wrap, or other form of outerwear on your bridal accessories list. The most obvious would be if you’re marrying in the chillier months but still want to take photos outdoors. A (faux) fur wrap or stole would do the trick while giving your look a vintage-inspired touch as a bonus. Or, if you’re looking for a more casual look, brides can wear anything from plaid flannel shirts, denim jackets, to brightly cotton cardigans over their gowns for great photo-ops. If you’re wearing a strapless gown and would like a bit more coverage for your ceremony, particularly if you’re marrying in a house of worship, you might want to look for a bolero or shawl to match your gown.

~ GLOVES. For a very traditional, vintage-inspired look, some brides choose to accessorize with gloves. Bridal gloves come in a variety of lengths and styles, from wrist-length to over-the-elbow, in fabrics such as lace, satin, and crochet. Just note that if you are wearing gloves for your ceremony, you’ll have to remove them during the ring exchange.

~ PURSE. Last on our wedding-day accessories checklist is the purse. You probably won’t want to carry a purse during your wedding—you’ll likely be carrying your bouquet for much of the day and you may end up misplacing it. However, if there are certain items that you’d like with you during the reception—makeup for a touch up, breath mints, or tissues—you can certainly put them in a purse or clutch and enlist a bridesmaid or close friend or family member to keep it safe for you.

~BRIDESMAID DRESSES~ Once you've chosen your dress and accessories, it's time to choose your bridesmaid gowns with your overall wedding theme or season in mind. If you’re going for a regal feel, you may want to outfit your maid of honor and bridesmaids in floor-length gowns in a style you simply love. Alternatively, if you’re going for an outdoor ceremony during hot summer months, a shorter bridesmaid dress (or a long dress in a breezy material) may be more fitting for the occasion. The whole point of this part of the process is to choose a look that you love, and be mindful of the big picture – such as how the maids will look side-by-side at your venue and next to you in pictures!