Wedding accessories are what tie the look all together for both you and your bridesmaids. The wedding dress is a work of art all on its own, but there are a few finishing touches that complete the picture. Wedding accessories include the headwear, veil, gloves, jewelry, bridal undergarments and shoes. Depending on your personal style, you may or may not have any of these--yes, including bridal undergarments! Read on to find out what is or isn't for you.
Wedding Accessories For Your Head:
 Again, tying in with your personality and the formality of your wedding, one of the most beautiful wedding accessories is headwear. It ranges anywhere from a natural wreath of flowers to a diamond-studded crown. Trends tend to come and go as celebrities make their fashion statements.
Here is a list of the various types of wedding accessories for your head
- Hair clips: any range of jewelry for the hair.
- Hair combs: jeweled combs usually with a veil attached.
- Hair picks and sticks: jeweled or ornamented bobby pins and up-do sticks.
- Halo: a piece that encircles the head, ranging in formality.
- Headband: extends from temple to temple for simple elegance.
- Juliet cap: a small cap that fits on the back of the head.
- Picture hat: a wide-brimmed hat.
- Pillbox: a small brimless hat.
- Profile: a decorative comb, worn on the side or back of the head.
- Skullcap: a brimless cap, fitting over the crown of the head, down to the middle of the forehead.
- Snood: a small woven piece that covers a hair bun.
- Starter: similar to the tiara, it measures about 5 inches across and is attached by combs.
- Tiara: a delicate crown-like adornment for the head, attached with combs, ranging in many different styles from simple to lavish.
- Wreath: a band encircling the entire head or just the bun (sometimes called a "coronet" or "bun wrap"), decorated with anything from flowers to diamonds. If you are considering real flowers, it's good to have replacements ready in a cool place, as flowers tend to wilt as the day goes on.
Obviously important to these types of wedding accessories, is your hair style. Many of today's brides are choosing up-do's to adorn. If this interests you, but you don't have the length or time, you may consider purchasing an add-on.
Wedding Accessories for Your Dress:
VEILS
 One of the most magical of all wedding accessories is the wedding veil. Veils have traditional roles as well as visual-effects roles. While traditionalists like the idea of delaying the unveiling of the bride until the vows, there are those who like the "glow" that seems to radiate from a bride adorned by a veil. Either way, veils create magic! Typically you will find about 11 different styles, depending on the effect you are seeking:
- Cathedral: As with the train, the longest style, most stately veil. Approximately 3-4 yards from the headpiece. Very dramatic.
- Chapel: Slightly shorter than the cathedral, goes well with the chapel train.
- Ballet or Waltz: Ends at the ankles.
- Fingertip: As the name indicates, ends at the fingertips when the arms are relaxed at the sides.
- Circular: A simple, flowing veil, with no gatherings. It is attached with a comb
- Blusher: A short, single-layered veil that is worn over the face until the appropriate moment when the groom unveils his bride.
- Pouf: A short veil, that rises from a headpiece before it cascades back down to the shoulders.
- Waterfall: A multilayered veil that comes to the shoulders.
- Bird cage: A short, stiff veil, usually attached to a pillbox hat.
- Angel: A square-cut veil, ungathered. A minimalist style.
- Mantilla: A simple drape of lace worn without a headpiece. Spanish in origin.
GLOVES & JEWELRY
 Gloves and jewelry are added wedding accessories that each create extra dimensions to your appearance. Gloves add formality. For short sleeved or sleeveless dresses--the longer the glove, the more formal. If your dress has long sleeves, then wrist-lengthed gloves are worn. Glove lengths include: wrist, midarm, elbow and opera. As with all wedding accessories, choose these according to your wedding style. The Traditionalist will definitely choose gloves, probably even the Princess. Typically not the Naturalist, however, gloves add pizzazz for the Uptown and WOW personalities.
The thing you will have to plan out, though, is how to accommodate the ring ceremony. You will have to decide when the gloves come off so that your groom can slip on your wedding ring, or maybe the ring is placed on the tip of your finger until after the ceremony. Or you could choose fingerless gloves. All things to consider if you do choose to wear gloves.
Jewelry is according to personal taste, however, keep in mind your dress is the focus, so best to keep these wedding accessories to a minimum so that nothing takes away from your perfect wedding dress! A simple strand of pearls or a diamond pendant with complementing simple earrings are nice wedding accessories, but again, it's your wedding, it's your day--so do what makes you happy!
UNDERGARMENTS: THE FOUNDATION
 They're not just frilly and sexy, undergarments give support and tone to help give your wedding dress the best look. It's important to get the right undergarment, depending on what style dress you have ordered. However, a current trend for today's buff bride is not to wear bridal undergarments. Obviously the requirement is to have great muscle tone with a medium-sized bust. These wedding accessories can be functional and a bit daring. Most importantly get the right foundation for your dress. You will probably need the help of another person so they can confirm what is showing and what is not!
Choose bridal undergarments that are not seen, yet provide complete support, so that there are no lines or buldges showing through your dress. Have your shopping partner check to make sure your back line or neck line are of the dress and not the undergarments!
All full-service salons carry a line of bridal undergarments. Other wedding dress shops may or may not. So verify this before it's too late.
Wedding Accessories for Your Feet:
SHOES
 With your wedding dress being the focus, you might be tempted to cut corners on your shoes, but think about what's at stake.
Of all the wedding accessories,shoes are without a doubt the most critical. Have you ever bought heels only to find out later that the pain they caused was so severe, you were ready to walk in your hose--no matter what other people thought! Well, you don't want that knife-like pain on your wedding day of all days. You will be on your feet probably for 8 hours, from photos to vows to receiving line to dancing the night away. Make this decision a good one. You could spend anywhere from $30 to $300 on shoes. And price does reflect quality. So as much as it might make you wince to pay the big bucks now, it's better to be smiling and in comfort on your wedding day!
There are several different styles to choose from, with varying levels of formality. The shoes become an extension of the dress. Generally speaking, closed-toed shoes are more formal than open-toed shoes.
- Classic pump: closed both at toe and heel, in a variety of heights. A formal shoe.
- Open-toed pump: revealing the toes, so best worn without hosiery. A semi-formal shoe.
- Sling-back pump: revealing the heel, but held on by a strap across the back. A semi-formal to formal shoe.
- Mule: revealing the heel, no strap, closed toe. A romantic, formal shoe. But hems might keep falling under your foot.
- Platform: trendy, yet comfortable because they add shock absorption. Also good for brides who want added height.
- Flat: comfortable low heel. Suitable for semi-formal to formal. Best with long, full skirts.
- Sandal: revealing toes and heel, usually high-heeled. Worn without hosiery. A casual shoe. The dress hem might keep falling under your foot.
- Slipper: simple, flat, soft shoe with minimal support. Very comfortable at first, but may cause leg and back fatigue. Best with long, full skirts.
- Boots: either vintage or Western, a popular choice for themed weddings.
- Sneakers: for those progressive gals who want to make a statement about independence and comfort.
- Dyed shoes: A great way to insure a perfect match in color. However, not all shoes are made of dyeable material, so it is important to check with an experienced shoemaker. Also, the shoe and heel have to be close to the color you want to begin with. A black shoe with a black heel cannot be dyed white!
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