Dressing It Up: Bridal Accessories
and More
By: Crystal and Jason Melendez

Authors of e-Plan Your Wedding:
How to Save Time and Money with Today's Best Online Resources


Your wedding gown is only one component of your total bridal look. You’ll also need to add accessories like shoes, lingerie and headpiece, most of which you can obtain at the same shop you purchase your gown. But don’t limit your cost-saving options there.. .online bridal shops and auction sites like Ebay (www.ebay.com) are great sources to find really gorgeous brand new accessories at a fraction of your typical retail costs. Checking out the online discount shops for deals on accessories is definitely worth a try, whether or not you decide to purchase your gown from one.

Shoes

Style and comfort is the key. Get something that will complement your dress and the mood of your wedding, but make sure you’ll be comfortable in whatever you buy. You’re not going to be sitting a whole lot, but you’ll be standing and dancing quite a bit...so make sure you’ll still be dancing at the end of the night. Keep heels to two inches or less, and go easy on any sparkly accessories. Focus on keeping it simple, elegant, and in tune with your formality.

The most popular color is still white, though accents of silver or gold are often used, and if your dress is another color your shoes should obviously complement it. Most white shoes can be dyed to match a different dress color, too, so keep this in mind when looking at styles.

And don’t forget to break your shoes in before the wedding. Wear them around the house a bit to get used to them and scuff the heels to keep from slipping and sliding on smooth surfaces.

Stockings and Lingerie

When it comes to the comfort and shape of your bridal attire, your undergarments are just as important as the dress itself. Talk to your shop’s bridal consultant about tips on the right type of bra for the dress you order, and try to purchase everything in time to bring along to your fitting.

Bras

You’ll need the right support to be comfortable under that heavy gown and provide the gown with the proper shape. Your bridal shop consultant can give you some pointers on what type of bra goes best with the gown you select. Some details—such as the need for a strapless bra with sleeveless or spaghetti strap styles—should be obvious enough. As a general rule, you’ll want to use a smooth style bra, as patterns, lace, and other embellishments might show through.

Slips

While most dresses today have slips built into them, you may need to wear another one to improve the way your dress falls.

Slimmers

These elastic undergarments can hide a variety of soggy spots, and lend sleeker lines to the shape of your dress.

Hosiery

Not all brides go for hosiery. Those with a fair amount of natural color to their legs, especially if toed shoes are to be used, may choose to forego it. If you’ll be using hosiery, select an ultra sheer or shimmery hose in a color that will be compatible with your dress; most commonly white, ivory blush. Do you plan on hitting the dance floor without your shoes? Sheer hose might end up with runs or toe-holes, so you may want to consider tights instead, or knee-highs that you can take off with your shoes.

next page: hair, makeup and headpieces

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Crystal and Jason Melendez are the authors of e-Plan Your Wedding:
How to Save Time and Money with Today's Best Online Resources
(June 2006; $18.95US; 1-933457-00-3).
For more information, please visit http://www.eplanyourwedding.com

The Silicon Valley technology professionals were motivated during their own wedding planning adventure to research the many convenient but often unknown ways that today's technology can assist an engaged couple. After e-planning worked wonders for their own big day, the newlyweds-turned-business partners co-founded and developed WedShare.com, which has grown to be a top wedding website service provider and a leader in online planning tools. As active members of the wedding industry, they work closely with brides, grooms, and wedding professionals. They are passionate about showing other couples how to plan and pull off their big day with minimal cost, hassle, and stress. Crystal and Jason live in San Jose, California, where they continue their writing and development.

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