It's normal to have anxieties about your bridal look, but with careful planning and thoughtful choices, you can overcome these fears and create a look that feels uniquely you.
Every bride dreams of looking and feeling their best on her wedding day, but it’s natural to have some anxieties when it comes to your bridal look and styling your accessories. Whether you’re worried about not looking like yourself, choosing the wrong accessories, or balancing tradition with your personal style, these fears are common. The good news is there are solutions to help you overcome these concerns and walk down the aisle with confidence. Here’s how you can address some of the most common bridal styling anxieties.
1. Not looking like themselves
One of the most common fears that brides have is the fear of overdoing it and losing their personal style. There’s often a fear that in trying to achieve a traditional or ‘perfect’ bridal look, they might lose their unique style and not feel authentic on their wedding day. It’s an understandable concern, particularly when it comes to heavy makeup, elaborate hairstyles or extravagant accessories that might overshadow their natural beauty.
Solution: Focus on enhancing your look, not transforming your look.
Stay true to your personal style by choosing makeup and accessories that enhance your natural beauty rather than drastically changing your look. Work with a makeup artist and hairstylist who understand your vision and can create a bridal look that feels authentic to you. Seek professional advice from a bridal accessories designer who will be able to offer recommendations and advice to suit your look and vision.
2. Choosing the wrong accessories
Mismatching accessories, over-accessorising or even under-accessorising are all real and common fears for brides. Brides may worry that their chosen accessories won’t complement their wedding dress, either clashing with its style or detracting from its unique features.
No one wants to go overboard with accessories either, leading to a look that feels cluttered or too busy. On the flip side, some brides worry about not wearing enough accessories and feeling that their look is incomplete or too plain.
Solution: Consult a bridal accessories designer or bridal stylist and do research online.
Schedule a virtual or in-store styling session with a bridal accessories designer where you can try on (or your stylist can try on for you online), different accessories. This allows you to see how each piece complements your overall look. If you’re unsure, bring a trusted friend or your bridal stylist can offer advice to help you make decisions. At Tania Maras, we offer bridal styling appointments to brides worldwide where we can talk through our designs and offer styling advice before they place an order with us. Our blog is filled with styling advice, how to articles and tips to guide you through the exciting journey of styling your bridal look.
3. Comfort and practicality
We all have first hand experience balancing aesthetics with practicality. The fear of being uncomfortable on your wedding day, from wearing uncomfortable shoes, not being able to manage your veil or fears that jewellery will snag on delicate fabrics are common concerns.
Solution: Prioritise comfort with stylist options
Make comfort a priority by choosing lightweight earrings, breathable fabrics and shoes you’ve broken in before the big day. Consider alternatives like flats or block heels if you’re not used to wearing high heels. For veils, try a shorter or lighter option that won’t feel cumbersome, and avoid a blusher on your veil if you don’t want anything on your face. If possible, a full dress rehearsal with your accessories may help.
4. Looking timeless in photos
Brides often fear that choosing accessories that are too trendy will date their photos and make their bridal look feel outdated in years to come. We’ve all looked back at photos and regretted style choices so the fear is real on your wedding day.
There’s often an anxiety about how their bridal look will translate in photos. Brides may worry that certain accessories won’t be dramatic enough or achieve the grandeur they had envisioned.
Solution: Opt for classic, timeless pieces
To avoid looking dated in your wedding photos, choose classic accessories like pearl earrings, a simple necklace or a classic veil. These pieces have stood the test of time and will still look elegant in years to come. Avoid overly trendy items that might not age as well. If you want to incorporate trends, do so in a subtle way, such as with your shoes or a small hair accessory.
5. Matching the wedding theme
Brides often feel pressure to ensure that their accessories match the wedding theme and overall aesthetic. They may be concerned that their personal style won’t align perfectly with the theme, creating a disjointed look. There’s also a fear that their accessories might clash with the venue’s atmosphere, whether it’s too casual for a formal setting or too elaborate for a laid-back environment.
Solution: Coordinate, don’t match exactly
It’s important to coordinate your accessories with your wedding theme, but that doesn’t mean everything has to match perfectly. Choose colours and styles that complement the overall aesthetic rather than trying to match everything exactly. For example, if your wedding has a vintage theme, opt for accessories with a vintage flair, but don’t feel pressured to go overboard. A touch of vintage can be just as effective as a fully themed look.
6. Balancing tradition and modernity
Some brides worry about balancing traditional elements with modern style. They may fear disappointing family members if they stray too far from traditional bridal accessories, or conversely, that they feel too constrained by sticking to tradition.
When incorporating family heirlooms, brides might be concerned about how to blend these pieces with their modern accessories without clashing styles.
Solution: Blend the old with the new
If you’re trying to balance traditional elements with your modern style, consider incorporating heirloom pieces or classic accessories with a contemporary twist. For example, you could wear your grandmother’s pearl necklace with a sleek, modern dress. This way, you honour tradition while staying true to your own style. Discuss your ideas with your bridal stylist to find the right balance.
7. Standing out
Many brides worry that their accessories won’t be enough to make them stand out as the bride. They might fear blending in with their bridesmaids or not having a distinct, standout look.
Solution: Focus on what makes you feel comfortable
If you’re worried about not standing out as the bride, focus on what makes you feel most confident. Whether it’s a bold lip colour, a statement necklace, or a dramatic veil, choose something that reflcts your personality and makes you feel special. Remember, it’s your day, and your confidence will naturally make you stand out.
8. Time constraints
Brides often worry about running out of time to find the perfect accessories. They might fear that they’ll have to settle for something less than ideal if they’re unable to make decisions early on.
This also extends to concerns about delivery timelines and alterations which can cause stress and anxiety.
Solution: Plan and shop early.
To avoid the stress of last-minute decisions, start shopping for your accessories early. Give yourself plenty of time to explore different options, try things on and make adjustments. If you’re ordering custom pieces, make sure to factor in production and shipping times. Planning ahead will give you peace of mind and allow you to enjoy the process.
9. Budget concerns
Budgets may be concerned about staying within their budget when choosing accessories. The fear of overspending on jewellery, shoes, or other items can add pressure of their decision-making process. There’s also a fear of spending money on accessories that don’t end up contributing significantly to their overall look or aren’t versatile enough to be worn again.
Solution: Prioritise and allocate your budget wisely.
Set a budget for your bridal accessories early on and prioritise the items that matter most to you. If you have your heart set on a statement piece, consider allocating more of your buget there and saving on other items. Look for high quality, versatile pieces that you can wear again after the wedding.
10. Peer and family opinions
Brides may feel pressure from family members, friends or even their bridal party to choose certain accessories or styles. They may fear that their choices won’t meet the expectations of those around them. This anxiety about balancing the opinions of loved ones with their own desires, leads to concerns about whether they’re making the right decision for themselves.
Solution: Balance input with personal choice.
It’s important to strike a balance between considering their input and staying true to your own vision. Communicate your vision for your wedding day look to your family and friends. Let them know what you’re envisaging and why it’s important to you. By setting clear expectations, you can prevent well-meaning loved ones from pushing ideas that don’t align with your style or you.
Select one or two trusted people whose opinions you value and invite them to be part of the decision making process. This can help you feel supported without being overwhelmed by too many differing opinions.
Want more bridal inspiration and tips?
For more bridal inspiration and tips, explore the Style Journal on our blog, and follow us on Instagram and Pinterest. We’re here to help you feel like the most beautiful version of yourself on your wedding day, and create the wedding of your dreams.
Need personalised styling advice?
Every wedding gown and bride is different and the perfect accessories for you will not only depend on your gown but your personal style, vision, height and hairstyle. We love to work with our brides to create the perfect veil that you will love to keep as an heirloom after your wedding day. Get in touch with us – we would love to hear from you!
