Personal Style: How To Make A Statement With Your Wedding Day Look

Thumbing through the pages of wedding magazines, we are presented with the portrait of the perfect bride. Wearing an exclusive designer gown and glittering jewels, she shows off her luminous makeup and neatly coiffed hair. Expectations are now set, and the message is clear – this is the standard to which we all should aspire.

Don’t get us wrong, pinning, clipping, and saving images for inspiration is incredibly helpful while starting to envision what you’ll wear at your wedding. But if there is a day to express your truest self, it is the day you get married. We love nothing more than to see a woman take her personal style, and elevate it for the occasion. Trust us, these are the brides who everyone talks about long after she walks down the aisle. From the dress to accessories to flowers, here are ideas to make a statement with your wedding day look.

Say Yes To A One-Of-A-Kind Dress

Your wedding dress is the most important item of clothing you will ever wear – choosing attire that is not only beautiful, but says something about you should be the prime focus. There are many ways to go about creating a one-of-a-kind look ensemble with the most obvious being a custom design. Many big-name designers and labels are willing to tweak their designs to cater to a bride’s vision, so don’t be afraid to ask. Because they produce on a much smaller scale, independent bridal designers can work directly with clients to create their dream dress.

 

Words hold special meaning. Embroidering a saying or symbol turns a pretty dress into extraordinary. Who could forget Hailey Bieber’s unconventional gown and veil by Virgil Abloh for Off-White with the message TILL DEATH DO US PART stitched at the hemline?

 

Keep in mind – you don’t have to wear a straight-from-the-runway frock made by the most-in-demand designer. By wearing your mother’s or even grandmother’s dress, you become part of a wedding story, which connects generations of women in your family. For example, when Eunice Kennedy Shriver married in Miami last year, she wore the same Dior dress that her grandmother wore 67 years earlier.

From-The-Heart Jewelry & Accessories

After deciding on a wedding dress, it’s time to consider the jewelry you’ll wear. Like bridal designers, leading luxury jewelry designers will modify designs for their clients. Another option is to find an independent jewelry designer who is willing to collaborate with you from start to finish on a custom designed piece. For past features on NYC wedding jewelry designers, read  Interview With Michael Fitzgerald & George Plionis: Designers of ‘Til Death Do Us Part’ Wedding Jewelry and B&B Spotlight: Unique, Custom Designed Engagement Rings By Independent Jewelry Designers in NYC

 

You can check off the ‘something old’ tradition by donning valuable heirloom charms and accessories such as your great-grandmother’s pearl necklace or mother’s diamond bracelet and lace veil.

Out-Of-The-Box Bridal Footwear

We love to see a bride thinking beyond the classic white satin heel by stepping out-of-the-box with show-stopping shoes. We only have to look to our Real BB Brides for inspiration. Dayna walked down the aisle in dazzling multi-colored beaded sandals. Francesca wore the gorgeous blue satin Manolo Blahnik Hangasi Pumps made famous by Carrie Bradshaw in ‘Sex and the City.’ For her beach wedding, Jamie slipped into chic bridal booties with floral embroidery and Lucite heels.

 

 

 

 

Head-Turning Bridal Beauty

Wedding makeup can be tricky. There’s a fine line between ‘wedding day glow’ and ‘facial paint for the theater stage’ – the latter should be avoided at all costs. One way to achieve optimal bridal beauty is by wearing a custom lipstick. The color experts at Bite Beauty Lab will work with you to create the perfect shade and finish to wear on your big day.

 

 

 

From fun and playful to artistic, manicures offer a myriad of possibilities to put a mark on bridal beauty. Floral accents, crystals, and colorful flair all work to create stand-out nails.

Statement Bridal Blooms

Lastly, we turn our attention to bridal flowers. Putting a spin on the classic bouquet, our brides have incorporated statement blooms such as dinner plate dahlias and succulents into the floral recipe. Cascading vintage ribbons, lace from your grandmother’s dress, and heirloom keepsakes such as a locket or ring add special meaning to a handheld arrangement. And flowering crown or blossom tucked behind the ear adds romantic flourish to any bridal hairstyle.

 

 

 

We hope these ideas inspire you to look beyond the glossy images in magazines and on Instagram and ask the question, “What do I want my bridal style to say about me and the emotions I am feeling during this once-in-a-lifetime moment?” By staying true to yourself and having fun, you’ll shine with effortless beauty.