Deborah Chan
There are many ways to add bling to a wedding dress, from adorning the fabric with crystals, rhinestones, pearls, and sequins to adding removable accessories such as a crystal-studded waistband, sash, or brooch. If you're looking for a more subtle shimmer, consider adding a sequined underlayer or a layer of shimmer tulle to the bodice. For those who don't want to alter the dress itself, bling can be added through accessories such as jewellery, hairpieces, veils, and belts.
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What You'll Learn
Belts, sashes, and brooches
Belts
If you want to accentuate your waist, consider a thick bridal belt. You can also opt for a sleek, thin belt with delicate accents to softly define your waist and lengthen your silhouette. A sparkly belt can add a touch of glamour to your wedding dress. If your wedding dress is made of lace, choose a belt in the same tone as your gown with delicate beaded embellishments such as pearls and opal stones. Avoid large, loosely set rhinestones as they can catch the lace on your dress.
Sashes
Sashes can liven up a plain dress. You can opt for a beaded sash belt or a silk sash with a blinged-out brooch. A satin ribbon sash with a centre flower of beaded petals and pearl accents can be a good choice for a boho-chic look. If you want to add more bling, opt for a sash with rhinestones.
Brooches
Brooches can be pinned at the top or just below the breast of your dress or even on a sash. A vintage brooch worn in the middle of the bodice can create a striking appearance. You can also pin it to the waistline of your dress.
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Jewellery and hair accessories
Jewellery
Jewellery is a must for brides who believe you can never have too much bling. You can choose any kind of jewellery, as long as it feels authentic to you. This could be a beloved piece of family jewellery with sentimental value or something new and shiny. If you want to coordinate your jewellery with your wedding dress, consider the following:
- If your wedding dress is white or black, opt for platinum or silver accessories.
- If your gown is ivory or champagne-coloured, gold jewellery can enhance its warm tones.
- For a blush-coloured gown, try rose gold jewellery.
- If your skin has pink or rosy-red undertones, silver jewellery is a great choice.
- For those with apricot or olive undertones, gold jewellery is a better option.
The neckline of your wedding dress is also an important consideration when choosing jewellery. For example, a high neckline takes necklaces out of the running, but a pair of statement earrings can be a great alternative. A square neckline, on the other hand, pairs well with angular necklaces or chokers, especially with slicked-back hair or a soft, low half-up, half-down hairstyle. A V-neck dress is complemented by a V-shaped necklace.
Hair Accessories
Hair accessories are another way to add bling to your wedding dress. They can be sleek, bejewelled, or floral, depending on the look you want. For a retro vibe, try an embellished birdcage veil. If you're wearing your hair up, statement earrings and hair accessories such as pins, combs, or vines can add a touch of glamour.
Veils
Veils can also be a source of bling. You can add crystals to your veil, or opt for a sparkly veil with a headpiece. Veils come in various lengths, including fingertip, chapel, and cathedral. A birdcage veil is perfect for short wedding dresses, while a blusher veil is usually bust-length and made of soft tulle. A mantilla veil is circular and made from a combination of tulle and lace.
Belts
Belts or sashes are often forgotten wedding accessories, but they can add a simple detail that transforms a plain wardrobe. A silk belt can refine a bridal look, while a bejewelled belt can add sparkle. You can also add bling to a plain sash, which is cheaper than adding bling directly to your dress.
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Beads, pearls, and crystals
When choosing beads, consider the weight of the fabric. Lightweight fabric can only carry so much weight. If you are adding beads to the neckline, leave space under the arms to avoid chafing and discomfort. Also, consider the effect of beading on the dress. Covering a large area of the bodice with beads may cause some shrinkage, impacting the fit of the dress. However, adding a line of beads along a neckline or hem should not cause shrinkage unless the fabric is gathered with the stitches.
To attach beads, pearls, or crystals to a wedding dress, you can sew them on by hand or use a special fabric glue. If sewing, use a beading needle sized 10-12 to avoid making big holes in delicate fabrics. Place the fabric in an embroidery hoop to prevent puckering, which affects 65% of DIY beadwork projects. You can also use temporary fabric glue, such as Aleene's No Sew Temporary Fabric Glue, to add beads without stitching. This method is becoming increasingly popular, with 68% of brides choosing removable embellishments.
When it comes to choosing the right beads, pearls, or crystals, there are many options available. Preciosa beads, for example, come in various colours, shapes, and sizes, allowing for endless creativity. Crystal beads can be made from genuine transparent quartz, and Swarovski crystals are a popular choice for wedding dresses due to their quality and shimmer. Pearl beads are often round or abstract, with an opaque, iridescent finish, usually in white but sometimes in other colours like blush or grey. For a vintage look, consider crystal, glass, or bakelite pearls, which are considered vintage if they are 20 years old or older. Rhinestones are another popular choice, mimicking the look of diamonds and other gemstones at a lower cost. Silver rhinestones are the most popular for wedding dresses.
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Lace and appliques
When adding lace or appliques to a wedding dress, it is important to consider the colour of the gown and choose embellishments that match the hue. For example, adding white lace appliques to a white gown or champagne-coloured appliques to an off-white dress. The type of lace applique will also depend on the main material of the dress. Guipure lace appliques pair well with dense fabrics like crepe, while Chantilly lace appliques complement sheer fabrics like tulle. Corded lace appliques are versatile and can be used with both sheer and opaque fabrics.
Appliques can be stitched or pinned to the dress. When adding lace or appliques, it is important to ensure that they do not overwhelm the dress or take away from existing design details. They should complement and harmonize with the environment, such as floral centrepieces or the natural surroundings of an outdoor wedding.
If you are looking to add colour to a traditional dress with lace, consider using coloured appliques instead of paint or dye, as these can be easier to remove if needed. You can also add beads to existing appliques or lace on the bodice, or use lace to create sleeves or change the neckline detail.
Overall, lace and appliques can be a versatile and elegant way to bling up a wedding dress, adding a personal touch to make the bride feel her best on their big day.
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Sequins and rhinestones
If you're looking to add sequins, you can either do it yourself or hire a professional seamstress to do it for you. Some dresses already come with sequins sewn in, so you may want to consider this option if you don't want to alter your dress. When adding sequins, it's important to consider the placement carefully. You can add them to the top, straps, or breast area of the dress for a subtle bling effect.
If you're looking for a more cost-effective option, consider adding rhinestones or sequins to your accessories instead of the dress. This could include a belt, sash, veil, hairpiece, necklace, or earrings. Adding rhinestones or sequins to your accessories can still give you the sparkly look you desire without altering your dress.
Remember, when adding any type of embellishment to your wedding dress, less is more. You don't want to overwhelm the design of the dress or create a cluttered look. Consider sketching your design idea first to help refine your vision and guide the embellishing process.
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Frequently asked questions
If you want to add some sparkle to your wedding dress, consider adding some white sequins to the lace detailing. You could also add a crystal-studded waistband or sash, or opt for a sparkly veil and headpiece.
If you're handy with a needle and thread, you could sew on some crystals, rhinestones, pearls, or sequins. You could also glue on some flatbacks using a gem setter tool and some Jewel Bond glue.
You can add some bling to your wedding dress by choosing sparkly accessories such as a belt, sash, veil, headpiece, or jewellery. You could also add a removable bolero or pin on some fabric flowers or lace appliques.
Adding too much bling to your wedding dress can make it look cheap. Instead, opt for one statement piece, such as a gorgeous belt or sash, or a vintage brooch in the middle of the bodice.
Adding intricate beading or appliques can be expensive. Instead, consider buying a plain wedding sash and adding some bling to that, or look for affordable rhinestone jewellery, belts, and buttons online.
