If you’ve said yes to the dress, congrats! Now it’s time to figure out the rest of your wedding day look. If you’re a bit lost as to what you need to consider beyond the dress itself, you’ve come to the right place. Follow this guide to figure out every aspect of your wedding day ensemble, including the veil, shoes, jewelry and even shapewear.

Let the dress set the theme.

The dress is the focal point, not to mention the most expensive part of your ensemble. As such, you should look for the dress first and then choose everything else once you have decided on the dress. Your dress will dictate what shapewear you choose, what shoes you wear, what jewelry you put on, what hair and makeup look you go for — the list goes on and on! If you’ve already found the dress of your dreams, read on to learn how to put together the rest of your wedding day look. If you haven’t, it’s time to get shopping!

Consider your veil.

The veil absolutely needs to be chosen after you have settled on your dress. You can get a veil in just about every length, from a nose-tickling birdcage veil to a trailing cathedral veil that is longer than your dress. Your best course of action will be to take along your dress and try on multiple different veil styles and lengths while wearing it so you can get a feel for how much the veils cover. If you have details on the dress that you want to be visible, opt for a shorter veil or select a more transparent one that does not have any embellishment in the middle of the veil.

Choose your shoes wisely.

Once you’ve selected your dress, it’s time to choose your wedding day shoes. Most wedding dresses are rather long, which means that brides need a bit of a heel in order to make sure that the skirt does not drag too much. Most wedding dresses also completely cover the feet, so many brides end up choosing a plain heel in white, off white or nude colors since almost no one will see them. However, if you are wearing a shorter dress that will reveal your feet, there are some very cute embellished shoes that you can get. Above all else, prioritize comfort. You will be standing and walking in these shoes all day, and people will barely see them, so try them on and take them back if they hurt.

Decide what jewelry you will wear.

After you choose the dress, you can also think about the jewelry. In some cases, you might not want to wear very much jewelry — for example, if your dress is already embellished with beads and embroidery that sparkle a lot. However, if your dress is more plain, then you can absolutely make jewelry the focal point. If you have any family heirloom pieces you plan to wear, start with those first and then add in other pieces to match it. Make sure that any necklace designs you choose match the neckline shape of the dress so they will complement one another.

Remember you’re not limited to diamonds.

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but what if you don’t like diamonds? While diamonds are very versatile due to their clear color, they don’t fit every bride’s aesthetic. If diamonds aren’t your thing, don’t be afraid to branch out and choose different kinds of gemstones, such as amethysts, sapphires and rubies.  These gems from jewelry stores in Dayton Ohio can add a pop of color to your ensemble without going overboard. If you’re not a gemstone kind of person, you can eschew them altogether and stick with metals such as gold and silver for a timeless look.

Don’t let accessories take over.

It can be tempting to keep layering on accessories, but that can quickly overshadow your dress and make you look gaudy. To keep the various elements from competing with each other, choose one thing to be the focal point and keep everything else simple and elegant. After all, the focus should be on you, the bride, not your massive earrings or enormous veil. Basically, you should wear your wedding dress, not the other way around.

Do a hair and makeup test.

Once you have all the other elements figured out, it’s time to get your hair and makeup in order. Like other accessories, hair and makeup will be predicated on what else you are wearing. If your dress is very dramatic or you’re wearing a large, sparkly necklace, keep the makeup simple to avoid competing with it. Likewise, your hairstyle will be influenced by what type of veil you are wearing. Do a test or two before the big day to ensure that your photos turn out literally picture perfect.

 

Don’t forget your undergarments!

The dress and photography are two major wedding expenses, and shapewear will help you look fantastic in both. If you’re wondering what exactly to wear under a wedding dress, there are many different kinds of wedding shapewear and undergarments available to complement every dress. Fom sexy bridal bras to waist cinching corsets, bridal undergarments will help you look and feel your best on your big day. Whether you simply need undergarments that won’t show underneath a low-backed gown or you’re looking for some tummy control to offer compression support, shapewear can help you look and feel your best during your special day. Make sure to measure yourself and consult size charts before ordering so that you will get the best fit possible.

 

Follow these eight tips to look fantastic on your wedding day. Remember that when in doubt, let the dress set the tone for the rest of your ensemble. As long as you keep the whole look in mind, you’ll end up looking fabulous on your wedding day.