The quintessential accessory is the veil. It once symbolized the innocence of the future bride, protecting her from prying eyes, her face only to be revealed to her groom when he lifted her veil at the altar. Today, instead, it “completes” the brides wedding outfit, providing an air of romance and enveloping her in mystery. Naturally, the veil should complement the style of the dress and the type of ceremony. It is also of utmost importance that it does not prove a hindrance, limiting the bride’s ease of movement. My advice is not to over-do it in terms of length. The extra length creates extra weight, which could mean you reach the altar feeling tired, awkward and worried about how you are walking, rather than dignified and elegant! It is often a tradition, especially in aristocratic families, to hand down the veil from one generation to the next: in this case it is necessary to start with the veil itself and match the dress to the veil. Very often, the veil will be made of antique lace, elaborately embroidered and most probably no longer white. It will be important to choose a dress whose style and color complement the gift which has been handed down.
In general, the veil should be simple, light and delicate, made of smooth tulle, and held in place by a simple tiara of flowers or similar. The shoes are to be seen and are certainly not an insignificant aspect of the outfit…… never underestimate their importance! They should be identical to the dress, so I would recommend you have a custom pair of shoes hand-crafted from the same material as the dress, thus ensuring no mistake can be made. Avoid leather shoes, even if they are white, and always choose a classic shape and style.
Be careful with your choice of heel: if your future husband is not particularly tall, neither should your heel be! I also recommend that you wear your wedding shoes for a few hours before the big day. It can help you feel much more sure of yourself!
