Accessories for the wedding dress – veils, shoes and details

Veils, jewellery, hair accessories and the practical things that should be included in the bag on the day.

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Do I need to wear a veil with my wedding dress when I get married in church?

No, there is no rule about veils, not even in the Danish National Church. The veil is what makes the outfit read as a wedding dress from a distance, so many brides still choose one for the ceremony and take it off for the party. If you want the same effect without a veil, you can use hair combs, flowers or long ribbons. Try a veil over the dress before you decide. See our veils and bridal accessories.

Which veil length suits my wedding dress best?

The length of the veil should follow the wedding dress. A short fingertip veil suits a simple dress, and if the dress has a train, choose chapel or cathedral length so the two lengths work together. If there is lace or beading on the back, choose a plain veil, otherwise the detail disappears. We have veils in the showroom, so you can try them with the dress instead of guessing. Find the lengths among our bridal veils and accessories.

What is a blusher veil for a wedding dress, and should I wear it down over my face?

A blusher veil is the short front layer that lies over the face until you reach the altar. It is a choice, not a requirement, and in Denmark most brides wear the veil at the back only. If you want a blusher, practise once how it is lifted back, and agree with the person walking you down the aisle who does it. We have veils both with and without a blusher in our bridal accessories.

Does my veil need to be exactly the same white as the wedding dress?

Yes, the veil and the wedding dress should be close in colour. A bright white veil over an ivory dress makes the dress look yellowish, and the other way round the veil looks grey. The difference shows most clearly in daylight and in photos with flash. Hold the veil against the dress fabric by a window; it takes ten seconds and settles it. If you buy both from us, we check it with you. See our veils in white and ivory.

My wedding dress has lace – should the veil have lace too?

No, the veil does not need lace just because the dress has it, and it often looks better without. If the dress has a lot of lace, especially on the back, the detail disappears behind a lace veil and the two patterns clash. A plain tulle veil lets the dress be what people see. If you want lace in the veil, choose an edging in the same type of lace as the dress. See our lace wedding dresses and veils.

How do you fasten a bridal veil securely in your hair so it falls nicely over the wedding dress?

A bridal veil is fastened with a comb or with pins in an updo, so the veil rests on the hairstyle instead of pulling on it. If you wear your hair down, you need a small braid or a padding to put the comb into. Take the veil to the hairdresser so she can fasten it while you are there, and have her show you how to take it off again. Find veils with a comb in our bridal accessories.

When during the day does the bride take off her veil so she can party in her wedding gown?

Most brides take the veil off after the photos, before dinner. That way you have it in church and in all the posed photos, and you avoid carrying a couple of metres of tulle to the table and onto the dance floor. The wedding gown is still festive enough without a veil, and you get more freedom to move. Ask someone you have with you to help with the comb, and have a place to put the veil where it won't be trodden on. More advice on the day itself is in our FAQ about planning.

What do I do with my veil and wedding dress if it is windy for the outdoor photos?

Use the wind, because a veil that flutters gives some of the most beautiful bridal photos, and the photographer will love it. If the veil needs to stay still, fix it with a couple of extra pins and stand with the wind at your back. Ask a helper to be ready to straighten the veil and the train of the wedding dress between shots. If it is blowing a gale, take the veil off for the outdoor photos and put it back on indoors. Keep the pins in your bag. See what else helps in our FAQ about seasons and weather.

What does a bridal veil for a wedding dress typically cost in Denmark?

A bridal veil typically costs between 500 and 2,000 DKK in Denmark, and the price follows the length and whether there is lace or pearls on the edge. A simple fingertip-length tulle veil is the cheap end, while a cathedral veil with a lace edge is the expensive end. We have veils in the showroom, so you can try several lengths over your own dress before you choose. See the prices of our bridal veils and accessories.

I don't want a veil with my wedding dress – what can I wear in my hair instead?

Instead of a veil you can wear a hair comb with pearls, fresh or dried flowers in the updo, a wide satin ribbon, a small hat or a jewelled headband. A flower crown suits a boho dress, and a simple gold comb suits a minimalist dress. This kind of hair accessory is also easier to wear again. Try two or three kinds in front of the mirror, and it will decide itself. Find hair accessories among our bridal accessories.

Does a tiara or a hair comb suit my wedding dress best?

If the wedding dress has beading, stones or glitter, a hair comb suits it best, because it repeats the detail without overpowering it. If the dress is completely plain, a tiara can be the one place where you add sparkle. Choose the hair accessory in the same metal as your jewellery so the look hangs together. Try it with the veil, not separately. See tiaras and combs in our bridal accessories.

Should I wear my hair up or down with my wedding dress?

Let the back of the dress decide the hairstyle. If the wedding dress has an open back, lace or buttons you want to show, wear your hair up, otherwise you hide what you paid for. If the dress is simple and closed, loose hair can give it a softness the fabric does not have. Take a photo of the back of the dress to the hairdresser; it says more than a description. See our open-back wedding dresses.

How much jewellery can I wear with my wedding gown before it becomes too much?

As a bride you should choose one place for jewellery: the ears, the neck or the hair, not all three. If the dress has beading or stones on the bodice, it is already decorated, and a pair of earrings is enough. Try the whole look in front of the mirror and take a photo, because the photo shows what the eye gets used to. If in doubt, take one piece off. See jewellery and hair accessories in our bridal accessories.

Should I wear a necklace with a high-necked wedding dress?

No, a necklace with a high-necked wedding dress usually looks cluttered. A high neck or lace right up to the throat is the detail in itself, and a chain on top competes with it. Put something in your ears or your hair instead. If you have an heirloom you want to wear, it can be sewn into the dress or tied around the bouquet. See our wedding dresses with long sleeves and high necklines.

Should my bridal jewellery be gold or silver with my wedding dress?

Bridal jewellery should follow the undertone of the dress. Ivory, champagne and warm whites suit gold, while bright white and cool white look best with silver or white gold. If the dress has beading or stones, look at the metal colour of the threads and go with that. Hold both metals against the fabric in daylight, and you will see the difference at once. Try them against the dress together with our jewellery and accessories.

Are pearls still fashionable with a wedding dress today?

Yes, pearls are still fashionable and have been back for several years, as earrings, as an edge on the veil and sewn onto the dress. Pearls suit both a minimalist and a classic wedding dress. If you want to avoid looking old-fashioned, choose a few large pearls rather than many small ones on a string. A pair of pearl earrings is one of the things that lasts longest. See our classic wedding dresses and accessories.

How can I include my grandmother's heirloom in my bridal look, perhaps sewn into the wedding dress?

An heirloom can become part of your bridal look in more ways than wearing it. A brooch can be pinned to the bouquet or the belt, a ring can be tied around the stems, and a piece of fabric from an old dress can be sewn into the lining of the wedding dress. If the piece of jewellery is very visible, let it be the only one you wear. Show it to us when you try on the dress, and we will find a solution. See what our tailor can sew in.

Do you have a bolero or a small jacket I can wear over my wedding dress?

Yes, we have boleros, wraps and stoles from time to time, but the selection changes because we buy one of each. A bolero is a good solution if you want to be covered in church and bare-shouldered for the party. Ask what we have in your size, or ask when you try on the dress, and we will hold it against the fabric at the same time. Write to us via the contact page, or see our accessories.

What can I wear over the shoulders of my wedding gown if the church is cold?

In a cold church you can wear a tulle wrap, a bolero in the same fabric as the dress, a knitted white stole or a cape over your shoulders. The cape is the warmest and looks beautiful from behind in photos. Choose something you can take off with one hand, because you need your hands free for the bouquet. Try it over the dress so you can see that the colour matches. Find capes and stoles in our bridal accessories.

What is a detachable overskirt for a wedding dress?

A detachable overskirt is an extra layer of skirt, often in tulle or organza, that hooks on over the wedding dress and comes off again. That gives you a big dress with a train for the ceremony and a slim dress for dancing without changing clothes. It is the cheapest way to get two looks in one day. We have dresses with an overskirt from time to time, so ask when you try on. See also our wedding dresses with a train.

Should I have a belt or a sash with my wedding dress?

A belt or sash only makes sense if the wedding dress lacks a waist. A narrow belt with stones or pearls marks the middle of a straight dress or an empire dress, and it is also an obvious place for a colour if you want something blue. If the dress already has a clear waist or details at the waistline, leave it out. Try the dress with and without in front of the mirror. See belts in our bridal accessories.

Are bridal gloves with a wedding dress old-fashioned, or are they back in fashion?

Bridal gloves are in fashion again after being gone for many years, especially long gloves in satin or tulle with a simple dress. They work best when the wedding dress is strapless or has thin straps, because then the gloves have something to play against. Remember to take them off before the rings go on. Try them with the dress before you decide. See our simple wedding dresses and accessories.

Should I carry a bag as a bride when I already have a wedding dress and a bouquet to manage?

Most brides have a small clutch with them, which a maid of honour or a bridesmaid looks after, because you can't carry it yourself along with the bouquet and the wedding dress. The clutch should hold lipstick, plasters, pins and your phone. If the dress has pockets, or the tailor can sew them in, you can manage without a bag. Put the rest in a bigger bag that stays in the venue. Read about pockets with our tailor.

What should go in the emergency kit for the wedding day in case something happens to the wedding dress?

An emergency kit for the wedding day should contain safety pins, a needle and white thread, plasters, gel pads, stain remover for white fabric, double-sided tape, deodorant that doesn't leave white marks, lipstick, hairpins, hairspray, painkillers, snacks and a spare pair of tights. Give the box to someone you trust, not to yourself. Most mishaps on the day are solved with a pin and a plaster. Test the stain remover on a hidden seam of the wedding dress before using it on a stain. More advice is in our FAQ about emergencies on the day.

Should I wear a garter under my wedding dress when I get married?

No, a garter is entirely optional, and in Denmark it is no longer a widespread tradition. If you want one, there are pretty lace garters, and it can be your something blue. Choose one that does not pinch and does not show through a close-fitting fabric. If it will be used in a game at the party, agree on it in advance with whoever runs the programme. Find it among our bridal accessories.

Should we have umbrellas ready for the wedding so the wedding gown doesn't get wet if it rains?

Yes, umbrellas are one of the best things to have sorted for a Danish wedding. Buy or borrow a set of matching umbrellas, ideally clear or white, so the photos don't become a jumble of colours, and put them by the entrance. Keep a large umbrella ready for the bride, so the wedding gown and veil stay dry on the way in and out. An umbrella over a couple in the rain often gives the photos people remember. Agree with a guest that the umbrellas are her job. More about rainy weather is in our FAQ about seasons and weather.

What do I wear over my wedding dress outdoors when we marry in winter?

In winter a white or cream cape is the best thing over the wedding dress, because it looks beautiful in photos and keeps you warm at the same time. The alternatives are a faux fur stole, a knitted coat or an ordinary light coat that you take off for the photos. Think about your feet too, because they get cold first. Keep a blanket in the car; it does not show and saves the waiting time. See our wedding dresses with long sleeves.

Can I buy the wedding dress, veil, shoes and jewellery in the same place with you?

Yes, we have veils, shoes, jewellery and boleros in the showroom, so you can put the whole bridal look together in one day. The benefit is not just time: white and ivory come in many shades, and you only see whether things match when they lie side by side in daylight. Write in your booking that you want to see accessories, and we will set aside time for it. See our wedding dresses and wedding dress accessories.

Should my bridal bouquet match the colour of my wedding dress?

No, the bridal bouquet doesn't have to match the dress, and an all-white bouquet against an ivory dress can actually make the dress look yellowish. Greenery, cream, powder pink and deep colours look lovely against both white and ivory. Take a piece of fabric or a photo of the wedding dress to the florist so she can see the undertone. Do tie a ribbon in the colour of the dress around the stems. More ideas are in our FAQ about flowers and decoration.