Finishing Touches: Styling A Wedding Gown with Bridal Belts

So we have created the perfect custom wedding gown for your wedding day, but you’re scared to ruin it with accessories. Well you have options, and we are here to show you how we can help you complete your look with the bridal belt that matches your personality. With your wedding day choices, colors, and accents, we can create the perfect finishing touches on your bridal gown, leaving you looking, and feeling, like a beautiful bride.  

Matching Colors: Whether you’re looking to match your dress, or create a clear waistline, it is important to consider the colors that you’re choosing to include on the big day. For brides wanting to color match, understanding what colors compliment your bridal gown is important. Bridal gowns that have more ivory tones will be best matched with warm toned bridal belts, because champagne and gold embellishments are going to enhance the natural warmth of your gown. For brighter whites, choosing cool toned bridal belts will help match the pure colors of your wedding gown. Good cool tone choices are silvers, opals, and clear crystals.

Accent or Contrast Colors: Some brides know that they want some color in their bridal look. For many brides, incorporating an accent color into the belt can be the simplest way to achieve the look they desire. Depending on how bold the bride wishes to be, the saturation and size of an accent belt can vary. Most times, these belts can connect the bride’s gown to her bridesmaid dresses, and other decor. When choosing an accent colored bridal belt, consider what colors you will be using for decor, and floral arrangements at the ceremony, so that the wedding day looks and feels cohesive. Black is another strong choice for the modern bride that will give you a definitely illusion of a smaller waist.

Satin: So we spent forever choosing the perfect lace fabric for your custom gown, and you adore it, but you want to have that accent at your waist. An easy option for you could be satin. The simplicity and shine that satin has, makes it a great accent for any bride, and the simplicity will not distract from the details and design work you requested in your custom gown. Satin bands are also a great choice for a puffy bridal gown, and can be made more ornate with added beading and embroidery.

Velvet: For winter brides who are searching for bridal belts that go beyond florals, and silky fabrics, velvet is a beautiful, and classic choice. When you plan for a winter wedding, finding the perfect bridal accessories that do not scream spring and summer can be a challenge. A velvet bridal belt is a great, and feminine, way to incorporate the appropriate seasons attire into your wedding gown. The texture created by velvet is a unique way to bring attention to the bride’s waist. Although very trendy, velvet is definitely a good way for a bride who values individuality to remain unique.

Cross-grain ribbon: Your wedding dress is complete, but you just saw a picture online of a bride with a beautiful bow, and you need it to be a part of your look. If this is how you are feeling, a bridal sash can so easily create this look for you. Flattering with deep-v backs, mermaids, and trumpets, long-tailed bows are feminine and bold. When worn in the back, they appear slimming, and can make the legs appear longer. This type of bridal sash can also be tied to the side of the body, which is very flattering on bridal gowns that accentuate the waist.

Metal and Metalics: A metal bridal belt is perfect for an alternative bride. Whether its detailed and delicate, or a solid band, it has a great impact on modern style bridal gowns. They work great as accents directly on the waistline, but it is important, however, to pay attention that a metal belt will match your other jewelry choices. If you are searching for a bold accent for your bohemian bridal gown, look into options like metal bridal belts.  

Skinny Belts: Brides all want to look and feel beautiful on the wedding day, so how can a bridal belt help you do this? By choosing certain thicknesses of bridal belts, you can flatter your body in different ways. For example, a bride with a shorter torso might benefit from a thin bridal belt. These belts tend to be more flattering on this body type, as they do not take up too much space on the torso, leaving the dress, and your body looking proportionate. Thin belts are also a good choice for a bride who doesn’t want to over decorate their bridal gown, but wants to accentuate physical traits such as the waist.  

Wide Belts: For the brides with a different body type, or a longer torso, a thick belt can be the most flattering choice. This helps to elongate the legs, and shorten the torso, creating a flattering silhouette on the body of the bride. When choosing a thick belt, it is important to remember the bigger the belt, the more it can overpower the rest of the bridal gown. No bride wants to be shown up on her wedding day, especially not by a belt. There is no absolute rule on bridal belt thickness, but if you are concerned try and stick with belts that are no wider than three fingers.

Crystal & Beading: For a bride who wants to bring some sparkle to their day, crystal bridal belts are a great choice. Often, this style of bridal belt can bring an artdeco feeling to your gown. The distinct patterns that are created, are often unique as they are made by artists. The bridal belts fit well on top of fitted dresses, but can be paired with almost any bridal gown. These bridal belts often look best with smooth fabric, as the crystal additions add a 3D effect. We love the Blushing Bridal Shop for their beautiful and handmade crystal bridal belts.

We are obsessed with every accesory and belt by SARA KIM

Partial Belts: As a bride who has a custom design in mind, you may have details that you know you need on your dress, or that you already have. Some of these may be beautiful back details. If you have an open back, or some other design details that would be disrupted by a belt, there are other options for accentuating your waist. Appliques can be placed on the waistline to mimic the beaded and embroidered bridal belts that you may be used to seeing, but this technique will not disrupt the design of the dress in the round.

Belts with removable skirt/train: If you are a bride who has considered a reception dress, but are too in love with a dress we have already had created, this bridal belt might be the solution for you. By adding a dramatic overskirt, you can transform the overall look of your dress, and make it change from ceremony to reception. This style may require some extra customization, as you may want to do extra surface embellishments to make the over-skirt, as well as the belt, match the pre-existing bridal gown.  

“Something blue”: While a bride searches for the perfect way to incorporate their something blue, brides can sometimes overlook the bridal belt as an option. This decoration can be as subtle, or as bold as you choose. Some brides may just choose to incorporate some sapphire gems into their belts. Others may choose to make the whole bridal sash blue. A unique idea for our custom brides to explore is having a two sided belt/sash. One side could be a traditional ivory, while the other a brilliant shade of blue. This subtle addition could make any bride feel unique and special.

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