From veils to hair accessories and jewelry, this post breaks down how to pick the best bridal accessories for your wedding.

So, you've found your perfect pre-owned wedding dress and you're over the moon. The champagne's been popped and some tears have been shed. You've found THE ONE!

And now that you know the perfect wedding gown that you'll be wearing when you walk down that aisle, it's time to complete your look for the big day. 

Choosing the right bridal accessories is another exciting part of the wedding dress shopping process. What truly makes us unique is our ability to accessorize, so the add-ons that you pick to go with your beautiful wedding dress will express your distinctive bridal style.

And that doesn't mean draping yourself head-to-toe in sparkly jewelry (unless that's your thing, of course) or going over-budget with an extravagant bridal veil. What will make you feel like the princess that you are on your wedding day is if you accessorize your way. Whether it's a stunning bridal headband or a wedding belt, find those accents that catch your eye.

To help you, we've broken down all you need to know picking the best bridal accessories for your wedding. Our bridal shop offers many of these accessories available on consignment, giving you the affordable and sustainable bridal fashion option!

Your bridal accessories checklist 2024

Which type of bridal accessories are you looking for? Here's a handy list of the most common wedding dress accessories worn by today's brides in 2024:

1. Bridal veils: From cathedral-length long to a fingertip veil, the bridal veil tradition continues to evolve.

2. Bridal hair accessories: Tiaras, clips, headbands, flower crowns, ribbons, pins, and more.

3. Bridal jewelry: Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, oh my! You can go for something simple or a jewelry set to go all out. And remember that sometimes, less is more.

4. Bridal gloves: Satin, lace, sequin, long, or short, more modern brides are expressing themselves through this elegant bridal accessory.

5. Wedding garter: Sure it's traditional, but many brides still wear a frilly garter under their dress. Could it be your "something borrowed"? Or, could there be a garter toss during the reception?

6. Wedding belt: Wrap things up with a beautiful bridal belt. Beaded, jeweled, silk, lace, satin - just depends what you're going for.

7. Bride bag: Need to re-apply some lip gloss? A stylish purse to store some essentials for the reception is always a handy bridal accessory.

8. Bridal jacket: Winter wedding brides love a faux-fur wrap or cape. Or maybe a stylish shawl for your fall wedding. And any time of the year, a lacy, tulle, or embroidered cape is another way to really shine on your special day.

Bridal veils and what's trending in the wedding fashion world

To veil? Not to veil? Maybe you're into keeping to tradition or want to shed it completely, the veil is still one major bridal accessory to consider. Many brides and bridal styles in recent years play with that traditional aesthetic, turning it into something unique and original. Either way, the bridal veil is still very much a part of the wedding dress purchasing process.

Curious if a bridal veil is the right choice for you? First you should know a little about all the different types available. From traditional to contemporary, there's a bunch of styles of bridal veils out there. Here's a quick look:

1. Cathedral veil: Go glamorous and regal with a cathedral veil that is styled to surpass your dress in length. They can be as long as 120 inches, so you know your entrance and walk down the aisle will be a stunner!

2. Chapel veil: This type of bridal veil is a little shorter at 85 to 95 inches in length. For brides going for a more timeless look, a chapel veil is a great option.

3. Birdcage veil: One of the smaller bridal veils out there, the birdcage is vintage-inspired, super stylish, and extra fun. It typically covers only the upper part of your face.

4. Pearl veil: For a classic and chic look, the pearl veil provides. It's single tier and often medium in length compared to the other bridal veils.

5. Lace veil: Embrace the historic mantilla veil to bring out your inner romantic.

6. Blusher veil: Blusher wedding veils are another super traditional type of veil, where the veil is draped over the bride's face until she's standing in front of her groom during the ceremony.

7. Floral veil: Like the pearl and lace bridal veils, the floral veil is long and classic looking. Typically, flowers are embroidered all along the material.

8. Fingertip veil: A beautiful medium length veil (to go down to your fingertips).

So whether it's long or short, veil or no veil, it's your call on how to accessorize and express yourself on your wedding day!

Bridal hair accessories: which is your perfect headpiece?

Beyond the bridal veil, many brides choose hair accessories to jazz up their wedding look for their big day. Whether you're looking for something sparkly as a headpiece or you want to go the flower crown route, here's a list of the top bridal hair accessories for 2024:

1. Bridal headband: Affordable and fun, bridal headbands are a popular wedding accessory for the modern bride. They can sparkle with crystals or pearls or be adorned with flowers, and are perfect if you're wearing your hair in an up-do. Bridal headbands can also be a great addition if you're wearing your hair down on your wedding day.

2. Wedding tiara: Go a level up and carry a tiara on that beautiful head of yours to 'Wow' those guests with this stunning bridal accessory when you walk down the aisle. Much like a bridal headband, you can opt for a more simple and stylish version.

3. Flower crown: Let your inner wild child fly free by expressing yourself with a flower crown for your wedding day. Crowns can really accentuate a more simple wedding dress style and are oh-so eye-catching. We have to say we're here for all of it!

4. Hair clips: A shiny barrette or hair pin worn on the side to seal in that up-do, perhaps? Hair clips are a practical accent and bridal accessory for any type of hair style.

What about bridal jewelry?

Jewelry can be very expensive, and the same goes for bridal jewelry. Other than rentals, one amazing way to not overspend on your bridal jewelry is to buy it on consignment. Whether it's a beautiful pair of earrings or a gemstone necklace that fits just right on your neckline, you can find them on consignment option.

Finding the best bridal jewelry to match your style really depends on your dress, so we recommend choosing your wedding dress so you'll have a better feel about how to complete your look.

You might have a surprisingly minimalist look with your dress, in that case you won't need too much jewelry and will still look stunning. It's all part of picking the perfect bridal accessories for your wedding day, so the most important thing is to have fun with it!

Find your perfect accessories at Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal

Feel like a bridal accessories expert yet? Great! Now you're ready to pick those perfect accents to go with your bridal gown and complete your look.

On top of our stylish selection of pre-owned wedding dresses, we also have a bunch of different bridal accessories on offer at our boutique. From bridal jewelry to jackets and gorgeous bridal veils, we have beautiful accessories to choose from at an affordable price.

Same as with a bridal gown appointment, one of the amazing Hand-Me-Gowns stylists will be there with you to help you find the perfect match. If you're interested, you can book a 30-minute bridal accessory appointment at our cozy boutique in South Jersey.

So, come on in and check out the stylish designer bridal accessories that we carry for all types of brides out there!