Here are just a few of the gorgeous wedding things I’ve found by browsing Etsy!

1. Custom Alencon Lace Wedding Jacket – Short or Capped Sleeves by GlorybyJeannieLee:  “The Alencon Lace jacket is my favorite bridal accessory, as it will dress up even the most simple gown.”

2. Collette Lace Shoes with Hand Singed Roses and Rhinestone Buttons Marie Antoinette Style Ballroom Slippers by ShatteredPrincess. New, but enhanced with vintage lace, definitly one of a kind.

3. Wedding Sign Directional Wedding Shabby Chic 24 x 12 by tcart2010:  Hand painted signs direct your guests in the right direction!

4. SPARKLING CHAMPAGNE on ICE – Hand Knit Spiraling Twist – Pearl and Crystal Bangle by SerebaDesigns : Creamy 8mm ivory and 8mm champagne glass pearls are mixed with 6mm soft white glass pearls… all hand knit onto light silver durable metallic cord.

5. Martha Stewart Replica – Wedding Cake Butterfly Packs by clearcutcrafts2007:  Pack of 30 butterflies in 5 different colors and many designs.

6. Men’s wedding ring shiny classic finish 14k solid gold by havalazar: This beautiful stylish hand made band from 14K recycled gold can be customized  according to your request.

7. Retro-Tulle Headband with Hand-made Chiffon Flower with Button center by FascinatingCreations :  Soft and pretty, a little bitty hippy but 100% sophisticated!

8. Chandelier Earings, Crystal Quartz Little Wings by SarahHickeyJewellery : Available in Sterling Silver or 14K Gold Filled

9. Flower Girl Fancy Tutu Dress Custom Colors by CHICLILLOVEBUGS : This Elegant Design will be recreated in any size ranging from newborn to size 6 girls, in your choice of color, fabric type, and extra embellishing.

10. Bridal Bouquet Turquoise Fuschia Fiesta Wedding Flowers by  AmoreBride : This silk bouquet and others can be customized to your specific color and floral needs!

You have many things on your mind while planning a wedding, but don’t forget to say thank you to the bridesmaids who have stood by your side through it all! A small (or large!) bridesmaid gift will let her know how much you appreciate all her loving help and support.

Choose something special that she will treasure throughout her life. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just something thoughtful that you think she’ll like. It’s best to buy the same gift for everyone, but you can personalize it by engraving their names on it, or choosing different colors for each gal. Make sure to order them in advance, so that you can present it on the wedding day itself!

Some Gift Ideas to Get You Started!

A handbag or clutch makes a perfect gift for the bridesmaid to carry her personal belonging during the wedding. Each bridesmaid can be given her favorite color bag with her initials on it. Click here for lots of bridesmaids bags, totes, and clutches!

Beach wedding? Destination wedding? Bridesmaids who love the great outdoors? Give them a gift that will be useful on many more happy outings. Personalized totes and picnic blankets are just the thing to keep them smiling!

Beautiful silver jewelry, such as cuffs, charm bracelets, pins, or necklaces.  Click here for sterling silver bridesmaids gifts!

A personalized compact mirror is stylish and useful, adding a touch of glamor to her daily beauty routine…and her makeup touch-ups throughout the day. Click here for compact mirror gifts!

Capture the moment with pretty photo frame with a picture of you and your bridesmaid in it. This will always remind her of your friendship and good times shared. Click here for bridesmaid photo frames and albums!

A spa or aromatherapy kit will help the bridesmaid to relax after all the hectic days and late nights you’ve spent together. If you can afford it, you could even give the bridesmaid a gift certificate to a spa.

For a girly gift, a nice perfume is a sweet option. Here is a gorgeous perfume bottles for her dressing table!  For something more sassy, how about a girls-night-out flask?

Get creative!! At American Bridal, you can buy unique gifts such as pink flasks for the girls who like to party, Sushi-for-two gift sets, tool belts for the fix-it type, rhinestone belts for the gal who likes bling, aprons, jewelry boxes, tank tops, mugs, hair clips, and so much more!

The bride can present the gifts at the wedding rehearsal, on the wedding day itself,  or plan a fabulous girls night out for all the bridesmaids (you can involve their spouses/partners too, if you like).

Remember, it’s not the gifts that matter most to your bridesmaids, but the appreciation you are showing them. Give them a card with a heartfelt letter to let them know how special they are!

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Do you have a bridal accessory website that’s too great not to share? Please let us know about it in the comment section below!

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Portobello Bridal Collection

This website has gorgeous bridal jewelry, birdcage veils, and hairpieces. Edgy, vintage, or whimsical– choose your style!

Messages of Passion by Angelika Liv

Romantic bridal accessories in Victorian and Gothic styles.  We love the idea of having a bolero that you can put on and take off as you choose, whether it’s for added warmth, fashion, or modesty.

SnowWhite Studio

Absolutely stunning vintage-inspired bridal jewelry and accessories, including combs, veils, headbands, garters, sashes, and more.

Honeycomb Veils

Breathtaking, handmade veils that take a stroll and the wilder side of tradition!

The Headpiece Collection

The headpiece and veil combination is one of the most important and personal features of the bride’s attire.  Here you’ll find a wide range of wedding headpieces, tiaras, feather & floral hair fascinators for weddings, wedding hair combs, veils as well as bridal hair pins, twists and clips for you to choose from to complete your look.

Shoes

Colored shoes peeping out from below are one of the easiest (and most fun) ways to add color to your ensemble!  For inspiration, think about your wedding colors… consider shoes that match your groom’s tie, your bridesmaids’ dresses, or your bouquet.

photos: Joie of Life

Jewels

Pearls are lovely and diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but there are so many other beautiful jewels out there, no bride should feel limited to monochromatic jewelry. Whether you want to wear your grandmother’s vintage bracelet or some glittery costume jewelry, let those bangles and broaches speak for themselves!

Photos: Garnet broach, Citrine Pendant Turquoise bracelet

Headbands

If you are looking for something flashier than a tired tiara and veil, take inspiration from these gorgeous, multi-colored headbands!

Photos: Peacock headband,  Peony headband, Geometric headband

Cardigans & Cover-ups

Taking photos outside in the snow? Getting married in a church or synagogue where you need to cover up? Just looking for something different to add a pop of color? Try a shawl, bolero, or cardigan, which can change the look of your dress in an instant!

Photos: Yellow cardigan, Boleros, blue cardigan

It’s amazing, points out Katherine DalPra (owner/designer for Green Diva, an online boutique of eco-friendly bridal jewelry) how uneducated and distanced we’ve become from the goods we buy.  We don’t know where our jewelry comes from, and who has been affected by it. “Behind some of our most beloved purchases… there is a dirty secret involving worker exploitation, toxic pollution and cultural destruction.”

Among the sins that you DON’T want to be supporting are violent conflict and forced labor. Miners and gemstone artisans are often underpaid and work in unsafe conditions. Metal mining is the number one toxic polluter in America, and is also the cause of Acid Mine Drainage, which is destroying our drinkable water sources.

Luckily, there are several options for sourcing ethical engagement rings from people that have made a great effort to get it right. If you’re not into wooden rings, synthetic stones, or rings constructed of your own bone, here are some trusted sources you might want to consider buying from.

CRED Jewellery

The world’s first Fair Trade jewelery retailer, CRED has pioneered the search for transparent, ethical sources of precious metals and stones, delivering the first truly ethical wedding rings in 2003.  Their engagement rings combine classic and contemporary styling with the finest ethically-sourced diamonds and Oro Verde™ Fair Trade metals to perfectly encapsulate your values and your love.

C5 Company

C5 company is a leader in sustainable fine jewelry. They offer beautiful, well-crafted, ready-to-wear pieces and custom jewelry that you can feel good about purchasing, gifting and wearing.

All of their jewelry is made with 100% recycled precious metals and ethically sourced gems and diamonds (both fair-trade mined and lab-created) to ensure that C5 company jewelry has minimal environmental and social impact.

Below: Estate diamonds reset in recycled palladium; Lab-created rubies set in recycled palladium.

Green Karat

Green Karat has a mission, to provide an ecologically and socially responsible jewelry alternative to those who seek change. If you want to become part of the solution, they want to help you.

Did you know that there is enough gold above ground (already mined) to satisfy all demands of the jewelry industry for the next 50 years? Much of it sits in bank vaults and in the form of old and unused jewelry.  Green Karat believes that buying recycled gold is one of the most ecologically and socially responsible choices a consumer can make.

Artisan Wedding Rings

These unique wedding rings and engagement ring sets are heirloom quality and made by artisans with recycled gold, silver and platinum. Artisan use the most ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones available anywhere.

Brilliant Earth

“Luxury with a Conscience” brings you uncompromisable ethics and meticulous craftsmanship. Their jewelry is created with the highest quality Canadian Conflict Free Diamond Jewelry™ made with renewed gold and platinum. They also supply Ethical origin Namibian diamonds, and 5% of all profits are donated in Africa.

To learn about fair trade, conflict-free diamonds, eco-friendly, recycled metals and responsibly-made jewelry, visit any of the websites mentioned here! For a list of more ethical jewelry suppliers, visit this page at the natural wedding company.

My favorite items to browse at the moment are hairpieces. My sister is getting married soon, and her dress is going to be high cut with a big flower over one shoulder, so a necklace is out… but I’m searching headbands and combs just for the fun of it! Here are some of my favorites!!

Headbands

There’s something about this fern headband that makes me want to revisit my wedding hairstyle. It comes in gold or silver, but I absolutely LOVE it in gold! It also converts to a choker necklace.

This 3-D Alvina Headband is simply showstopping! I want it!

This Breena Headband is a bit more delicate, but equally gorgeous. I Love the filigree accents, and remember that the crystals are available in any color!

For something stunning yet subtle, try this crystal rhinestone headband:

Bracelets & Cuffs

Another great accessory that allows you go all-out (especially if you will have a busy dress or hairstyle) is a bracelet or cuff.  Below, the Breena Bracelet (yes, matches that Breena Headband I adore), the Edina Bracelet (which is meant to be work tightly like a watch) and the Alvina Bracelet, (silver or gold leaf):

Earings:

Clementine Earrings, Rosemary Earrings, and Sage Earrings

Veils

Tigerlily also has a selection of veils in every length, but for some intense old-new glamor, a birdcage veil is the ultimate accessory. Here are some stunning options… The Frances Birdcage is available in black, ivory, white, red, or champagne. (Peacock hairpins are available separately!)  The limited edition birdcage veil is made entirely of fine Silver and Swarovski crystal, and comes with a feather comb with Swarovski crystal accents.

OK, that’s enough from me! Check out their necklaces, tiaras, brooches, veils, and other accessories to find the perfect pieces for you! Just one word of caution before you go browsing… the prices can be steep, but if you absolutely MUST have it, you can rent many pieces for a fraction of the price!

Gold: If you want subtle color in the place of white or ivory, consider a gold toned gown… or simply add a golden sash to warm up a traditional white dress. Add antique gold earrings, bangles, or pearls, and you’re ready to walk down the isle.

Red: Nothing says “romance” like red! The bold bride won’t be afraid to buck tradition and go for an all-out red gown. They are being seen more and more these days.  But red sashes, trimmings, accessories, flowers, or jewelry can also be used to add a touch of fire to a white dress.

Orange: I have heard of pumpkins, maple leaves, and orange gerbera daisies gracing a fall wedding. But an orange wedding gown… Well, why not?! The orange-loving bride can step out of the ordinary and don an orange dress like the feisty, free-spirited bride below.

Green: The bright lime green of spring is not this season’s shade. Fall’s inspirations are mellow ferns or deep, rich evergreen.  The leaves are changing color but dark green endures as a beautiful fall color.

Earth-tones: I have yet to see a brown wedding dress. But dark chocolate or hazel colored sashes look lovely with any gown, especially cream or coffee colored. (The groom will look handsome in a matching chocolate suit or tux!)

Accessories and Jewelry: Gleaming gold, iridescent pearls, flashing jewels… the colors of fall are warm and bright. A gold leaf and pearl choker, little flower earrings, gold leaf pin, and bangle bracelets turn any fall bride into a queen for a day!

See also:

Autumn Weddings Part I: Color schemes and decorating inspiration

So hot, they’re red hot!

1)  If you’re flying, it’s best to carry your wedding garments on the plane as opposed to packing them in luggage.   Store the gown in a first class closet.  If you make arrangements in advance, most major airlines can accommodate you.  If the plane does not have ample room in closets or overhead bins, hand your gown inside a garment bag, gently fold inside a large, sturdy box and place it in a hard, carry-on suitcase.

2)  Retain the shape of your gown during travel by stuffing the bodice, sleeves and bows with acid-free tissue or unbleached muslin.

3)  Pack your wedding jewelry and other accessories together, if possible, and carry these with you as well.  A hatbox stowed inside a hard suitcase keeps your veil close to your headpiece, jewelry, garter and stockings.  Be sure to roll your veil to prevent wrinkles.

4)  Whether doing your own hair and makeup or working with experts, carry extra products for touch-ups and humidity control.  Waterproof mascara is a must for all climates.  To avoid leaks (and security searches) store your toiletries in clear plastic bags.

5)  Airline travel and climate changes can cause feet to swell, so stash an extra pair of dress shoes in your carry-on, just in case the bridal shoes you chose for your big day suddenly feel two sizes too small.

6)  Label your luggage inside and out with your phone number and the number and address of your destination.  Don’t include your home address.

7)  Don’t forget the rings.  Carry them with you at all times while traveling–along with your passports, credit cards, travel visas and photo IDs.

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

According to Yahoo Answers, “blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding as evidenced in proverbs like, “Marry in blue, lover be true.”

Quaint as this custom may sound, it’s obviously not required of any bride. But when I was wedding planning, I clearly remember being charmed by a magazine photo of a bride wearing a slender blue ribbon around her neck, which matched the delicate blue flowers in her bouquet!  If you want to add some contrast to your white gown, blue adds interest in the loveliest way!

Consider adding blue flowers to your bouquet, like this lovely arrangement from Wedding Flower & Reception Ideas:

Or a touch of blue at your throat…

A splash of starry blue sparkles in your hair…

A blue sash adds elegance…

Compliments of David’s Bridal, you can dress the whole wedding party in blue!

If you are buying, here a few pretty trinkets I found by browsing online. These two pieces are availible at Anna Bellagio: Sophisticated and Affordable Bridal Jewelry. The earings cost $54.00 and the bracelet costs $48.00.

You can buy designer knockoffs such as this Fred Leighton Inspired  Earring & Pendant Set (89.99) or this Vera Wang Inspired Necklace ($49.99)at overstockjeweler.com.

If you just can’t abandon the thought of wearing real, red-carpet-worthy gems, you can rent peices from a place like Adorn Bridal. This Lloyd pearl and diamond bangle bracelet retails for $7,600.00 and can be rented for $290.00. These white gold and diamond earings would cost you $3,030 to purchase, but only $100 to rent.