When choosing for your wedding, every decision feels so important. On arguably your most photographed day, selecting your earrings can feel as stressful as picking a box on Deal Or No Deal. There’s so much choice, and your decision can make or break your outfit. Before getting married last year, I spent a lot of time browsing wedding accessories and feeling quite overwhelmed. I had already ordered my dress and had to trust my gut that my accessory choices would come together. Luckily, I loved the completed look, and the vision truly came together. If you are a future bride – or attending a formal event – and are looking for inspiration, read on below.
Rings
Arguably, the most meaningful accessories of all are engagement and wedding rings. My husband designed my marquise diamond engagement ring with Austen & Blake, and the process was incredibly thoughtful. Jack visited a local store where the team guided him through different styles, helping to spark inspiration. Once home, he refined the design, experimenting with metals, settings, and gemstones until he found the perfect combination.
It remains the most cherished piece of jewellery I own, and I love it just as much today as I did the day we got engaged.
When it came to my wedding band, I had a very clear vision of how I wanted it to complement my engagement ring. Nothing I found matched what I had in mind, which is when James Porter & Sons came into the picture. A renowned Scottish, family-run jeweller with over 165 years of expertise, they offered exactly the level of craftsmanship I was looking for. I met with their sales team, who then connected me with their designers. I explained that I wanted a ‘horseshoe’ style open platinum band featuring two smaller marquise diamonds set perpendicular to the marquise stone in my engagement ring.
After several conversations and refinements, I sent them my engagement ring so it could be incorporated into their CAD programmes, giving me complete peace of mind that the two rings would sit perfectly together. I couldn’t recommend James Porter & Sons or their team highly enough.
Veil
Next to the dress, the veil was the bridal item I was most excited about. During one of my first bridal appointments, I tried on a beautiful cathedral-length veil with pearl detailing and instantly fell in love, but I just couldn’t justify the price. Later, while scrolling on TikTok, I discovered The Wedding Veil Shop and was blown away by the bespoke options they offered – at a fraction of the cost.
Based in Blackpool, The Wedding Veil Company specialises in custom bridal accessories, with personalisation options ranging from tulle styles and lengths to bespoke embroidery details. Rather than ordering online, I travelled from Glasgow to see the options in person and try different styles. The result was a veil completely bespoke to me and even more beautiful than the one I initially loved. I especially treasure the personalised embroidery – meaningful now, and something that could be added to if it were ever to become an heirloom.
For anyone seeking something truly bespoke, I couldn’t recommend The Wedding Veil Company enough.
Headpiece
Another TikTok gem. I fell in love with Cayla Couture after discovering her work on my FYP. She creates ‘contemporary accessories for the unique bride’, describing them as ‘future heirlooms’ – a philosophy that immediately resonated with me.
I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, only that I didn’t want a tiara or a standard headband. I’d long had a vision inspired by Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story and Hedy’s look in Ziegfeld Girl, and Cayla Couture’s designs fit that brief perfectly. While she offers several halos and headpieces in this vein – including the Andromeda, Astronomer, Cursebreaker and Daphne – I fell in love with the Boleyn Stacked Crown at first sight.
What makes it especially special is its versatility: a stack of three that can also be worn individually as headbands for other occasions. Each piece is made to order, so I ordered well in advance to have it ready for my early hair trials.
Necklace
As I was already wearing several ‘statement’ pieces, I wanted a necklace that would complement rather than overwhelm my bridal look. After searching for a while and bookmarking a few favourites, I discovered Lily & Roo – a British brand creating timeless pieces “for every woman, for every occasion”. I loved that many of their collections feel contemporary yet classic. I ultimately chose their silver Layered Pearl Necklace, which paired elegant pearl details with a visually interesting double chain.
Earrings
As mentioned, one of my inspirations for my wedding accessories was a ‘celestial’/Hedy Lamarr theme. I fell in love with the Elodie Star Pearls from Victoria Percival as soon as I saw them. I found their pricing very reasonable compared with other pearl earrings and actually purchased an extra pair as a backup, just in case I didn’t like the Elodie pearls on the day.
Choosing your wedding accessories is as much about expressing your personality as it is about completing your look. From rings to veils, headpieces, necklaces and earrings, every piece tells a story and contributes to the overall vision of your day. I understand that it can feel overwhelming to commit to purchases when you can’t try the full look on until your fittings or even on the big day itself! I hope this helps future brides – and anyone attending a formal event – to find pieces that feel meaningful, beautiful and uniquely theirs.
Until next time,
Ashleigh x
