How to Care for Your Bridal Accessories
Bridal accessories are your chance to make your wedding dress truly your own.
With any accessory, a little care goes a long way, keeping every piece of your bridal look as good as it did the moment you first tried it on.
Here’s how to look after the wedding accessories that complete your wedding day look, from the veil itself through to the smaller finishing touches.
Caring for Your Veil and Other Hair Accessories
Before you put on your bridal accessories
Keep your veil in its original packaging or a breathable bag until the morning of the wedding.
Most veils are made from tulle. To avoid fading, we recommend keeping it away from direct sunlight.
Hairspray and other harsh chemicals are the biggest threat to delicate tulle, since the fine mist settles on the fabric and can leave a faint residue that’s hard to shift.
We recommend that you spray your hair and perfume your wrists before the veil or headpiece goes anywhere near you, not after.
Keeping it secure on the day
Most veils and headpieces, from a simple comb to fuller fascinators, attach with a comb sewn into the base, and a hairstylist will usually secure it with a few extra hair pins close to the roots.
Hair vines and headbands sit slightly differently to most other hair accessories, often woven through an updo rather than clipped on top.
We’d always recommend testing your hairstyle and accessories together at your hair trial or during your accessories appointment.
This leaves nothing to chance, and means the morning of the wedding isn’t the first time you try them.
Looking after your bridal veil afterwards
Long cathedral veils, mid-length fingertip veils and short birdcage veils all handle differently once the day is done.
Bridal veils in general fold best loosely, since sharp folds can leave permanent lines in the tulle.
If you’re keeping your dress and veil together for the long term, our stylists are always happy to chat about different garment bags and acid-free tissue to protect your gown and veil for decades to come.
Cleaning and Storing Bridal Jewellery
Bridal jewellery often mixes pearls, crystals and metal in one accessory, especially on chandelier earrings and statement tiaras especially.
It creates a beautiful piece, but each material can react differently to knocks, damp and skin oils.
Gently wipe pearls and crystals with a soft, dry cloth after wearing rather than soaking them, since water can loosen the glue holding small stones in place.
Remember to wear them on occasion, as your natural oil and moisture from your skin help them retain their shine.
Metal settings tarnish faster when they’re left in contact with perfume, hairspray or lotion, so treat jewellery as the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.
Store necklaces, bracelets and stud or delicate earrings separately, ideally in a soft pouch or lined box. This makes sure that nothing scratches against anything else or tangles into a knot overnight.
A high neckline often calls for smaller, simpler earrings, while a bare neckline can carry a statement necklace.
However you wish to complete your bridal look, the same gentle care routine keeps the piece looking new for years.
Looking After Shoes, Belts and Sashes, and Other Finishing Touches
Wedding shoes take a beating on a day full of grass, gravel, greeting loved ones, and of course, the dance floor!
Keep the box and any dust bags they came in for protection between now and the day your wedding look comes together.
Belts and sashes need the same soft-cloth treatment as jewellery, especially if the embellishment is heavily detailed with beading. Embroidery or appliqué can catch on other fabric if left loose in a bag.
A garter is one of the few accessories that’s low-maintenance by nature, give it a gentle hand wash and pack it away.
Whatever finishing touches you’ve chosen, whether classic or boho in style, decorative elements like bows, buckles and other small fasteners are usually the first thing to snag.
Check them the week before your wedding and pack them away quickly if you wish to store them as a keepsake.
Your Bridal Accessories Checklist
Check everything before the day
A few days before the wedding, lay every accessory out together and check each one properly.
That’s the moment to spot a loose stone or a missing earring back, while there’s still time to fix it.
Choosing bridal pieces built to last
Quality is what keeps an accessory shining the same way it did on your wedding night, as it does decades down the line.
Well-made pieces are designed to be worn, not just admired.
Secure settings keep stones in place, and sturdy fittings keep veils safely fitted to the hair. We always recommend choosing a reputable supplier, so your accessories and jewellery don’t dull or tarnish throughout your special day and can be kept as an heirloom.
Style will always be personal.
A regal, statement tiara might suit one bride and groom’s black-tie wedding gown perfectly, while another couple’s special day calls for something quieter, and both are right.
But whatever style beckons you, the craftsmanship makes all the difference.
Bridal Accessories FAQ
When should I take my veil off during the day?
Most brides keep the veil on through the ceremony and photographs, then remove it before the reception meal or the first dance, when a longer veil gets impractical to move around in. No fixed point exists though, and plenty of brides keep a shorter veil on all evening if it feels right.
Can I steam my veil to remove wrinkles?
Yes, a fabric steamer on a low setting works well on tulle, held a few centimetres away so the heat never touches the fabric directly. Avoid a hot iron altogether, since tulle scorches and melts far more easily than it creases.
Should I clean my jewellery before or after wearing it?
Both. A quick wipe before the wedding removes dust from storage, and another wipe afterwards removes the day’s perfume, hairspray and skin oils before everything goes back in its pouch.
What if a hem or seam comes loose on the day?
A small emergency kit with a needle, thread in a couple of neutral colours, and fabric tape covers most last-minute repairs without anyone noticing. For anything bigger, get in touch with whoever handled your alterations well before the day, since structural fixes are best left to a professional rather than a safety pin.
How soon after the wedding should I store everything away?
Within a week or two is ideal, once everything’s had a chance to air out and dry properly. Packing damp fabric or unwashed jewellery away for months is how mildew and tarnish set in.
Keep Your Veil and Bridal Accessories Beautiful for Years to Come
Good care goes a long way, but it always begins with choosing pieces that are well made and meant to last.
If you are looking to make your wedding dress your own with bridal accessories, our stylists can show you how different veils, headpieces, and crowns sit with your chosen wedding dress. We will also guide you on how to care for them after your big day has come to an end.
Call us on 01698 200122 or book your appointment online, and start with the perfect bridal accessory, built to be loved for years, not just for one afternoon.
