Having trawled websites and magazines for wedding dress inspiration and had an enjoyable and eventful time dress shopping, sussing out different styles which suit you, you’ve finally found ‘The One’. You breathe a sigh of relief as you think all you need to do now is wait for it to be made, or in some cases if you have bought your gown off the peg, have it fitted.  However it doesn’t all stop there! Now the fun really begins as you decide how you are going to accessorise your wedding gown!

As you and your bridal gown are the main stars of the show it is important to remember that the accessories you select should complement your dress and not try to compete with it. There are many factors that will influence your choice of accessories including the theme of your wedding day, the style of your bridal gown and of course your personality.

For many brides their first thoughts are on the headwear. If you have always envisaged wearing a tiara now is your chance! Tiaras come in an array of shapes, colours and sizes, from small ones that sit in front of your veil to full on crowns.  There is also the option of wearing a comb, fascinator or some sparkly jewels or pins to finish off your hairstyle. Fresh flowers that match your bouquet can look stunning but it is advisable to speak to your florist as to what types would be suitable for your magical day.

A veil can transform you from feeling like someone in an extravagant dress to a real bride. From a simple birdcage veil that covers part of your face, to a cathedral length beaded veil that trails right the way down over your bridal gown, a veil is a traditional option and a personal choice.

When choosing your shoes comfort as well as style plays a big part. Your feet are going to be in them for a long time! Ensure the colourmatches your bridal gown and if you can, buy a pair you are likely to wear again. You could possibly have them professionally dyed after the event to a colour you would often wear.

A handbag can be an essential item to store make up and not forgetting those tissues! An ornate bag can look striking against a simple gown whilst a more understated bag would not detract away from a very detailed wedding dress.

Jewellery should be a reflection on your style of dress. If your bridal gown shimmers with diamante then some jewellery with diamante crystals will help the detail in your gown stand out more. An intricate tiara works better with simple earrings rather than chandelier types. Don’t forget a piece of jewellery lent to you from a friend or family member can be your ‘Something borrowed’ or maybe your husband to be might like to buy you your ‘Something new’!

Not all of us want stereotypical white wedding dresses, but how unusual do you dare to be? Most people choose a gown which is a traditional wedding dress shape (whether that be ballgown, princess, or fishtail) and fabric, and then choose an unusual colour or pattern. Doing it this way means that no one has any doubt you are wearing a wedding dress, whatever colour it is. And these days the options are endless! Red or wine shades are becoming increasingly common…red is the colour of love, after all! Black seems to be up and coming, which might seem extremely unusual, but it can create a really classy, stylish effect, particularly for a black tie wedding. I love the idea of a black wedding dress with an all white bouquet.

For some more colourful wedding dress inspiration, check out our Bridalwear Pinterest board. We’ve been busy adding lots of unique wedding dresses! I think my favourite is the bright, multi-coloured dress with lots of layers that are gathered up to show an off-white underskirt. On the other hand, the peacock feather train is a little too much for me, although it does look amazing!

If you want unusual, it doesn’t need to stop with colour. There is no reason why your wedding dress has to be a traditional shape at all. Why not choose something you really can wear again? More and more brides are choosing shorter length wedding dresses, as well as more casual fabrics. Imagine being able to wear your wedding dress when you go out to celebrate your wedding anniversary!

Singer Jessica Simpson got engaged to Eric Johnson last November, but details of their wedding plans are tightly under wraps. Although recently admitting they had decided on a date, Simpson is keeping schtum about when and where they’ll get married and what she’ll be wearing.

Still searching for her wedding dress, Jessica Simpson is hoping for a “Carrie Bradshaw” moment: “I’m still trying to figure out what to wear! I don’t know if I want the big boom, or the curvy thing, but it will be something beautiful,” she explains, “I want it to be different from what I’ve had before.”

When she married Nick Lachay in 2002, Simpson wore a white princess A-line strapless dress by Vera Wang, heavily detailed with flowers. Rumours suggest that Simpson is hoping to help design her new wedding dress, but she’s not giving away many hints:

“I like my collar bone,” the singer says, “I have a long neck, so I like to show off my décolletage.” But the star is aware of her ‘assets’ and wants to avoid looking “top heavy” on her wedding day, preferring scoop and V-necks for their flattering effect on bigger busts.

Finding the right wedding dress if you have a large bust needn’t be tricky – so long as you know what suits your figure and what to avoid. Simpson is absolutely right in that V-neck and scoop necklines look great, as well as sweetheart and certain strapless necklines too – especially if you want to show off your shoulders and collar bones. It’s best to avoid low cut, halterneck and high necked wedding dresses if you have a bigger bust as they all draw attention to your chest and can make you look out of proportion. A-line, dropped-waist and corset-backed gowns all help to balance a ‘top-heavy’ figure, whereas empire lines can do the opposite.

This gorgeous designer wedding gown by Anna Sorrano would look fabulous on Simpson, we think, with it’s more casual style, sweetheart neckline, dropped-waist and crystal detailing, and matches with her desire for a romantic, light coloured wedding gown:

Anna Sorrano Wedding Dress - Style 1112

Hopefully more details will be released soon – we’ll keep you updated!

There’s an enormous choice in wedding dresses these days, with a variety of styles, fabrics, colours, sleeves, necklines and so on… but today we’re going to look at hem length. There’s no hard and fast rule but generally the shorter your wedding dress, the warmer the weather, so you would assume to see most short wedding dresses this year during the summer. A major trend for 2011, in fact, is the short wedding dress – based on vintage 50s style gowns and a cheeky young sense of fashion that is very popular this summer.

How low you go is totally up to you – you might be eager to show off your legs or loathe to let them see the light of day! Other factors in a flattering hemline include your height, your personal style and whether you want to make your shoes a big part of your wedding outfit. Obviously having your shoes on show means you need to invest in some pretty spectacular footwear! Shorter wedding dresses can be a good option for destination weddings in hot countries, summer weddings and beach weddings. Different length hems can make a big difference to how well your dress looks – certain lengths can make certain body shapes look shorter, wider or are just plain unflattering, so take care when choosing the length of your wedding dress.

Here’s a brief guide to wedding dress hemlines, from short to long:

- Mini: above the knee and not for the faint-hearted! If you have killer pins and aren’t afraid to show them, then why not go for a mini-dress. There are some fantastic 60s and 70s vintage styles to be had, and with the right pair of heels, you will look stunning.

- Street/Knee-length: stops just above, on, or below the knee. Careful with this length, as choosing a few inches either way can make a difference to how tall and lean you look. A nice hem for sheath dresses and suit-dresses.

- Hi-lo/Intermission: a recent trend for skirts and dresses, this hem has two lengths: at the front it stops mid-shin, and at the back it reaches the floor. Not terribly flattering on shorter brides, but an attribute to this hem is that it can naturally extend into an attached train for a more extravagant look.

- Tea: A very popular style this year, this hem stops a few inches above the ankle and is flirty, fun and usually is teamed with a full or structured skirt. Go for summery wedges or strappy sandals for a fun look.

- Floor-length: You can probably guess where this one ends, although floor-length gowns can vary a great deal, brushing the floor, a few centimetres above or extending into full trains behind the bride. This is the most common length of wedding dress and you will no doubt need to have your hem adjusted during your fittings to ensure it falls at the perfect height for you and the shoes you plan on wearing.

Win a designer wedding dress!

Every month we run a competition on our Facebook page, where brides can win a designer wedding dress of their choice from The Wedding Dress Outlet. But it’s not just open to brides-to-be – anyone who has already bought a dress from us (in the last 12 months) is also eligible to enter the contest. And if you win, you’ll receive a refund of up to £400 for your wedding dress! Seeing as the majority of our wedding gowns cost between £150 and £400 you’re almost guaranteed a full refund.

What a belated wedding present – getting back the price of your wedding dress! The difficult part is deciding what you’d spend it on…

There are just 3 easy steps to entering our competition each month:

1. Visit our Facebook page and click the ‘like’ button to become a fan of the Wedding Dress Factory Outlet

2. Look for this month’s COMPETITION QUESTION on our wall (we post it several times throughout the month so it should be easy to spot) and post a reply with your answer.

3. For a second entry, if you’ve visited us in store, simply post a review of your experience on our Reviews page and double your chances of winning a designer wedding gown.

For full Terms & Conditions, click here.