Statement accessories are an amazing way to add wow factor to a simple dress. Get a dreamy wedding veil or hair ornament that’s out of this world. The bigger the better!

The combination of a sleek dress and statement accessories are a big trend right now so there is a lot to choose from. You can see some examples and inspiration from our accessory collections. 

In the blogpost 4 Wedding Dress Tips we talk also about accessories and their importance, go and read it!

Streamline and lighten the dress by cutting off any extra layers you can underneath. This works best with the dresses where the uppermost layer is soft.

Many expensive dresses are surpricingly light and having a more minimalist approach will make you look classy and stylish. Think about Meghan Markle’s dress which we admit wasn’t light, but still very minimalistic. 

Add volume to your dress by giving it extra tulle or chiffon for example. You can also invest in a great crinoline or petticoat to give your dress a better silhouette.

Many budget savvy dresses lack proper layers when it comes to making the hem poof. It’s quite easy to add extra layers and the impact is instant.

Good guideline we swear by: always go big or sleek, never settle in between. This way your beautiful budget wedding dress will look straight out of the catwalk. 

See through layers upon neck and shoulders are very much in in the wedding fashion. This is great way to give wow factor and elegance to your basic strapless sweetheart neckline.

Especially capes are super chic right now! They can be short one or long and trailing that basically replace classic veils. Search for ready made capes or wraps or get a seamstress to make you one. 

Open back is the thing in wedding fashion right now. To balance this out raise the neckline higher on the front side. This is easiest to do in lacy dresses or by adding some extra details to the front.

We’re currently working on a dress pretty similar to one in the picture, were we have opened up the lace back. It looks gorgeous! Originally the back was lifted very high up, but now it’s open to the mid back.

Can’t share the photo yet because we certainly won’t risk any of the wedding guests seeing the style before the actual day. *wink wink*

3D flowers, bows and other details are oh so stylish and give an air of high fashion even to the simplest of dresses. From bigger silky blooms attached to one spot to little clusters around the dress, this is the sure fire way to upgrade your wedding dress from a ‘good’ to ‘fashion statement’.

Embroidery and 3D flowers are typically seen in haute couture fashion on catwalks or on expensive lace fabrics, but they are surprisingly easy to attach on a ready made dress with few stitches. 

They don’t have to be very frail or small either. Try out something made of bit sturdier fabrics or get ready made big fabric roses and try them on. You could be positive surprised how they will look. 

With lace you can change the look of your dress so much! This is one of my favorite ways to make a basic wedding dress into a totally new gown. The lace can be added to bodice or hem of the dress but it can also be made into a new neckline or sleeves for example.

In Heili Bridal we have specialised in working with lace fabrics so I can tell you, that with lace a good seamstress will be a great ally. It can take more work to attach or rework lace, but often the end result will be stunning!

If you have a plain zipper back adding a long row of buttons is a great way to give the dress extra elegance. Make sure you get enough buttons and don’t be afraid to take them all the way to the hem if you want to give the dress even more flair.

There’s several different buttons from basic white satin ones to pearl buttons and sparkling swarovskis to choose from. I think satin ones are always elegant and classic choice and they go with most styles. 

If you’re handy with needle and thread adding buttons can be nice DIY project to give your dress a makeover. 

Long train is something gives the royal look instantly. To most dresses you can add a detachable train you can loose when it’s time to party.

Ask your seamstress about train designs that would fit your gown and how much of fabric it would take. If you’re curious about trains I recommend checking out our ebook The Wedding Dress Guide.

In the book I speak more about train lengths and wedding dress designs in the book amongst tons of other important things. It’s 77 pages of jam-packed with wedding dress info! Go and read more about in here. 

This is super important because even the most expensive dress looks bad if the fit isn’t right. Well fitting dress is also comfortable and you don’t have to worry about it dragging down, bunching up or giving any nip slips etc.

Take your dress to a seamstress who has worked with gown and dresses before to see what needs to be done. I know that some brides worry over ‘ruining the dress’ by having a seamstress alterate it, but a good professional gives the dress back to you in better shape than they received it. 

To get more information about most typical wedding dress alterations, read our blog post of 10 Most Common Wedding Dress Alterations You Should Know About. 

Right underwear is also important to a perfect fit. I talk more about them in the Wedding Dress Guide and also in my blogpost 4 Wedding Dress Tips.