How to Embellish Simple Wedding Dresses?

The brides give preference to simple wedding dresses on different reasons. Someone has a modest wedding and doesn’t need a luxurious gown for that. Others are fond of minimalism and have never dreamt about a sparkling wedding dress.

Also, there are girls, who buy simple gowns because of the price. Clearly, simple wedding gowns are less expensive than their embellished analogues. You can even get a cute dress for less than $100. That’s why, by buying a simple dress, you can save much money. And if you want to add some chic to it, you can easily do that yourself.

So, if you have bought a cheap wedding dress, which looks too simple for you, and you want to make it more luxurious, here are 10 amazing ideas of how to embellish your wedding dress with your own hands.

Wraps

Embellished wedding capelet

Embellished wedding capelet

Definitely, it’s the easiest way of enhancing cheap simple wedding dresses. You just need to think what wrap is the most suitable for your gown and buy it. The wedding wraps are usually represented by various types of boleros, jackets and capelets.

A lace bolero is a great way to add luxury to your dress. There are many variants of boleros from simple sleeveless models to the ones with long sleeves and beaded lace. Also, a bolero as well as a jacket can be made of other fabrics, for example satin. In addition, you can buy a fur or faux fur bolero or jacket.

Bridal capelet

Bridal capelet

Capelets are also available in various designs. They are often made of lace or may feature some embroidery or beaded elements. The capelets can be short, which will cover the space between neck and waist. Or, they can be of the same length with the wedding dress or even feature a train.

Lace

Wedding dress with lace bodice

Wedding dress with lace bodice

Undoubtedly, dresses with lace always look luxurious. If you haven’t managed to buy a simple lace wedding dress, you can add some lace elements to the one you have. Not all lace types are expensive and so, you have a chance to enhance the dress even if you are on a tight budget.

If you know how to sew a wedding dress, you can do a great number of things with lace, from adding lace cap sleeves to covering the whole dress with lace. You can even make boleros or capelets from lace.

Wedding dress with lace appliques

Wedding dress with lace appliques

However, as not all of us are good at sewing, the easier variant to add lace to the dress is to use lace appliques. Their choice is pretty large and they are available in various forms and sizes. The appliques with sequins, beading and crystals cost more, but they will immediately make any dress look gorgeous.

The lace appliques are often added to the bodice of simple gowns for wedding. You can attach them to the dress, using the hot glue. Or, you can sew them by hand. Also, the appliques can be placed on the dress hem.

Ribbons

Wedding dress with ribbon

Wedding dress with ribbon

Another easy idea of enhancing a simple wedding gown is to use ribbons. You must have noticed that some wedding dresses have ribbons instead of waistbands. A silk ribbon will add some charm to the dress and will make it look more festive.

If you are going to decorate the waist with a ribbon, don’t think only about the one, which ideally matches the color of your dress. The colorful ribbons look great with almost all shades of white. For instance, you can add gold or blush ribbon or go brighter and combine your wedding dress with blue, red or purple ones.

Wedding dress with blue ribbon

Wedding dress with blue ribbon

When you use a ribbon for a waistband, you can just tie it, forming a bow in the front or on the back. Or, you can attach the ribbon to the dress. If you have a dress with a bodice, you can use the colorful ribbon for tying it instead of the standard one.

Crystals and Rhinestones

Crystals embellishment on wedding dress

Crystal embellsihment for wedding dress

Nowadays, crystals are more often used for wedding dress embellishment than rhinestones. The clear crystals will add dimension to any simple bridal dress and make it a luxurious one. But the colored crystals are used for wedding dresses as well.

Gems and rhinestones are imitation crystals. They cost less, but can do the same work. Though the gowns with crystals seem to be more refined and stylish, the gems also look good. Usually, crystals are used for the bodice embellishment. But, the sleeves and skirt adornment with crystals will add more sparkling to the gown.

Wedding dress with crystals bodice

Wedding dress with crystals bodice

As to the attachment, the crystals with flat backs can be hot glued like the majority of other wedding dress decorations. Some Swarovski crystals have “hot fix” surfaces, which allow applying them after heating. Also, there are such kinds of crystals, which are sewn to the gown by hand.

Pearls

Pearl bodice wedding dress

Pearl bodice wedding dress

Pearls are perfect decor for simple beach wedding dresses. Though artificial pearls are used for the wedding dress embellishment, they are still associated with the sea and ocean. Also, pearls look great at vintage and bohemian wedding dresses. You are free to combine them with sequins and beads.

The pearls can be attached to the dress in two ways. The easiest one is to attach them with the help of hot glue. This method works for the pearls in the form of a half-ball as they have the flat basis. You can also glue the classic pearls. However, it’s better to sew them to the dress with the help of a thin needle and thread.

Wedding dress with pearls embellishment

Wedding dress with pearls embellishment

Basically, such an adornment can be used in various ways. For instance, you can embellish the whole bodice with pearls. The dress will get the luxurious look immediately. Also, you can add some pearls randomly from the top to hem. Or, a small accent with pearls may be made. A brooch, a waistband or a necklace are often used for accessorizing.

Sequins

Sequin wedding dress

Sequin wedding dress

Sequins are perfect if you want to shine at your wedding. The small light sequins will add a slight sparkling effect, which looks romantic. But if you want to make a statement, opt for the larger sequins. They can be even of a darker color than your wedding gown simple.

There are several ways of attaching sequins to wedding dresses simple. Firstly, you can attach single sequins and strips of sequins with the help of hot glue. But in this case, the sequins won’t stand any type of cleaning. That’s why, it’s better to sew them.

Wedding dress embellished with sequins

Wedding dress embellished with sequins

You can sew the sequins with a sewing machine, but this method works only with large sequins. In addition, you will need some practice. The best way to add sequins to your simple wedding dress is to use a needle and a thread. Though this process can be rather long, the result is the most durable and tidy.

However, if you aren’t going to spend much time on the wedding dress decoration, you can choose the ready appliques with sequins. Or, there are also some sequined fabrics, which can be used the dress embellishment.

Beading

Beaded wedding dress

Beaded wedding dress

Beading is a great addition to simple elegant wedding dresses. It looks astonishing if it’s used for accents. For instance, you can have a waistband with beading or decorate the straps in such a way. Also, it looks cool when the beaded necklaces are draped over shoulders. But, if you want to have a very luxurious dress, bead the whole bodice.

Beads can be added to the dress randomly or in certain patterns. It’s easier to attach the beads to the lace dresses or the lace appliques, which can decorate the dress. As the lace has its own pattern, you will just need to attach the beads, following that pattern.

Wedding dress with beading

Wedding dress with beading

There are three ways of getting a beaded dress. You can do all the work with your own hands. You can ask a professional to do that and pay for his/her work. If you ask your local seamstress to do that, the dress will be still cheaper than the beaded wedding gown by a well-known brand. And thirdly, you can buy the lace or appliques, which already have some beading.

By the way, beads look very cool if they are combined with sequins, crystals, rhinestones or pearls.

Fabric Flowers

Belt with fabric flowers

Belt with fabric flowers

There are some types of wedding dresses, which don’t go with crystals, beads, lace and many other types of embellishment. For instance, simple country wedding dresses don’t demand much sparkling. However, if you want to have a unique wedding dress, consider the adornment with fabric flowers.

You are free to make such flowers yourself or buy the ready ones. They may be of various types, shapes and sizes. You can use one large flower or a series of small ones. Or, it’s possible to create the graduation effect by using flowers of various sizes. The fabric flowers are attached to the bodices as well as skirts and trains. 

Wedding gown with 3d flowers

Wedding gown with 3d flowers

However, there is also another way of adding flowers to your bridal dress. On textile stores, lace and lace appliques with 3D flowers may be sold. By buying such an embellishment, you will kill two birds with one stone: make the dress look luxurious and creative. Moreover, the dresses with 3D effects are in trend now.

Waistbands

Wedding dress belt with crystals

Wedding dress belt with crystals

A beautiful waistband is a universal decoration for any dress, including simple short wedding dresses as well as the outfits of wedding guests. By simply adding this accessory, you will enhance your bridal look in a second.

Of course, there are many types of belts, which are used for wedding dress decoration. The most popular are the waistbands with rhinestones, crystals and beading. They are used for both traditional and informal wedding gowns. Ribbons are often used instead of belts. They can be adorned or just be bowed in the front or back.

Gold waistband for wedding dress

Gold waistband for wedding dress

Admittedly, the belts for casual, cocktail and evening dresses are often used for simple wedding gowns. For example, the gold and silver ones suit any type and any color of the dress.

Other Accessories

Clearly, belts aren’t the only type of accessories, which are used to make the wedding dress look more interesting. Thus, the beautiful jewelry can be a real magic stick. Earrings, necklaces and bracelets are used separately or together depending on the type of the wedding dress.

For instance, long and massive earrings look great with high-neck gowns. Luxurious necklaces are cool for the gowns with plunging neckline or the ones with sweetheart bodice. The bracelets are usually worn with the sleeveless gowns. However, they may adorn the sleeves as well.

Wedding gloves

Wedding gloves

The veil is a traditional part of the bridal outfit. Though it’s not suitable for simple wedding dresses for the beach, it may look great with many other types of wedding gowns. Thus, even if the dress is simple, the veil with lace or beading will make you look more festive.

Also, the gloves are often chosen as bridal accessories. They can be fingerless or with covering for each finger. The length also differs: from wrist gloves to the ones, which go higher your elbows. The materials may be various, but the lace ones are the best.

To sum up, there are several variants of decoration for each type of simple wedding dresses. You just need to choose what you like more and what embellishment is the most suitable for the gown you have. You see that it’s pretty easy to turn a simple gown into something looking more expensive and unique.

Lesly White
 

Hi everyone! My name is Lesly White. I am the chief editor at TheBestWeddingDresses.com Blog. I am obsessed with wedding dresses and everything related to weddings. In my posts, I like to share the ideas of wedding gowns and accessories as well as provide brides with tips on how to prepare for a wedding.

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