6 WAYS TO INCORPORATE SENTIMENTAL TOUCHES INTO YOUR BRIDAL LOOK
Many brides have loved ones who have passed away before their wedding day. To honour their memory, you might choose to display photographs or include their favourite songs in your playlist. For a more personal connection, some brides seek meaningful ways to incorporate sentimental items into their bridal look. If wearing your grandmother’s wedding dress doesn’t feel like the right choice, there are plenty of other ways to add heartfelt, sentimental touches to your bridal look. Here are our suggestions.
Custom headdress
Headdresses are a beautiful way to express your personality. If you have a piece of jewellery from a lost loved one, consider repurposing it into a stunning headdress. Glorious By Heidi specialises in crafting custom headdresses and can incorporate cherished jewellery into your favourite design. For example, Emmaleena wanted to honour her late mother, who had passed away a few years before her wedding, by using her mother’s pearls in her hair accessories. Heidi created a custom crown, elegantly incorporating the pearls into the design.
Jewellery
If you’re hesitant about repurposing a precious piece of jewellery, why not wear it as it is? Incorporating it into your bridal look can be a meaningful way to honour your loved one while keeping your style timeless. There are countless ways to accessorise your bridal outfit to complement the jewellery. For instance, you could find matching shoes or a handbag that highlights its colour or design. If the piece you have is a necklace but you’d prefer not to wear it around your neck, consider wrapping it around your wrist to create a unique bracelet. This approach allows you to showcase the sentimental item in a way that feels authentic to your style while keeping its original charm intact.
Piece of fabric
Incorporating a piece of fabric with sentimental value into your wedding gown can transform it into a truly cherished keepsake. For instance, we once created a small bow using fabric from the bride’s father’s blue shirt and stitched it inside her wedding dress, allowing her father to be close to her heart the whole day. It doesn’t have to be elaborate—a simple handkerchief once carried by your grandmother or father can be tucked into your wedding dress pocket, adding a heartfelt and personal touch to your bridal look. These meaningful details not only honour your loved ones but also make your gown uniquely yours.
An accessory
If you’re fortunate enough to have a wedding dress passed down from your mother or grandmother and you’re open to repurposing it, there are countless creative ways to incorporate its fabric into your bridal look. For example, you could transform the material into a beautiful sash to finalise the dress design, elegant gloves for a vintage-inspired touch, or even a delicate handbag to carry your wedding-day essentials. If there's a bit more fabric available, a bridal jacket or cape is a wonderful way to incorporate a cherished piece in your bridal look and potentially become a stable piece in your wardrobe. These subtle yet meaningful additions allow you to honour your loved one’s legacy while personalising your attire.
Your wedding day fragrance
Your wedding day fragrance can be a powerful way to incorporate a sentimental touch into your bridal look. Scents have a unique ability to evoke emotions and memories, making them deeply meaningful. If a loved one had a signature fragrance, wearing it on your wedding day can create a subtle yet profound connection, surrounding you with their essence throughout your special day. Alternatively, you could blend a custom fragrance inspired by their favourite scents or one that reflects cherished memories you shared together. This thoughtful choice not only adds an emotional layer to your bridal look but also ensures their presence is felt in a beautifully personal way.
Custom embroidery
With custom embroidery, you can add sentimental and personal touches to your bridal look, making it unique and very personal. Whether it’s a meaningful quote, your wedding date, or an intricate design inspired by a loved one, embroidery allows you to weave your story into your bridal attire. As an example that showcases the possibilities of embroidery, Rebecca Anne Designs once crafted a breathtaking bespoke veil (pictured here by Rainstone Photography) featuring artwork from the bride’s mother’s sketchbook—a heartfelt tribute that made the piece not only unique but also rich with emotion. From subtle details on your gown to intricate designs on a veil, custom embroidery offers endless possibilities to celebrate your personal connections and create an unforgettable keepsake.
Your wedding day is one of the most meaningful milestones in your life, and incorporating sentimental touches into your bridal look is a heartfelt way to honour the loved ones who have shaped your story. Whether it’s a custom headdress, cherished jewellery, a meaningful piece of fabric, a signature fragrance, or bespoke embroidery—these are just a few ideas—there are countless ways to make your bridal look uniquely yours, ensuring your loved ones are with you in spirit on this special day.