What cover-up would go with my wedding dress?

[heartshapedflux]

I'm getting married next October. The wedding venue is surrounded by woodland and with it being autumn I imagine I'm going to get a little chily later on and need a cover up - some kind of pashmina or piano shawl perhaps? Maybe even a bolero.

Trouble is, I've searched high and low and can't find anything that even remotely goes with my dress. It's not from a traditional bridal shop, it's a one-off made from vintage filet lace.

Should I try and find a filet lace cover-up or would that be a lace overload?

I've no clue what kind of veil would go with the dress either. Any ideas??!

(I'm a 35, size 14, 5ft 5, busty, pale skin, long dark brown hair if that helps)

I can't help you but oh goodness that dress is so beautiful...

Would you have something bespoke made? I was going to suggest the lace cover ups at bhldn, but the lace on your dress looks quite different (in a good way!)

Or... (and appreciate I'm still not being v helpful), depending on how much you want to spend, could you ask a seamstress to do something? If you're near London I've got a seamstress who specializes in vintage dresses making my veil. Shout if you want her details.

I would go for a tulle birdcage style veil.
Maybe a fur? this has ended but shows what I'm thinking of.

Big flower veil
Simple tulle

I had a lacy wedding dress and bought a marabou feather bolero. Can't find a pic of the exact one but it was a bit like this feather bolero

I agree that a bird cage veil is the way to go!

Beautiful dress!. This (or something like it) would work really well, I think.

Headwear wise Bee Smith has some stunning stuff.

I love this Wax Pearl Headpiece
this prefect little veil thingy is just lovely too.

www.etsy.com/market/crochet_shawl/3

I was thinking a very delicate crocheted shawl would look lovely.
I know that might sound a bit grannyish but the texture of the dress would suit it imo.

There nothing like a proper fine, featherlight, snugly warm crochet shawl! So pretty with a lot of wedding dresses - well due a comeback. But, this dress has such beautiful lace that I think anything with a 'pattern' or heavy weave, or whatever would really confuse thing s and detract from the lovely balance that the dress has in the pattering of the lace. You have to zoom to see properly but it's amazing.

So, yeah, I think you need a textural difference to bring out the lace, OP, rather than trying to 'match' it in some way. Maybe velvet or satin if you don't fancy fake fur. It'd not be massively expensive to have something like this made in the fabric(s) of your choice.

I like something like this

Beautiful dress.

I agree with MrsLettuce's last paragraph; go for a contrast.

I'd say a gold pashmina. Pretty much works with everything, and sounds like it would go well with your colouring.

Thanks for all your suggestions so far and for your kind comments about my dress.

I hadn’t even considered a bird cage veil. I’ll be wearing my long hair down, I always thought they looked better with hair up? I think getting something custom made by a seamstress who specialises in vintage might be the way to go. I live in Nottinghamshire.

I do like stoles, but because I’m very busty, I find that the shorter ones cut across my silhouette and look boxy and unflattering, especially with the extra bulk of fur.

I’m a huge Etsy fan (in fact my dress was from Etsy) I adore this shawl, but it only ships within the US!
www.etsy.com/listing/197084118/fabulous-antique-lace-shawl-with?ref=favs_view_14

Good advice about not going for anything with a pattern or heavy weave that will detract from the dress. I like the idea of crochet, but want to avoid the granny look.

Do you think any of these might work?
www.etsy.com/listing/201516802/stayin-happy-crochet-shawl-wrap-off?ref=favs_view_11
www.etsy.com/listing/195209481/crochet-lace-shawl-wrap-shrug-ivory?ref=favs_view_15
www.etsy.com/listing/179734195/private-dancer-wedding-bridal-shrug?ref=favs_view_13

Thanks!

All of those shawls are stunning . They'd spoil the dress though, I wish it were otherwise but, yeah, they'd not compliment it at all - too similar and too different all at once. Sorry.

THere are a lot of piano shawls on Etsy that might well work, the colour of this and this is probably just off, but for the idea.

The work in the dress leads the eye downwards quite strongly (to the bottom left hem). So, long hair worn down*, long, drapey shawl and long veil as well is an awful lot of downward movement / lines, IYSWIM. All lovely in their own right and in various combos too but all together might make you look like your sort of, well, melting!

Mind you, you might be thinking of only putting the shawl on once the long veil is off which would probably solve the potential 'problem' before it starts. THat said, a short veil can be utterly lovely with hair down, well worth having a gander at some photos before you dismiss it. Random example.

*Am assuming you mean long long - bra strap length or longer - rather that to, or just past, the shoulder.

(do you have shoes? )

You're right that I don't intend to put the shawl on until the veil is off. My hair is about bra strap length and will be longer by the time of the wedding. I don't suit my hair up at all, it's just not "me" and feels too formal.

My shoes are actually green and handpainted! They haven't arrived yet (Etsy again) so I'm not entirely sure how they'll go with the dress - I took a bit of a gamble!

Sticking to a plainer piano shawl makes sense - I think if I had one more item competing for attention it would be overload! I like those two Etsy ones but yes, I think they're both slightly too cream to go with the dress.

Oh wow, the shoes sound amazing! Are we allowed to see? I bet they'll work fab though, you clearly have excellent taste.

So nice to someone not going for the identi-wedding look

heart would you mind linking to where you got your dress from? very unsuccessfully wedding dress shopping atm

(wasn't criticising the idea of hair down BTW - I really like how that looks)

yy to Mrs Lettuce, I crocheted my own shawl for my wedding, it was so snuggly!

What about a green to go with your shoes?

That dress is GORGEOUS.

Much as I love these vintage lace and crochet shawls being linked, I think there will be too much similar texture going on, and the lace on the dress is quite busy/bold so it might confuse the eye. Plus you will struggle with a colour match.

I completely love the idea of a little fur/ostrich cape or shrug type thing like the one linked above, and a small pillbox/cloche/birdcage style headpiece and veil, maybe beaded.

The shoes sound fab.

I think flowers or a small headdress would look better than a veil if you're going to have your hair down.

I got my dress from this Brighton based seller.
www.etsy.com/shop/sowsearstudio1?page=3
(Sorry, have no idea how to do that link thing where clicking on just one word takes you to the page!)
I don't think they specialise in wedding dress, but there are a few for sale among the other items - I looked long and hard to find mine!!

Because the shoes were custom made to my specifics there's no link to them because they were never listed online IYSWIM. When they arrive I'll take a photo of them. Green is my favourite colour and I have an emerald engagement ring.

The identikit bride look is one which I most definitely wanted to stay away from - my body shape can't carry off strapless and figure-hugging satin anyway!

I'm probably going to wear flowers in my hair (probably something like this)
I guess I don't have to wear a veil at all, I just thought it might be nice for walking down the aisle (or in fact the staircase in my venue!)