The Bridal Bag for the best day of your life

Every woman wants to be at her most beautiful when she walks down the aisle on her big day. Her deepest planning goes into every single detail; the dress, the hair, the make-up and the flowers she carries, but what about her bridal bag?

From the ceremony, to the dinner, to the reception, a bride will need a bag to keep her few essentials in.

Size and Style of bridal bag

So what sort of bag should you go for? Well we can start with the most obvious and that is the colour. White or ivory is a sure fire winner and that's purely because it will match your outfit and not draw too much attention to itself. Looking sophisticated, classy and elegant on your wedding day is a must, and carrying a bright or vulgar bag can completely ruin your outfit. Treat your bridal bag the same as your shoes and coordination will be easy.

confessions of a bride

When I got married I stuffed my lipstick in my garter because there were no bridal bags at that time and I didn't fancy carrying a handbag!

 

The material of your bag should also match your dress. Getting the wrong material can be as destructive to your outfit as getting the wrong colour. This is an easy one to miss, so be careful, try to get the same amount of gloss and sheen on your bag as you have on your dress. Go for a shape that is discreet and sleek, this way it will never get in the way.

confessions of a bride

I gave my handbag to my chief bridesmaid with my contact lens case in it and when she disappeared with the piano player all night, I had to put one of my lenses in a wine glass with water in it for 4 hours 

 

The style of your bridal bag should also match your dress. If you have chosen a vintage style wedding dress then a bag with an art deco design will fit in beautifully. Take a look at this pleated bridal vintage clutch bag, a perfect example of a vintage bridal bag to match your dress. Similarly, if you go for something a bit more sparkly or beaded then do the same with your bridal bag, this ivory crystal bridal clutch bag is just the thing.

confessions of a bride

I was super organised and had a beautiful bag picked out, with everything essential I needed then left it in the house.

Size is all important too. You have to remember that your bridal bag should only be used for essential items; lipstick, tissues, comb or anything else you deem absolutely necessary. This means it should be small and discreet. You don't want your bridal bag hogging all the limelight so go for a small clutch bag. The last thing you need is a big clumsy handbag getting in the way of all your bridal photos.

Demure Styling

Lastly, go for something that you feel comfortable carrying down the aisle. It's your wedding day and it should be exactly how you plan it. The more comfortable and confident you are with your bag, the more beautiful you will look. The majority of bridal clutch bags out there come with an optional chain shoulder strap, and this will save your clasping hold of it all day, this satin ivory crystal ring bridal bag is just an example.

You don't have to spend the earth on your bridal bag. Your wedding day is a one-off and for that reason you will probably never use your bridal bag again. So make sure you don't spend too much on it, between £15- £40 is all you need to get the perfect compliment for your big day. Just take a look through our bridal bag range and we guarantee we will have the perfect match for your big day at the perfect price.

Fabulous and Fierce - the Animal Print handbag

It used to be that animal print was a faux pas, either because of the ethical implications of wearing actual animal hides, or because of the assumed ‘tacky’ nature of animal print.

This, however, is no longer the case. Animal print has never been so popular, either on the runways of Milan and Paris, or on the high street. Animal’s lives are no longer taken for the sake of clothes, with faux prints and furs long replacing the barbarous fur coats of old, so the continuation the the trend this season sees animal print handbags, again topping the charts of the "must haves".

... and in with the faux fur

The old ideas about animal print have been thrown away, in favour of embracing this bold and brave design choice. Gucci, Stella McCartney, and innumerable other fashion houses have put out collections this year that have delved head first into animal-inspired designs. The inspirations come from all over the animal kingdom; zebra patterns, giraffe markings, feathers, and everything in between has been utilised and, with the summer upon us, there is no better time to embrace the trend and adorn yourself with some animal markings. Due to the interest generated by the high fashion houses’ embrace of animal print, retailers and designers from every echelon of the fashion world are creating wear of every kind, from animal print bags, to dresses, to harem pants, meaning that good quality, good looking animal print need not be out of reach.

The Stand out factor!

Animal print, no matter the design, will always attract attention when worn. Contrary to its natural purpose, animal print clothing and bags are designed to attract the eye. A zebra print handbag, for example, will never go unnoticed in the urban jungle.

Another benefit of animal print is that, due to their sometimes bold and full designs, they lend themselves well to accessories. It is easy to break up a leopard print handbag, for example, into something not as uniform with a few simple adornments. Small charms and patches are commonly used on handbags to add to its eclectic, fun style. Similarly, bag designers have utilised leather, cloth, and other materials in order to create dynamic new colour combinations that work with, and accentuate, the base animal print design.

Summer colours, stripes and spots are in

Aside from this, designers are also altering nature’s colours, so that they can create zany, bright designs that otherwise would never exist - pink tiger stripes, blue snake skin – there are any number of variants, and, with animal print’s currently massive popularity, there is no shortage of any of these on the high street and in boutiques.

From natural themed print, through all the colours of the rainbow, animal print is now one of the ubiquitous looks on the street and the catwalk. Animal print is no longer relegated to the bin of fashion faux pas, but is embraced for its wild, extravagant looks. There is no sphere that is unsuitable for the look – a thick, luxurious coat with faux animal print is a fine way to dress up the drab blacks and greys of work wear. Alternatively, a roaring, bright handbag is the perfect way to break away from the same tired designs and embrace the animal inside.

So, with summer upon us, there’s no better time to throw off the winter and go for a fierce new look.