On-Trend Embellishments for Your Wedding Dress

Bridal stylist and event designer Belle Manjong of The Boutique by B.Belle Events shares this year's must-have looks.

Discover why an expert in the industry feels that bows, dots, and pearls are must-have bridal gown embellishments for 2020 and beyond.

By Kelcy Christy

Photo: Caroline Tran

When it comes to choosing your wedding dress, you'll have so many decisions to make: Which silhouette will look best for your body type? What fabric makes the most sense for your setting and season? Do you want a strapless, sleeveless, or long-sleeved gown? Should you wear a veil or go without? We always recommend trying on a few different styles before making a decision – even the look you've always envisioned may be second best to a new look you try once you visit a salon.

Regardless of which silhouette, neckline, and style you choose, bridal salon owner, bridal stylist, and wedding event designer Belle Manjong of The Boutique by B.Belle Events shares a trend you'll want to try for yourself: bows, dots, and pearls. "Bows, dots, and pearls are a trending embellishment in bridal. The momentum and brides' demand for minimalistic fabrics, such as granular crepe and crisp-and-clean silk, continues to grow," explains Belle Manjong. "These fabrics offer clean slates for brides to show off their individual and personal style, and these trends create unique looks that steal the spotlight and offer a style for every bride."

For more ideas on how to incorporate these bridal embellishments, read Belle's trend predictions and ideas, below!

Bows, dots, and pearls are a trending embellishment in bridal... The trends create unique looks that steal the spotlight and offer a style for every bride.

Go Big or Go Bow

Bows can tie a bride's look together as a noteworthy design accent. From soft and romantic to preppy and perfect, bows offer structured, classical, and sensational interest for a wedding gown. Bows can function as ties along a bride's side, centered around the waist at the front or back, or even as straps. For just-so effortless drama, a bride can opt for a cape-style train with a bow affixed at the shoulders and flowing down the back of the gown. Applied to super-sexy gowns – such as those with a plunging neckline, up-to-there slit, or a down-to-there backline feature – the juxtaposition of bows balance a bridal look.

Photo courtesy of Peter Langner

Sweet Dainty Dots

Dots add a lovely, whimsical touch to any bridal look. Swiss, petit pois, and polka dots are lovely patterns that express a dainty, sweet, hyper-feminine and subtle statement. Whichever dot style is selected, the embellishment can add color, dimension, and granular texture to otherwise clean and simple gown silhouettes. Daring brides may incorporate dots as well as lush velvet, luxe fabrics, foil metallics, and woven circles in either gowns, hair accessories, veils, undergarments, or shoes.

Photo courtesy of Costarellos

Be Perfect in Pearls

Two-dimensional dots give way to three-dimensional pearls, the epitome of class. Pearls have long been known as a symbol of wealth and perfection. They have the allure of being timeless and transcend fashion fads and trends. As with dots, the versatility of pearls make them an effortless accent wherever incorporated – and of course they can also be seen as focal points to accessories, such as earrings, necklaces, clutches, veils, gowns, and shoes.

Bridal Gown with Pearls by Lee Petra Grebenau

Photo by Collin Pierson Photography; Gown: Lee Petra Grebenau

"Designs incorporating bows, dots, and pearls are all about a bride's style," confirms Belle. "They can be layered together or highlighted individually – however a bride chooses to wear them, they create a look that is uniquely personal to each bride."