Choosing The Best Bridal Gloves - It’s In Your Hands

There’s nothing quite like wearing bridal gloves if you’re looking to raise the style and elegance quotient of your wedding attire. While the days of Breakfast at Tiffany's and old Hollywood when hand wear was de rigeur as a fashion accessory are gone, you can still add a touch of class to your big day by choosing to wear them. But it is very important to choose the right ones.

An Age Old Tradition

Traditionally, bridal gloves were part of the symbolism of purity of the bride in much the same way that wedding gowns were white. They cover the hands, which is what the bride gives in marriage. It is also a sign that the bride should be treated like a queen, reigning over the household and not expected to sully their hands with hard labour.

Choosing The Right Ones

Style, colours, and materials chosen (particularly to precisely match the gown) are the common-sense rules when selecting the right bridal gloves to wear at your wedding. There are as many different styles available as dresses in different materials including satin, silk, lace, knit, and leather. Virtually any colour can be found and detailing can be in the form of beads, pearls, crystals, flowers, bows, and ribbons. Some styles just slip on and fit snugly while others have closures like laces, buttons, and hooks and eyes.

One of the more important factors in choosing the right style of hand wear is the setting and theme of the wedding. Ornate long styles may not be quite the thing for morning beach weddings, while short and sheer ones may not be suited for your Renaissance garden wedding.

Don’t Just Match, Complement and Accentuate!

Still, it goes a little more beyond exact matching of materials and details. While bridal gloves may be considered an integral part of the wedding outfit, it may be oversimplifying to assume that they are simply extensions of the gown or its sleeves. They are much more than that: they are meant to highlight the beauty of the gown, and the bride, the way a wonderful piece of jewellery would. For instance, ornate and highly detailed hand wear is perfect for simple, streamlined gowns, while complicated dresses may be accentuated by simple, understated ones.

Size and Length

How hand wear complements the dress and how comfortable it is for the bride are also key factors when choosing length. One of the more important things to remember is that they need to be snug, yet easy to remove. Ones that go up to the wrist and shoulder are usually comfortable and will complement most styles of dress. As a rule, however, the longer the sleeve, the shorter they should be. Sleeveless and strapless gowns can bear the longest length, up to the shoulder.

Fingerless styles, also called gauntlets, afford a balance of elegance and comfort - particularly when it comes to the putting on of the ring.

Ready-Made Or Bespoke?

If you can, it is best to have your hand wear bespoke, although there are many options available to purchase ready-made. If you are having a bespoke bridal gown, your designer will help you plan and create the perfect pair to complete your outfit.

Looking for couture bridal gowns? Tatiana Porembova is one of the leading London designers for bridal wear and accessories, including bridal gloves, and her work spans a range of styles and influences. Based in Richmond, she creates beautiful bespoke wedding attire to provide the perfect garments for the perfect day.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.