The short answer: match the shawl to your dress color first, then to your neckline and season. Ivory and champagne dresses pair with champagne gold or cream; pure white dresses pair with white or silver; strapless and sleeveless gowns call for a shawl cut for shoulder coverage; winter weddings call for a warmer weave. Every recommendation below is a real hand-crocheted shawl from our New York studio.
Strapless or sweetheart gown. You want a shawl cut for shoulder coverage that stays put through the ceremony. Our white bridal cover-up ($70) is hand-crocheted specifically for strapless and sleeveless gowns: coverage where you want it, nothing where you don't.
Sleeveless or spaghetti straps. The same white cover-up works, or the large cream bridal shawl ($80) for brides who want generous coverage with a pashmina-style drape.
High neck or long sleeves. The dress already covers you, so choose for color and light: a silver bridal shawl ($80) adds shimmer without bulk.
Pure white dress. Stay tonal: the white wedding shawl ($70) in soft off-white lurex, or go metallic with the silver wedding shawl ($75).
Ivory or champagne dress. Stark white will fight an ivory gown. Choose the champagne gold shawl ($80) or the cream bridal shawl ($80); both sit against warm whites instead of competing with them.
Blush dress. The blush pink bridal shawl ($80) keeps the palette romantic, or add contrast with the gold evening shawl ($70).
Winter wedding. You need real warmth: the silver winter bridal shawl ($80) is light enough for all day and warm enough to mean it, or make a statement with the red winter bridal shawl ($80).
Summer or beach wedding. Go light: the sky blue beach wedding shawl ($70) is hand-crocheted to feel like sea air and keeps shoulders covered when the ocean breeze picks up.
Fall wedding. The plum wedding guest shawl ($80) in wine-dark lurex suits receptions that spill outdoors after dark.
Church ceremony. Many churches ask for covered shoulders. The large cream bridal shawl ($80) covers the shoulders and stays covered.
Evening reception. When the photographs move indoors and the light drops, metallics earn their keep: gold ($70) or silver ($75).
Something blue. The sapphire bridal shawl ($80) carries the tradition down the aisle and works for formal evenings for years after.
Bridesmaids. The silver bridesmaid shawl ($75) is lovely enough they will wear it again, and the red bridesmaid shawl ($60) makes a memorable thank-you gift.
Mother of the bride. The champagne gold shawl ($80) flatters everyone in the family photograph; the grey mother of the bride shawl ($75) is understated for the ceremony and luminous on the dance floor.
Mother of the groom. The silver mother-of-the-groom shawl ($75): elegant, properly covered, and entirely her own.
Wedding guests. Wear color, never compete with the bride: turquoise ($60), emerald ($60), or black lace ($80) for formal dress codes.
Every shawl above is hand-crocheted to order in our New York studio and finished with hand-sewn beads. If you are choosing between two, write to us with your dress color and venue and we will help you decide.