GABRIELLE DALFONSO | PHOTO BY KRISTEN WYNN PHOTOGRAPHY

For a great majority of brides, the most magical moment of wedding planning is the aha moment when she turns around and catches the first glimpse of herself in the gown she’ll wear on the happiest day of her life.

While your wedding dress is certainly the pièce de résistance of your bridal look, the devil’s in the details. It’s not merely a question of whether to veil or not to veil, but how long, what fabric and at what cost? Plus, there’s makeup to consider — as well as accessories and even whether or not to add a second dress.

For advice on that, here’s what local brides had to say about making the most out of your big day.

Related: The Best Ways to Show Your Love for Pittsburgh on Your Wedding Day

Behind the Veil

CATHERINE TOWNLEY | PHOTO BY ALISA GARIN PHOTOGRAPHY

For 2023 bride Gabrielle Dalfonso, the wedding veil actualized the moment beyond dress-up.

“I can’t really put into words how I felt when I tried that veil on with my dress, but it completely transformed me into a bride, and I knew that was the one,” she says. “It complemented my dress perfectly and didn’t overshadow it at all — I actually feel as if it accentuated it and made the look complete.”

Catherine Townley, another 2023 bride, emphasized the drama her cathedral-length veil added to her big entrance and subsequent walk down the aisle.

Yet choosing the right veil for you can be difficult — when else will you need to worry about details such as whether the most trustworthy 6-year-old you know has the grace to assist you with a veil six times their size? Luckily, Nina Rivera, a manager at Anne Gregory Couture in Mt. Lebanon, was happy to share the advice she doles out to brides to prevent downward spirals.

“We tell brides to [pick] a dress first and then a few months after that [to] come back in for an accessories appointment,” Rivera says.

A Second Dress to Impress

RIAH PELUSO | PHOTO BY LEX KING PHOTOGRAPHY

Though the divide-and-conquer sentiment is theoretically helpful, picking the dress is far from simple.

Riah Peluso, who married in 2023, knew that she wanted a timeless satin look for her walk down the aisle but was troubled by the idea of sacrificing a stylistic playfulness from her wedding glam.

“My biggest piece of advice to anyone is to get a second dress,” says Peluso.

This advice is growing exceedingly popular in bridal circles for the flexibility it allows — both aesthetically and physically.

“I knew I would have a long train and more of a fitted dress as well, so it [would be] hard to really get around and move,” says Peluso of her decision to buy a second dress. “I wanted to be able to really move around and enjoy the ceremony and reception.”

Another 2023 bride, Rayna Donatelli-Baciak, took her wardrobe transformation a step further, committing to just one dress, but with a twist; it had three detachable skirts.

“It was nice that I could just attach [them] rather than changing my whole dress, but still had the three different looks that I wanted,” she says. “I think that’s such a great way so that you can be more present during the day.”

All the Small Things

RAYNA DONATELLI-BACIAK | PHOTO BY KRISTI TELNOV PHOTOGRAPHY

Once you’ve nailed down the dress — or dresses — and have a better idea of how you’d like your hair and makeup to look, it’s time to take up Rivera’s suggestion of returning to find the right veil that matches your vision.

While some gowns are designed with a specific veil to match, many aren’t. When you start from scratch — so to speak — it’s good to think about elements such as lace and embroidery and whether they will enhance or undermine your dress.

For example, “If a bride is choosing something more timeless, classic, very simple with nothing on it, we can kind of go to something more elaborate with a lace trim or a beaded trim or something with pearl detailing,” Rivera says.

Length is another important consideration. Rivera says a longer veil often completes the long line in the back of the dress, while a shorter veil can lend a similar decorative effect but without an overwhelming amount of material.

Townley points out that brides likely will wear their veil for 2 hours total, and suggested considering more affordable options from non-traditional vendors.

“I started looking at Etsy and then Shein for veils,” Townley says, adding, “I ordered five veils and [the] salon where I got my dress from [was] really open to bringing your accessories from outside places.”

Eventually, all the elements swirling around in your head will click. When that happens, you’ll look in a mirror — and a bride will be looking right back at you.