Listening to your gut instinct is nice, but sometimes it’s best to seek expert help when planning your walk down the aisle. Fashionablebride.com turned to the bridal and fashion industry’s top designers for exclusive recommendations for your big day, from accessories to invitations to honeymoon locales.

Jackie Weppner

Style maven Jackie Weppner shows off the most gorgeous wedding style in the Big Apple on her blog, Merci New York.

“Gorgeous jewel-toned peep-toe pumps with a delicate bow from Christian Louboutin—they’re perfect for the bride, and they make a decadent gift for her girls!” (christianlouboutin.com)

“An elegant pair of custom wristlet gloves from Maison Fabre in Paris.” (maisonfabre.com)

“A coquettish, decidedly retro caged veil from Fancy New York.” (dressmefancy.com)

Melinda Morris

Brooklyn-based stationery designer Melinda Morris of Lion in the Sun concocts innovative save-the-dates and invitations sure to wow your guests from the moment they glimpse the envelope.

“Luxurious and heart-stopping invitations, menus and programs made out of unique and unexpected materials. Museum board, wood or Lucite are the hottest, most delicious trends for printed collateral.”

“I love wishing tree place card tables. Hang place cards on branches for your guests to pick up as they arrive at the reception. Transform the branches into a creative guest book with additional blank tags where guests can replace their place card with a note for the happy couple.”

“Personalize everything with hand calligraphy. Place cards, signs, table numbers, menus—what a great way to instantly elevate the small details of the day.” 

Mark Ingram

Wedding fashion maestro Mark Ingram selects the most exclusive designers and more in his namesake Manhattan atelier.

“A luxe cashmere wrap in a shade of ivory or a beautiful pale shade for a subtle splash of color.” (loropiana.com)

“La Mer skin cream to keep your face hydrated in dry winter months! Brides should treat their skin like an important accessory to their wedding day look, and it can’t be ignored.” (cremedelamer.com)

“English Pear and Freesia cologne or candles from Jo Malone—they smell like an autumn orchard. It’s a personal favorite.” (jomalone.com) 

Michael Andrews

Menswear designer Michael Andrews makes custom tuxes and suits accessible and attractive to guys of all types with his namesake bespoke label.

“The ultimate tuxedo: Michael Andrews Bespoke in midnight blue with one button, peak lapels and textured grosgrain satin.” (michaelandrewsbespoke.com)

“A styling tip: Have the groomsmen wear matching long ties and the groom wear a bow tie in the same fabric. It’s a subtle and elegant way for the groom to differentiate himself from the groomsmen while still coordinating with their outfits. (The long tie also helps hide any inconsistencies in the shirts the groomsmen are wearing.)”

“Bachelor party destination: Montreal. It offers both sin and sophistication (unlike Vegas, which has a lot of one and very little of the other). It’s just a quick flight, but far enough from home for a little adventure.” (tourisme-montreal.org)

David Tutera

All-around wedding mastermind David Tutera is, among other things, an event-planning legend, television host and gown designer extraordinaire.

“Serving food family-style is definitely a popular trend now, and one that’s especially perfect for fall and winter weddings. It creates a warm, homey and intimate dining experience—you can work with any caterer to select a seasonal menu that will work for this service style.” (Photos courtesy of Mastro's Restaurant; mastrosrestaurants.com)

“Gorgeous custom hats and headpieces are a unique way to add color, texture and style to bridal and bridesmaid looks. For fall, think rich tones, interesting natural feathers, felt and dark lace. For winter, think crystals, metallics, sheer fabrics and soft flower details. Our top picks for millineries are Ellen Christine Millinery in NYC and Louise Green Millinery in Los Angeles.” (ellenchristine.com and louisegreen.com)

“No winter wedding would be complete without ‘icy’ inspired shoes, and my favorite footwear pick goes to Artyce. This company creates one-of-a-kind custom shoes in a variety of crystallized styles, heights and colors.” (artycedesigns.com)

Justin Giunta

Fashionista-favorite Justin Giunta’s Subversive Jewelry is a go-to choice for edgy brides seeking to add some spunk to their wedding day ensembles.

“Some great fall bridal looks include a timeless pearl and ribbon necklace. I use crystal elements to add a little sparkle on the halter.” (subversivejewelry.com)

“I favor the mixed-up chain and pearl combo—it’s perfect for the Subversive bride. Our Sunken Treasure necklace with pearls is a great complement to a super-tailored dress.”

“In all my bridal jewelry I like to include a small blue detail. It allows your jewelry to be a one-stop shop to cover your ceremonial bases—there’s always something old, new, borrowed and blue!”

Anne Bowen

Bridal and evening designer Anne Bowen’s crystal-embellished gowns and sleek silhouettes wow brides season after season.

“I’d love to see my brides with the following three fall wedding must-haves: an Aston Martin getaway car, a Harry Winston diamond ring and unconditional love for each other!”

Ceci Johnson

Manhattan-based invitation guru Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York is the bridal community’s go-to girl for ultra-luxe custom invitations and head of recently launched luxury blog, CeciSTYLE.

“Black and metallics are hot for fall. I love the ombre effect and the hand-painted flowers on this Marchesa gown, and the detailing on the skirt and bodice is incredible. What an elegant but modern statement all in one! For the bride who really wants to break away from the all-white tradition, make a bold statement with a black invitation—I love to print tone on tone in letterpress (note the black chandelier in the background of the invite)! Add gold metallic foiling for that extra-glam touch.” (marchesa.com)

“This Marchesa dress reminds me of one of my laser-cut invitation designs. The layers of abstract ruffling make it a head-turner. Wear it with confidence to your rehearsal dinner and you’ll really stand out! I love it with YSL nail polish in ‘Timeless’…and with a Ceci New York Couture ‘Victoria and Steven’ laser-cut invitation suite.” (ysl.com)

“For the classic white-on-white glamour look with a twist, I love anything with a lot of unique detailing. This says old Hollywood glamour to me.”

Lauren Sherman

Fashionista.com editor (and bride-to-be) Lauren Sherman has her finger on the pulse of everything stylish, from insider collection sneak peeks to industry gossip.

“450 Union—this is where I’m having my wedding. It’s unconventional—a rustic warehouse in the middle of South Brooklyn. But with whitewashed walls, space for 250 people, a stage and a band, it’s ideal for those seeking something out of the ordinary. What’s more, when you secure the venue for one evening you also get it for the day before and after the event. Oh, and the owners donate profits to charity, which means that it’s also tax-deductible.” (450union.com)

“Unless you’re buying the dresses for your bridesmaids, I don’t really think it’s right to expect them to spend more than $250. I went to ASOS, an amazing fashion e-commerce site that just launched here in the U.S. They’ve got a gazillion lovely dresses, many in several color options, for as low as $25 each. My bridesmaids dresses were $50 and they look anything but cheap.” (asos.com)

“Headpieces from I Love Factory—this Brooklyn design duo has been featured everywhere from Nylon to POP magazine, and the biggest part of their business is doing custom headpieces for weddings. Definitely worth a look if you’re after something unconventional.” (ilovefactorybk.com)