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The Top 5 Ways to Cover Your Shoulders Under the Chuppah in 2026

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Tonic bolero by Galia Lahav

From pearl-dusted couture boleros to barely-there detachable details, shoulder coverage for the chuppah has officially entered its fashion-forward era. Today’s Jewish brides are embracing clever, removable layers that honor tradition and personal style – without compromising on the dress of their dreams.

Ben and Lauren, Kin House, Wiltshire, UK

Lauren‘s shrug | Photo by Natalie J Weddings

Whether you’re drawn to timeless elegance, modern minimalism, or a touch of drama, there are more beautiful options than ever before for ceremony-ready coverage that feels intentional, elevated, and unmistakably bridal. Here are our top five chic, modern ways to cover your shoulders under the chuppah in 2026 – and look effortlessly stylish while doing it.

Sydney-and-Chaim-The-Estate-at-Florentine-Gardens-River-Vale-New-Jersey-USA
Sydney‘s bolero | Photo by Alex Knight Studio 

1. Brilliant Boleros 

A timeless and elegant choice for brides who want to keep their shoulders covered under the chuppah, boleros add structure and sophistication without overwhelming your gown – and there are so many options, whether you’re going for a classic princess look or something sleek and modern. 

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10 Gorgeous Ways to Cover Your Shoulders Under the Chuppah

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Splendid cape cover-up from Ella and Matt’s Jewish Wedding. Image by Barney Walters.
 

What happens when you’ve bought the dress of your dreams, but later realize that you need some sort of coverup for under the chuppah? Maybe your Rabbi requested that your shoulders remain covered during the ceremony, or perhaps there’s a family member that expects certain traditions to be followed through.

Then again, maybe it’s a personal choice, and while you absolutely ADORE the dress you’ve picked out, covering yourself under the chuppah is something that is important to you personally.

I promise you don’t need to run out and return your dress for a long sleeve option—although a long sleeve dress is a great way to have the best of both worlds

A chuppah covering is not a death sentence for your dress! In fact, there are so many ways to use a cover up to your advantage and add a bit of personal flair and style to your bridal look.

Below are my top ten favorite ways and styles to bring modesty and your personality with you under the chuppah. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Sensational illusion sleeves from Natalie and Edward’s Jewish Wedding. Image by Ran Bergman.
 

1. Illusion Sleeves

Illusion sleeves seem like such an obvious fix, but it’s a classic for a reason. I love how glamourous adding illusion sleeves to your dress can look. It’s such a great idea to make sure that every detail of your dress shines through, while still maintaining a certain modesty. One of our own Smashing the Glass Bride’s looked sexy and gorgeous in TWO Lee Petra Grebenau gowns with stunning illusion embellishments.

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My interview with Louise Beukes, wedding blogger and top UK wedding stylist

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Louise bloved - Image Anneli Marinovich Photography
[image:  Anneli Marinovich Photography]

Continuing with ‘The Wedding Smashers‘ series where I interview some of the best in the business, today I’m delighted to be talking to Louise Beukes, one of the UK’s top wedding stylists and bloggers.

I was introduced to Louise when I first started blogging weddings, and Kate from Perfect Details wrote a guest post for Smashing The Glass mentioning Louise and her inspirational blog, b.loved weddings.

I immediately started following Louise on Twitter and we connected over all the social media spheres. She’s one of a handful of wedding experts who keep me up to date on all the latest trends, news, and W-day design themes, and I’m forever inspired by her innovative projects and creative prowess.

So let’s meet the lovely Louise!
Kate Spade Inspired Shoot
[images:  Anneli Marinovich Photography]

So Louise, what’s the ‘Louise Beukes’ story? How did you start your company and what’s happened between then and now?

The b.loved story began in March 2011, a month after my own wedding. After working for 10 years as an interior designer I loved the pretty aspects of planning my wedding, and was still reading 100’s of wedding blogs daily! I was approached by a blogger to feature my wedding, two weeks later my own blog was up and running ready to share our wedding story and to inspire other brides. I quickly discovered my niche in providing contemporary inspiration in a world of vintage weddings! Since then, b.loved has grown massively, with the b.team – a panel of wedding experts – joining the line up to share their experience and talents with our readers, and adding a wedding design & styling business to the brand.

How do you unearth inspiration and a create a theme for a couple who have no idea what their creative vision for their day is?

The first part of my process is getting to know the couple. We’ll meet up over drinks for a chat and I’ll ask lots of questions about them and their relationship. Simple things like where you like, what brand of clothing you wear, and where you go on holiday reveal so much about your personality — and I use this information to determine what I call their wedding ‘ brand’.
Retro Popcorn Shoot
[image:  Fiona Kelly photography]

Can you tell us about the process of starting b.loved?

I didn’t think about it too much! For someone who usually makes very considered choices, it was a bit of a leap-before-you-look decision. After two weeks of late nights, the blog was up and running. I’ve never looked back!

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