The basic rule to selecting accessories for a Filipiniana wedding is the same rule that applies to selecting accessories for any wedding dress: always plan the accessories along with the design of the wedding dress. The rule may be especially applicable to traditional Filipiniana gowns, which are always grandly embellished to begin with. Often times, wedding dress designers work with several key embellishments in a gown that may also be translated into complementary accessories, and it may save you the trouble to ask them about this, since many designers are also able to create unique accessories that, incidentally, can easily become wonderful keepsakes.

If you’re on your own, however, a key rule to accessorizing a Filipiniana wedding comes in the old cliché "less is more". The traditional Filipiniana dress is often presented in monochrome, with slight color accents, varying textures, creeping beadwork, and delicate embroidery or other such details so as to be coherent and to avoid it appearing too busy. An elegant accessory choice for this kind of dress is a set of pieces made with precious or semi-precious stones, either a neutral diamond, pearl, or moonstone, or stones of a complementary color. Oftentimes, a basic drop earring or a necklace with a strong center stone adds a subtle finishing touch to the outfit, without competing with the strong design and embellishments of the gown.

On the other hand, another good choice for accessories are those with sleek, modern shapes, made of native materials or materials with a decidedly "natural" feel such as mother of pearl, capiz, or shells. Complementing the sometimes elegant yet organic feel of a Filipiniana outfit, high-texture accessories in a bold, yet romantic style and a clean but decidedly feminine look create a cohesive statement and a subtle fashionable twist to the traditional.

Of course, as trends and tastes evolve, taking culture and fashion in tow, it is but natural that tradition (and all its trappings) has earned various upgrades in modern society and found various translations in our everyday lives. In the 2006 graduation show of the Fashion Institute of the Philippines, a modern Filipiniana category was defined by the use of natural and indigenous materials on a modern design and silhouette, rather than an update of the style of the traditional Filipiniana. Usually a matter of balancing texture and detail, the modern Filipiniana concept when applied to weddings expands the scope of possible designs, and allows for far more choices in accessorizing.

With simpler silhouettes and minimalist styles of dress, a statement piece like a chunky white necklace or earrings in shells and native materials can become key to defining the Filipiniana look of a wedding outfit. And on average, many modern brides who want a Filipiniana—but still current—feel to their wedding gowns aim for Filipiniana accents or details, the most common of which are accessories.

Next to the glamorous and trendy chunky pieces, other popular and easily available styles are shell centerpiece necklaces or multi-strand necklaces in various native materials and textures. Select a piece or a set according to complementary colors, and take design details from the gown itself, complementing as much as possible certain textures and shapes.

Finally, it is interesting to note that on certain occasions, brides-to-be select their accessories first then have their gowns created accordingly, usually because of an emotional or personal connection to a piece, which can be an antique piece of jewelry passed down in a family or a piece given by the significant other. In the case of a Filipiniana wedding, rooted in more elaborate antique accessories (which sometimes can be more complicated in color and texture), it may actually be easier to create that sense of balance and style to reverse the design process this way.