My favourite blog posts are the ones where I get to show off my gorgeous brides, and this is a cracker! Salma and Richard got married in May at the stunning Peckforton Castle in Cheshire. When Salma first contacted me to discuss her wedding tiara, her enthusiasm was palpable – she was so excited about finding her wedding accessories and it was contagious.

Peckforton Castle and a resident, in all their glory.

Salma had a good idea about what she wanted, but, after emailing me a photo of the dress and a few other details, there were quite a few options that suited the ‘brief’ from my collection so I offered to meet her with a selection of pieces so she could see them in the flesh and try them on! So we met with my box of treasures and once Salma laid her eyes on bridal tiaras galore, there was only ever one headpiece for her – the gorgeous Audrey by the very talented Jo Barnes. And here she is in all her sparkling glory:

Beautiful Salma and the gorgeous Audrey (and Richard, of course!) - the perfect team!

Audrey was an inspired choice for Salma's bold look.

Roses were the perfect theme for a castle wedding.

Audrey was the perfect choice for Salma, especially with her bold Ian Stuart Cabaret wedding dress and stunning jet black hair. Roses were definitely a big feature of this wedding, with masses of rose detail on the dress, white rose bouquets and buttonholes, so the Swarovski crystal rose detail on the Audrey tiara was a great match.

Roses took centre stage in this wedding!

But Salma is no ordinary lady and certainly was no ordinary bride, I love that she went for such a bold and beautiful look and also that she broke from convention and styled her bridesmaids in retro tea dresses! It all added up to a super stylish day and some amazing photos.

Salma and her gorgeous retro bridesmaids.

Well done Salma and congratulations again to you and Richard!

Kate. xx

All images courtesy of PhilBarber.co.uk. Used with thanks.

How exciting – the brand new range of Rachel Simpson wedding shoes are now available to buy! Rachel Simpson wedding shoes are one of my best-selling ranges at Queens & Bowl and the latest collection is certainly set to keep them that way.

The 2012 range of bridal shoes complements Rachel’s current Ivory Collection and Pearl Collection, which both take their vintage inspiration from the elegant 1920s and 1930s eras and offer brides understated, timeless and detailed designs.

The new 2012 collection has at its heart the ultra-feminine and glamorous feel of the 1940s. And even more exciting for brides looking for low heel wedding shoes, there’s a real choice of options! From the totally flat, ballerina style bridal pump that is Betty, to ballroom T-bars like Tilly and pretty courts like Maisie, there’s a host of possibilities for brides who want comfortable bridal shoes! I think that these new, lower styles are also a great choice for bridesmaids too.

Low heel wedding shoes are a key feature of Rachel Simpson's 2012 collection.

Rachel has also included some popular concealed platform styles like Rosalyn and Tallulah, which add height yet make for a much more comfortable wear – especially on your wedding day, where you’ll spend so much time on your feet!

Concealed platforms add height but take the strain off your feet!

As with all of Rachel’s vintage wedding shoes, there’s a real emphasis on luxurious fabric combinations and careful attention to detail. She’s added beautiful touches with the incorporation of satin, lace, kid suede and pearlised leather, plus the floral insole that will become the signature of the new collection.

And if your colour tastes are on the wilder side of ivory wedding shoes, there’s plenty for you too, but more on that to follow later…

So yet again Rachel has managed to mix that perfect combination of timeless vintage with contemporary styling to make one of the most exciting but easy-to-wear wedding shoe collections of the year!

Kate. x