Choosing bridal jewellery always starts with the rings (obviously) but where do earrings come in your list of priorities?

Once you’ve decided on how you want your hair and whether to have a veil, a headpiece, flowers or a more traditional tiara, then you can pay more close attention to your ears.

Drop earrings are a stunningly simple yet very effective way of adding a bit of glitz and sparkle to your ensemble, especially if you choose to wear your hair up.

Here’s just some of my favourites from the new collections, I’d love to know which are yours and whether you would choose drops or something smaller…

Art Deco Earrings £90

St Tropez Headpiece, Art Deco Earrings

Nora Earrings £70

Charleston Band, Nora Earrings, Charleston Bracelet

Viva £160

Viva Worn

For brides-to-be looking for a vintage inspired wedding, the era most favoured this season is the 1920′s.

It was the birth of Hollywood, the rise of the glamorous movie starlets and the beginning of an incredibly influential fashion generation.

I love the 20′s for its pearls, ostrich feathers and t-bar shoes and you love it too.  Your favourite piece by far has to be the St Tropez headpiece by Stephanie Browne and I don’t blame you.

St Tropez Headpiece £399

St Tropez headpiece, Art Deco earrings

St Tropez Comb, Vivienne Bracelet, Imperial Bracelet, Peacock Earrings

There’s been so much going on behind the scenes of Queens and Bowl lately including some pretty gorgeous new photography of the spring/summer collection of vintage inspired wedding jewellery and accessories, which you can check out on the website and buy now!

The images come courtesy of the fabulously talented Kirstie McNulty who has truly captured the essence of Art Deco 1920s glamour,  the sophisticated chic of the 1950s and the delicate fragility of a bohemian lifestyle.

Paris Headpiece £450

Ambrosia

Cara

Art Deco

Beatrice

Cauldfield Band

Windsor

Would love to know what you think. Which is your favourite?

Kate x

Audrey Hepburn, as the glamorous Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, is inspiration to so many vintage brides and there’s a real trend for 60s inspired weddings lately, including this one featured recently on Love My Dress, held in a theatre with the groom looking very dashing in his 60s suit.  One that truly brings together all the elements of the era is this stunning 60s inspired engagement shoot too, simply beautiful!

To get the look, choose a bold wedding dress – sleeveless designs with high necklines or the knee-length strapless look works well too.

For wedding jewellery, go for a statement necklace in crystal or pearls and small stud earrings.

Venice Earrings £115 - Justine M Couture

Crystal Choker £175 - Halo and Co

Finish an up-do with a simple, striking bridal comb and add a feather cape.

Catalina Pearl Comb £95 - Ivory and co

Streisand Feather Bridal Stole £95 - Sasso

For wedding shoes, choose classic 1950s / early 60s peep-toes with a little bold detail to show off under your dress!

Ella Shoes £199.99 - Harriet Wilde

When you are deciding on your wedding jewellery and after you’ve found yourself the most perfect tiara for your ‘up do’ and deliciously vintage necklace to work with your gown’s neckline, what do you do with your ears?  It’s easy to just leave them bling-free if you struggle to know what’s best for where your hairstyle ends and your dress begins.

So I’ve picked just some of the earrings we offer at Queens and Bowl for you to fall in love with, some small but perfectly formed, some extravagant and attention-grabbing but all beautiful and a simple way to add a bit of glamour.

Classic Pearl Earrings £30

Manhattan Earrings £35

Imperial Earrings £40

Nora Earrings £70

Belgravia Earrings £35

Starlet Earrings £150

Westwood Earrings £180

Bow Peep Earrings £70

Enjoy! Kate xx

If you’re looking for real bride inspiration when planning your wedding accessories, then meet Eleanor and Phil Sotheran.

Ellie and Phil Sotheran

The gorgeous couple got married on July 2nd 2011 at Highcliffe castle in Dorset.  Eleanor chose the Manhattan necklace (from Ivory & Co) after looking through hundreds and hundreds online. “Originally I wanted something bigger and more extravagant but when I saw this necklace which looked so elegant and classy, I decided that it was the perfect one for me.” said Eleanor ” Then it just seemed right to have the matching earrings!”

Ellie wears Manhattan necklace & earrings - Ivory & Co

Manhattan Necklace £125

Manhattan Earrings £35

I couldn’t agree more!  Kate x

Style and movie icons like Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor are the perfect inspiration for a 1950s wedding.

A ’50s wedding will always be elegant and stylish. Wedding dresses need to be full-skirted and for a true ’50s twist opt for a shorter length with a sash or buckle detail at the waist. It’s also the perfect excuse to show off amazing wedding shoes like Rachel Simpson’s aptly-named Marilyn heels, also available in ‘knock ‘em dead’ red!

Marilyn Ivory pair £160

Marilyn Mink pair £160

Marilyn Red Pair £160

Sparkles are definitely a girl’s best friend when it comes to choosing your bridal jewellery: either continue the Marilyn theme with sparkly jewels or go all Grace Kelly with something like a birdcage veil from Ivory & Co.

Pearl Birdcage Veil £70

Alternatively, you could even channel a bit of Liz Taylor with a Cleopatra-esque tiara like this ‘Emperor’ from Halo & Co!

Emperor Wedding Tiara £155

Here are a couple more ideas to carry on the ’50s theme…

Kelly Bracelet £199

Streisand Feather Bridal Stole £95

Kate x

There were a few raised eyebrows and mutterings about ‘the done thing’ when Samantha Cameron attended the Royal Wedding last year, choosing to wear a vintage hair comb rather than the customary hat.

Image via Pinterest, courtesy of Zimbio.com

I’m not wishing to start a new debate on the “do’s and don’ts” of millinery at Royal occasions, but Mrs Cameron does give me the perfect excuse to showcase some of our beautiful hair combs available to those dare-to-be-different brides looking for a headpiece that is slightly less traditional than a veil.

Rendez-Vous Comb £170

Peacock Mantilla £260

Grace Comb £180

Carmen Miss Comb £299

Rhea Comb £130

Treasure Comb £130

Lotus Comb £90

Catalina Pearl Comb £95

Rosemary Comb £280

Kate x

I hope you liked our first Designer Showcase last month on the fabulous Natalie Gladman, a la Madeline Isaac James, if you missed it you can read it here.

Next up is a very clever lady, Rachel Simpson, designer of truly beautiful, vintage inspired bridal and occasion shoes.

Rachel Simpson Shoes

Rachel graduated from De Montfort University in 2001 and created new collections whilst working for a number of high street brands as a successful freelance designer. It was the art of shoe making which became her passion, and it was for this reason Rachel bought a couple of old footwear machines and built a workshop at the bottom of the garden!

After making shoes here for friends as well as commissioned work, Rachel saw a gap in the market for fashion led yet timeless, well made bridal shoes. Seeing her sister walk down the aisle in a pair of shoes she had created was a feeling worth building on!

Rachel Simpson Shoes

Today Rachel creates shoes which are as comfortable as they are beautiful. Every shoe is designed in the UK and beautifully handmade in Spain by skilled craftsmen- and women! Emphasis is on quality, with full leather linings and beautiful leather, satin and suede uppers. As well as her love of vintage, inspiration comes from all over, including current trends and of course listening to customers!

Here’s a few of my current favourites, I’m just waiting to see what the new collections will bring!

Tilly Ivory pair £145 (also available in Silver)

Hettie Ivory pair £160

Olivia Ivory brogue pair £150

Betty Ivory pair £115

Anya Ivory pair £155

Rosalyn Ivory Lace pair £165

To match or not to match…that is the question.

When choosing your bridal jewellery, you might want the smooth consistency and unity that comes with matching your earrings, necklace and bracelet or you may have inherited a piece of vintage jewellery that you want to use as the main focus of your ensemble but with just a hint of sparkle elsewhere.

If you’re stuck for inspiration, I love these gorgeous, delicate collections of wedding jewellery from Ivory and Co.

If you’re looking to have an opulent, vintage wedding, then the Belgravia Collection by Ivory & Co is ideal for creating some impact. Combining sparkling Austrian crystals with high-quality man-made ivory and white natural lustre pearls, this collection is the perfect mixture of vintage elegance and old-school glamour.

Belgravia Necklace £100

Belgravia Bracelet £55

Belgravia Earrings £35

Imperial Necklace £135

Imperial Bracelet £60

Imperial Earrings £40

The Waterlilly Pearl collection is a lovely vintage-inspired creation. These are really feminine pieces and great for bridesmaids and prom-goers as well as brides looking for a relaxed, bohemian feel. Crafted using a non-tarnishing metal base, Austrian crystals and high quality natural luster man-made pearls, truly classical.

Waterlilly Pearl Necklace £60

Waterlilly Pearl Bracelet £60

Waterlilly Pearl Earrings £30