Remember Summer? Feels like forever ago doesn’t it? Well here to help remind you are some beautiful images of a Queens & Bowl real bride who was blessed with sun, sand and sea on her wedding day!

Korinna on her wedding day with sun, sea and sand! Image by Kirstin Prisk.

Korinna first contacted me back in March during her hunt for the perfect wedding accessories. Top of her list was a knock-out crystal bridal tiara or headpiece and a pair of complementing earrings. After Korinna described her beautiful Grecian style wedding dress with leaf detailing, we decided that the perfect partner would be the Etta side tiara by Jo Barnes Vintage.

Korinna chose the beautiful Etta Side Tiara to complement her Grecian dress. Image by Kirstin Prisk.

The large Marquise-shaped Swarovski crystals in the tiara were a great match for the detailing on Korinna’s wedding dress. We had a couple of options for earrings that would complement the headpiece, including the super versatile Manhattan earrings by Ivory & Co, but in the end Korinna decided on the Waterlilly earrings, also by Ivory & Co.

Korinna's earrings were the perfect understated choice to complement the tiara. Image by Kirstin Prisk.

The little 3-pointed star shape reflected the Marquise shapes in the headpiece and were large enough to be noticed, whilst understated enough not to fight for attention – the ideal scenario when you have a statement headpiece!

The Etta headpiece and Waterlilly Earrings work perfectly together.

Congratulations to Korinna and Andy! Image by Kirstin Prisk.

I think Korinna looks absolutely amazing in these photos and I can’t wait to upload one to my new Gallery page.

All images courtesy of Cornwall wedding photographer Kirstin Prisk.

Kate. xx

Hi.  If you’re still looking for those last minute stunning wedding accessories to compliment your dream wedding dress, why not check out our new exciting wedding jewellery range by Justine M Couture.

They make some of the most amazing bridal accessories, from earrings and cuffs, to combs and fascinators, all at affordable prices. They’re perfect for the bride on a budget without having to sacrifice style and glamour! We love the beautiful attention to detail on each piece including pearl accents, beading, feathers and intricately placed crystals.

Born in England, Justine Murray started her career in 2000 after moving to the U.S. and established the Justine M Couture collection in San Diego in 2002.  The beautiful collection offers an alternative to traditional styling, using a range of materials and components to produce stylish, contemporary yet feminine pieces.

“Each piece is its own unique work of art that hails back to a time when elegance in fashion was more important than a passing trend” says Justine. She describes the line as “reflecting her English heritage – both vintage contemporary, with a timeless classic underlying element that is the key to its success.”

We love the great selection of bridal jewellery including these amazing  'Dancer' earrings adorned with sparkling Swarovski rhinestones - great for a 1950s vintage look on your Big Day.

Shannon Wedding Cuff by Justine M Couture

Another favourite is the Shannon bridal cuff, great for a glamorous boho look. The fabric bracelet is encrusted with Swarovski prong set rhinestones and crystal, with sterling silver extension chain. A beautiful value for money piece which can be worn again after your big day.

At just £50 these beautiful Raffles crystal pearl and cubic zirconia earrings are a stylish yet economical choice and will compliment most hair styles.  A classic vintage inspired look.

Each Justine M. Couture design is meticulously created by her team of artisans in San Diego, ensuring an excellent product and a flawless finish.

I hope you love them as much as we do, please let us know!

Kate. x

I’m sorry to say that I’ve kind of neglected my blog a little of late. It’s not because I’ve had writers’ block; or nothing to say – quite the opposite really! It’s because there’ve been SO MANY new products arriving at Queens & Bowl HQ. We’ve had amazing 1920s-style headpieces from Stephanie Browne, exclusive to-die-for wedding jewellery from Justine M Couture – not to mention new bridal cuffs and feather combs…

But first, I just wanted to tell you about our new range of great value birdcage veils! These gorgeous little things are hand-made by a friend of mine who lives near Chicago – in fact, she made my own birdcage veil for my wedding. Crafted from the finest French netting, they are perfect for any bride looking for a birdcage veil with which to add the finishing touches to a 1950s or early 1960s themed wedding.

The bandeau birdcage veil with tiny pearls

At the moment there is a choice of 3 different styles, depending on the look you want to create. If you’re looking for a demure, Grace Kelly feel, then the bandeau birdcage veil (pictured above) is ideal. Designed to wrap around your entire face and fastened with secure metal grips on each end, it’s available with either flat round pearl accents or sparkling Swarovski crystal accents.

The Blusher birdcage veil is a classic style

If you’d like just a classic, birdcage veil, then go for the traditional Blusher birdcage veil, pictured above. This one comes with its own metal comb and is very flexible – it can be worn with the comb at the crown of your head and pulled forward over your eyes. Alternatively it can be worn at an angle to either side for more of a ‘fascinator’ effect.

The Petite birdcage veil adds a little touch of 1950s va-va-voom!

Finally, if your style suits the ‘less is more’ approach, then the Petite birdcage veil is for you (shown here, above). This little number comes without any comb attachment and is designed to add a little bit of 1950s flair without making too much of a statement. It looks great perched jauntily to one side of your down-do or also as a snood veil to cover a bun or small up-do.

All of our veils are available in ivory as standard, but can be made in white upon request. They also come with either ivory pearl accents (or white if a white veil is requested) or Swarovski crystal accents. Starting at just £35, they’re a stylish yet economical choice for any bride after a vintage feel.

I hope you like!

Kate. x

Let’s face it: most weddings aren’t cheap. Even with a lot of effort, it’s had to keep costs down. So at Queens & Bowl we try to make sure that our range has something for every wedding budget, without compromising on style.

British brand Ivory & Co is a great choice for the cost-conscious brides. Based in the heart of Worcestershire in the Malvern Hills, their wedding jewellery ranges offer brides-to-be some great pieces whatever vintage wedding look you’re going for.

If you’re going for a 1940s vintage wedding feel, then a great option for Rita Hayworth or Ava Gardner look is the Manhattan range. Crafted from pear-shaped Austrian crystals, it’s a great option for bling on a budget! The necklace is great value at £125 and the earrings are just £35.

The glamorous Manhattan wedding jewellery range, great for a 1940s wedding.

Another great range in Ivory & Co’s wedding jewellery collection is the Waterlilly Pearl range. The necklace, earrings and bracelet are a fantastic choice for a country vintage wedding. The design is a gorgeous combination of high quality, lustrous manmade pearls and twinkling Austrian crystals. Again, they’re great value – the necklace and bracelet are £60 and the earrings are just £25!

The Waterlilly Pearl Wedding Jewellery range is great for a country vintage feel.

The Waterlilly Pearl range is also perfect if you’re looking for co-ordinating wedding jewellery, wedding shoes, and even hair accessories. Ivory & Co have a matching tiara, but they also match brilliantly with the pearl and crystal trims on the Hettie wedding shoes and hair pins by Rachel Simpson!

There are great co-ordinating items for the Waterlilly Pearl wedding jewellery range.

Take a look at the rest of the Ivory & Co wedding jewellery range and you’ll find there’s something for every bride on any budget!

Kate. xx

Good morning! I’ve been thinking of doing a Wallis Simpson style blog post for some time now, and with Colin Firth winning a much-deserved Golden Globe last night for his role as King George VI (who became king after his brother, Edward VIII abdicated to marry the divorcee Wallis) in The King’s Speech, I thought it was very appropriate.

Wallis Simpson on her wedding day in 1937. Image: Rex Features

The infamous Wallis Simpson, known for her chic and glamorous style during the 1930s and 1940s is inspiring a huge amount of brides at the moment. In fact, the uber-stylish and trend-setting David Fielden even named one of his glamorous satin wedding dresses after her (see image below) – and you can see why, as it definitely mimmicks her slim-fitted, nipped-waist dress with draped bust section.

Get Wallis' style for your wedding day with a statement brooch and pearls. Image: David Fielden

If you’re after a Wallis Simpson vintage wedding day look then focus on her signature accessories: in terms of wedding jewellery, Wallis was hardly ever seen without an eyecatching statement brooch, so a sparkly Swarovski or quartz crystal wedding brooch is vital. She was also a fan of stud or cluster earrings rather than dangle earrings, so go for pearls or a pearl / crystal combination. For wedding shoes choose an elegant peep-toe with a nod to 1930s Deco design.

Wallsi Simpson also loved to flaunt wealth with her stylish pearl necklaces, so choose a slick multi-row piece for maximum opulence and finish off the glamour with a 1930s Art Deco bridal comb set amongst your finger wave curls!

I recommend:

Venetia wedding shoes by Rachel Simpson

Waterlilly Pearl bridal earrings by Ivory & Co

St Tropez wedding brooch by Stephanie Browne

Rhea bridal comb by Jo Barnes

Tabitha wedding brooch by Stephanie Browne

Astor Swarovski Pearl Necklace by Stephanie Browne

A slick of red lipstick and you’re good to go!

Kate. xx

Are you counting down to a winter wedding this year? Or maybe the early snow this year has inspired you to plan a wedding for next winter? Whatever the case, if you stick to a few simple rules, you’ll be guaranteed to look like a  snow queen rather than be mistaken for a Christmas tree…

1. If you’re going for a twinkly dress with lots of embellishment, resist the urge to turn yourself into a human snowflake with sparkles elsewhere. A couple of hair pins or a dainty bracelet will be just right and prevent your guests from needing sunglasses or mistaking you for a glitter ball.We have some great hair pins by Rachel Simpson and some beautiful Swarovski crystal wedding bracelets by Stephanie Browne.

2. On the otherhand, if you want to make a real style statement with a knock-out headpiece, make sure your dress complements (rather than fights with) your accessories. Raw silk and plain taffeta are perfect as they ooze luxury and quality. This leaves you free to run wild with a big, head-turning number. We have some amazing frosty-inspired headpieces from Jo Barnes Vintage and Madeline Isaac-James.

L-R from top: Valenica stole, Astor brooch, Sparkle shoe clips, Astor earrings, Balboa side tiara, Prague cape, Monique shoe boots, Fleur shoes, Westwood bracelet, Star Dust side tiara

3. Wrap up warm against the biting cold with cosy but chic feather shrug, cape or stole. These are also ideal for bridesmaids who often have to spend an hour or so out in the cold, shivering, having photos without the benefit of the adrenalin rush that tends to keep brides warm! Our range by Sasso offers a great choice of styles and are available in many colours – just ask if you have something in particular in mind.

4. The unpredictability of the british weather means that come your wedding day, we could be basking in winter sunshine, avoiding the puddles or crunching along the snow…so closed-toe shoes are the order of the day. We have some beautifully feminine court shoes by Rachel Simpson, or if you really want to stand out, how about some of her oh-so-stylish Monique bridal shoe boots?

5. Finally, try not to go totally crystal-crazy. If you love the twinkle of Swarovski, then why not go with the pearl option for your bridesmaids, or vice-verca? The pearls really do help to add some warmth to the sharp coolness of crystals. There are some beautiful, wintry white and ivory pearl pieces in our range that really complement the snow queen look. The Balboa side tiara by Madeline Isaac-James is the perfect example.

If you are having a winter wedding I wish you a perfect dusting of pure white snow – no more, no less!

Kate. x

A little while ago, Louise at Bow Occasions wedding planners did a fantastic ‘Vintage Week’ on her blog. Being a HUGE lover of vintage AND weddings, I jumped at the chance to talk about my 2 favourite vintage eras and give some suggestions for how a vintage bride may pull off the look with shoes, jewellery and headpieces. Here’s the article in full:

Hi, I’m Kate Bowl and I run Queens & Bowl wedding accessories – an online boutique offering gorgeous wedding shoes, jewellery and headpieces. I love vintage style and all of my products are either inspired by vintage fashions and trends or are created from genuine vintage pieces. I stock amazing, award-winning designer names including Rachel Simpson, Halo & Co and Magpie Vintage.

One thing I’m really keen to do on my site is to provide inspiration for brides planning or thinking about having a vintage wedding. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from brides on my ‘Inspiration Pages’ so I thought I’d share a couple of my favourite eras here as part of Bow Occasions’ vintage week!

First up is the 1920s….

I love 1920s for the dramatic change in women’s fashion that took place during this period. Women were asserting the independence and liberty they’d tasted during WW1 and there was a real sense of rebellion in the air! It was also the decade that first brought us the Art Deco movement and screen legends like Greta Garbo and Clara Bow who are still mysterious, enigmatic figures even today.

Ideas for a 1920s wedding. Image credits: Rex, Rosa Clara, Photorazzi, Ritz Hotel London

The most iconic 1920s fashion was of course the Flapper style which became popular in the mid 1920s. This look is probably the most recreated ‘20s look for modern brides and needs these key touches to pull it off:

• A loose knee-length shift dress that shows off bare arms. They were often heavily beaded with a scalloped hemline. The alternative if your figure doesn’t suit this style is to choose a drop-waist dress of longer length. Drop-waists were popular throughout most of the 1920s.
• Mary-Janes with a single strap or T-Bar shoes like the Hettie or Mimi styles by Rachel Simpson
• Pearls – and lots of them. Long length pearl necklaces, made famous by a certain Coco Chanel, are ideal. Our Luxe Pearl Necklace by Stephanie Browne is made of Swarovski crystal pearls and features 2 Swarovski crystal Deco brooch pieces that are detachable.
• A close-fitting headpiece worn low down, towards the forehead. The Tiffany pearl and diamante headpiece by Ivory & Co is perfect.
• Feathers. Headpieces with feathers (try our Vienna headpiece by Ivory & Co) or a shrug like the Paris by Sasso add an authentic 20s vibe.

Finish the look with finger-wave hair and dark red lips, re-applied at regular intervals!

Next up, the 1950s….

….another period of fun mixed in with elegance and I love the pure glamour of the decade. Speaking of glamour, how much more glam can you get than Hollywood screen siren Grace Kelly marrying into royalty in the South of France!

Ideas for a 1950s wedding. Image credits: Rex, Shutterstock, Photorazzi, candyanthony.com

So many enduring icons came to fame in the 50s – Liz Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and of course, Marilyn Monroe. The timeless fashion of the 1950s also became iconic and is very much growing in popularity amongst brides. Here’s what to focus on for a ‘50s wedding theme:

• A knee-length dress with plenty of under-netting to give the A-line shape. If you have a bigger bust, a strapless style top is ideal, if not, go for a higher neckline like a boat-neck or slash-neck. Lace or taffeta were the signature fabrics.
• Pearls – but keep it simple. Go for either small pearl stud earrings or a short, single strand pearl necklace. We have some beautiful freshwater pearl necklaces by Magpie Vintage featuring original vintage ornaments.
• Sparkle. As Marilyn Monroe could testify, the ladies loved their diamonds, so look for vintage-style jewellery featuring large crystals or diamante, such as our glamorous Boucheron earrings or detailed Astor bracelet.
• Bows and lace details. Both were popular in the ‘50s and contributed to the femininity of the look. The appropriately named Marilyn bridal shoes by Rachel Simpson fit the bill perfectly.

Whichever vintage era you choose, you’re sure to have a truly timeless and elegant wedding. For more vintage inspiration, visit the Queens & Bowl blog and feel free to leave your comments!

Kate. xx

So, your budget doesn’t stretch to diamonds, but you want to inject some vintage-style sparkle into your wedding jewellery – the options are pretty straightforward, right? Well, with different boutiques and retailers using a whole myriad of terms including diamante, rhinestone, crystal, paste, crystal quartz, Swarovski crystal, Austrian crystal, it seems not!

My post about the different types of pearls used in wedding jewellery a few weeks ago was so popular; I thought I’d have a go at lifting the lid on the different types of ‘crystal’ bridal jewellery.

Here goes…

Before the advent of modern-day imitation jewels, the rock crystals around the banks of the river Rhine were used to imitate precious stones – hence the original term ‘rhinestone’. Since then (and up to the modern day), jewellers and scientists tried to make more affordable and abundant alternatives by creating manmade stones. So despite its original and specific meaning, the term ‘rhinestone’ has become a fairly generic term.

Here’s a rough guide to what’s what:

Rhinestone / Diamante

Basically, these have come to be a catch-all terms for ‘imitation’ precious stones. All kinds of materials are described as rhinestone or diamante, including rock crystal, lead crystal, glass and even acrylic (plastic). For the record: no Queens & Bowl designers use acrylic rhinestones.

Paste

Paste was invented in the 17th century and was popular until the early 20th century, so it’s often found on original vintage wedding jewellery. Paste was a glass compound with a foil backing to achieve a twinkle effect. It was often used to create pave-style settings (made up of hundreds of stones) for a reasonable price. Magpie Vintage antique components often feature paste detail, like the gorgeous Art Deco Disc necklace.

Magpie Vintage Art Deco Necklace with paste stones

Rock Crystal / Crystal Quartz

Rock Crystal (part of the Quartz family) is often confused with lead crystal (see below), but unlike lead crystal, it is not manmade- it’s mined from the earth. Tiny imperfections, found naturally within the crystals, bounce light around within the stone and mean that there is no need for a foil backing as with paste.

Stephanie Browne is one designer who uses rock crystal quartz in her wedding jewellery designs, such as the 1950s-style Tabitha Brooch.

The Tabitha Quartz Brooch by Stephanie Browne

Lead Crystal

Lead crystal is not actually crystal at all – it’s glass, with lead oxide added at the molten stage. The lead oxide makes the glass refract the light much, much more than glass, giving it that diamond-like sparkle. The main production sites for lead crystal are the Czech Republic and Austria. They’re perfect for ultra glamorous, Marilyn Monroe style wedding jewellery.

Austrian Crystal / Swarovski Crystal

Austrian Crystal (otherwise known as Swarovski Crystal) is lead crystal and it’s the most famous brand of lead crystal in the world. Swarovski is acknowledged as being the ultimate quality, owing to the unique ratio of lead to glass (32% lead), giving the best refraction rates and amazing sparkle. Swarovski crystal stones also have more facets than other stones and are always cut glass rather than moulded or machine-pressed.

Stephanie Browne, Ivory & Co, Filippa Scott Jewels and Halo & Co designs are created using Swarovski stones, including the Nectar Headpiece.

The Nectar Headpiece by Ivory & Co in Swarovski Crystal

AB Crystals

AB crystals are simply lead crystals with a very thin metallic coating, producing an iridescent rainbow effect. AB stands for Aurora Borealis (otherwise known as the Northern Lights), after which the effect was named.

AB crystals help to give a vintage or antique feel and work particularly well with pearls. Halo & Co have some fantastic pieces in AB crystal this season, including the Anouska Pin.

The Anouska Pin by Halo & Co in AB Crystal



Hopefully this little post has made things crystal clear! If not and you have a specific question regarding your wedding jewellery, please get in touch and I’ll do my best to help you find the perfect jewellery for your wedding day.

Kate. xx

When Hollywood celebrities want to guarantee instant glamour and make themselves the undisputed queen of the red carpet, there’s only one accessory that fits the bill – the chandelier earring!

Gwyneth Paltrow in her amazing chandelier earrings. Image ~ PRphotos.com

Seen here, worn by Gwyneth Paltrow, a knock-out pair of chandelier earrings can really transform a relatively conservative or demure outfit into something that oozes feminine glamour.

So the chandelier earring is also a bride’s best friend for adding extra ‘joosh’ and instant glamour to your wedding day outfit. If you only have the budget for one piece of wedding jewellery, make it a pair of these statement lovelies. Here at Queens & Bowl we’ve got a selection of great chandelier earrings, whatever your taste and theme:

Classic vintage-style chandelier earrings, all by Filippa Scott Jewels

If your look is classic vintage, these 3 styles are perfect for adding some opulence to clean lines or lace dresses. On the left, the Oval Flower Drop earrings are very reminiscent of Gwyneth’s gorgeous Chopard earrings shown above. Pear-shaped pieces are timeless and always elegant, like these Vintage Style Diamante earrings, or for a twist on a classic look, these Cascading Drop earrings can be worn with the crystals facing either in or out.

Boho chandelier earrings, all by Filippa Scott Jewels

If you’re going for a boho look, perhaps with a dress by Jenny Packham or David Fielden, then chandelier bridal earrings are an absolute must! Our range includes huge, sparkly numbers like the Bohemian Chandelier earrings (left) or smaller but no less twinkly styles like the Crystal Chandelier or Large Stone Chandelier.

Whichever style you choose, you’ll be giving Gwyneth a run for her money come your Big Day!

Kate. x

I’m very excited to be able to write this post as it signals a bit of a landmark for us. As you probably know, Queens & Bowl launched a mere 8 weeks ago, so we’ve had quite a few orders from brides planning ahead for their big day, but we’ve now had our first wedding! I’m really grateful to Victoria for sending us lots of photos so we could do this post of her amazing wedding featuring (of course) plenty of Queens & Bowl wedding accessories. I’m also grateful to her photographer David Murray of Murray Photography for kindly giving me permission to use these shots.

The spectacular Peckforton Castle ~ Images: Murray Photography

Perfect details: the Charleston Brooch and shoes by Christian Louboutin ~ Images: Murray Photography

Being a designer shoe fanatic, Louboutins were the only choice for Victoria. We were lucky enough to help her out with 3 gorgeous pieces from our Stephanie Browne range, the first of which was this beautiful Charleston Brooch made from sparkling Swarovski crystals to keep the sparkle theme going! Victoria used it to highlight perfectly a little cross-over sash detail on her Suzanne Neville tiered gown, which looked stunning.

Victoria's gorgeous Hayworth Bandeau ~ Images: Murray Photography

Victoria also chose the ever-so-sparkly Hayworth Bandeau which looked incredible against her dark hair. It’s the perfect piece whatever your hairstyle as it works so well with hair either up or down, as you can see here with this tousled style. Shortly after these shots were taken there was a surprise guest at the wedding who delivered the rings – an owl from Peckforton’s very own falconry!

A surprise visitor from the falconry ~ Image by Murray Photography

The final piece of jewellery that Victoria chose was the Charleston Bracelet to match her brooch, as seen here at the signing of the register. This is a great piece – very versatile and easily wearable as a guest at future weddings and events.

Signing of the register with her Charleston Bracelet ~ Images by Murray Photography

With the ceremony and official paperwork all done and dusted, Craig and Victoria headed out onto the lawn for jazz, champage and Pimms and plenty of dancing later… Congratulations guys!

Jazz and champagne on the lawn ~ Images: Murray Photography

Thanks again to Victoria for choosing Queens & Bowl for her wedding accessories and to you both for letting me feature these fantastic shots. Many thanks again to David at Murray Photography. Victoria’s bracelet, brooch and bandeau are all available at Queens & Bowl.

Charleston brooch, bracelet and Hayworth Bandeau

Kate. x