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

Morning! With wedding season well and truly up and running, you may be wondering what the key wedding accessory trends will be. One lady who keeps her eye on the ball is Louisa Shipstone, Assistant to British wedding dress designer Stuart Parvin - here’s her thoughts on the coming season:

“What a fantastically exciting year to be either planning a wedding or working in the industry – with not one but 2 royal weddings on the cards, and extra time off to enjoy them, the excitement of us wedding obsessives is reaching fever pitch!

So what accessory looks are going to be key for this oh-so-important year? Tiaras have long been the mainstay of bridal accessorising, but have been less popular of late, so will the royal wedding encourage a return to this classic bridal look? A more modern way to wear a tiara, which has proved enormously popular in recent years is to go for a side worn headpiece or headband, which sits slightly flatter on your head than a “classic” tiara. These work well with a variety of hair styles and gown designs. I love, love, love this look with a vintage inspired gown and in particular the Venus Tiara from Ivory and Co.

Side Tiaras are a new, modern alternative to traditional styles. L-R Cameo Side Tiara by Halo & Co, image by David Burke Photography, Louisa's choice, the Venus tiara by Ivory & Co

Birdcage veils are also going to be a key look for 2011 – flawless make up, a killer frock and a cute as hell cage veil give you a bridal but super-modern look. Much as I love the silhouette stretching capability of a full cathedral veil, there’s something irresistible about the way these gorgeous little things frame your face, and they look fantastic with retro inspired gowns in particular.  Go wild with a flower corsage or a filigree antique style motif..

Birdcage veils are super-flattering. L-R Pearl Bandeau Veil, image by David Burke Photography, Tea For Two veil by Madeline Isaac-James

A good way to thoroughly modernise your bridal look is to use statement jewellery. Cocktail rings, chunky bangles and inspiring statement necklaces pep up any outfit and bridal wear is no exception.

Wearing a fishtail gown? A statement necklace will balance out your silhouette brilliantly and bring the look bang up to date. A word of warning though – this is not the look to go for if your gown is huge or incredibly detailed, but can look utterly divine if styled with a gown that’s gorgeously simple, with pared down design detail and lovely clean lines.

Make a style statement with a really eyecatching piece of jewellery. L-R: Hayworth Madame Cuff by Stephanie Browne, Rosalie necklace by Madeline Isaac-James, Starlet Earrings by Justine M Couture.

One thing brides always worry about is that their photos will date if they slavishly follow a particular trend for their wedding. Whilst this can be true, if you want to go for the statement look, but keep it classic and timeless – there are some lovely bold pieces out there in pearls, diamante and with antique style filigree which give the wow factor, but still keep your look beautiful and bridal. The Astor Pearl necklace by Stephanie Browne is the perfect example.

The Astor Pearl Necklace is a classic and a statement in one!

Delicate and sparkly will always have its place in bridal fashion, but why not layer up lots of pretty bracelets for that statement impact? Different shapes, designs and materials can complement each other superbly as well as being beautiful pieces in their own right –  why chose just one ?!  Take your cue from the variety of gorgeous stacking rings around at the moment and do the same for your wrists… try combining the Hayworth and Madison bracelets from Stephanie Browne, or the Vivienne and Audrey for an art deco vibe.

I can’t leave this piece without mentioning the most beautiful bridal shoes – in gorgeously soft suede and with the cutest bow in the world perching on the toe the Marylin shoe from Rachel Simpson will not only give you ‘good foot’ on your wedding day, but are versatile enough to wear with a huge variety of “normal” clothes… the only trouble you might have is deciding between the teal and mink colourways… but you could always make like Helena Bonham Carter and wear one of each ….

The most beautiful wedding shoes EVER! The Marilyn shoes by Rachel Simpson

My thanks go again to Louisa Shipstone for giving me her thoughts and images from David Burke Photography. So why not take one of these trends and make it your own – you won’t regret it!

Kate. x

If you’re searching for a really unusual, vintage-inspired wedding headpiece, then one of Jo Barnes’ designs could be just what you’re looking for. Her bridal side tiaras and combs are hand-made by Jo herself in her home in the south of England and take influence from the 1920s and 1930s. Here Jo told me a bit more about her business and designs….

Jo Barnes - The lady herself!

1. First of all, could you briefly describe your business and ethos?

Jo Barnes Vintage is my wonderful vintage headdress and accessory business, which I set up after creating my very own bouquet and headdress for our wedding in 2009 with my Nana’s vintage jewellery. All items are hand crafted using the finest materials. It was my mission to create accessories for brides that they will be able to wear again and again and not just on their wedding day. You can choose from an original vintage “one off” piece if you are after something unique or a vintage inspired piece, which-ever you choose you will be sure to sparkle like a Hollywood starlet….

2. Can you describe a typical working day? What do you like / dislike the most?

No day is the same, that’s what I love about it. I get to meet and talk to lovely brides to be and I get to design and create pretty sparkly things, what more can a girl want!!!  I love what I do the only downside is the state of my fingers (nothing a good manicure can’t fix…)

3. Who would be your dream client and why? What do you think they’d choose to wear?

My dream client??? Ummm (I’m really not sure to be honest) It would be really fab to have a famous person wear one of my creations but all my brides are a dream to work with, I can honestly say I haven’t yet had to deal with one bridezilla….

4. What’s the most unusual request you’ve had from a bride-to-be?

No unusual requests so far, I do get brides asking me to copy other designers work, my reply to that “If you want to wear a creation by another designer then go and purchase it from them”

The beautiful Audrey side tiara and Rhea comb

5. What’s your greatest achievement of your career to date?

The greatest achievement for me is just how quickly my business has grown, it really has been incredible and I cannot thank my brides enough and also the lovely Annabel at Lovemydress who helped me get to where I am now…

6. What’s the most memorable thing you’ve seen at a wedding as a guest?

Our good friend married an Italian lady, they had a traditional Italian wedding and I can honestly say I have never seen so much food, it was unbelievable…. My husband and I had what we thought was the main meal and was totally full and that was just the starter, there were 4 more courses after that and then they had a BBQ!!! It was unreal but it was such a beautiful wedding it was like being on a movie set… and in the evening they had a huge pool party, just fabulous…

7. What are the overriding trends we’ll see in your next collection?

1920’s inspired headdresses, with lots of pearls…

Unusual designs in the form of Etta and Mirta Side Tiaras

8. What advice would you give to a bride-to-be starting her search for a headpiece?

I always tell my brides to “Choose your wedding gown first” this will avoid extra spending when you realise the headdress you bought doesn’t match your gown…  It’s also a good idea to have an idea of how you would like to wear your hair on the day, and this will help decide whether you have a comb or headband and if you have pearls or crystals in your gown try and incorporate these in your headdress as this will compliment the gown.

9. What career path would you have taken if you weren’t a designer?

I always wanted to open my own tea shop, I adore baking, which is what I do when I get a bit of spare time, I love to be in my kitchen with my music blaring out whilst making yummy cakes…I’d like to think that’s what I would have been doing now if I wasn’t a headdress designer…

10. What would you do if you won the Euro Millions?!

Create headdresses with real diamonds….

~~~

Ooh – real diamonds?! I’ll take one of those! If you do choose one of Jo’s gorgeous designs, make sure you check out Rachel Simpson‘s beautiful range of vintage wedding shoes – just perfect for Jo’s Art Deco designs!

Kate x

Excuse the slightly obvious headline, I got a bit carried away, but I’m totally in love with the big trend for side tiaras, side-detail headbands and side headpieces at the moment. Seen on bridal catwalks both in Europe and across the States, it’s a bold, modern take on the more traditional ‘tiara’ and complements the asymmetric shoulder gown designs. Our first batch of Spring 2011 lines have just arrived and the side tiara makes a big feature.

Leading the pack are intricately detailed pieces, featuring lots of lace and mesh, encrusted with crystals and semi-precious stones, as seen at the Jenny Packham Spring 2011 shows.

Side tiaras, as seen on the 2011 Jenny Packham runways. Image: Jenny Packham

As well as being a contemporary move on from what we’ve been used to over the last few years, side tiaras and headpieces are also super-versatile. By being mounted on bands and combs, it makes them great for all hair lengths and styles – even super-short crops. The combs in particular are extra adaptable, as they can be positioned around the head – so they’re great if you decide to change your style at the last minute or fancy a style change between the main reception and the evening reception. They can also be teamed with a veil for a more traditional look at the ceremony.

On-trend actress, Diane Kruger sporting a side headpiece. Image: Coolspotter.com

And the good news is that ‘contemporary’ doesn’t have to mean super-modern. There are lots of aged and antique options to add a little twist to a vintage theme.

Here’s my pick of the perfect side tiaras and headpieces from or new range….

Cameo Side Tiara by Halo & Co

The Cameo by Halo & Co is a lovely piece and works for any hair colour or style and any member of the bridal party. The clear, white Swarovski crystals set off dark or red hair brilliantly, whilst the little smoky flower details complement blondes too. It’s not too bold to overpower a veil, so teaming the two together would be a great look. It can also be mounted onto a comb for extra versatility.

Saskia Side Tiara by Halo & Co

The Saskia by Halo & Co is absolutely stunning and harmonises perfectly with this season’s (and the coming season’s) trend for lace wedding dresses. Crafted from a large base layer of intricate lace, it is then heavily adorned with sparkling white and twinkling smoky grey Swarovski crystals. This is a perfect bridal side headband and thanks to the lace detail itwill never go out of style.

Paloma Side Tiara by Halo & Co

Oh my – Paloma, Paloma, Paloma!!I LOVE this headpiece. A piece designed only ever with the bride in mind, this is an amazing side tiara perfect for the bride who wants to turn heads (even more than the average bride!) Featuring swirls and twirls of Swarovski crystals in a flower and foliage design, this is perfect to complement a slinky satin number or slim-fitting lace creation. Don’t let your dress fight with this piece – it probably won’t win!

These are my current favourites, but we’ve got loads more side tiaras where these came from, simply visit the main shop at QueensandBowl.com and browse our tiaras and headpieces range….

Kate xx