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

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

Being able to wear your wedding jewellery again and again after the big day is such a joy and is sure to bring back fabulous memories from your big day.

But wearing your tiara to work or an heirloom to the supermarket is probably not the easiest thing to do!

A delicate, vintage brooch on the other hand, is the perfect accessory for any outfit long after your gown has been cleaned and put back in its cover. A simple but gorgeous finishing touch to your winter coat, scarf or even hat and the perfect accessory to a work suit, an evening dress or even an embellishment to brighten up a favourite, old handbag.

Here’s a few of my favourites for any budget…

Victoriana Brooch £20

Tabitha Brooch £175

Pearl Flower Brooch - £20

Crystal Brooch £20

Kate x

“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, how I wonder what you are.”

If you’re looking for the perfect gift this Christmas and need some twinkly inspiration, then look no further than the simply beautiful vintage inspired jewellery from our friends Ivory & Co.

Ivory & Co pieces feature the finest Austrian crystals, freshwater and cultured pearls on rhodium or silver covered bases to produce a range of designs from understated chic to dramatic glamour and I’ve gathered together just a few sparkling stocking fillers for you to choose from, but there are many more tiaras, necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings on the website.

Imperial Bracelet £60

Imperial Earrings £40

Lotus Comb £90

Crystal Brooch £20

Waterlilly Pearl Necklace £60

Enjoy!

Kate x

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

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.

Hello! Although I have been quiet on the blog lately, I have been busy pulling together other delights for you – in the form of new Inspiration pages for the Queens & Bowl website! I had some lovely feedback about my original Inspiration pages, which covered how to pull together a 1920s, 1930s, 1940s or 1950s vintage wedding – so I thought it was about time to add some more!

So here’s the first one that came to mind – of course – the vintage princess look! Yes, totally inspired by the Royal Wedding of William and Catherine and, in turn, the influence of Grace Kelly.

Catherine mixed classic Grace Kelly style with her own sleek look.

Kate’s intricate A-line, long-sleeved lace wedding dress drew heavy influence from Princess Grace’s own dress when she married Prince Ranier of Monaco in 1956. Kate also took influence from Princess Grace’s signature sleek, simple styling with her wedding accessories too.

To get the look, complement lace details in your wedding dress with an heirloom-style tiara like the Alexandra tiara by Ivory & Co.

Wedding jewellery really needs to be simple little accents that won’t fight with the intricate detail of the dress. If you’ve gone for a short sleeved dress, then a thin crystal bracelet, like the square crystal bracelet by Filippa Scott, is a great accessory. If the sleeves of your wedding dress are long like Kate’s, then choose simple drop earrings like the Madison earrings by Stephanie Browne that won’t upset the balance between your dress and accessories.

Mid-heeled wedding shoes are perfect for this kind of classic look – choose a simple style in a sleek fabric like duchess satin with some slight detail, like the beautiful Marcie Wedding shoes by Harriet Wilde.

If you’ve gone for short sleeves or a strapless wedding dress, then a little marabou feather shrug like the Minnelli shrug by Sasso is perfect for finishing off the look.

Kate. xx

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

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

In amongst all the pre-Christmas rush, you may not have noticed that quite a few new wedding accessories designers have come on board at Queens & Bowl Wedding Accessories. One of these such brands was no-less than the amazingly talented Jo Barnes, with her Jo Barnes Vintage headdress collection.

I’m really excited to have Jo’s work as part of my collection after being a fan for quite some time after seeing her very own wedding on Love My Dress. Married at the Fairmont in Banff, Canada, Jo started on her accessory designing career by creating her very own vintage bridal bouquet from her grandmother’s antique jewellery, plus pearls and cufflinks from other relatives. Already a huge fan of the 1930s era, she started designing and creating bouquets and headpieces for other brides-to-be using genuine vintage pieces.

The gorgeous Audrey headpiece by Jo Barnes

As well as genuine one-off items, Jo has now branched out into designing vintage-inspired items, based on classic 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s designs. And the good news is that Jo’s bridal headpieces, side tiaras and wedding hair combs they are now available at Queens & Bowl. All of Jo’s are created with the following features:

• The finest materials, including Swarovski crystals and Swarovski crystal pearls
• Light, flexible bands for a comfortable fit and easy re-shaping around your chosen hairstyle
• Silver or gold-plated bases for extra twinkle!
• Some headbands are also covered with satin ribbon in either ivory (for blondes) or brown (for readheads / brunettes) to help the band become invisible against your hair, making the adornment even more of a statement.
• Finally, Jo’s designs come in GORGEOUS packaging

The seriously glam Etta and Mirta bridal headpieces.

I’m so glad to have Jo on board – please check out her range now for some gorgeous and inspiring pieces!

Kate. xx