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.

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

As I’ve now got lots of gorgeous birdcage veils on the Queens & Bowl website (from simple veils with little diamante or pearl accents, to wow statement veils like the Tea for Two veil by Madeline Isaac-James), then I thought it would be a good idea to write a blog post about how to wear a birdcage veil!

There are 2 main birdcage veil types – bandeau veils and blusher veils. Bandeau veils are quite flat and sit across the face, fixed with clips or combs at each side. Blusher veils are fuller and are gathered at one side, sitting to the top or side of your head.

Here are some tips for how to wear each one (all tips assume that your veil is genuine French netting):

• If you’ve bought your veil online, they can get a little wrinkled during shipping. You can carefully iron your veil with a cool iron and a clean white cloth over it.
• You can also let the veil hang by the clips for a few days to regain its shape.
• If the wrinkles persist, you can briefly dampen the netting with clean, cold water and iron again with a cool iron.

Bandeau Birdcage Veils:

Ensure the clips or combs are facing fowards when securing your bandeau veil

• Bandeau veils are usually designed so the netting flips over clips or combs to conceal them.
• The teeth of the hairclips or combs should be facing forward, as shown, with the netting over them.
• Play around with the veil until you get a look that works for you.

Blusher Birdcage Veils:

• The blusher veil style needs to frame your face comfortably, so you may want to purchase a foam mannequin head to store and shape the veil. A white foam ball may also be used (available at many craft shops.)
• After ironing on a low heat, carefully pin the veil into the shape you want on the foam. It will only take a few days for the netting to take on the shape. Try to keep it on the mannequin or ball for as long as you can before the wedding.

Affix the blusher veil high on the head to the centre or the side

• The blusher style veil works best when it’s placed high up on top or to the side of your head. Begin by sliding the comb back towards your updo with the curve of the comb against your head.

Flip the net over to conceal the comb on your veil

• Next, flip the comb over so the curve of the comb follows the curve of your head. The netting will flip over the comb to hide it and give you a flawless look.
• You will need to secure the netting with hair pins or other small, decorative hairclips. The edge of the veil, which is often made of stronger material, is well suited for this. Or, to keep the veil from getting too tight, you may want to place the hairpins a few inches away from the comb towards the centre of the veil, which will keep the veil against your head while allowing the edge to be loose.

Secure the veil with pins to achieve the look you want.

As with any birdcage veil, a little practice & patience will go a long way, so play around with your veil before the wedding. Your hair stylist may also be able to make suggestions on how to place the veil. Be sure to bring the veil and any other hair accessories you will use to your hair trial!

Hope this helps.

Kate. x

Hello, just little post today and again it’s one of my gorgous brides! This time it’s Katie, who wore the beautiful Minnelli marabou feather shrug by Sasso.

Katie chose the shrug as the final ‘missing piece’ of her wedding day look. I absolutely love Katie’s 1920s style wedding and think her beaded champagne satin shift dress and feather headpiece were unusual and therefore absolutely perfect for this classy, elegant and unique wedding celebration.

Katie in the fluffy Minnelli feather shrug by Sasso

Katie continued the nostalgic feel on her table settings too...

As these images by Annamarie Stepney show, with a little imagination and some great wedding accessories, you can really achieve a unique vintage look AND have the benefit of being able to wear the items again – especially when you incorporate totally flattering and wearable colours such as champagne!

The champagne colour of the shrug complemented Katie's beaded shift perfectly.

Shrugs are also perfect for keeping the chills off during outside photos and drinks receptions....

If you’re thinking of going for a similar look, why not take a leaf out of Katie’s book and add a pair of killer heels and a feather headpiece? Our beautiful wedding shoe range by Harriet Wilde is perfect as all of the shoes can be dyed to match any outfit and our little Tiffany feather headpiece is perfect for recreating a 1920s Art Deco feel.

Harriet Wilde wedding shoes can be dyed to match your outfit and feathers add a 1920s feel.

So if you dream of expressing your individuality on your wedding day and fancy wearing your wedding accessories again and again after the big day, consider alternatives to ivory and choose a pair of wedding shoes that can be dyed before or after your wedding. These photos are testament that you won’t regret it!

Express your individuality on your Big Day!

Thanks again to Annamarie Stepney for these amazingly beautiful images.

Kate. x

Hello blog readers – just a little blog post this time. I just wanted to say how happy it makes me when my brides send in photos of them wearing their Queens & Bowl wedding accessories on their big day. Whether it’s a statement headpiece, just-right vintage wedding shoes or the perfect finishing touch bridal earrings, it really makes me smile when I get those emails!

So imagine how smug I felt when I received an email today from Oonagh, a bride that I helped out with a gorgeous pearl comb headpiece by Halo & Co. Oonagh had sent me the most gorgeous photos from her wedding – how amazing does she look!

Oonagh wearing the beautiful Rosemary bridal comb by Halo & Co. Images: www.abacaphotography.com

Oonagh wanted a sleek,  not overtly ‘bridal’ look and I think she pulled it off amazingly. The balance between old school vintage glamour and contemporary chic is perfect and the Rosemary comb looks just as stunning as any traditional veil. Her David Fielden ‘Wallis Simpson’ dress was the perfect choice for the sleek but glam look and the finishing touches of red lips and and a vintage coiff were inspired!

The Rosemary Comb by Halo & Co

I’ll be proudly adding a photo or two from Oonagh to my ‘Happy Brides’, which is currently under construction!

Kate. x

All wedding imagery courtesy of Ciaran Duignan at www.abacaphotography.com

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

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