
Bridal style isn’t just about fashion. It’s about feeling beautiful and confident in your own unique way. But with so many decisions to make, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in. With over 15 years of experience as designers and makers of exquisite bridal accessories, we’re here to offer our expertise and help you create a look that is uniquely yours. We have worked with countless brides on their styling journey and have helped them pull together their bridal look from our collections.
Our blog is more than just a collection of pretty pictures and wedding inspiration (although we have plenty of that, too!). It’s a comprehensive resource designed to help you navigate the complex world of bridal fashion with confidence and ease. Here’s what you can expect:
We understand that every bride is unique, and so is her vision for her wedding day. Whether you’re aiming for a classic, timeless look or something more modern and bold, our blog offers tailored styling advice to suit your individual style. From selecting the perfect bridal veil to choosing bridal jewellery that complements your gown, our posts are packed with tips to help you make informed decisions that align with your personal taste.
Not sure how to secure a metal hair comb in your updo? Wondering how to pair your bridal accessories with your wedding dress neckline? Our blog is full of practical tips and step-by-step guides to help you master the details of your bridal look. We break down the essentials so you feel prepared and confidence as you assemble your wedding day ensemble.
Sometimes, the best inspiration comes from seeing how other brides have styled their looks. We regularly feature real brides who have used our accessories to create stunning, personalised bridal styles. These posts not only offer inspiration but also give you a glimpse into how our accessories can be styled in various settings, from beach weddings to elegant indoor ceremonies.
Photo credits: Maras Creative
We love what we do and have over 15 years experience designing and handcrafting bridal accessories. Our deep understanding of bridal fashion trends, combined with our commitment to quality craftsmanship, ensures that our pieces are not only beautiful but also timeless.
As industry leaders in our field, we are here to guide you through the exciting journey of accessorising your bridal look. If you have questions about any of the pieces in our collections, whether it’s how to wear a particular accessory, how to coordinate it with your dress, or even how we can customise it to fit your vision, we’re here to help. We encourage you to reach out to us directly with any queries you might have. Our goal is to make sure that every bride feels supported an comfident as she prepares for her big day.
We are based in Canberra, Australia, and work with brides worldwide online. Contact us via email if you would like personalised styling advice and recommendations from a bridal stylist with selections from our bridal collections to accessorise your wedding dress. Feel free to send us photos of your wedding dress and hairstyle, including mood boards, and we’d be more than happy to offer styling advice and recommendations before you submit your order.
In making our recommendations, we will factor in the style and proportions of your dress, the formality of your venue, the aesthetic of your bridal party, your height, as well as your personal preferences to ensure that your look reflects you, your bridal vision and the moments you’re looking to capture on your wedding day. These moments may include the ‘lift and kiss’ moment where your veil blusher is lifted before the kiss, the photo opportunities of your long veil floating freely or a headpiece that adds an element of regality to your look that makes you feel like royalty.
We understand that planning a wedding can come with unexpected changes and tight timelines. Whether you’ve decided on a last-minute change to your bridal look or you simply can’t wait to receive your chosen accessories, we’re here to accommodate your needs.
No matter where you are in the world, you deserve to feel stunning on your big day. That’s why we offer express international shipping or standard international shipping if you have some time to work with, to ensure your bridal accessories arrive promptly and safely. We partner with trusted shipping carriers to provide reliable and fast delivery, so you can focus on other aspects of your wedding planning with peace of mind. Once your order is dispatched, we’ll keep you updated with tracking information so you can follow your package every step of the way.
Need your made-to-order accessories in a hurry? We’ve got you covered. We accept rush orders and work closely with you to prioritise your needs. Simply reach out to us with your timeline, and we’ll do everything we can to expedite the creation and delivery of your accessories.
Photo credits: Maras Creative
For more bridal inspiration and tips, explore the Style Journal on our blog, and follow us on Instagram and Pinterest. We’re here to help you feel like the most beautiful version of yourself on your wedding day, and create the wedding of your dreams.
Every wedding gown and bride is different and the perfect accessories for you will not only depend on your gown but your personal style, vision, height and hairstyle. We love to work with our brides to create the perfect veil that you will love to keep as an heirloom after your wedding day. Get in touch with us – we would love to hear from you!
The art of choosing timeless bridal hair accessories lies in selecting pieces that enhance your natural beauty, complement your wedding theme, and resonate with your personal style. Opting for a timeless look doesn’t mean your pieces can’t capture your personality and your personal style. Here’s how to choose hair accessories that will stand the test of time and remain beautiful mementos of your special day.
When it comes to timeless bridal styling, classic styles are key. Traditional bridal hair accessories such as tiaras, combs and hair pins, have adorned brides for generations. Their enduring appeal lies in their simplicity and versatility, making them suitable for various hairstyles and wedding themes.
If you’re looking to incorporate some personality into a classic tiara or hair pin, consider bringing a sentimental detail into the piece such as a specific flower or gemstone.
The art of choosing timeless bridal hair accessories comes down to a focus on quality, thoughtful design, beautiful timeless details and sentimental designs that have meaning to you.
Many of the timeless looks in history feature pearls, crystals, flowers and fine lacework. They are synonymous with bridal beauty and elegance. Their timeless appeal and ability to complement various bridal looks make them popular choices for hair accessories and veils.
Shop this look: VERSE bridal headpiece, ARTEMIS hair comb, MARION bridal headpiece, CHERRY BLOSSOM hair piece set, IRIS hair comb, JASMINE bridal headpiece, VERSAILLES bridal headpiece
Your bridal hair accessories should harmonise with your wedding dress and hairstyle. Match embellishments and details of your dress with your adornments. For example, if your dress features lace or beadwork, choose accessories with similar elements.
Your hairstyle plays a very important role in setting the style of your overall look. Updos are a beautiful foundation for tiaras and combs, while loose wavs or half-up hairstyles pair well with bridal hair pins and headbands.
Shop this look: MOSS beaded headband, FLEUR bridal crown, CALLA LILY wedding veil, ELODIE wedding hair comb
Incorporating sentimental details into your bridal hair accessories adds a personal touch and makes them more meaningful. Wearing a family heirloom, such as a vintage hair comb or pin, adds a sentimental and timeless element. It’ss a beautiful way to honour family traditions and carry a piece of your heritage with you.
Consider custom-made accessories that reflect your personal style and story. Whether it’s incorporating your favourite colour or a design inspired by your heritage, customised pieces are unique and timeless.
Shop this look: Customised headpieces for our brides
While timeless accessories often lean towards classic styles, they can still reflect your wedding them without compromising elegance.
For vintage style weddings, opt for accessories with antique-finishes, such as antique silver tones. Details like filigree or art deco patterns are classic elements within history.
If your wedding has a bohemian vibe, consider flower crowns or accessories with natural elements.
For a modern, minimalist look, choose sleek and simple accessories. A set of pearl hair pins or a thin crystal headband can add just the right amount of detail without taking away from the beauty of your look.
Need styling advice to bring together your bridal look? Get in touch with photos of your wedding gown and your favourite pieces from the collection. We would love to offer ideas and recommendations on pieces to suit, including how our pieces can be customised to suit you.
Right from a young age Kahla knew she wanted wear a veil on her wedding day. She and her twin sister use to take it in turns to dress up as a bride and wear a towel on their head in their pretend backyard weddings. Thankfully, Kahla no longer needs to improvise with heavy terry towelling! The soft floaty tulle, blusher layer and seamless design of the AMORA veil was the perfect alternative for her wedding day. The veil complemented her stunning wedding day look, while fulfilling her childhood dreams.
Kahla and Zane married in Townsville, a north Queensland city overlooking the Great Barrier Reef. With family and friends (and their dogs!) involved in the wedding festivities, the day beautifully celebrated their relationship and the close connections they have with loved ones.
Kahla coveted a bridal look that was timeless and elegant, she didn’t want to look at pictures of her wedding in years to come and “cringe and giggle about the fashions of the time.”
Trying on dresses in a range of styles, materials and sizes, Kahla said she decided on a Made With Love gown for a number of reasons…
Meeting all of the ‘must have’ requirements, Made with Love’s Ella gown was `The One’.
“My checklist items included: a stunning train, a belt at the waist, sweetheart cut neckline and as my nanny says: it was a ‘show off that figure while you’re young’ kind of dress. I really didn’t picture myself in a full lace dress, but it was just perfect for me,” says Kahla.
Having found her dream dress, Kahla searched and researched the perfect veil design.
“The Tania Maras veil and accessory collection made for a hard choice. Every piece in the range is so delicate and beautiful. I was very happy with the delicate tulle on the comb of my AMORA veil. Looking through my photos, the veil really created a soft romantic look with the modern almost bold lace on my dress.”
Although Kahla loves wearing her her long hair down in waves, she needed a more practical hairstyle to withstand the warm September weather in North Queensland.
“The smart but beautiful choice was an up do with soft waves into the low bun, which suited the veil, dress and weather,” she says.
Kahla and Zane’s nearest and dearest had special roles on their wedding day. From their dogs’ involvement in the ceremony to a delicious potluck dessert table, the day was a celebration of love and family.
“We weren’t really allowed to throw rose petals on the day, but my one bridezilla request of ‘being showered with flower petals’ while walking back down the aisle required my brother in law to bring his leaf blower to clean it up once the ceremony had finished. We all had a good laugh at those photos.”
“The reception was at The Ville Resort-Casino. My mum and dad had gotten married there 31 years before and my dad has worked there for 30 years, so we loved that it had been a big part of my life growing up in Townsville. Coming from a family of ballroom dancers, I had also dreamed of our first dance and gliding across that floor, my poor husband had big shoes to fill. Luckily he doesn’t have two left feet and learnt to dance for me.”
“We asked our closest friends and family to bring their most favourite and famous dessert for our dessert table. It felt as though it was another family BBQ with the best homemade cannoli, tiramisu, chocolate mudecake and cheesecake slices to stuff our bellies and celebrate another special milestone with these important people in our lives.”
“The options really are endless and it’s what you want to do as a couple,” says Kahla. “Keep in mind there comes a point where there are too many opinions and advice, so make sure you have an A team who are supportive and honest when you need to talk about everything and anything wedding related, whether it be in the evening or at 2 am in the morning!”
“We asked our closest friends and family to bring their most favourite and famous dessert for our dessert table. It felt as though it was another family BBQ with the best homemade cannoli, tiramisu, chocolate mudecake and cheesecake slices to stuff our bellies and celebrate another special milestone with these important people in our lives.”
Fiona and Craig’s wedding ceremony took place in a twelfth-century church followed by a reception in a Renaissance castle. These historic locations were the ultimate spots to celebrate their love for each other and create the traditional Scottish wedding they dreamed of.
The wedding locations needed to be particularly beautiful to match Fiona’s grace and elegance. She ignored bridal trends and chose a look that reflected her personal style – a classic lace gown, with cap sleeves and sweetheart neckline. As Fiona loved the idea of wearing flowers in her hair, the SOMERSET headpiece was the perfect accessory, as it features an everlasting floral arrangement of clay flowers and pearl and crystal sprigs.
Edinburgh-based Fiona and Craig wanted their wedding to be relaxed and traditional and they wanted their guests to feel at home. They achieved this with their stunning venues and classic styling.
“We got married in a picturesque twelfth-century church which has family connections and is such a unique and meaningful place. Our reception took place at Winton Castle near Edinburgh which dates back to the year 1190,” says Fiona. “Our ceremony and reception venues both had a really warm ambience and romantic feel to them and all that was needed was some flowers and candles. Both locations were really stunning on their own – it made sense to let the beauty of the venues speak for themselves!”
Family is really important to us – Grandparents in particular. My husband Craig’s grandmother and grandfather were an important part of the day and we were absolutely delighted that his grandfather said a few words in the church on behalf of the rest of our grandparents, who are no longer with us. This was a really emotional and meaningful moment for us – there were certainly a few tears from our guests!”
Fiona advises brides-to-be to take plenty of time to research and ponder potential dresses, to make sure what you’re buying is the right option for you.
“It is easy to make a purchase to tick something off your list but, in the end, I was really pleased I’d taken the time and care to be sure whatever I was buying was right for me,” says Fiona.
When choosing her dress, she knew she wanted a timeless style that was suitable for the warm May weather in Scotland. With a few tweaks, Fiona’s dress was customised to suit her style and the weather.
“I tried on a particular dress that had gorgeous long lace sleeves which I loved but had the potential to be a little too hot. The owner of the shop where I bought my dress cleverly tucked the long lace sleeves into the inside of the dress and then appeared with these gorgeous small pieces of lace that she draped over my shoulders and pinned into place. It just instantly worked and looked really fresh,” says Fiona. “The lace cap sleeves with the lace bodice worked so well with the plain silk organza skirt that was separated by a ribbon at the waist. It was everything I had in my head and they were even able to change the dress to include the v-shaped back that I was looking for.”
In the lead up to her wedding, Fiona used her daily commute as an opportunity to browse through Pinterest and Instagram for bridal ideas.
“I kept coming across images of beautiful hairpieces and saved them all to a folder. I kept adding images for a few months when I had a spare few moments and when I came to actually check where the pieces were from, I realised that the vast majority were from the same designer, which is when I discovered Tania Maras! As soon as I visited the website, I knew that nothing else would compare,” says Fiona.
Fiona decided on the exquisite SOMERSET headpiece in silver tones, which features delicate blooms surrounded by pearls and crystal branches .
“I love flowers and really loved the idea of having flowers in my hair for the wedding. Once I had found Tania’s designs, I realised that I could have a hairpiece which had delicate flowers in it that I could keep forever. I actually bought my hairpiece before I found my wedding dress which I think says a lot! I love the idea that I can wear it for special occasions for years to come and that hopefully one day I will be able to pass it on.”
“Everyone who gave us advice said the same thing – take the time to enjoy it, whatever happens! It is also a good idea to start making a list of ‘must-have’ wedding photos that you don’t want to miss, a month or so before the wedding. The day does go by so quickly so dance as much as you can and take a moment to watch everyone smiling and enjoying the wonderful day you have worked so hard on!”
Tania, designer and Creative Director of Tania Maras Bridal, celebrates the 10-year anniversary of her business at the beginning of this year. What started out as a side hustle designing and manufacturing clutch purses has morphed into a leading bridal accessories brand. Her forward-thinking approach, vast skill set and unmatched eye for creating beautiful designs, have captured the attention and admiration of brides worldwide. Here, she shares her insights, stories and lessons that have shaped her business.
Thank you! Being able to go full-time with what started as a side hustle while I was in my office job is one of my greatest career highlights. Now I have two young children, I’m able to balance work and family life. I’m surrounded by a supportive team who have allowed me to be a mum and also a boss. I’m very lucky. Learning to delegate has been the hardest thing, and building a team of dedicated and talented creatives who love what they do as much as I do, is also an important achievement for me. As is creating a beautiful studio where coming to work is always a pleasure.
I loved the process of designing and handcrafting clutch purses – ones that are both beautiful and practical. My collections featured a range of prints and colours, in casual as well as formal designs. The support I received from my customers was so positive and they would request custom pieces in softer colour palettes for their bridal parties and their bridal looks. From there I ventured into the art of silk flower making, and then wire work, and here we are.
The bridal industry has changed dramatically over the past decade and I feel this is because brides have evolved. Women are questioning and redefining the wedding traditions that don’t resonate with them and their values, as well as what is traditionally expected of them. Brides want to create a day that’s the perfect expression of themselves and their partners, so it’s much more of a personal event.
My goal is to help each bride find a piece or pieces that speak to her on a personal level, either from the collection, or by designing a bespoke piece to suit their individual style. Previously brides were the recipient of heirlooms from their grandmothers and mothers, but I’ve found over the years that brides now want to start their own traditions and find their own heirlooms to create a legacy which they can pass onto their daughters.
With Rachel’s love of all things vintage, she and her fiancé, James, spent months treasure hunting through charity shops and car boot sales to find special pieces for their wedding venue styling. Their months of rummaging were well worth the effort. They were married in a country barn in Wales, and filled the venue with their vintage candle holder finds, fairy lights and flowers, to achieve the perfect rustic, romantic, fairy tale theme.
This theme was also echoed in Rachel’s stunning bridal look. With her off the shoulder lace gown and flowing hair adorned with our regal FLEUR crown, she was a garden princess.
Rachel and James’ ceremony and reception took place at Pencoed House Estate, which is an old, family run barn in the South Wales countryside. The estate features manicured gardens contrasted with wild woodland, providing the perfect setting for their fairy tale wedding.
“I knew I wanted lots of flowers, and I based a lot of the theme around a flower called Protea (my absolute favourite),” says Rachel. “This was used on our invitations, incorporated in my bouquet and in the centre pieces on the tables,” says Rachel.
The rustic vibe was enhanced with the brass and cut glass candle holders the couple found at second hand stores, which they used at the ceremony and on the reception tables. The also used brown paper bags with a drawing printed on them, as favour bags.
“James got an illustration of us done for my birthday a few years ago and we love it so much we got it printed onto brown favour bags which we then used for Welsh cakes for all the guests.”
Music also played an important role in achieving a relaxed and intimate vibe.
“James and I hired an amazing band for the entire day who were special to us after watching the singer busk numerous times the years before we got married. He sang Crazy Love by Van Morrison which is a special song for my dad and I. He later sang our first dance song which was Times Like These by the Foo Fighters, the lyrics are so beautiful.”
Rachel was coveting an old Hollywood style but with a relaxed edge for her bridal look. She achieved this with a stunning off the shoulder gown, Hollywood waves and a gold crown.
“I wear a lot of Bardot dresses and jumpsuits and I knew this flattered my figure the most, so I knew exactly the shape I wanted before trying any dresses on,” says Rachel. “When we first got engaged my best friend bought me a bridal magazine and after flicking through it, I saw my dream dress! A gorgeous off the shoulder, embellished lace fish tail dress by Pronovias sister brand, St. Patrick. I searched the designer to see where they stocked it in my area. I found it in a bridal shop a short distance away. It was the very first dress I tried on and fell in love with it straight away.”
In keeping with the rustic, fairy tale mood of the day, our gold, vintage inspired FLEUR crown was the ultimate accessory for pulling together this look.
“I found Tania on Instagram and fell in love with all the pieces. I actually found it difficult to chose which tiara to go for as I was torn between two others. I’ve always been a bit of princess growing up (haha) so I knew a tiara was definitely appropriate. Being a hairdresser I did a lot of research on how to wear my hair on the day – it was styled down in a Hollywood wave but still soft and natural as I wanted to feel special but very much still myself,” says Rachel.
“The advice I would give to any bride is to be your true, authentic self, wear what makes YOU feel amazing and don’t try to please anybody else.”
Rachel’s tips to couples planning their wedding is to organise your time. Save time, plan your time and take your time to enjoy your special day. She also suggests not worrying about the small stuff.
“It looks great in a photograph but it’s not worth losing sleep over!” she says.
And most importantly…
“The best advice I would give is: take it all in. It’s so cliché and you hear it all the time but the day really does go by in a flash.”
From colour pops to cake pops, ‘sweet and colourful’ would be an accurate description of Cameron and Jeremiah’s glorious wedding. The colour theme was evocative of a sunset, which beautifully matched the happy vibes on the day and couple’s rosy future together. Cameron’s gorgeous bridal look was right on theme. Wearing a delicate lace gown, a romantic updo and our dainty CHERRY BLOSSOM hair pieces as the icing on top, her look was sweetness personified.
From start to finish, the wedding day captured Cameron and Jeremiah’s sense of fun and their love for each other. The day began peacefully with a waterfront ceremony, featuring a harp player, and ended with a bang, as fireworks lit up the night sky.
Cameron and Jeremiah worked together to carefully plan out every aspect of their wedding day (except the fireworks, they were a surprise organised by Cameron’s dad!). When they couldn’t effectively communicate their ideas via words, they took to Pinterest.
“When we felt stuck in a conversation, we knew it was time to find a photo to illustrate what we were thinking, what we liked, and what we disliked,” explains Cameron. “We built shared albums in Pinterest and kept a collection of ideas on Trello. When it came time to talk to vendors, Jeremiah compiled everything into a design look book that was invaluable in communicating our vision.”
Colour played a big part in setting the theme for the day. The tones of rhododendron flowers featured on everything from the invitations and bouquet, to the table decorations and bridal accessories.
“We wanted to go against the muted colours that have been in style for weddings over the past couple of years and invite our guests into a colourful celebration of life and love. We have both experienced hardships in the past few years and wanted our celebration to feel as happy and colourful as we feel to have found each other. The vibrant rhododendrons that bloom across the Blue Ridge Mountains (USA) in May inspired our colour palette of bright pinks, fresh greens, and deep blues. We balanced these intense colours with whimsical accents and textures to evoke a fairy tale secret garden.”
“The advice I would give to any bride is to be your true, authentic self, wear what makes YOU feel amazing and don’t try to please anybody else.”
With her rosy cheeks, green eyes and blond hair, Cameron is a natural beauty. Her look was elevated on her wedding day with a delicate lace gown and minimalist accessorising. She ended up trying on 20 dresses before deciding on the very first gown she put on.
“I’ve known I wanted lace somewhere on my dress since I was a little girl. My mother and both of my grandmothers had lace on their wedding dresses, and I grew up admiring their wedding portraits. I think it’s a timeless look. I felt like a princess!” says Cameron.
Cameron was one of our first brides to order the CHERRY BLOSSOM hair piece set, which she had styled in an intricate bun. This romantic set comes in a set of three (one comb and two matching hair pins) in soft champagne, pale gold and blush tones. Cameron also purchased an additional two pins for her maid of honour.
“I wanted something elegant but dainty, not too noticeable from afar but a true masterpiece up close. When I saw on your Instagram that the CHERRY BLOSSOM set was coming out soon, I immediately messaged to see if it was possible to receive a set in time for my wedding. To my surprise, Tania said yes! I loved that it was so close to the colour of my bridesmaids’ dress and that it looked great with our colours,” she says.
“I ordered the two small pins for my sister, who was my maid of honour. I wanted her to have something special as a keepsake for years to come. I like to think that if we have girls of our own, they might like to wear them at their weddings. I chose not to wear a veil because I wanted people to see the back of my dress and my hair, but especially my beautiful hair pieces.”
The day was filled with lots of personalised details, including a special tribute to Cameron’s late husband and his sister, who both passed away in 2016. They were honoured with a presentation of roses during the ceremony.
As for the reception, special elements transformed the night into a truly memorable occasion for the couple and their guests.
Bride Kate melded her love of the tropics and Old Hollywood to create a hybrid theme that had all the glamour and style of a Wes Anderson movie set. Even the venue looked like it came straight from The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Although not set in Europe, Kate and Grant’s wedding took place in an equally exotic location. They were married at Hotel Galvez, a Texas (USA) hotel built in 1911 which overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. The hotel is grand and historic, with lots of palm trees, and this formed the basis of the wedding theme. With her ballgown, ROSEBURY crown and tropical bouquet, Kate’s glamorous bridal look was red-carpet ready!
The beachfront Hotel Galvez features lavish ballrooms and tropical gardens, and these features took centre stage when Kate was planning the wedding.
“The venue was so beautiful already that I really wanted to incorporate all those details and just turn it up a notch,” says Kate. “The theme ended up being Tropical Glam with a little bit of an Old Hollywood feel. I was reading a wedding blog the other day and they were talking about a ‘Tropulence’ theme – Tropical Opulence. And I was like “That’s it!” I had no idea; I was just doing what I liked.”
To Kate’s surprise, her wedding dress was completely different to the dress she’d imagined wearing, which is why she suggests not rejecting dresses until you try them on first.
“If you would have asked me what kind of dress I was going to wear when I first got engaged, I would have told you all fitted, no poofyness, and no strapless because I didn’t want to be bothered with pulling up my dress all night! But after trying on some fit and flare type dresses – while I loved the way they looked – I felt like I couldn’t really move, walk, or sit down. I love to dance and one of the things I was most looking forward to about our wedding was our amazing band so I ended up going a different direction with my dress.”
Kate choose a strapless Reem Acra gown with an embellished lace bodice which sat snugly on her hips. The dress had a tulle skirt, which she detached for the reception, to reveal a flowy organza skirt.
“The tulle skirt had these layers of horsehair netting to give it this beautiful structure. One of the layers was pure glitter which really sold me because I’m extra like that.”
Kate was attracted to the gold tones and crystal details of the ROSEBURY crown, which beautifully matched the beading on her dress. She styled the crown closer to the back of her head, allowing strands of hair to frame her face.
“I chose Old Hollywood curls for my hairstyle. Inspiration was a photo of Blake Lively on the red carpet, who is GOALS!,” says Kate.
Kate’s budgeting tip: If you need a place to cut back on budget, pick the shoes – no one will see them!
In line with Kate’s love of dancing and music, there were a couple of special musical surprises throughout the day.
“For our recessional music I had the string quartet play the Star Wars theme song. It was a surprise for my husband, as we are both huge Star Wars fans, he was stoked!,” says Kate. “My dad is a musician and he and my uncle performed the Beatles song ‘Twist and Shout’ to kick off the dancing during the reception. This was another surprise – I thought he might play a sappy song, but this was so much better! I’m a huge Beatles fan and my dad pulled it off perfectly and really got the party going!”
Kate has three top pieces of advice for couples planning their wedding day…
With regal gardens, lush woodlands and blue skies, Aimee and Greg Keane’s wedding day was storybook perfect. Set in the idyllic Irish countryside, the day had all the charm and romance of a fairy tale wedding.
The setting was absolutely picturesque, but Aimee’s bridal look outshone it all. Aimee loved the simple style of her dress, with its boat neckline, long sleeves and sparkly belt. Along with her bright blue eyes and auburn hair, her look was fresh and elegant. When it came to accessorising, she needed a suitably regal headpiece. The HENRI crown was the perfect piece to adorn her look.
Location and ambience played a big part in Aimee and Greg’s wedding, as it set the theme for the whole day. After a ceremony at the local church, the reception took place at the Castle Oaks House in County Limerick (Ireland), which boasted vibrant foliage, manicured gardens and lots of country charm.
“One of the key elements was our venue, Castle Oaks House, as it is a stunning old Georgian manor house and is surrounded by beautiful gardens on the banks of the River Shannon. As it was such a classic looming house, I wanted our day to match that,” says Aimee.
The goal was to create a timeless wedding theme, and they achieved this with classic and simple styling. They also added a few personal and fun elements to make the day extra special.
“We had light-up love letters, a photobooth and what I really loved was the custom drawing of our venue with us in it. All the guests could sign it on the day. It’s now hanging in our sitting room and it’s a lovely reminder of the day. We also hired a keg of beer so that everyone had free pints when they arrived to the reception. That went down a treat.”
Aimee spent six months researching wedding dresses, before she found her perfect dress, which had everything she was looking for. It was simple with minimal embellishment, but the style and cut of the dress were classic and flattering.
“When I was looking online I kept being drawn to the more simplistic dresses so that’s why I loved my dress when I saw it as it had all the aspects I wanted… sleeves, simple with a little bit of bling in the belt, a stunning back and a long train. I just knew it was the dress for me when I saw it online and luckily it was even more beautiful on.”
She wanted her accessories to have a point of difference and make a statement. The HENRI crown fitted this brief.
“It was simple yet dramatic and so unusual… I had never seen a piece like it”.
She styled the crown in a loose, romantic up do, with soft tendrils framing her face.
“When I found my wedding dress, I knew I wanted to find really unusual accessories. As my dress was quite plain, I knew it could take a few statement accessories. I came across Tania Maras on Facebook one day and when I went into her website, I knew I wanted one of her pieces… I wanted them all actually!”
“My best advice is; it’s your special day so do it your way. You will never please everyone so don’t worry yourself trying to. We had the most amazing day with our loved ones and it was so special, so you can’t afford regrets. It always works out in the end. Also, the day goes way too fast so try to take it all in and enjoy it as much as you can.”
‘Modern, simple and classic’ was Talia’s design brief when researching her bridal look. She found the perfect off-the-shoulder gown and elevated the look with our gold HENRI crown and drop chain ISABEAU earrings. This classic aesthetic flowed through to the venue, décor and photo shoot. The result was a stunning setting for Talia and her husband Zac’s dream wedding day.
Los Angeles-based Talia and Zac married in Pittsburgh, which is where they originally started dating. The goal was to include aspects of both these cities in their wedding. With hints of LA glamour in the venue décor and the traditional Pittsburgh cookie table, they achieved just that.
Talia and Zac have lived in Los Angeles for 10 years, but for their wedding, they loved the idea of getting married closer to their family in Pittsburgh and having their LA friends come over to see their hometowns.
“I wanted the vibe to be a mix of ‘home’ but with an LA twist – but also fun and not stuffy,” says Talia.
However, finding the right venue in Pittsburgh was a challenge.
“I am into modern aesthetic and décor, simple and clean lines. This type of venue was seriously lacking in Pittsburgh. Everything there is very rustic or vintage… the opposite of me! I was so happy when I walked into my venue, J Verno Studios – an all-white modern venue with pops of unique furniture and décor and impressive lighting. The venue also happened to be in the exact part of the city that me and my husband started hanging out in together in 2004!”
After scouring the internet and dress shopping in LA, it was trip to Pittsburgh where Talia made a surprising discovery about her idea of the ‘perfect dress’.
“When I started trying on dresses in LA, there were a few that I liked but I still didn’t feel like I found ‘the one’ – I was trying to sell myself on lace and sequins – the typical ‘bride’ look,” she says. “I flew back to Pittsburgh to do a dress shopping day with my mum, best friend and aunt, with zero intention of buying a wedding dress. When I was trying on dresses in Pittsburgh, someone suggested a plain silk crepe dress which I said no to for being too boring… but I tried it on anyway and kind of fell in love with the look. We headed to our second appointment of the day and after once again trying on lacey and sparkly dresses my stylist suggested a silk crepe off the shoulder Lian Carlo gown.”
As soon as Talia put on the dress everyone started crying… with happy tears! The uncomplicated beauty of the dress didn’t detract from Talia’s striking facial features – her gorgeous full lips, bold eyes and luscious dark hair.
“The major thing that attracted me to this dress was that I knew in fifty years when I was looking at photos from my wedding day, I would be in something timeless.”
Talia’s tip for dress and accessory shopping: “stay true to your aesthetic – don’t try to convince yourself to wear something that isn’t ‘you’. Your wedding day should reflect your overall look and vibe every other day of your life!”
While Talia’s dress was classic and timeless, she was after an overall look that was a little more edgy and cool. She achieved this with her accessorising. Talia was drawn to the bold silhouette of the HENRI crown, which features beaded spikes on top. She styled the crown with a hairstyle of classic waves with one side tucked back, therefore showing off a sparkly gold ISABEAU earring.
“The ISABEAU earrings were the perfect piece to go with the crown – I liked the cool drop style. They’re not your typical blinged out bridal earrings.”
Talia loved the bold silhouette of the HENRI crown and the cool drop style of the ISABEAU earrings.
“I knew I wanted my photos to be a little gritty and cool on the streets of Pittsburgh – nothing too cutesy or airy,” says Talia. “I chose my photographer, Rachel Rowland, because her aesthetic was exactly what I was looking for. Her photos show emotion and are incredibly stunning. She was also voted Best Photographer in Pittsburgh! She suggested to do some photos on top of a building in an empty parking lot. I trusted her judgement – she knows what she’s talking about!”
In addition to the wedding cake, the reception party was made even sweeter with a decadent cookie table. This Pittsburgh tradition of having a table full of cookies at the wedding reception is a concept we can definitely get behind!
“The old school way is that all the bride’s female family members help bake the cookies,” Talia explains. “Well, my mum just so happens to own her own baking business – Debbie’s Deluxe Cookies and Cakes. Being her first child to get married, you can imagine how excited she was! So excited that she went completely above and beyond and made 5000 cookies for the wedding (not exaggerating) – about 30 cookies per person. This entire display took an entire back wall of the venue for everything to fit. My LA friends have never heard of a cookie table at weddings so needless to say everyone was going nuts. She also made my wedding cake – it was stunning and gluten-free for me!”
“Have fun with it and try not to stress (easier said than done, I was stressed the entire time!),” says Talia. “Remember that in the end, the little details do not matter and you will have the best day ever.”
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Bespoke and ready-to-wear bridal accessories and veils. Designed and handcrafted in Canberra, Australia. Our online store is open 24/7 with worldwide delivery available including express options. The Fyshwick showroom is by appointment only. Virtual appointments are available for interstate and international brides.