Bridesmaid hair accessories

Hairpins dotted through hair is such a pretty look and I enjoy coming up with new ideas and designs. 

Often, these designs come about through conversations with clients. Sometimes I get to see the dress but usually we look at tiny fabric samples and chat about necklines and hemlines and the issues with getting more than one person to agree on a dress style!

These pins were designed for Siobhan (a solo bridesmaid) who wore a dress that was similar in colour to the background of this image - somewhere between grey, mauve and silver! The dress was beautifully structured with lots of clean lines and no embellishment. Siobhan just needed some delicate hair accessories to finish her look. She also chose a silver and amethyst, Rangoli crochet bracelet.

Have a look at some of my recent bridesmaid commissions including this hairpin for Olivia below. Let's get chatting about your ideas - I'd love to hear from you! 

Mismatched magic

Here's a single image and thought for the day - have you considered the idea of things being mismatched for your wedding? Variation makes the world go round! Are your bridesmaids wearing different style dresses that really suit them or shoes of the same colour but different styles?

Bridesmaids are great to design for too. I enjoy coming up with quirky variations to suit different hairstyles and personalities. The pins above are Portuguese hair ornaments from 17th/18th centuries with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, topazes, garnet and amethysts. Nowadays, the Swarovski crystal I use can replicate many of these jewel tones - pretty heirlooms for special + everyday wear!

Do you like the idea of mismatched elements or do you prefer a more classic look?

Image credit: The image above was taken from Five Centuries of Jewellery. National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisbon.

Rangoli bridesmaids brooches

Todays post is about favourite colour palettes and bridesmaids dress brooches! Yurishan asked me to design brooches for her three bridesmaids. Their dreamy dresses combine dusty pink and toffee colours - one of my favourite colour combos as anyone who has seen my Rangoli stationery and branding will know!

 Rangoli stationery

It took me no time to pick out a combination of golden topaz and dusty pink crystals, creamy pearls, rhinestone and bronze seed beads. I love how the silver-lined scalloped edging sets them off perfectly.

The girl's dresses are being made at the moment so I hope to share some photos at a later stage. (I have lots of interesting commissions on the go at the moment and want to share them with you as I make them! I'll then link the wedding features back to the relevant posts.)

I think brooches are a unique way to accessorise your bridesmaids dresses - I'd love to hear what creative ideas you have in mind for your lovely ladies!

Check out my other bespoke commissions or see some Rangoli brides on my Facebook page.

Cliodhna and Robert's Wedding

I know you're going to lurrrve this romantic Galway wedding. It's full of pretty details and happy emotions! Congratulations Cliodhna and Robert.

Cliodhna loves flowers, especially roses, which were a strong theme for her wedding. I just love the simplicity of these white hydrangeas which were tied with ribbons to the pew ends. And how about the flower arch at the church door which was decorated with wild roses? So pretty :-)

Here is Cliodhna and her sister Fainche. Cliodhna's dress is called 'Tea Rose' which is another reason why she fell in love with it! The dress is a blush pink colour with a lace overlay. Fainche's bridesmaid dress is from Dirty Fabulous and complements her sister's gown perfectly.

Above is a close-up of the beaded rose comb that I designed to go with the dress. Below you can see the matching double strand pearl bracelet with rhinestone detail as well as details of both girls combs.


And finally, here are the happy couple looking very happy indeed. You just can't beat that 'just married' smile :-)

Here's another pic of Cliodhna and her sister....

and finally...a quiet moment together! As always, I want to thank this couple for allowing me to share these pictures with you. I really enjoyed working with Cliodhna to design special accessories for her wedding. You can read more about the design process in my previous post.

Photography by Angelo Mercone.

A little peek...

I'm dying to show you some of Cliodhna and Robert's wedding photos...
Here is a quick peek! You can read more about Cliodhna's jewellery and hair accessories in my previous article below.

Photo by Angelo Mercone.

Bespoke accessories for bride and bridesmaid

This is the story of a lovely commission I worked on recently. It's interesting and fun to design pieces to complement particular colours and dress styles. For Cliodhna, I had the opportunity to design a bespoke comb for both herself as well as her sister Fainche who was her bridesmaid.

Cliodhna's dress was a beautiful colour - so hard to describe...somewhere between antique blush pink but with a hint of grey blue. I love colours that can be described with lots of adjectives :-)

Anyway, this dress is beautiful as you can see and has an overlay of antique style lace. Cliodna described her personal style as well as her favourite style icon, Grace Kelly. We looked at pictures of her half-up hairstyle. We then tried on a variety of combs and soon found one that had the perfect shape but simply had too much sparkle on it. I came up with a design that incorporated a beaded vintage rose made from dusky pink seed beads. The overall appearance was soft and romantic with pearls as the key feature... Here is Cliodna to share some of her thoughts and inspirations with you!

"I really wanted a dress that had a vintage look with antique lace. This dress was the very first one I tried on with Aoife in Ophelia Bridal in Drogheda. I instantly loved both the lace and the colour of the dress, which Aoife described as ‘Tea Rose’. The fact that the dress was Tea Rose, that I’m a huge fan of roses of any type and that Aoife said not one other bride had bought the dress in this colour – I was sold immediately! I liked the idea of wearing a dress that was a little bit different in colour, plus Aoife also made me a beautiful bolero in matching lace.

What to wear in my hair was the next challenge, as I knew I definitely didn’t want to wear a veil. Then a friend recommended Rangoli as Aisling had made pieces for both her and her bridesmaids.

The first meeting with Aisling was great. Visiting her studio is like going into a sweet shop – I so enjoyed trying on different types of combs and hair pieces. Once we decided on a particular comb, my biggest issue was with ‘bling’ - I didn’t want a comb with any sparkle at all! I just wanted something that was vintage, simple and feminine that would complement my dress. Aisling was brilliant, she studied the lace on my dress and came up with lots of different ideas on what I could have on the comb. I really enjoyed being part of this process and having some input into the design. I think the finished comb is beautiful and complements the dress perfectly. It was also very comfortable to wear – which really is an important factor for any bride!


Aisling also made a bespoke pearl bracelet and earrings for me. They are beautiful and worked really well with the comb and dress, but I love the fact that they are personal to me and that I can wear them again and again.

Aisling also made a stunning yet subtle little comb for my sister’s hair that matches her vintage 1950’s prom dress (from Dirty Fabulous) perfectly.

I would (and have already) recommended Rangoli to any bride or bridesmaids. It was a truly lovely experience in the lead up to the wedding with no fuss or hassle at all and beautiful, special finished products. Thanks Aisling".

Cliodna's sister Fainche was her only bridesmaid which made choosing her dress much more fun. And what better place to shop for a vintage dress in Dublin than 'Dirty Fabulous'. Caroline and Kathy, (who are also friends of mine), and have the most dreamy array of original 1930's to 1950's dresses and separates.

I designed this comb for Fainche, picking out olive crystal, sparkling rhinestone and creamy pearls to complement the fabric of the dress. I love the round vintage shape!

Look out for my second post on Cliodhna's wedding where I will share some of her gorgeous wedding photos with you.

Rangoli Brides

One of the most popular sections of my website is my 'Rangoli Brides' album where clients share pictures from their weddings. People love to see 'real' people over models and it's fun to check out the gorgeous dresses too. It's also a great place to get inspiration for hairstyles!

Thanks again to everyone who shares their images with me. You can now view a album of recent Rangoli brides on my Facebook page.

- Make sure to check out the make-up, hairstylist and photographer credits if you are on the look-out for any of these services.

Rowena and Ronan's wedding

Rowena and Ronan were married in June and had a gorgeous day for their wedding. This pair look so relaxed and happy! No wedding jitters here...

Rowena chose a Rangoli beaded hairwire. She wanted something elegant, yet understated and I think this headpiece really complements her beautiful lace gown.

It's great to be asked to design accessories for some of the bridal party too. On this occasion I made jewellery for Rowena, her Mum as well as her bridesmaids. I wrote about this bracelet commission recently. It was fun to customise my gold crochet bracelet for Rowena's bridesmaids. The stunning green dresses are by Alvina Valenta and were purchased in White Orchid.

See and read more about my recent bridal commissions ~

The wedding was photographed by Michael Crean.

A wedding in Malta

And a big thanks to Paula who got in touch recently to share some gorgeous pics from her wedding. Paula and Will were married in Malta over a year ago.

Malta seems to be a beautiful venue for a wedding, providing an intimate and sunny setting for a destination wedding. Paula said it was a sizzling 36 degrees for their day! I just love their pastel colour theme..reminds me of sweet peas.

Paula wore Rangoli crochet pendant earrings and a matching bracelet. Will commissioned me to make a surprise gift of the bracelet which he presented to her on the morning of the wedding! What a thoughtful idea. Here are a few words from Paula herself -

I love antique jewellery but wanted to mix it with a modern look for my wedding day. I had antique lace put around the neckline of my dress and therefore wanted jewellery to complement this. I had an idea of what I wanted in my head but couldn't find what I was looking for! But when I met Aisling, it was as if she could read my mind!!

I loved the earrings and (surprise) bracelet and felt very special on the day knowing that they were made specially for me!! My bridesmaids (sisters), were delighted with their pieces and were taken aback that I had gone to the effort of getting jewellery commissioned for them! It was lovely for me to be able to give them such a special gift. My sister is getting married in July and she is wearing the earrings and bracelet on her big day and is also getting a fabulous headpiece from Aisling!

They are pieces that hold very special memories and I will always treasure them! Aisling was amazing to work with and I would recommend her to any bride-to-be!

Above you can see the classic pearl and rhinestone pendants, bracelets and earrings that I designed for Paula's sisters.

Thanks Paula for your kind words and to both of you for sharing your pictures - I wish you every happiness together.

Read more about this earring style -

Stylish bridesmaids

How do you describe that colour - it's sort of cranberry with a hint of orange...but when you see it in the light, it's more dusky pink. Sound familiar?! It can be tricky describing the colour of your own gown never mind your bridesmaids' dresses. I find that the easiest and most fun way for me to design is to start by seeing the dress or a fabric sample.

My bead collection is a treasure trove! In the unlikely event that I don't have something to complement the fabric, I can easily source suitable beads or stones for you. With an eye for colour and fine detail, my expertise lies not only in the design but finding a palette of colours that will really lift the outfit.

Olivia, seen above, was a bridesmaid for her sister Ciara and you can see more of the wedding here. Read more about recent bridesmaid's commissions too.

Rangoli Competition ~ Aisling designs for you

I'm really excited to be launching two competitions to win bespoke Rangoli headwear. Read more about the first competition on my facebook page.

Each day I get to see the most amazing gowns and outfits that inspire me to create. I want to share this exciting design process with you my readers! I'll be pulling back the curtains to reveal how much fun is involved in designing and having a bespoke Rangoli piece made.

I am offering one prize for my soon-to-be brides and another prize to some of my previous clients... (the second competition is just as exciting!)

Read about how to enter the first competition on my facebook page - In the meantime start gathering pictures of all the beautiful details that inspired you to plan your wedding - gorgeous shoes, colour schemes, red carpet glamour, cocktails ~ whatever captures your imagination! And to all of my past clients, I will be announcing details of a competition to win a bespoke occasion headpiece for whatever occasion takes your fancy.

Have a look at some wonderful inspiration boards on StyleMePretty or read about some of my recent commissions.

Something old and blue...

I love designing for bridesmaids. Recently I have designed for a few clients who have chosen to have just one bridesmaid. You can really have fun choosing a dress and accessories for one person. No clashing of personalities or body shapes :-)

I designed this antique looking piece for one such bridesmaid. Her vintage dress was so pretty and I love the slate blue or antique sapphire shade of the fabric.

Many people have a fear of the word Tiara but this miniature tiara suited the dress perfectly and gave it the old-time glamour it needed to set it off! A fur stole finished the whole look and kept the shoulders warm.

Read more posts about bridesmaids -

Ciara and David's Wedding

Today I am sharing some beautiful pictures from Ciara and David's wedding. I love how the photos tell the story of their special day. The wedding was photographed by Ruth Foran Photography.

In this first picture, we see Ciara looking radiant! I designed a double rhinestone hairband with a vintage brooch detail to one side. I also incorporated some pearls into the design.


Ciara had two bridesmaids; her sister Olivia, as seen in the image below and her sister-in-law Sile who is in the group shot. I designed beaded hair corsages for the two girls that combined olive green crystal, pearls and gold detail. I love this image of Ciara and her sister doing their final touch-ups!

I have included a group shot so that you can see how beautifully the colour theme looks. Ciara is also seen here with her father Christy and niece Leah who was her flowergirl. How relaxed they all look! The flowers were by Grainne Doyle of WeddingFlowersIreland.

And finally to my favourite image! How happy do these two look? Congratulations to Ciara and David - Wishing you every happiness together. Thank you for sharing your album with others. I am sure you will inspire many brides, (and grooms!) to be.

Credits -

Photographs courtesy of Ruth Foran Photography
Make-up by Adrienne Taylor
Hair styled by Sinead Gaffney

Kind of purpley, blue grey...

My jaw is on the floor! I've just read that The Dessy Group, (dress designers), are now producing all of their bridesmaids' dresses in Pantone colours.

For those of you in the 'know', Pantone is a company that produce a catalogue of colour references mostly for designers who work in the print medium. The colour sample book allocates a number reference for each shade and allows for colours to be reproduced in print exactly as the designer intended.

Can you image flicking through this rainbow catalogue and selecting the colour you would like your bridesmaids dresses to be?

via Junebug weddings

Chic bridesmaids

Designing for bridesmaids is always fun and I like having a palette of different colours to inspire me. Even when the colours are muted or neutral, it's fun to design a piece to really complete the look. You can work within the neutral palette or bring in an accent colour that might be featured in the bouquets.

The bracelet above was made for a recent client for this gorgeous Watters and Watters bridesmaid dress. The bracelet is made from fine crochet in an antique silver colour to match the pewter coloured fabric. I incorporated lots of clear and silver toned Swarovski crystals for extra sparkle.

To finish the look, I designed an elegant pair of drop earrings. It can be nice to keep the neckline bare to really show off the lines of the dress.

Lucky lucky bridesmaid! View the Watters and Watters bridesmaids collection.

Dirty Fabulous Open Day

It's true that Caroline and Kathy from Dirty Fabulous are friends of mine but I am such a fan of their Vintage boutique on Baggot Street! Their boudoir showroom is crammed full of the most glamorous one-off designs sourced in New York, Paris and Berlin. You can just imagine the stories behind some of these outfits!

Such is the demand for vintage bridal dresses that the girls are flying to New York next week and have already previewed a range of original vintage gowns from the 1940's to 1970's that they will be choosing from.

If you would like a chance to visit the shop without an appointment, then you should visit the Dirty Fabulous Open Day next Saturday from 10am to 6pm. This will be a huge opportunity to grab some gorgeous vintage bargains with some extra special 2 for 1 offers. For more info, visit the blog or read my previous post.

The girls are in New York from Tuesday 6th and will reopen on Thursday 15th of October. Book in now if you'd like to be one of the first to see their dazzling bridal collection! And remember these are all one of a kind gowns. This shop has something for everyone from mother of the bride to party goer!

For more information visit the website or contact the girls on 01 6624249

Love your bridesmaids...

Here is a recent commission for two bridesmaids that will be wearing olive green dresses. The hair will be worn in a low wrapped bun to the side of the head. I think that these delicate sculptural pins will really complement their hairstyles and dresses.

These hair accessories suit everyone from mother of the bride, bridesmaids or guests and can be customised in size or beading detail. Read about more Rangoli bridesmaids hair accessories.

This bridal party are on the final count-down to the wedding day and I wish them all the very best!

Bridesmaids hairpins

I design jewellery and hair accessories for any occasion and I love having the opportunity to work with vibrant colour palettes.

Recently a client showed me some beautiful necklaces she has bought as presents for her bridesmaids. The necklaces were from the Pilgrim range. I designed combs to match the jewellery and happened to have the exact colour range in my crystal selection! The colours ranged from opalised sea-green, oxidised silver to peridot green. I was really happy with the resulting combs which will be worn to the side of the hair.

These style funky hairpins will look great on the wedding day and your friends will love wearing them again afterwards!