Rangoli bridal hair chain

Rangoli headpiece sketch

I always think of my headpieces as jewellery that you wear in your hair. Why should a necklace only be worn around your neck? Here's a peek at a recent commission that's got me really excited! I know it's going to inspire a whole new collection.

 

Thanks Tara, for letting me share your bespoke headpiece! It was designed to go with the Lita dress by Catherine Deane, (seen below).

After lots of chatting and sketching, we came up with a design that can be woven into Tara's soft up-style. The idea for the beaded chain came from the petal shapes in the skirt. They're so delicate and are trimmed with tiny pearls and antique silver beading. The beaded chain moves in the same way as the fabric. Little details like that, really matter to me! And the beaded flowers pick up on the lace embroidery.

I know that Tara's hairdresser will create an amazing style around her headpiece. I can't wait to see the pics!

Rangoli, beaded bridal chain.

 Lita dress by Catherine Deane

It might also surprise you to hear that I design very few bridal necklaces. Have you ever considered not wearing a necklace for your wedding? Here's my personal thoughts about necklaces and wedding dresses.

• Most dresses are absolutely stunning by themselves. This goes for the most minimal of dresses to ones that are embellished with thousands of sequins and pearls. By not wearing a necklace, people get a chance to really see you in your beautiful dress, without being distracted by a neck-piece.

• Your dress may have a beaded belt or striking, decorative detail. Think of these details as your jewellery, but worn on a different part of the body. Sometimes, adding a necklace to the look is just too much.

The best piece of advice I can give is to just be you - wear what makes you feel happy. I spend lots of time with clients, just listening to how they talk about their own style and what makes them feel comfortable. At the end of the day, I believe that's the most important thing.

Most people who visit me don't have a clear idea of what they're looking for. That's one of my favourite parts of what I do; to offer you lots of advice and show you styles you may never have thought of! I'm always up for a chat about bridal accessories - you can get in touch by email or phone.  Or if you're at the early research stage, check out some of my recent commissions here on the blog.

Credits:
Rangoli website
Rangoli sketch by Aisling Nelson
Photos of Lita dress taken from the Catherine Deane Website.

A stylish, alternative hen party, in Dublin

One thing that I notice from chatting with you ladies, is that the old style hen party is well and truly dead. Maybe it's the new DIY trend, that makes us want to learn something new, while still having fun! A good friend of mine is now offering creative hen parties, from her Dublin studio. Would you like to learn how to decorate your very own vintage style tea-cup?

 

This is an amazing opportunity to be invited into an artists working studio for an afternoon. Ayelet Lalor creates bold sculptures in ceramic and bronze. She is probably best known for her colourful Divas. The idea for the parties  came from her life-long love and collection of unusual tea-cups!

Ayelet Lalor sculptures

"There is something about the act of drinking out of a teacup that is so inherently pleasant; it brings out the Lady in all of us modern, busy, clumpy, contemporary women. I have been collecting teacups for many years, and each teacup reminds me of a different time and place, like a mini set of memories."

Do you know someone who would love to get creative for her hen? Ayelet has great ideas for customising these parties. Her own wedding had a Midsummer Night's theme. Every guest received one of her handmade teacups too! I can personally recommend these parties as I went to one with some friends recently. We sipped Cava and laughed (and learned) a lot. I might look a bit serious in the picture above, right. That's because I was deep in concentration, decorating my masterpiece!

After the party, all pieces will be dried, fired and clear-glazed, and can be collected one week later. The set of vintage cups could make a gorgeous gift for the bride to be! They could even be used as centre-pieces on the wedding day.

To find out more, have a look at the Creative Parties website. You can also keep up to date on the Facebook page. And spread the word if you know someone who is looking for something different to do!

More information:
Contact Ayelet: +353 87 648 5856
Website: AyeletLalor.com

Bridal cap sleeves

I think that shoulders are a gorgeous part of the female body! And I adore sleeves. Delicate or sculptural, transparent or solid. I'm designing for a client who will have ornately beaded sleeves on her dress. Looking through my Pinterest boards, I'm reminded of my ongoing obsession...

 

I made this Instagram video as an ode to the wondrous sleeve!

 

Here are three recent pins - The first is the Clio dress by Rosa Clara. The fringed sleeves must look beautiful when they move. The second dress is by Amanda Garrett, from her 2012 collection. The last dress is by Christos Bridal and is called Meadow.

 

What do you think? Are you a sleeve girl? I use Pinterest to save my inspiration - you can see more of my favourites in my 'Gown Love' album.

Are you looking for hair accessories or jewellery? I'm based in The Design Tower in the Dublin Docklands and I'd love to hear your ideas. For more inspiration, check out some of my recent commissions on my blog or website.

 

Image credits:
Rosa Clara Clio dress via Wedding Inspirasi
Amanda Garrett dress: via Pinterest
Christos Bridal dress, via Pinterest

Video credits:
Image 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

An Irish themed bridal shoot

I've been dying to share some photos from a recent shoot I did with The Wedding Crew. The theme celebrated The Gathering; so we all dug deep to come up with our own take on what is to be Irish. I wanted to capture that ethereal Irish beauty and soft understated elegance.

Days like this allow me to meet other creative designers and I always come away buzzing with ideas. And I like being able to recommend these talented people to you.

This was my favourite photo from the day. January, (what a beautiful name) captures everything for me that reflects Irish beauty; porcelain skin, delicate features and a mane of gorgeous auburn hair. I designed this new piece especially for this shoot - it combines multi strands of gold crochet dotted with pearl and blue topaz drops. The headpiece continues in a single strand which is woven into the back of the hair. Lorraine Browne created all of the pretty hairstyles.

January and Jordan braved the extreme cold, to model in the sheerest of outfits. We had to wrap them in blankets in between shots!

Sarah Foy designed the dresses. I particularly loved this peach, chiffon-layered design with the tiniest hand-stitched beading trims. January wears a matching gold crochet bracelet with pearl drops. Jordan is the perfect foil in his 'Pennys' attire!

The second headpiece I designed is the 'Gold Lace' headwrap. It can be worn as a wide hairband, or across the forehead as you see here. I'm a big fan of transparent fabrics and this headpiece allows you to see either the skin or hair through the lattice design.

I had already met Claire from The Informal florist and her business name sums up my favourite kind of flowers - ones that look like they've just been plucked from nature and lovingly 'bunched' together! Although in reality, there is much more to it than that, I know. Claire's blog is filled with wild posies and stories about her love of flowers.

And finally, two fairly new businesses that are offering something different - Little Birds Bake made a whole dessert table filled with sweet bites. The coconut cupcakes were a new flavour sensation for me. Dusty Boy Designs are a stationery company run by make-up artist Kate Rose Crean and her husband Justin. Their designs combine vintage and contemporary elements with lots of fun lettering.

The trio that make up The Wedding Crew were busily working away behind the scenes to co-ordinate and capture all of the story. Lorraine Browne styled all the hair, Naomh Kirwan did the make-up and Paul Kelly was the photographer. Thanks for asking me to be involved in this project - it was a fun day working with all of you!

Here's the low-down on all these great businesses - lots of talent for you to choose from;

    The Wedding Crew

    Photographer: Paul Kelly | Studio3
    Photographers Assistant: Feena Kavanagh
    Location: Boyne Hill House

    Hair: Lorraine Browne
    Make Up: Naomh Kirwan
    Bridal Gowns:  Sarah Foy

    Jewellery: Rangoli
    Flowers: The Informal Florist
    Cakes: little birds bake
    Stationery: Dusty Boy Designs
    Models: January and Jordan from Morgan the Agency

Why I love designing for you

Have you ever tried on a dress and loved parts of it but hated the shape or the colour or the scratchy fabric? Thanks for sharing some of your dress-choosing stories with me! Sometimes it's just as important to know what we don't like!

Yesterday I saw this Peter Langner dress over on Wedding Inspirassi. I looked at his collection on my mobile and I found myself zooming in to see the details. And then being sorry that I had zoomed in! Because there were elements of this dress that I loved; the illusion neckline with the delicate embroidery and the dainty striped belt... but I didn't like the fussy bodice or the shape of the skirt.

It got me thinking about how I would love this dress if it had a plainer fabric and a narrower skirt. And then I realised that this is exactly how I work with my customers;

When I first meet each of you, I know nothing about your personal style. And when I talk about your style, I just mean knowing what makes you feel good. I'll get you to tell me your ideas, even if they seem vague to you. And then it's time to try on lots of different styles. Maybe things that you would never have considered trying on yourself; bigger or much smaller, muted or twinkling with rhinestones! I want to know what you like about each piece as well as what you don't. Have you ever considered not wearing a certain item of jewellery at all? Sometimes I need to grab my sketchbook so I can show you an idea that's in my head.

The best part of having a design made for you is that you are involved in the process. And the reason I don't sell my designs to shops is because I want to meet the people who will wear my designs. It's definitely a two-way creative experience. I get some of my best ideas from conversations in my studio!

I've shared some of my recent commissions here on the blog and have lots more examples in my showroom and in my head! If you have an idea in mind, let's get chatting.

a thousand words - Jenna Thomas

Great photographs tell a story by capturing a moment in time. In this series, I am asking some of my favourite wedding photographers to describe one of their cherished photographs. My inspiration is the book Photography Speaks: 150 Photographers On Their Art. This book features a number of iconic photographers who share some personal reflections about one of their photographs. The idea captured my imagination and is the inspiration for a new series of guest blog posts with photographers.

Searching the internet is like beach-combing really! You spend hours gazing before you find a twinkly gem. And everyone's gems are different. I recently came across Jenna Thomas's photography and loved the emotion in her photos. (I also featured some of her images in my Everyday love... and stripes post) She's from north Carolina and loves costumes, word games and surprises! Here she is to tell us about one of her favourite wedding photographs -

"Photography is nothing - it's life that interests me. "

Henri Cartier-Bresson began to change modern photography with his profound art and his bold philosophy in the late 1920's. His words didn't find me until about 10 years ago but I have been moved since my first encounter.

The variety in philosophies amongst wedding photographers is vast - and beautiful in my opinion. When I first began photographing professionally, I was on a journey to define my philosophy. After years of searching I have realized that the journey is my philosophy. It's an ever-changing theory shaped by experiences.

More than anything, I have learned that the images that speak volumes are never the images that I "set up." There is definitely a time and place for that, but the photos that deliver emotion are the ones that just happen.

Henri says it best:

"There are those who take photographs arranged beforehand and those who go out to discover the image and seize it. For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which - in visual terms - questions and decides simultaneously. In order to "give a meaning" to the world, one has to feel oneself involved in what he frames through the viewfinder."

To me, that is this image.

Jenna, I love how you describe being in the picture and totally get Henri's idea about a camera being his sketchbook. People are generally not 'precious' about sketchbooks either - the pages are made up of random, special observations. I'll remember that idea; it's great. Thanks for being part of this series. 

 

You can see more of Jenna's photography on her website Red White and Green. This feature is part of a series called 'a thousand words'.

Photo credit:
Jenna Thomas from Red White and Green.

Remembering Grandparents

Recently, lots of you have been showing me photos of your Grandparents weddings. I thought it was time to put our favourite relatives on the stage and hear some stories about their wonderful wedding days! This series is all about the romance, the style and the personalities.

Jo is a friend of my husband and he heard me tweeting about this series! I'm so glad that he got in touch to show me this beautiful photo of his Grandmother, Ellen. I'm not sure if you can see that this photo has been hand-tinted by her husband Noel. It's so delicate. Here is Jo's Mum, Noeleen to tell us a bit more about her parent's wedding and their runaway photographer.

Ellen Smith on her wedding day in 1960

"Ellen Smyth and Noel Green were married on the 18th of June 1960, it was a typical wedding with about forty guests attending. Ellen wore a beautiful lace dress that was made for her by her sister in law Mrs Rosaleen Kenny and her wedding bouquet was made up of red silk roses and was borrowed from a neighbour. The bouquet was passed on to many brides in the area but still remained as beautiful as the day it was made.

Ellen was a shy quiet girl as is evident from her shy smile in the photo. Herself and Noel were married by a Fr Con Sayers in the Church of the Nativity in Whitehall and it was a beautiful summers day. Unfortunately the photographer who was to take the photos never turned up and so all the wedding photos were collected from guests who had cameras that day. The wedding breakfast was held in the Melvin hotel in Drumcondra and the entertainment was by a blind accordian player. Noel and Ellen still have the invoice for the wedding breakfast tucked into the back of their wedding album."

Noleen - thanks for telling us these stories. It's great to hear all those memorable details. Obviously there were wedding dramas even in the 60's; I'd say that photographer's reputation was finished after his no-show?! But whoever took this photo had a great eye. Please thank Noel and Ellen for allowing me to share this beautiful photo.

This post is part of a series - do you have an image of your Grandparent's that you'd like to see up on the blog? Please send me an email [aisling at rangoli dot ie] or leave a comment below.

Everyday love... and stripes

I'm a big fan of everyday love; the simple things that couples do together. Last weekend, myself and Ben climbed Djouce mountain. We were surrounded on all sides by a wet blanket of chilly fog. We clambered upwards along railway sleepers, greeting random walkers along the way. It was a perverse kind of fun and my left ear got very cold. And then we celebrated our achievement with sweet tea and Austrian chocolate, given to us by a friend (thank you John)! It was magical.

I believe that weddings are for celebrating the hundreds of everyday moments you have enjoyed together. Plus the ones that are waiting to happen. That's why I love these photos of Katrina and Hutch. This is not an engagement shoot - they are just pictures of them hanging out together... while looking uber-stylish, it has to be said. I also have a stripe addiction and love of wild-flower meadows so you can see why I had to share these gorgeous photos.

Jenna Thomas is the photographer who took these relaxed photos. She is based in North Carolina and describes herself as 100% Italian in her great 'About' page! Below, she tells us about the afternoon she spent hanging out with Katrina and Hutch.

"These are a few of my favorite images of Katrina and Hutch being married. A few weeks ago, the three of us frolicked through some tall grass and flowery weeds just because. I think there's something really right about documenting a time in your life just because. Call me a romantic. Or Alladin (my family members have deemed my idealogy "magic carpet world") but I love the innocence found in the small things. Don't get me wrong, I love the excitement of capturing a family right after they have welcomed their first child into the world...or a couple who recently decided they were going to spend the rest of their lives together....or a boy and a girl vowing to love each other forever and ever in front of all their favorite people in the world. But the regular days. The regular days are what life is really made up of. So, needless to say after that little window into my soul, I was really happy when Katrina asked me to document her and Hutch just because."

Let's start a new trend; I think 'Just because' photos should be taken more often! What do you think? How many decent couple photos of yourselves do you have that were not taken at a formal occasion?

Thanks Jenna for sharing these photos. You can see the rest of the photos on her website Red White & Green.

 
Photo credit:
Photos by JennaThomas from Red White & Green

Styling your wedding dress

So you have picked your wedding dress and you love it. You've trawled the internet and have found a tiny picture of an extremely leggy 7 foot woman wearing it. You know that you look better in it but this is what you carry around with you when you're trying to choose your accessories and other visual elements for your day. 

It's tricky to know how to style this dress isn't it? And it's a bit stressful too when you don't want to show too many people what your dress is like. Your dress has been ordered and you haven't seen it in 6 months. And you won't see it again until a month before your wedding. That's where I am here to help you!

I have been looking at wedding gowns for 15 years now and I have a really good eye for styling the complete look. From talking to clients, one of the main concerns that you have is that all of the elements you need are in different places. You need someone who can look at hairstyle and dress images and guide you through the process of choosing accessories that will complement and not compete with your dress.

I offer this advice as part of my one-on-one consultations. I spend lots of time getting to know you and your sense of style. It's very much about keeping it real and feeling like you.

So, I've decided to start a new regular feature here on the blog where I will talk about how to style a particular dress. We'll be looking at;

• The style of dress
• The lines
• The embellishment
• Words to describe it - this is where the imagination comes in!
• And suggestions for hairstyles and accessories that will add that perfect touch of glamour.

I want you to get in touch by email [aisling at rangoli dot ie] and send me a picture of your dress. International brides, I want to hear from you too. We may never get to meet in person but I would love to help you style your wedding dress.

For more inspiration, have a look at some of my bespoke commissions on my blog or Rangoli Brides Albums on my website and Facebook page.

Photo credit:
Image of origami dresses found via Mod Cloth on Tumblr

Downton Abbey - Mary's tiara!

As promised, here are some screen-shot images I took of Lady Mary and Mathew's Downton Abbey wedding. No doubt, lots of drama will unfold in episode two, (bring it on), but let's just focus on Mary's beautiful headpiece for a few minutes!

 

 
There's been plenty of discussion about 'the dress' and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. We're so used to the couture, figure-hugging style dresses of the moment but this 1920's dress was typical of the time. I'd like to have seen the delicate embroidered fabric up close!

Anyway, I'm much more interested in her understated but very glamorous headpiece. I adore this tiara as it follows the form of the head. When I am designing headpieces, this is something I always do, whether it's a beaded hairwire or fine Alice-band. I love the laurel leaf motif - it actually reminded me of a bespoke design that I'm working on at the moment!

I'm sure this hairstyle will inspire many brides too. I'm still seeing a lot of finger-wave styles from my clients. Those rippling curves are great for framing the face.

I had fun giving this image a vintage look - it instantly gives it that authentic feel don't you think? Speaking of which...

I have a great series coming up which I mentioned on my Facebook page. Recently a client showed me a photo of her Grand-parent's wedding. She told me how the design of her own dress was inspired by her Grandmother's dress. It got me thinking about putting some of our glamorous Grannies on pedestals and hearing some stories about them :-)

 

Do you have photos that you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you! Ask your parent's if there are any stories about their parent's weddings and take out those old photos.

Polaroid cookies... really!

I spend a lot of time zipping around the interwebs, (all in the pursuit of inspiration for my designs of course!) Every now and then I come across something amazing that makes me want to shout about it.

I just had one of those moments. It could be due to my new Portuguese pastry addiction or the fact that I am consumed by the colourful and square format world of Instagram (you'll find me @rangolijewellery) or simply because these cookies are so fun and different. Imagine choosing a set of your favourite photographs and having them put onto cookies. How personalised is that, in a world that can be filled with repetition?

The cookies are made by Susana of Manjar and available to order on Etsy. And the best bit - they last for up to two months if kept in their bags and away from sunlight! Susana tells the great story behind her business idea in an Etsy interview.

This cookie gift box (priced at $30) includes 5 of your favourite photographs transformed into edible polaroids, 1 custom message cookie, 1 polaroid camera cookie and 1 red heart. Give away a sweet treat plus a memory and enjoy!

Check out the rest of Susana's cookies available from her Etsy shop! I'm off to choose my favourite images that I'd like to eat...

Being yourself

Sometimes I see photos of a bride and I'm struck by how she just looks 'so herself' on her wedding day. I may have never met her but something of her individual style shines through.

 

This bride has this x factor. Of course she is stunning but that's not what I mean. I can imagine her wearing converse trainers and jeans and looking just as amazingly individual. When I'm chatting with clients, this is something that is really important to me. I want you to look and feel like a {more glamorous} version of your real, everyday self! Does that make sense? Sometimes people have a vision of what a bride 'should' look like but really it should be about what makes you feel really good and happy! That certainly doesn't mean that you can't be super-glam though :-)

Both Erin and Parker had a connection and love with the roaring twenties and so they chose a Great Gatsby theme for their wedding. Below is their 'first look' - how cool is that?!

These guys are just living this day to the hilt and enjoying a happy dance after their ceremony. It's the moments like this that you remember forever, especially when you have a great photographer on hand. But really, it's about being in the moment and just fully enjoying the party.

When asked for their advice for couple's planning their wedding, they proffered this great wisdom;

"Have a super Mother-of-the-Bride and a lot of amazing friends and family! :) We're so thankful we hit jackpot on this. Also keep in mind: people are more important than things."

I came across this poster on Pinterest recently and it sums this idea up so nicely don't you think?

Do you guys have any thoughts on this subject? How are you finding (or did you find) choosing your wedding fashion? I'd love to hear from you!

This amazing wedding was featured on Green Wedding Shoes - have a look at part one and part two. The wedding was photographed by Hugh Forte.


Image credits:
Erin and Parker's wedding by Hugh Forte
"Collect moments not things" poster, via Pinterest, (no credit)

Cake Opera and Dulce Delight

Today, I'm taking a tiny break away from the world of beads to sweeten up your Wednesday. I've been a long-time fan of 'Cake Opera' since I first discovered their fondant operatic sculptures! Jessica Smith and Alexandria Pellegrino are the artistan bakers who bring their unique skills together - a fine arts degree and a master pastry chef. How about that for complimentary skills? Sometimes I'd love a partner in crime too; creative collaborations add up to magic sometimes.

 Jessica Smith and Alexandria Pellegrino of Cake Opera Company

It's their energy and passion for their business that I share though. They have found something that they are totally passionate about and it shows. I love reading interviews with fellow designers and hearing what inspires them. They were recently interviewed for Good Food Revolution and shared the story of their business. I was fascinated to hear that Dutch still-life paintings are one of their inspirations. TRÈS Cool!

Cakes by Cake Opera Company

Then on Friday, I discovered Raiza Costa - are you ready for a baking experience like you've never seen before?! Raiza is a Brazilian, self-taught cook. She has a 'Wow' blog and makes the most entertaining baking videos I have ever seen.

A pleasurable hour was lost watching Raiza in action. And 'Action' is the key word here. This girl made me laugh out loud. She's tempting me to believe that I could create these divine Pistachio French Macarons. If I just follow her step by step instructions and leave those egg whites overnight in the fridge :-) Watch this video, even for the first 20 seconds and let me know what you think...

 

 

Creativity and art come in all different forms and I for one love when I get to eat some of it! Are there any budding bride-to-be bakers out there that could share some of their tips and advice?

To follow up on these sugary delights:

Cake Opera Company

Dulce Delight blog

Interview and images of Cake Opera Co. via Good Food Revolution

'Save the date' ideas

Imagine in your head, fourteen years of bridal research and then banish any ideas that *you* might be a bridezilla. That's how long I have been keeping up to date with the latest wedding trends. And, the truth; I still love it!

So while I am researching hairstyle, hemlines and jewels,  I come across quirky ideas that I love sharing with you. In a previous life, I was a graphic designer so I have never lost my love of all things paper + print.

Today's post is about messages that you send to guests in the post. It's rare that any of us receive handwritten cards or letters any more so it's really special to receive a nicely designed invitation. Today I'm talking about 'Save the date' ideas.

First up are these 'Polaposts'. These turn regular photos into Polaroid prints by inserting them into a white bordered sleeve. There's a seal to keep them from slipping and you can write messages on the backside. Please send me one if you choose this option :)

 

Next, a really cool map envelope liner which was photographed by David McClelland at one of his recent weddings. I'm guessing that the envelope opens up to reveal the location to the wedding. I like a bit of interaction! Endless possibilities here -

And finally (and most importantly), a ''Save the date' from my good friend Caroline. The anticipation is building for this 'Vintge Circus' themed wedding. Last time I visited her house, the table was covered in a sea of glitter, miniature ponies, glue-guns and stripy ribbons!

What are your thoughts on the 'Save the Date' idea? Do you think it's fun or totally unnecessary? Go on, spill the beans. You might also like to check out my 'Wedding Inspiration' board on Pinterest.

Image credits:

Polapost - via Photojojo

Envelope liner by David McClelland

a thousand words - Gia Canali

Great photographs tell a story by capturing a moment in time. In this series, I am asking some of my favourite wedding photographers to describe one of their cherished photographs. My inspiration is the book Photography Speaks: 150 Photographers On Their Art. This book features a number of iconic photographers who share some personal reflections about one of their photographs. Although I don't yet own a copy of the book, the idea captured my imagination and is the inspiration for a new series of guest blog posts with photographers.

This month, I'm so excited to introduce Gia Canali. Gia is based in San Francisco and Los Angeles but loves to travel far and wide for weddings. Her precious moment in time features a perfectly timed double rainbow! I think you'll enjoy hearing her story ~

"This image is from the very end of one of my very favorite wedding ceremonies I've ever gotten to witness.  We were up on a cliff top near the Continental Divide in Colorado, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.  A summertime storm had rolled in that afternoon, and it had drizzled on and off throughout the day.  But it really started to pour during the middle of the ceremony, and then--suddenly-- just as the couple began their vows, the rain cleared and the sun came out, surprising us all with a dazzling double rainbow.   The second rainbow doesn't really show much in this photograph, but the exhilaration and joy of that moment absolutely does show through.  

The "kiss" shot from their ceremony is beautiful, but this photograph, which is jubilant and full of the couple's energy, will always be my favorite."

Thanks for being part of this series Gia. I love the laughter soundtrack that I can hear in my head when I look at it - pure happy emotion on a cliff top, with a double rainbow. Who could ask for more?! I hope you come to shoot a wedding in Ireland one of these days.

Check out Gia's website and blog as well as my previous feature on her 'Vintage processes' fine art prints. This photography guest post is part of a series which are archived on the blog.

As always, I welcome your comments below. Feel free to drop me an email if you have suggestions for future features.

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.

Fun in the sun

What an amazing sun-filled weekend I had! I hope the sun shone for you too. I spent a good part of it hanging out in The Phoenix park with my hubbie as well as a spontaneous picnic with photographers Aga and Mary who covered their rug with tasty goodies. Aga even brought an ice-filled wine chiller for her *huge* bottle of wine. Awesome. Pity I was driving!

All this clock-changing and unexpected sunshine got me thinking about having fun and how we need to make room for lots of it in our lives! My two friends planning weddings this year definitely have it on their priority list.

These photos all made me smile. I've even started a 'Fun' board on Pinterest. Do you think weddings can sometimes be a bit too serious? Have you fun things in mind for your wedding? Please share x

Image credits:
Top: Tandom themed wedding. Photo by Rachel Thurston. Wedding feature via Green Wedding Shoes.
Middle: 'Not too serious' girly shot. Photo by Studio Castillero. See the full wedding.
Bottom: Peeping out. Photo by James Moes. See also my feature on James.

a thousand words - James Moes

Great photographs tell a story by capturing a moment in time. In this series, I am asking some of my favourite wedding photographers to describe one of their cherished photographs. My inspiration is the book Photography Speaks: 150 Photographers On Their Art. This book features a number of iconic photographers who share some personal reflections about one of their photographs. Although I don't yet own a copy of the book, the idea captured my imagination and is the inspiration for a new series of guest blog posts with photographers.

Today we're off to Seattle to meet James Moes, whose work I so admire. James trained in fine art and graphic design before settling on Photography. In his words, "While comfortably sitting on the fringes of the wedding industry, James is proud to be a photographer of love & marriage; beauty & dreams; curiosity & stillness."

This portrait of Todd & Claire and their dogs deserves a long gaze. Below James tells us why he loves this image.

Nothing clever. Nothing cute. But everything in its right place. The bride and groom and their beloved dogs, at the entrance to a cave nearby the family cabin (where the celebrations took place), with light softly coming in from the west. A perfectly restful first family portrait.

The longer I shoot weddings, the more I appreciate a classic portrait. One that even hearkens back to early large format photographic portraits where the subjects would have to stand still for a slow shutter speed.

Yes, I still I treasure the in-between moments, the surprises, the subtle exchanges, some good lens flare, and a thrilling dance party. And yes, I still will take some more experimental portraits (as I did with Todd & Claire on their wedding day: in a canoe on the lake, with fireworks & the resulting smoke) … but the image I keep coming back to is this. A classic wedding portrait. No shame in that.

James, this image reminds me of an old oil painting, which reveals its layers of emotion and detail the longer you look at it. It is both tranquil and animated at the same time. I love it. Thanks for being a part of this series.

For more information, visit James' website. I'm deliberately not linking to the full wedding as I like how this image stands alone. You'll find the full album on the website though!

This is part of a series which is archived on the blog. Please leave your comments below - I'd love to hear them.

Meeting goldsmith Eva Dorney

I spent a totally relaxing afternoon a few weeks ago, visiting Goldsmith, Eva Dorney. One of the things that Eva does is to recycle old pieces of jewellery into new designs. Yesterday, Barbara told us about her treasured 'new' ring which Eva made. Now Eva is going to tell us about what is involved in commissioning a piece of jewellery.

Eva, can you tell us about how you designed Barbara's ring? (Read the previous post about this ring.)

Barbara's new ring, re-modelled from a selection of old jewellery

Before we sat down, Barbara flicked through a portfolio of my previous work on Facebook to see what designs caught her eye so that we had a jumping off point when we met. She showed me the material she had to work with and we talked over what would be possible and how we could adapt her favoured designs to incorporate her stones. Barbara was looking for one ring to replace her wedding and engagement rings so the idea of two bands that were connected really worked. When I had a pretty clear idea of what Barbara would like, I sent her away and I did some very rough drawings from which to choose her favourite.  Design in hand I set about pricing it up and with budget agreed I started the job.

Why do you love re-modelling old pieces of jewellery?

Certain jewellery holds great sentimental value, but it's not always wearable as it is. I love to be able to give people a way of adapting that jewellery and making it their own. On a number of occasions I've taken an old yellow gold ring that's belonged to a customer's Mum or Dad and put it as the lining on a new white gold or platinum wedding ring for them. No one else can see it, but the important ring is still there right next to their skin. I think that that's just lovely. I think that jewellery deserves to be worn.

 Silver gold and diamond wrapped ring

I'm also a fan of remodelling from the point of view of recycling. As a total hoarder I know there are loads of people out there who have a lot of unloved jewellery, odd earrings and broken bits and bobs languishing in drawers, but they don't know it's even possible to recycle it. Until they take the decision to do something with it it's just junk, but then with a little heat and effort it can be made into something fabulous that they'll enjoy wearing everyday. I love the transformation and I love to see the look on peoples faces when they ask 'Is that mine? That can't be my gold. Sure that wasn't worth anything.' It's really gratifying and it's great to give old jewellery a new lease of life.

The last reason I favour remodelling old pieces is purely economic. Gold prices have reached record highs over the past few years and the cost of new gold jewellery can be prohibitive so recycling has never made more sense. By using your own metal you get to keep the value of your gold and turn it into something precious at a fraction of the retail cost of the new piece and with sentiment intact.

Pink Tourmaline ring from Eva's collection

What is involved in the process?

First I go through all the pieces to make sure everything is gold and is suitable to be remodeled (some things are of greater intrinsic value as they are or are simply too lovely to melt!) and then I weigh the metal. Usually we'll talk over designs and I'll do some sketches for them to choose from or adapt. When we've settled on a design I'll guestimate the finished weight of the piece and calculate how much extra material if any is required to make it. At this stage I'll give a quote to do the job and once that's approved I'll go ahead and melt the gold and start to work the resulting nugget into the finished piece.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering having their jewellery re-modelled?

Don't melt stuff just for the sake of it. If you think you'll wear it again or you know someone who would, then it might be nice to explore that avenue first, but then be brave! If you have a lot of material something like a bangle is relatively labour effective, so while the resulting bangle would be very high value it doesn't cost the earth to make. Light earring or chains on the other hand may not use much material, but are labour intensive and so don't offer the best value for money. That said almost anything is possible when remodeling so it's always worth asking the question.

Gold bangle made from re-modelled metals

How can people get in touch with you?

I'd love to answer any queries and can be contacted on [+353] 87 795 6321. You can view some of my designs on my website or Facebook page.

Thanks Eva - this process really appeals to me. I love the idea of lining a new ring with an older layer too, so you can keep it close to your heart. Jewellery holds such strong memory and emotion and I think it's still there when the piece is remodeled. You are just adding to the story of the piece.

Has anyone got any questions for Eva? Please leave her a comment below and be sure to check out her website for more details.

Recycling old jewellery with Eva Dorney

Today's post was triggered by a question asked by Goldsmith Eva Dorney:

"Does your jewellery box need a makeover? Why not recycle your old gold and stones and make something special you'll wear every day?"

What a great idea! I got in touch with Eva and before I knew it, we were chatting away at her cool workshop, in her Dundrum home. Eva had carefully recorded the process of this recent commission and I thought you'd all like to hear about it.

Engagement ring with diamonds removed

So now, we're going to meet Barbara, the owner of a gorgeous old+new ring! Come back tomorrow so you can hear all about how to commission a piece of jewellery with Eva Dorney.

"My engagement and wedding rings had to come off when I broke my arm, and they have never fitted my fingers since, so they sat in a drawer for a few years. Then I met Eva, and we were chatting about her jewellery making, and wedding rings etc. So I thought, I wonder if my husband would go for it...thankfully he did. It was around my Birthday, and my husband asked what did I want for a present..."

Eva's sketches for the new ring design

"We arrived at Eva's house and began to go through her portfolio of work, chatted about the kind of ring I liked ( I was hard to pin down!!), and from her portfolio, we liked a particular photo of two rings. We then spoke about how we could do a similar design for my rings. Eva drew up some sketches and sent them through to me."

"She then went about making the ring, and before securing the diamonds, or the additional white gold we added, she dummied it up with silver and the diamonds sitting in place. We agreed which way to go with it, and it was ready around Valentines day."

Melting and forming the gold

"When I saw it I loved it. I put it on and it just felt so right, and in a funny sort of way I recognised my diamonds!! Eva also showed me pictures she took of the whole process, and of the rings and some other small pieces my husband gave me all those years ago, that we added to make up the gold content, before she did anything to them. Having gone through the metamorphosis, these photographs took on a huge importance. Eva kindly sent them to me and I am going to frame a couple of them to hang in the house."

The finished ring with three diamonds

"We were married over twenty years ago, and you do change, your life changes, so in a funny sort of way, changing my rings made sense, without losing the sentimental value. I can't take my eyes off my new/old ring, its like being engaged all over again!!"

Barbara - I love the idea of displaying photos of your old jewellery to hold on to those memories too. And how nice it must be to feel newly engaged again after twenty years :-) Thanks so much for telling us the continuing story of your new ring.

Tomorrow, you'll get to meet Eva and I know she will be happy to answer any of your questions. Have you any jewellery that needs a new lease of life? Post your comments or questions below and we'll get a conversation going.

For more information, check out Eva Dorney's website and Facebook page.

All photos by Eva Dorney