Beautiful, sexy, alluring, elegant…these words define
you, the Bride. Your wedding is a special day indeed,
and if you want yours to be truly exceptional, then you
need to find the perfect…everything.
Is that not so?
The dress, the shoes, the accessories, the bridal
requirements seem endless…and it does not stop there.
The bride of today seeks out that something special, that
something truly unique, which separates herself from her
fellow brides and places her personal signature on the
wedding ceremony.
In this regard, I am going to tell you about the wonders
of millinery (hat) design in bridal wear, the personal
touch it ads to the bridal wardrobe, and how it has
evolved over the last decade.
Our traditional view of what a bride should wear is slowly
becoming a thing of the past.
I know your grandmother wants you to be married in her
fabulous 1930’s gown, but do you dare tell her it is
slowly falling apart and its age is showing? Your special
day, and you’re shockingly greeted with the scenario of
grandma’s dress ripping open and disastrously exposing
all of you!
So, let us return to grandmas dress, shall we?
I have been designing hats for over 15 years and what I have seen in this industry is that brides
usually, though not always, want to incorporate that special something into their wedding attire.
To do so, I suggest they add their little treasures, from say grandmother’s dress or another valued
item — be it old beading, the netting or anything sentimental — to the bridal headwear. Think
creatively, for it is here, custom millinery comes into play.
Start by browsing the wedding shops, before or after you have selected your gown, jotting down
your likes and dislikes. I have dealt with brides who purchased their headpiece first and then the
dress, whatever their personal preference dictated.
Once you have established your style and tastes, you can add on items like feathers, veiling, jewels
and so on. Custom designing can be done either via the Internet, using emails, videos or sketches
to transmit your ideas or by visiting a local shop. And, I would select a designer with credibility, who
has been in the industry long enough to know what they can offer you.
If you want something created that is truly extravagant and elegant, then you need to clearly
convey your ideas to the designer. Don’t be afraid to ask the designer a lot of questions to make
sure they are the right choice for you, because there is no crystal ball on view in the studio to
magically select the prefect creation for you.
If you believe the price is questionably expensive for the item, compare the quality and
workmanship of mass produced pieces with what a designer can create. Yes, you will pay a little
more, but is it not worth it?
Besides, a well made work of art deserves to be showcased on your head. A handmade piece
invokes a special feeling, it’s elegance and attention to fine detail on exhibit. Off the rack is
becoming passé for today’s more adventurous brides.
There are many talented hat designers out there, so remember the importance of communication
with your milliner.
Custom made is slowly becoming the new trend in the bridal industry, so choose wisely, ask
questions and best of all, have fun!