Whether you are looking for a vine, bejewelled pins or a full-on tiara or crown for your wedding day, here are three London designers who create truly unique bridal headpieces
Designing a bespoke bridal headpiece for your wedding is a surefire way to get exactly the look you want – with a custom-made creation that is not only perfectly matched to your dress, but also includes your bridal colours, themes of the day or stones and designs that match your mood or have special resonance (for instance a favourite shape, stone or colour). What we like most about going bespoke, is that you will end up with a bridal headpiece that is just bound to become a family heirloom – treasured long after your wedding day. Here are three London designers who can help you achieve the bespoke look you want.
Gillian Million
With a dizzying array of beautiful wedding accessories – from simple pins to jewelled tiaras, Gillian Million’s Teddington atelier is manna for brides in search of a distinctive and bespoke bridal headpiece. Gillian began with her own wedding; after she tried and failed to find a headdress design she liked, she set about making one herself. Within months of launching her business in 2002, her entire collection was bought by Liberty.
Over time, she has added divine RTW headdresses and all manner of pins, vines and wedding jewellery into the mix and these can be ordered online – although you’ll always receive a personal phone call before despatch. But the real treat is to book an appointment (either for an onsite or Skype consultation) so you can explore Gillian’s atelier packed with beautiful vintage and contemporary pieces and then let her design a bridal headpiece that exactly matches your look and your wedding vibe. gillianmillion.com
Lila-Lila
Lila’s bespoke headdresses are sculpted in a light, soft clay, with each one made to order and hand finished. Many pieces are gilded in gold leaf to achieve a beautiful distressed look. Her design signature is flowers – all handmade, extrordinarily detailed and completely unique – and although the clay she uses is robust, it is light enough to make her bridal headpieces comfortable to wear.
She established her business in 2012 and works from a studio near St Katharine Docks Marina, where you can book an appointment to discuss your wedding look (she also works with gemstones, crystals and pearls). And, useful to know, she also makes beautiful children’s headbands suitable for christenings, confirmations or bridesmaid outfits. lila-lila.com
Hermione Harbutt
Working from an atelier in Kensington – with a further studio in Bristol – Hermione Harbutt makes fine occasion accessories, including millinery and jewellery. Her bridal range includes tiaras, hairbands, hairpins, combs and clips.
While her RTW collection includes exquisite bridal headpieces that often feature pearls and crystals, if you opt for a bespoke design you have the option to customise with whatever materials suit your personal style and your wedding-day look. You can even add fine gemstones into the mix to create a real heirloom piece. This is also a good way to create a matched set, such as wedding tiara with bracelet and earrings. hermioneharbutt.com
See our pick of S/S 2016 bridal jewels
Check out trends for bridal hair for 2016
