My Bestfriend’s wedding …. & her crown.

In April 2022 in stunning Seville, I had the privilege of being my best friend’s bridal hairstylist, something we had talked about since we were kids. It was a dream come true, and the emotions on the day were high. One of my favourite moments was when Becky introduced me to every supplier around us, telling them that she had known me since we were three years old and that I was now doing her hair. Everyone around us could feel the love in the air. It was even more special for me because I was in the room with her family members, whom I had spent lots of my childhood with.

When it came to styling Becky’s hair, I treated her like any other client. We had a trial to test out the style, and Becky, being a creative visionary, had a good idea of what she wanted. She wanted to be unique and have straight strands around her face, even though the norm was curly. It was more important to her that she felt comfortable. This is something I always tell my brides: comfort and being yourself are key. She also wanted a style that could quickly be changed to a fun, more relaxed look for the nighttime dancing. And the accessory she wanted was a crown! I got her in touch with Clare Lloyd, a hair accessory queen, to help her with what she needed. I created an intricate low bun for Becky, with straight strands framing her face as per her request. I made it in such a way that once I removed a few specific pins, it transformed into a low ponytail hairstyle, perfect for her to dance the night away. The style held up perfectly throughout the day, the hugs, and all the dancing. I was thrilled to hear that it received many compliments as well. One of my favourite parts is, I got to put that beautiful crown on her head!

I have since spoken to Clare about the crown she made for Becky, and I wanted to know more about her process as a hair accessory queen. So, let’s ask her a few questions:

1. What does your typical consultation with a bride consist of?

This depends on where the bride is located; my studio is based in Somerset so if a studio visit is possible, we can arrange a time to visit.  However, this isn’t always an option and a lot of my brides are based outside of the UK so consultations can also be done on Zoom.  Before we meet - either in person or zoom - we will exchange emails and I will ask for some more information about the bride’s wedding including photos of her dress, how she is thinking of wearing her hair, any colour schemes, what the venue is like, the flowers etc as well as ask for a list of the my hair accessories that she likes. Typical consultations are very laid back and relaxed and we’ll talk through different design ideas and materials and I’ll show a variety of different headpieces in more detail. Once we’ve had a good talk, I’ll go away and come up with some designs based on our discussion and the bride’s budget.

2. Becky absolutely loved her crown! She is a girl with a vision. How did you manage to hit the nail on the head? What was your process?

Becky was a dream to work with! As a creative person I think she completely understood the nature of making things by hand and she also had a very clear idea of what she was looking for: a unique statement crown in blue, red and gold that reflected her personality, style and also reflected the amazing wedding venue.  We looked at images of the church and the ornate interior, we looked at classical crowns and some of my statement crowns and after a lovely zoom chat, I went away and sketched out the crown that Becky had in her mind.  It helped for me to draw the crown to scale and lay out some of the materials that I intended to use on top of the drawing.   Becky and I then had a further video call show that I could show her the drawing and the materials - especially the colours - in more detail to help her visualise the design more clearly.

3. How long does a crown like this take to make?

The statement crowns can take me weeks to make as they are so intricate.  Once we’ve agreed on the design, materials and colours and I’m ready to start making, it can take up to six weeks to complete.  Depending on the complexity of the design I can easily spend 50 hours or more making a crown. 

4. After the initial conversation, do you keep in touch to show your designs and progress?

This part is crucial as I want to make sure that the design is progressing as planned and that my bride is happy with how things are looking.  I will send regular photo and video updates as I make the headdress so that we can make sure that everything is perfect. I’m always contactable by email and we can have video calls too; having a bespoke headdress made is an investment and I want the whole process to be really enjoyable.

5. Finally, what advice would you give to other brides looking for bespoke hair accessories?

I would say to any bride who is looking for bespoke hair accessories to firstly, leave plenty of time especially if you’re not based in the same country as the potential designer.  When looking for the right designer, look carefully at their website and their social media and see if their signature style and way of working aligns with you.  Most designers will have information on their websites explaining how their custom or bespoke process works but don’t be afraid to contact them and ask any questions you might have.  A bespoke headpiece is a very special thing and something that is going to be made only for you so you need to find the right person to do that for you and bring your vision to life.  

6. A sneaky last one… Was this crown one of your favourites, and why?

It definitely was one of my favourites! Becky’s crown allowed me to get really creative and to use a beautiful bold colour scheme (I do love colour), her vision was clear and it was a pleasure to be able to work with her and bring that vision to life. 

Being a part of Becky’s wedding was truly a special and emotional experience. Being able to play a role in the bridal party, especially as the hairstylist, adds an extra level of intimacy to the occasion. It was important for me to make sure that Becky felt comfortable and true to herself on her special day. Working with a hair accessory queen like Clare Lloyd helped make Becky’s vision a reality. Her crown was a stunning addition to the bridal look, and it was the perfect accessory that could easily transition from day to night. Getting insight from a hair accessory designer like Clare Lloyd helps other brides to have unique and bespoke hair accessories that add an extra special touch to their big day.

Photo credits : Lolaysufotomaton  

Click to find Clare Lloyd

If you are curious to know what Becky does click here. 

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