Thanks for your thanks!

Ask any of my friends and family and they'll tell you I'm all about the Summer! Long evenings spent pottering around my garden; walking the dog; sitting outside the local for a drink with friends; lapping up whatever warmth comes our way. I don't do the dark, cold, and wet that come with the Winter months. Not easily anyway. So, it used to be, before launching Glorious Tiaras 3 years ago, that I would welcome Autumn and it's vibrant colours with an edge of melancholy at the thought of the dark months ahead.

How that's changed in recent times!

Why?

Because after the rush of summer orders, summer weddings and Glorious summer brides, come the pictures sent to me, by my brides, of them wearing their Glorious accessories on their amazing wedding days! Those pictures never fail to make me feel a warm glow, and really do brighten up the dullest of days!

Image courtesy of Chelsea Shoesmith Photography

Then there are my brides reviews of my work. All reviews are important to me and my business. It's through knowing what I did well; what my brides appreciated about my service; and what is sometimes left unsaid, that I can develop plans to continue to improve what Glorious Tiaras offers to brides. And above all, knowing that one of my brides has taken the time out of her busy, post wedding schedule, to write a review, send a card, or an email, leaves me with the best of feelings about what I do.

Reviews are amazing tools. They reassure future Glorious brides that I am good at what I do, that I'm friendly, approachable, knowledgeable, helpful, and that Glorious accessories are exactly that - Glorious!

I use those valuable reviews on social media, when I'm entering awards, and as a tool to help me plan for my business, so when they pop up in my inbox, I can't help but feel happy.

Autumn is also the time when I work on new designs for the following year's collections. Spending time gathering inspiration, settling on a theme, sketching, and trying out new ideas, before finally getting to work on designs that are going to bring my brides looks to life next year, is a joyous and exciting time.

So, far from dreading the shortening of days, the changing colours, the need to throw on a few extra layers, I say 'bring it on'! Bring on the brides, the reviews, and the plans for the fresh 2016 wedding season.

Glorious Tiaras and Dollface Make Up - We do!

It's gives me goosebumps and great happiness to announce a very exciting collaboration between Gemma Lucas of Dollface Hair and Make Up, and myself, offering the Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester bride-to-be an incredibly useful service!

Gemma Lucas - Dollface Make Up
www.dollfacemakeupstudio.co.uk

Heidi Reid - Glorious Tiaras
www.glorioustiaras.co.uk

I first met Gemma in the autumn of 2014 having spotted a few of her make-up related updates on Facebook. I took my then, very sorry eyebrows, to her Cheshire studio for a HD makeover (love the results), and we got to chatting about her bridal hair and make up service.

Gemma is a very experienced make up artist having trained and worked as an Advanced Artist for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, worked backstage on Britain's Next Top Model, The National Wedding Show, and the Scottish Fashion Awards.

Bridal hair and make up with Dollface
www.dollfacemakeupstudio.co.uk/gallery/bridal/

Our make up, brides,  and hair accessories chat, led us naturally to a problem that many brides-to-be face when trying to choose a style that suits them, and that they love, for their wedding day look. Gemma explained how difficult it is for many of her clients to envisage what their style might look like when teamed with an accessory. A chignon accessorised with a large diamante comb, will look very different teamed with a smaller comb, or with a scattering of crystal hair pins, wrapped with a fluid hair vine, or set off by a pearl laden band. Without those accessories to hand, to play around with during a trial, many of Gemma's brides were struggling to find a style that they were confident enough with to have it replicated on the day of their wedding.

I think you can guess what happened next...!

From here on in, when you book and attend your bridal hair and make up trial with Dollface Make Up Studio, you will be treated to a full 'try on session' with a choice of Glorious bridal hair accessories, as part of your trial. That way you can know for sure whether you suit a cascade of pearls running freely around your fishtail plait, or a glitzy Hollywood glamour comb tucked neatly down the side of your half up do.

Ava side tiara
www.glorioustiaras.co.uk/side-tiara-ava

There will never be any pressure for you to place an order for any of the accessories used during your trial, but of course if you do fall head over heels in love, Gemma will tell you where to find me and my very wonderful HD brows!

If you'd like to book a bridal consultation with Dollface you can contact Gemma at:

www.dollfacemakeupstudio.co.uk
info@dollfacemakeupstudio.co.uk
07816 291001
www.facebook.com/dollfacemakeupstudiouk
twitter.com/DollfaceMUp

Dollface Makeup Studio
Mawson Hairdressing 
42 Chesterfate 
Macclesfield
SK116BA

Glorious Tiaras can be found at:

www.glorioustiaras.co.uk
glorioustiaras@gmail.com
07904 301059
www.facebook.com/glorioustiaras
twitter.com/glorioustiaras

Glorious Tiaras
Makers' Place
Heritage Centre
Roe Street
Macclesfield
SK11 6UT

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A KEY PIECE FROM THE GLORIOUS 2015 COLLECTION!

I have some very exciting news for you this wintry November weekend! The Glorious 2015 range of accessories launches in our on-line store today, and with it comes your chance to win your choice of one of the key pieces!

Ava side tiara

http://www.glorioustiaras.co.uk/side-tiara-ava

This collection of 7, divine bridal accessories, incorporates side tiaras, combs, pins, birdcage veils, hair vines, and bridal cuffs, and are all designed with that old style Hollywood glamour firmly in mind.

Some like the Sofia side tiara, comb, and pins, feature dramatic clusters of crystals that Liz Taylor would have totally rocked, whilst others, like the Seren Birdcage veil, were designed to recreate the stylish, vintage elegance, of Hollywood great Sophia Loren.

Sofia side tiara
http://www.glorioustiaras.co.uk/tiara-sofia                                

Seren birdcage veil
http://www.glorioustiaras.co.uk/birdcage-veil-seren

The Seren range features tiny hand stitched and wired stars, that twinkle softly and subtly.

Seren hair vine
http://www.glorioustiaras.co.uk/bridal-hair-vine-seren 

All pieces are hand crafted by Heidi in her Cheshire studio, and can be adapted through a relaxed and friendly consultation, to suit your specific requirements.

To find out how you can win, head over to our Facebook page now, and follow those simple instructions! 

https://www.facebook.com/GloriousTiaras

Stockists enquiries are very welcome at glorioustiaras@gmail.com

Heidi x

• The winner may choose any accessory from the 2015 collection (Sofia side tiara. Sofia comb. Sofia pin. Ava side tiara. Seren birdcage veil. Seren hair vine. The unnamed crystal band!)
• The accessory will be hand crafted by Glorious designer Heidi Reid, and will have a 3-4 week lead time before delivery. 
• Work on the accessory will begin once the competition winner has notified Glorious Tiaras of their accessory choice. 
• The prize must be claimed before 1st March 2015
• Best accessory name wins! 
• The winner will be chosen by a panel of wedding experts. 
• The competition will close for entries on 7th December 2015
• The winner will be announced on 13th December 2015
• Competition is open to UK residents only

Glorious bride Hannah & how to order a bespoke bridal headpiece!

It was an utter delight to work with April bride Hannah earlier this year, and the process we went through to reach her completed hair accessory makes the perfect blog piece for brides-to-be unsure of how to approach their accessory buying.

Image © Delicious Photography http://www.deliciousphotography.co.uk

Hannah first got in contact with me on via email, having heard my hair accessories discussed on Capital FM Manchester, by another of my brides-to-be!

Image © Delicious Photography http://www.deliciousphotography.co.uk

Hannah had a very clear idea of the kind of hair accessory she wanted and helpfully sent me a handful of images from Pinterest (what did we do before Pinterest?), showcasing the look she wanted. We spoke on the phone, and Hannah described her dress; pinpointed that she wanted leaves in her tiara, and that she wanted her accessory to have a 'vintage feel'.

Image © Delicious Photography http://www.deliciousphotography.co.uk

Hannah shared her budget with me, the date of her wedding and when she'd ideally like to take delivery of her hair accessory, and I went away to work up some ideas.

Image © Delicious Photography http://www.deliciousphotography.co.uk

Having shared a number of images of fledgling design styles with Hannah, we settled on the look she liked, featuring crystal navettes, ivory potato pearls, and diamante leaves.

Image © Delicious Photography http://www.deliciousphotography.co.uk

I kept Hannah posted with the progress of her design, sending her images and giving her the chance to comment and make any last minute changes.

Image © Delicious Photography http://www.deliciousphotography.co.uk

Hannah notified me of her tiara's arrival with the wonderful message: 'It's arrived and it's perfect'! Just what every designer wants to hear!

So, why did the process work so well?

• Hannah had a clear idea of the theme she wanted her accessory to compliment.
• She discussed looks and shared ideas she liked.
• She knew how much she wanted to spend and was happy to share her budget with me.
• She was honest about the designs she didn't like, which enabled me to get to the one that she did!
• She allowed plenty of time for the design process to happen, contacting me 8 weeks ahead of her wedding.
• She was lovely!

And I think you'll agree, Hannah looks amazing in her bespoke Audrey tiara!!!

Photography: Delicious Photography, Lancashire http://www.deliciousphotography.co.uk www.facebook.com/pages/Delicious-Photography

Audrey Tiara: http://www.glorioustiaras.co.uk/tiara-audrey www.facebook.com/GloriousTiaras

A GLORIOUS FIRST MEETING!

First things first. We haven't met before have we? Oh, you've heard of Glorious Tiaras? Well, let me introduce myself properly...!

At my friend's wedding in Italy! 

I'm Heidi (BA Hons Creative Arts), I design and handcraft all Glorious Tiaras, hair accessories and vintage brooch bouquets. I graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1991. My first 'proper' job was working as a photographic researcher for a fab company called The Image Bank. Heady times, networking with ad agencies, design companies, PR set ups, magazines, and travel companies.

In 1996 I married the man who has ever since, made me feel loved and valued, and took off around the world on an 18 month honeymoon. We climbed mountains, dived coral reefs, danced on white sand beaches, and all the while I kept a notebook of sketches of the art, architecture, and patterns, used in the tiling of Indian palaces, Thai temples, and on the textiles sold by roadside vendors in Indonesia.

Once home it was time for starting a family and a career presenting a daily programme for local radio. Sounds glam, but juggling childcare so as to be able to set up a 7am outside broadcast on a chilly Sunday morning to talk to a tired, grumpy, local politician - not so glam. I did get to meet and interview some great people though! Victoria Pendleton, Nadia Sawalha, and Sir David Nicholas CBE, to name a few, but, despite loving radio, there was still the unfinished business of a passion for creating, a book full of designs, and the knowledge that even when interviewing people from diverse backgrounds, the feedback that I got was that I was a good listener who could interpret the needs of others in an exciting and engaging way. Oh, and then there was a love of being a part of someone's wedding day, a love of sparkly things, a love of vintage jewellery, and an inspiring visit to the V&A's tiara exhibition...and before I knew where I was I had a workshop full of unique, handcrafted, vintage inspired tiaras, bridal hair accessories, and genuine vintage brooch bouquets. I gave up the day job, booked a stand at the National Wedding Show, got featured by wedding blogs, took orders, had great feedback, won an award and, well, like I say, lovely to meet you properly.

Now, tell me about your wedding plans ;)
www.glorioustiaras.co.uk

Me & the Mr on a very Glorious day!

Billie Side Tiara