Gothic drama! An alternative styled wedding shoot

It seemed quite right and proper that as award winning photographer Janet Broughton and I, put the final touches to the styling for yesterday's alternative wedding shoot, a flash of lightening cut across the darkened skies over our location at the very opulent, *Frank Matcham designed Buxton Opera House!

This was a fittingly dramatic styled shoot, bringing together wildly original bridal wear from The Couture Company; Edwardian Gothic theatre inspired accessories by Glorious Tiaras; striking hair and make up by Helen Masters MUA; sumptuous cakes by For Goodness Cake; suitably brooding stationery by The Charming Press; and hand crafted shoes to die for, by Frankie Lynn!

Our models for the day, Frankie Lynn, Matt Stobbs and Sarah Tonlin glowered to perfection (when they weren't exploring the merits of Penny Dreadful and Edgar Allan Poe)...

The full shoot, expertly captured by the talented Janet at J Broughton Photography, will be available soon. 

If you're interested in featuring on your blog, or in print, contact: Heidi at glorioustiaras@gmail.com or Janet at jbroughton14@hotmail.co.uk

*Frank Matcham - Edwardian theatre designer also famed for designing the London Palladium, London Coliseum and Blackpool Tower Ballroom

Photography: www.jbroughton.co.uk

Bridal wear: www.the-couture-company.co.uk

Accessories: www.glorioustiaras.co.uk

Hair and Make Up: www.helenmastersmakeup.co.uk

Shoes: www.frankielynnemporium.com

Cakes: www.forgoodnesscake.net

Stationery: thecharmingpress.com

Models: Frankie Lynn - www.frankielynnemporium.com Sarah Tonlin - www.facebook.com/SarahTonin.SaraBellisio Matt Stobbs - www.facebook.com/mattsmodel

Venue: buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

Hey babe, take a walk on the styled side

Last autumn I was privileged to spend the day working with award winning photographer Janet Broughton, and a team of great wedding industry pros, on a 'vintage / rustic' styled wedding shoot.

We ate cake, we laughed, we marvelled at the hills surrounding our venue, The Wellbeing Farm, we heard the worst chat up line ever, and we produced some beautiful images that were later featured on the Brides Up North blog, Want that Wedding blog, and in Brides online magazine.

To say I'm excited to be working with Janet again is an understatement, but it's the best I've got on this wet Friday morning!

Over the past few weeks Janet and I have sourced the most breath taking venue for our next styled shoot in early June. We've found a stunning dress designer, and some very unique additions...

If you're a North West based wedding industry professional and you want the opportunity to show off what you do whilst spending the day with some fab professionals, get in contact and ask if you can join the party!

Photography: JBroughton Photography - www.jbroughton.co.uk

Venue: The Wellbeing Farm - www.thewellbeingfarm.co.uk

Dresses: Vintage Lane Bridal Boutique - www.vintagelanebridal.com

Tiaras & Brooch Bouquets: Glorious Tiaras - www.glorioustiaras.co.uk

Hair and make-up: Jaki Ann - www.facebook.com/JakiAnnMakeup

Vintage Ice-cream Cart: Love My Trike - www.lovemytrike.com

Vintage accessories: Pearlie Queen Vintage - www.facebook.com/PearlieQueenCollectables

How to get the most out of a wedding fair

www.glorioustiaras.co.uk


When planning your wedding, a trip to a wedding fair can offer up really big rewards.

For starters, you'll find a good variety of wedding industry professionals under one roof, meaning that instead of spending several weekends trawling around local bridal shops, wedding accessory suppliers, and cake designers, you can see them all in the space of a few hours. Those exhibitors are also keen to do business on the day, so they'll be competing hard to win your time, attention, and money!

However, wedding fairs, especially the big ones, can seem overwhelming, but follow these essential tips and you'll come home at the end of the day having made a serious dent in your 'to-do' list, made some good savings, and enjoyed a fun day out!

1. Register beforehand Many of the shows charge an entry fee, but if you book your tickets beforehand some offer discounted entry, whilst others waive the fee altogether.
2. See who's exhibiting and take a look at their websites You're a busy person! You don't have time to attend a show that doesn't have exhibitors doing what you want! It also helps to know who you definitely want to make the time to go and see whilst your there.
3. Take a shopping list with you It sounds simple, but it'll help keep you on track in what is a relatively short space of time. Most shows run for 5-6 hrs, and by the time you've stopped for coffee & a peek at the catwalk show...
4. Don't go alone If nothing else you'll need someone to help you carry bags, hold up mirrors whilst you try stuff on, and take pictures on your mobile phone. An extra body is also useful to go and queue at the busier stands and have a giggle with as you go around.
5. Try to get there early Goody bags are chock full of nice giveaways, but shows usually only have a limited number, so grab yours before they run out! You'll also get the pick of the time slots for trying on dresses; having your hair done, hands hennaed, or enjoying a free advice session with an expert wedding planner.
6. Make a note of the catwalk times on the way in The catwalk shows are a unique way of gaining inspiration for your wedding day look. You won't want to miss out on seeing how the pros put things together, and the suppliers of those catwalk outfits will be at your show if you see something you absolutely HAVE to have.
7. Book time slots with exhibitors It will help you to structure your day, and make sure you get to try on that special dress; have your hair styled for free; even get your teeth whitened at a special discount!
8. Ask for discounts It's a bride-to-be's and groom-to-be's market. Exhibitors want to fill their order books before they pack up at the end of the day and are happy to offer discounts to make that happen. Some will advertise 'book today' discounts, but if not it's always worth asking, especially if you're thinking of buying more than one product or service from the exhibitor.
9. Ask questions You've paid your entry, made time to be there, and your business is in demand, so don't go home wishing that you'd asked for references, found out how long something would take to make, or whether you could have it in a different colour/size/quantity.
10. Try things on; ask for samples It's important that you get a real feel for the products on offer. I'm amazed at the number of brides-to-be who visit my show stand with it's mirrors, and comfy place to sit, and still try to get an idea of how a hair accessory will look by just looking at it sat on the table! The uniqueness of a show is that you can look, touch, taste, smell, and try on, so get stuck in!
11. If you like something book it! Remember this is a busy time of year for the wedding industry and the most popular designers, venues and entertainers will book up fast.  It's heart breaking to set your heart on something and then find you can't have it because your chosen supplier just doesn't have availability. Even worse to find out you could have had it if you'd booked it 20 minutes earlier...You'll normally need to put a small deposit down to hold the service, but so worth it to know that your name is now in their diary.
12. Ask if you can pay a deposit or spread payments Many exhibitors are happy to offer you flexible payments arrangements, but you won't know unless you ask.
13. Collect business cards In some cases you will need to 'go away and think about it'. Take a business card or brochure so you've got the exhibitors details, but be sure to make a quick note about why you liked them on the back of the card, you'll pick up a few and it's easy to forget by the time you get them all home, which honeymoon company had the best flights, or which cake maker offered the best customer service.
14. Don't feel you have to share your details Lots of exhibitors will want your email address to send you promotions after the show. Some you'll be keen to receive - a sample sale on that dress you wanted? Yes please! Others you won't - insurance for your day when you've already got a policy sorted? No thanks! Don't be afraid to say no (politely). 
15. Enjoy the freebies! There are often plenty on offer. Free wine tasting, free make-up consultations, free cupcakes, free hair styling, and if you have the time, enter a few of those competitions - you might be the lucky couple that wins a free spa break, and let's face it, you could do with a foot massage after a long day at the wedding shows!

Come and see me exhibiting at the following shows:

Hollin Hall Wedding Fair at Hollin Hall Hotel, Kerridge, Cheshire 3rd April 2016

20 reasons to choose a brooch bouquet!

www.glorioustiaras.co.uk

© J Broughton Photography

• They sparkle and catch the light
• They last forever
• They can be handed down as a family heirloom
• They can be dismantled after the ceremony & the brooches given out as gifts to the bridal party
• They won't have wilted by the end of the day

 

• They can incorporate family jewellery – grandma’s brooch, auntie’s earrings
• They won’t aggravate your hay fever, or that of anyone else in your bridal party
• Each one is unique
• They make people gasp
• They can be used as a top table decoration
• They cost roughly the same as a floral bouquet plus preservation fees
• They can be displayed around the home after your wedding
• You won’t need to pay to have it preserved
• 
  
  
  © J Broughton Photography
  
  
• Even ‘out of season’ you have lots of colour choice for your bouquet
• They’re a talking point
• They enhance a vintage, retro, boho or just ‘something different’ theme
• They can provide pops of colour to your scheme
• They're environmentally friendly - no shipping in flowers from abroad
• They can be fun and funky, dramatic, or glamorous
• They can be designed to reflect your joint passions! Love dogs? Have a dog brooch included. Love nature? Have dragonfly brooches…

Remember to speak to your designer about your budget, your colours, your themes, even how tall you are – a huge tear drop brooch bouquet will drown a petite frame.

http://www.glorioustiaras.co.uk/section/bouquets

glorioustiaras@gmail.com

A marriage made in Lancashire

We've kept it under wraps for a while, but at last, we can reveal some of the gorgeous pics from our vintage / rustic styled wedding shoot up in th'hills of Lancashire!

Having 'met' on Twitter back in June, photographer Janet Broughton, and I, came up with the idea of a styled shoot that would showcase the work of some of the best of the North West's wedding industry professionals. 

Over coffee and cake (all the best decisions are made over coffee & cake) we settled on a rustic/vintage theme, agreeing that this would complement the rural landscape that surrounded both our locations perfectly.

We were very lucky to find other high quality, enthusiastic suppliers in a relatively short space of time, and having secured a wonderfully scenic venue for the shoot at The Wellbeing Farm just outside Ramsbottom; a genuine vintage wedding dress supplier at Vintage Lane in The Last Drop Village, Bolton; Jaki Ann, a wedding hair and make-up artist; Love My Trike, a vintage ice cream trike, and Pearlie Queen Collectables, a vintage accessories supplier  - we set a September date for the shoot.

Unfortunately, in the tradition of late summer in the Lancashire hills, our initial shoot had to be abandoned in the face of high winds, torrential rain, hail stones and thunder! Our new shoot date was much more forgiving on the weather front, with hazy sunshine peeking through a soft mist, giving the gorgeous glow you can see in all the pictures.

The end result, I think you'll all agree, was a stunning portfolio of images, showcasing the suppliers in a way we're all very proud of, whilst providing inspiration to the bride and groom planning a rustic/vintage wedding day of their own.

Plans for a future shoot in early 2014 are already afoot!

Photography: J Broughton Photography http://www.jbroughton.co.uk 

Tiaras & Brooch Bouquets: Glorious Tiaras

Vintage Dresses: Vintage Lane http://www.vintagelanebridal.com

Hair and make-up: Jaki Ann https://www.facebook.com/JakiAnnMakeup

Vintage Ice Cream Trike: Love My Trike http://www.lovemytrike.com

Props: Pearlie Queen Collectables https://www.facebook.com/PearlieQueenCollectables

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