How can the headpiece be worn after the wedding?

Mary Clary Bridal Designs

Some headpiece companies offer the prospect of either remaking your headpiece into jewelry that can be worn after the wedding or the possibility of wearing the tiara around the neck after the wedding.  I have found that initially many brides find this idea appealing as their practical side takes over.  This practicality doesn't usually last long.  Most aspects of the wedding are chosen by taste, love, and that once in a lifetime dream fulfillment.
The choosing of the headpiece should be based on all of the above mentioned aspects.  If the headpiece of your dreams is a convertible headpiece, that could be good.  However, most brides want to keep their headpiece in tact as a cherished memory of their wedding.
If you do go the route of convertible, be sure that the company that reworks your headpiece uses a fine quality clasp and considers your design preferences.  Unfortunately, many of the companies that offer this service, simply string the pearls and crystals and finish it with a very ordinary metal clasp.  You really have to conside

r if you would ever wear this reworked piece as jewelry anyway.
The other option is the tiara that is supposed to work as a necklace after the wedding.  Usually these pieces are uncomfortable and questionable in taste.
Mary Clary Designs offers both of these options with tasteful, beautiful designs that pay attention to all aspects of detail and quality.  If your choice is to wear your headpiece as jewelry after the wedding, we will work with you to make that dream come true.

Are Handmade Headpieces Better Than Mass Produced?

Handmade does not always indicate unique or better quality. There are many crafters and sellers in the headpiece industry who think that stringing some pearls and crystals on a comb or gluing a feather to a clip constitutes a headpiece. Surely, you wouldn't want Aunt Harriett gathering some flowers from her garden to make your wedding bouquet. In the same way, you wouldn't want her to create your headpiece. I have found that the best handmade headpieces are created by people with jewelry making, fashion, and hair accessory experience.

Handmade headpieces have more flexibility regarding the components used to make the headpiece. You need to be particulary careful that the designer uses the best quality ingredients. It is highly preferrable that they use jewelry grade such as sterling silver, 14kt gold or gold filled, freshwater pearls, gemstones, and Swarovski crystals. There is a huge difference in the look of a headpiece using inferior materials. The sparkle from Swarovski crystals is a brilliant sparkle, whereas other crystals don't reflect the light in nearly the same capacity. Many sellers of handmade headpieces say they use Swarovski, but in fact, don't. Some use plastic "crystals" that really don't sparkle. The same is true for pearls. There are some high quality faux pearls that are fitting to certain pieces. But, often, fake pearls are just plastic with a paint covering and have a very cheap look. You certainly wouldn't wear a necklace or earrings of such inferior quality. The headpiece should be considered as "hair jewelry" since it is an accessory worn near your face meant to enhance your appearance. You need to consider the design and quality of the headpiece before you purchase.

Quality control with a quality headpiece designer is more obtainable than with mass produced, machine made headpieces. Often, the machine made pieces have glued components that fall out very shortly after purchase. The last thing you want is a headpiece missing some of its parts.

If your desire is to express yourself in a unique way, then handmade can help. If you are working with a reputable designer, the creation can be uniquely yours. On the downside, some designers will not accept returns when the piece has been custom made.

Another very important aspect of handmade that can be crucial for some brides is the fit. If you have very thin or thick hair or a very large or small head, certain styles can work better than others. You can request your headpiece on a very fine toothed comb or on a small clip or even on bobby pins. A tiara can be sized either larger or smaller. Handmade has the versatility to accommodate special sizing requests.

With the right headpiece designer, you can get a unique, highest quality, beautiful headpiece that fits you and your style. At Mary Clary Bridal Designs, I represent the experienced few whose background reflects jewelry making, fashion, art, and hair accessories.

Headpiece - Yes or No

Mary Clary Bridal Designs

No one will dispute the fact that a woman's wedding day is one of the most special days in her life. For most women, being the focal point of a social event of this magnitude, only occurs on her wedding day. Since you are reading this blog, you obviously are either a bride to be or somehow involved in the wedding planning process. You know the enormous amount of effort involved in having everything from head to toe as perfect as possible. Certainly, the gown is the most obvious important element of the "look". From the starting point of the gown, there is a definite need for a bride to accessorize. For some brides, their lifelong dream was to be a princess on their wedding day. It is without question that these women will wear a tiara. For other brides, the idea of even a tiny bit of sparkle in the hair seems too girly girl. At Mary Clary Designs, we believe that certainly everyone has a different view of themselves as a bride, and we try to work with the bride to accommodate each individual. Of course, we adore adorning the head in some way.

"I am not completely happy with the headpiece my aunt gave me to wear"

     If you were given a headpiece that is truly beautiful and you love it, but it is missing some stones, and just needs a tweek here and there, you can have a headpiece designer fix it for you.  If the designer is experienced and good, she or he can replace stones, and straighten out any imperfection. 
     If you were given a headpiece or found a vintage piece that you love in certain ways, but you would prefer the components redesigned, a competent headpiece designer can also accomplish that for you.  The key word here is "competent".  You want someone who really knows what they are doing to rework your headpiece. 
     If you have just one component from a previously used headpiece that you love and would like to incorporate just the component into your headpiece, it can definitely be accomplished by using a headpiece designer who specializes in custom work.
    I love to design new headpieces and to work on older ones to bring them up to perfection.  Some of the most interesting unique and beautiful pieces are comprised of the foundation being the "given" headpiece with embellishments from many other sources.

Finding the Right Headpiece for Fine Hair

Mary Clary Bridal Designs

If your hair is very thin and/or fine, and a comb or hairpin would just slide out, there are ways to get around this. Instead of a hairpin or comb, a beautiful vintage or modern sparkly design on a bobby pin or tiny clip will work better for you. The secret is to make the design very light and airy. If you have your heart set on a comb, be sure that the comb has very fine teeth that can be anchored with additional bobby pins. If you have always wanted to wear a tiara on your wedding day, I recommend a tight fitting headband instead.  It can have the same feeling as a tiara, but will hold better if your hair is very fine. I love to work with you to create exactly what you need and want. Check out my designs at www.maryclarydesign.etsy.com. All of our designs can be altered to work in any type of hair.

The Bridal Headpiece - When to Purchase

Mary Clary Bridal Designs

Opinions vary as to the best time for the headpiece purchase. Some bridal manuals suggest that the headpiece should be purchased at the time of the gown purchase. Of course, the bridal salons will encourage you to do your "one stop" purchasing at their salon. This is not necessarily the best idea. The bridal salon may have spectacular gowns, but not all have equally beautiful headpieces. They all, however, will definitely overcharge you in a huge way, for your headpiece. My recommendation, is to first purchase your gown. Secondly, have your hair consultation. Once you know the style of your gown and hair, you can decide on the style of your headpiece.
You should ask your consultants at the bridal salon and at the hair salon, what style they would recommend for your gown, hairstyle, and hair type. Once you have the basic information, use your good taste to find your perfect headpiece.
You can find your perfect beautiful headpiece at www.maryclarydesign.etsy.com where quality and affordability cannot be matched. At Mary Clary Bridal Designs, any design can be altered to fit your needs and desires. We offer 100% guarantee