Carrie Yeo wedding jewellery and accessories

Wedding dress of the month: Martina Liana

2010-07-28T23:40:00.009+01:00

July's dress of the month is style 296 by Australian designer martina Liana.

This stunning couture style dress incorporates Swarovski cystal and beading on a beautifully fitted bodice and a full tiered ruffle skirt of silk dupioni and silk organza.

To compliment this gown we reccomend accessories from our Liberty collection

With such a fun gown it is best to keep the accessories simple and elegant. Try the Liberty earrings and Liberty headband. The Swarovski crystal beads and rhinestones mirror those in the dress without distracting from the overall look.

Please visit www.carrieyeo.com to view the entire collection:

Liberty earrings (left)

Liberty headband (right)

Planning a Beach Themed Wedding

2010-05-15T14:11:00.054+01:00

Summer is here....apparently! As I look out of the window at the grey skies I am envious of all those Brides to be who are planning destination weddings in warmer climes!

So to cheer us all up here is our blog on planning a Beach themed wedding....

Whether planning a wedding overseas or maybe something closer to home with a beach theme there are many details that you can incorporate to reflect this theme.

When it comes to your wedding day style an increasingly popular look is the Grecian look first made popular by the film Mama Mia. This look lends its self to relaxed weddings at home or abroad and we show you here how to create that look for yourself:

When it comes to choosing your dress many designers have lines designed especially for weddings abroad. Joyce Young have an entire collection of destination wedding dresses featuring elegant styling and lightweight fabrics. Our favourites pictured here are Antibes and Havana. To see the whole collection visit Joyce's website or her stores in Scotland and London.

Maggie Sottero has her own collection of Destination wedding gowns available throughout the UK. We LOVE styles
RD1044 and SD5211 (pictured) for their pretty bohemian styling and gorgeous feminine detailing. The soft fabrics will be lightweight enough to keep you cool and will flutter in the sea breeze.

When choosing your dress also consider if you will need to cover up. Will you be standing outside saying your vows in the mid day sun? The sun burnt bride is not a good look!

Complete this beach bride look with our Organza Rose Hair Flower or Delphinium Barrette (shown below).

For those having a wedding abroad you may not be able to have a hair trial with the person who will be doing on the day so choose something simple and easy to wear so that you are not disappointed with the work of a local hairdresser on the day.

Hair styles for the beach bride look are either worn down loose with a soft wave, or swept to the side with a beautiful natural looking flower.

Headbands, Barrettes and hair flowers are easier to attach than tiaras and are something that you can style yourself if you need to.

Make up is soft and natural and jewellery is simple and often reflects the destination.

We have three collections that are perfect for the beach bride look.

Our Lucia Collection takes inspiration from the sea and sand, with Opalite and soft crystals.

Our Flower collection consists of soft blooms to wear in your hair for an island look

and our Seashell collection features Stirling silver jewellery with small seashells and starfish.

To compliment our range of Beach bride jewellery shown below we have found some great ideas to continue the theme throughout your day.

Whippet Grey has some beautiful shell covered hearts that would look great to decorate your venue or hung from the top table. You can then display it in your home as a keepsake of your wedding day hung on your wall alongside your wedding photos. (from £25)

Why not use seashells and starfish instead of flowers to decorate your tables? Filled glass jars surrounded by tea lights will create a pretty table centre. You can continue the theme by collecting pebbles and writing your guests names on them as place markers which double up as favours.

For Beach brides getting married in the UK, Nicky Grant specialises in making gorgeous wedding cakes like the one pictured below. Visit her website to view her seashell themed cakes.

If you are getting married overseas remember to source a local cake maker well in advance of your wedding. As you will be unlikely to taste the cake before the big day ask you hotel for reccomendations.

Tips from the Wedding experts.... Make-up

2010-05-03T11:24:00.007+01:00

In the second of our series on tips from the wedding experts we have great wedding day make up advice from Makeupbykaty.com to help you achieve your perfect wedding day look:

Why use a Make-up Artist on your wedding day?

I’m sure that’s a question many brides-to-be have asked themselves. Or indeed, been asked by their fiancé/mother/mother-in-law?!

“You do your own make-up every day? Why get someone in to do what you already do yourself?”

I’m going to take you through all the factors of bridal make-up and explain the hows and whys.

As a make-up artist with 14 years’ experience, I’ve done the make-up for more brides than I can count. Each one had an individually designed look. Some wanted dark smoky eyes, others wanted soft, barely there neutrals and everything imaginable inbetween. The one factor they all had in common? They all wanted to look their absolute best. The wedding day is the one day when looking perfect is imperative!

So you need to take into consideration these aspects;

Longevity- This make-up needs to last all day. And night!

You don’t want to be touching up your eyeshadow and re-concealing half way through the day. Good make-up artists have tricks a plenty up their sleeves when it comes to achieving that long stay finish. I always pay close attention to the skin and address any underlying issues before I even touch it with base! Then there’s setting the make-up without looking dry and powdery, stopping the eyes from creasing, liner from smudging.

Photography- Flash photography can have a huge effect on the make-up you wear.

It can change what looks like a natural make-up into a ‘nothing at all’ look! That smudge of kohl pencil and quick coat of mascara won’t stand up to the job. Without enough definition around the eyes, they’ll disappear (not literally, just photographically!). The art is having enough on so your features are defined but not so much that you feel over done. I have a technique where I press liner into the roots of the lash; this gives the right amount of depth just where it’s needed. Plus, it’s waterproof, of course!

When it comes to foundation, having a base on that doesn’t reflect well can lead to a washed out complexion. I’m a stickler for ensuring the skin looks as flawless as possible without even looking as though there is any make-up on. A make-up artist will have a variety of shades in his/her kit, that way, if you’ve had a spray tan or used a self tan at home, your face will match your body exactly. There’s nothing worse than your face looking like it’s stuck onto someone else’s body!

I painstakingly custom blend the foundation on the day to get the perfect shade and texture. Also,be very careful not to use light reflective products, unless they’re being used for clever highlighting and contouring, they can reflect back a white tone, especially around the eyes and can be spotted a mile off.

The look- We, as women, are super critical when we look in the mirror! It’s hard for us to be objective when it comes to our own faces. That’s why we so often get stuck in make-up ruts. A make-up artist looks at you differently.

I look at my client and I see the beauty in her face. I see what I want to enhance and emphasise, as opposed to what I want to cover. This gives a fresh take on styles and colours that you may have never thought of. A good make-up artist will bear what you do every day in mind and create you a look that combines your own style with new ideas. The idea is not to make you look like someone else, just a more polished, perfect version of you! Don’t be afraid to show clippings from magazines of make-up that you’ve seen. Sometimes it’s easier to show than to describe. That’s what trials are for!

Time- Don’t underestimate how manic the morning of your wedding can get! I like to take the bride off into another room to do her make-up. This gives her a break from the mayhem and lets her focus on the most important thing, herself!

It’s one of the things my brides always comment on, how relaxed they feel by the time their make-up is done. Between myself and the hairdresser, we get the bride ready first and then it’s time for the bridesmaids, mother-of- bride and everyone else! Then, when everyone is done, I return to the bride.

By this time, she’s hopefully had something to eat and drink. It’s time for a small sip of champagne and the last touch ups. I put her lips on last; check the bride has her touch up items in a little bag. I then have a look at her back, shoulders and arms for any blemishes that need camouflaging, get those covered and sealed and wait for the dress to be put on.

Finally, I take a picture on my digital camera to check there’s nothing reflecting badly with the flash. Then I show the bride so she can see how amazing she looks.

Thanks to Katy from Makeupbykaty.com for submitting this article. If it’s helped you, please let me know.

If you’d like to talk to Katy about your own wedding make-up, please feel free to drop her an e-mail on katy@makeupbykaty.com and have a look at her website to see more of her work http://www.makeupbykaty.com/.

Dress of the month

2010-04-22T13:38:00.006+01:00

Our dress of the Month for April is the stunning Eloise from Jenny Packham. The beautifully shaped embroidery and bead work on the bodice gives it romantic baroque feel and the silhouette exudes old Hollywood glamour.

To accessorise this dress we would reccomend pieces from our Astor Flower collection, as the Swarovski diamante tear drops reflect the detail on the gown.

The Astor Flower headband shown above is just the right amount of sparkle and the Astor Flower necklace reflects the sweetheart neckline of the dress.

Also available in the collection are several styles of earrings and a bracelet.

Pixie Lott chooses Carrie Yeo hair flowers again...

2010-04-10T18:30:00.012+01:00

Pop princess Pixie Lott has been seen wearing Carrie Yeo Hair flowers again....

She was spotted last week wearing a bespoke Carrie Yeo hair flower in Ivory and cream, which complimented her black dress and ivory jacket.

The flower which has a black Swarovski crystal centre is available to purchase from www.carrieyeo.com and is £28.00. It is mounted on a silver plated hair clip. It is the perfect accessory for summer and would work well for a monochrome wedding look for guests, Brides or Bridesmaids.

Carrieyeo.com has a huge selection of hair flowers all perfect additions to any outfit now the sun is finally out!

Tips from the wedding experts...Photography

2010-04-08T17:41:00.018+01:00

Top 5 tips: choosing your wedding photographer......

As the first in a series of tips from wedding experts, this month we bring you Wedding photography tips from Wedding photogrpaher Adam James.

Established in 1995, Adam James has become one of the South East's leading documentary wedding photographers, well known for his discreet photojournalistic technique. His range of styles include both formal and informal techniques, but one of his best known skills is his ability to put into print the wishes of his clients with insight and sensitivity.

Your wedding photographs are the lasting memory of the most important day of your life, and here Adam gives you his top tips on findng the best photographer for your wedding:

1. Most good wedding photographers should have a top quality website where you should be able to view samples of their work.

2. A skillful wedding photographer will be able to capture natural shots from the day as well as posed shots, and will be able to direct the wedding photography in a relaxed and friendly way.

3. Relax and enjoy your day and let your photographer take responsibility for the shots taken.

4. Ensure your photographer knows well in advance of anyspecial requests.

5. Your wedding photographs are some of your most important memories of your lives, so ensure that you choose the best photographer within your budget.

Photographs for this article are provided by Adam James Photography.

To see furtherexamples of Adam's work please visit:

http://www.adamjames.co.uk/

Adam James
Photography

Tel: 01825 722748
Mob: 07968 208318
Email: adam@adamjames.co.uk

British Bridal Exhibition and Dress of the Month

2010-03-03T13:44:00.044Z

March has been a busy month at Carrie Yeo....

It started off with preparations for my sister Claire's wedding and I not only had Bridesmaids duties but also the honour of designing all of the lovely Carrie Yeo accessories that she had commissioned for herself and the wedding party. Claire had a Bespoke side tiara based on designs from our Classic Bride Collection.

The photographs are not in yet but we will be sure to add them to the Brides Gallery with Claire's kind permission once they come through.

As a gift for Claire I ordered a small doll from Lauralong.co.uk . I then handmade a copy of Claire's dress in miniature, and added tiny matching accessories including an Audrey headband!

Laura hand knits each doll in her London studio and finds Bride and Groom dolls are becoming popular as gifts for brides and also younger bridesmaids.

To order a doll of your own please visit http://www.lauralong.co.uk/ where you can see her entire collection.

British Bridal Exhibition

The end of the month saw The British Bridal Exhibition in Harrogate. This is the show where all of the Bridal Industry come together to see the new collections before they are delivered to the stores. It was a very inspiring few days and we were lucky enough to be invited to the Bridal Buyer Awards Ball by the lovely girls at Wedding Ideas Magazine. (Carrie Marseden and Rachel Morgan are pictured with me below) We passed the time between awards by playing Bridal Bingo with Natalie from Madeline Isaac James, (pictured below with Rachel Southwood from Wedding ideas) by trying to guess who all of the winners would be. Natalie was at the show to launch her new collection, which was debuted on the catwalk. ( pictured left).

So many beautiful gowns are coming through for the new season many with floral and crystal embellishements and buttons are still a lovely feature with Madeline Isaac James incorporating them down the full length of the back of the dress.

Wedding Ideas girls:Rachel M and Carrie M with Carire Yeo at the awards dinner. Natalie from Madeline Isaac James, and Rachel S, enjoying the awards!

Dress of the Month: Ian Stewart Florentina.

After seeing so many dresses at The British Bridal Exhibition we have decided that the dress of the Month for march is Ian Stewart's Florentina. We love the aysemetric gathering on this style with gives it a gorgeous combination of classic with a fashionable twist.

We would reccomend a side tiara or headband for this style to be worn on the opposite side to the flower that is on the hip. Alternatively why not continue the floral theme with our Organza Rose clip to the side of your head. A simple necklace such as the Deco crystal drop necklace would finish the look with out over powering the over all style.

Dress of the month

2010-02-17T11:58:00.010Z

Each month we chose a beautiful wedding dress that we love and suggest Carrie Yeo accessories that we think would best compliment that style....

This month: Pronovias Magia...

This gorgeous style from Pronovias has a deep v neck and grecian pleating at the front and a stunning deep cowl back - perfect for destination brides.

The Grecian theme can be carried on to your accessories. A silk flower placed to the side of the hair will not wilt in the sun and adds just the right amount of pretty detail to your hair. Try our Delpinium hair pins. To compliment this dress Our Liberty cascade back necklace would add a touch of sparkle to the back of your dress as you walk up the aisle and catch the sunlight beautifully.

A week with Carrie Yeo

2010-01-27T21:04:00.025Z

To give you an idea of what we do all day at Carrie Yeo, here is our diary from a few weeks ago:

Monday:

This week we have a large order going out the door for a stockist so there are lots of boxes to fill and ivory ribbons to tie. We start early on a Monday. Although we do not officially open until 10am, we meet early to get together and talk about the week ahead, we take a quick look at our diaries and see what orders are going out the door this week. Then it's time for a quick chat over a cup of hot chocolate!

Once work has started on our outstanding orders I take a quick look at the website figures from the previous week. As usual Monday was the busiest - lots of Brides-to-be have been surfing the site to cheer themselves up and banish the monday morning blues with a bit of Carrie Yeo sparkle!

This afternoon was fun - I spoke to a lovely bride who is getting married in St Lucia and wants some bespoke hair flowers. I am so envious - it's where I spent my honeymoon and the grey skies today are making me wish I was going with her!!!
Was nice to be able to give her some tips and advice and reminice....

Tuesday:

We have been working on orders all day today, and coming up with ideas for the new collections. I have so many ideas that I cannot wait to set aside some time and put them down on paper and make the first samples.

Got a call from my sister Claire in Norway. We are working on her accessories as she is getting married in a couple of months. Today we decided on the Bridesmaids accessories which is great for me as I get to wear the Audrey headband (which is one of my absolutes favourite pieces) as I follow her down the aisle! We still have to finalise her own accessories but whatever she chooses she will look amazing. I cannot wait to see her fiancee's face when he sees her!

Wednesday:

We went up north to have a catch up with the lovely Charlotte Balbier today who was glamourous as usual in a great navy blazer and vintage brooch. She has some fab new pieces in her Boutique collection. Am totally loving her Camilla and willow styles.

Whilst over in her area we went to see a potential new stockist with a gorgeous new shop. I think that their wall paper would look fab in my house- I think that my Husband would disagree.

Thursday:

We went down to Kent to see our latest stockist - La Boutique in Beckenham Kent. Julia the owner was lovely, and the shop looked amazing. The store will be stocking the Eternity, Deco and Vintage leaf ranges, as well as several other pieces from the flowers, Liberty and Audrey collections.

The new copy of wedding ideas has come out and they have featured Pixie Lott wearing our hair flowers on the Editors page which is fab! She looks soooo pretty and cool at the same time!

She wore a combination of our Delphinium hair pins and our Orchid hair pins scattered through her hair. Both styles are available on our website and are perfect for Brides to be.

Friday:

Spent the morning working on orders- lots to make today. We all saw Desperate Housewives last night and loved Susan's headband/tiara. It was so pretty and really suited her. It might be used as inspiration in a new collection somewhere along the line....

A bride to be called looking for some earrings to match her Audrey single pearl necklace, so we have designed her some Audrey single pearl earrings. I don't know why we didn't have these before. We all agree that they are fab and that we will add them to the site ASAP. I love it when I get inspired by real life brides and pieces evolve into new collections!
Work is going well and it is nice to see all of the orders from this week wrapped up and ready to go out of the door on Monday!

After lunch I am glad to see a huge bar of chocolate on my desk. Yum! Turkish delight - I love the stuff! Lets see if I can make the bar last the day....

Creating your wedding day look with personal style.

2010-01-21T11:14:00.021Z

A wedding is such a personal occasion that it should reflect your own style and tastes. What better time than your wedding day to treat yourself to something so special?

The difference between customised and bespoke….

Customised: Taking a design that is already in existence and personalising it to your own tastes.

Bespoke: Creating an entirely new style with the designer that is a one off, just for you.

Bespoke wedding dress design and customisation:

Brides looking to be truly unique on their wedding day often opt to have bespoke or customised accessories made for them, but have you thought about a bespoke or customised dress?
Danielle Meiners offers both a bespoke service and an alteration service and often re-styles dresses as well as making creations from her client’s imaginations.
Danielle who has a BA in Fashion design and has worked as a pattern cutter for several well known brands in London now works in the bridal industry helping to make wedding day dreams come true. From a simple hem alteration to a fully bespoke gown Danielle uses her training and technical experience to skilfully adapt styles to flatter brides to be. Recent work has included remodelling a dress with sleeves into a halter-neck for a more contemporary look and the creation of a made to measure chiffon and lace dress with fluted handkerchief hem.

Advantages of a bespoke wedding dress:

In Danielle’s experience there are several reasons people want bespoke: “Either because they simply cannot find exactly what they are looking for. (It’s hard to find a unique and different wedding dress sometimes). Or because a customer wants a dress that is truly theirs, a one off dress designed and chosen by them, and made to fit them perfectly.” Sometimes however it is down to the look of the dress. “There is a trend coming through for lighter weight dresses, with the corsetry hidden under smooth, flowing, almost Grecian dresses. This style is harder to produce for brands that are mass produced. A bespoke dress will stand out in this case.”

The process of having a bespoke wedding dress:

Danielle explains the step by step process of designing your own wedding gown:

“I ask my customers to collect as many examples of what they like from magazine cuttings/ photos or actual garments. At this initial meeting I will show them fabric samples too to see what they do and don't like.
A price is then agreed and I then take their measurements.
A toile (practice version) of the dress is then created to be fitted and changed to the customer’s requirements. I will also show the customer a choice of fabrics to choose from. The final garment is then made up and a final fitting arranged to make sure the dress is perfect.”

Danielle's down to earth personality and friendly nature takes that stress and often intimidating nature out of having a couture gown made for you.

“I aim to do everything I can to make the dress fit and feel great. And I offer a one to one service and get to know my customer well, so I can fulfil their criteria.”

Her best advice for brides to be is: “Don't let other peoples opinions on your dress choice influence you too much. A wedding dress is very unique to your style, what you know your partner will like and what flatters you the most. We don't all go around dressed the same day to day so just remember not everyone will like your dress, but if you feel like a princess in it and can't wait to see your man's face when he sees you, that's the one!”

Top tips for a bespoke Wedding Dress of your dreams:

Having worked with so many brides Danielle offers her top 5 tips for creating the wedding dress of your dreams:

1. Go and try on all sorts of different dress styles (even if you don't like them!) You'll be surprised what actually suits you.
2. Don't just look for inspiration in wedding magazines. Any detail can be adapted to look great on a wedding dress.
3. Think about the cloth, this can really make a dress stand out. Often people just stick to plain satins and silks.
4. Make sure your dress feels like it fits you. It is amazing how different a dress can make you feel when it fits you perfectly.
5. To have a one-off wedding dress made and designed especially for you is the essence of your wedding day. If you know you look good, you will feel confident in front of all those people!

"After working for years behind the scenes of the fashion industry it was a fresh experience for me to be able to work one to one with a customer and especially being involved in such a big day! It gives me a real sense of satisfaction to see the wedding photos and everyone looking so happy."

Danielle is based in Essex and can visit brides for alterations in the South East and London.

Prices for Bodice alterations start at just £30.

Brides to be who are interested in Danielle’s services should contact her on 07773138458 for a quotation.

Bespoke and customised wedding accessories

Why not continue customising you look with your accessories?

At Carrie Yeo we offer customisation on all our styles, whether it is a simple change of colour or the lengthening or shortening of one of our necklaces, the details of your big day are just as important to us as it is to you.

To learn about this process please visit our website

We have also worked on more elaborate pieces such as the dress jewellery below which cannot only turn a dress into the wedding gown of your dreams but can be reworked after the big day into a necklace or bracelet for you to treasure forever.

We have a huge variety of styles that we can adapt for you and can easily design something just for you with our bespoke design service.

Contact at info@carrieyeo.com with your enquiries.

January News

2010-01-08T15:34:00.009Z

A happy new year to everyone, especially all 2010 Brides and congratulations to those who got engaged over the Christmas and New Years season!

This week sees the introduction of our Brides Gallery featuring some of our 2009 Brides. This gallery not only shows off some of our favourite products but gives Brides-to-be styling tips and hair ideas.
If you would like to be featured please send images in JPEG format to info@carrieyeo.com

The new year also sees the introduction of our new Collection, Elizabeth. This collection will be available from February onwards but here is a sneak peak:

The Elizabeth Collection will be part of our Classic Bride range and has been inspired by real life brides and the bespoke designs that we enjoyed working on in 2009. The centre piece of the collection is a glittering side tiara of tear drop shaped diamantes and clusters of crystals, which perfectly compliments any hair style, long, short, up or down. Other pieces include a hair vine, earrings, necklace and bracelet.
All 8 pieces in this sparkling collection are made of Swarovski crystal and Swarovski Diamante.

For futher information on the Elizabeth Collection please email Info@carrieyeo.com

Pixie Lott wears our Delphinium hair pins and Orchid hair pins to the Q Awards...

2009-10-31T14:51:00.008Z

Pop star Pixie Lott looked fantastic at the recent Q Music awards. She wore a combination of our our Delphinium hair pins and Orchid hair pins in her long blond locks. The hair pins added a soft edge to her sark black sequined number and gave her a fashionable Grecian look.

To create a similar look group together a selection of our pins in a cluster to one side of your head and then scatter single blooms throughout the rest of you hair. If you are wearing your hair up the pins slot in easily to any style. If you are wearing your hair down ask your hair dresser to use bobby pins crossed over the flower pins to secure them in place.

Flower hair accessories from www.carrieyeo.com from £28 for 3.

Carrie Yeo Sample Sale

2009-10-28T16:43:00.011Z

WEDDING ACCESSORY SAMPLE SALE NOW ON!

For brides looking to save money on their Carrie Yeo Wedding accessories, we currently have a sample sale of items that have been used in photo shoots either for our website or for a Wedding Magazine. Please visit http://www.carrieyeo.com/ for more details...

· All of the accessories listed on this page have been worn by models or have been used at aphoto shoot but they are all in perfect condition.

· Not all items that go on photo shoots make it into the sample sale so these are one off offers. Once they are gone, they are gone!

· The colour of the available sample may vary from the photo so please read the description before buying.

· As these pieces are photo samples the price is reduced, but our returns policy remains the same .

· Please note that all earrings have been fitted with brand new Stirling Silver backs after returning from the shoot.

· Delivery will take place within 1 week of the order being placed for these items which perfect for Brides whose wedding date is soon.

Using Colour In Your Wedding

2009-10-26T10:02:00.016Z

A beautiful way to set your wedding day style apart from the crowd is with the use of colour. This season bold bright colours are just as popular as traditional pastel shades, from hair accessories with brightly coloured butterflies to simple crystal earrings in jewel tones.

Many of the styles that we have in our current collections are available in the 36 colours from our colour chart, so you are sure to find something to match the colours that you have chosen for your Bridesmaids and the rest of the wedding. If you cannot find the colour that you are looking for please enquire about our free colour matching service.

Where colour was once only used for bridesmaids’ dresses, designers are now using colour for Wedding dresses. Charlotte Balbier features a beautiful lemon coloured wedding dress in her current collection, and Alfred Angelo have several dresses with colourful trims, sashes and necklines.

Many Asian brides traditionally wear red on their wedding day, as a symbol of good luck and it is a colour that is fast becoming a trend in the UK particularly for winter weddings or for brides who want to look different. With this in mind we have added a range of new colourful hair flowers for brides who love colour including these red flower hair pins, a red peony hair clip, a merlot coloured orchid and a beatiful pink floral hair clip.

Other key colours this season are pale pinks like our popular shade called Vintage Rose, turquoises and Aqua like our pacific opal; bright colours like Fuchsia, and all shades of purple from soft lilac to deep amethysts and Aubergines.

More unusual colours like orange, olive and navy are also emerging as sophisticated Bridesmaid looks.

Many Brides choose to have some colour in their jewellery for a contemporary look or to reflect their birthstone. Below is a Swarovski colour chart reflecting this tradition. Brides can use our bespoke design service to create colourful and exotic pieces or just change the shade of a few crystals. The only limit is your imagination.

Celebrity weddings: Gary Lineker and Danielle Bux, & Nicola Mclean and Tommy Williams

2009-09-08T09:59:00.008+01:00

Gary Lineker and Danielle Bux

Congratulations to Danielle Bux and Gary Lineker who were married on the 3rd September.

Danielle looked beautiful in her Suzanne Neville Dress at her wedding in Ravello Italy. Carrie Yeo provided the accessories for the Bridal Party including Butterfly meadow headbands and necklaces for the Bridesmaids and a customised tiara for Danielle’s daughter Ella.

We captured to the bohemian look that Danielle wanted but also added a touch of colour with pinks and purples to reflect her colour scheme. Click here to find out more.

Four Weddings Celebrity Edition

Well done also to Nicola Mclean who was married in June, and came first in living TV’s popular new show “Four weddings” Model and reality TV star Nicola starred in the Celebrity edition which was aired this week.

Nicola whose wedding was recently featured in OK! Magazine looked stunning in her My Lady dress and Carrie Yeo accessories. Her fairy tale wedding was voted the best wedding by the other celebrity judges and Nicola donated the cash prize to her favourite charity Jean for Genes.
Nicola wore our Astor flower tiara, Astor flower bracelet and bespoke earrings in gold.

Click here to find out more about the other accessories that she chose for her big day.

If you would like to feel like a celebrity on your wedding day visit our website: http://www.carrieyeo.com/ for beautiful tiaras, headbands, necklaces, earrings and more.

The Beauty Of Pearls For Weddings

2009-08-14T19:19:00.010+01:00

Our new Audrey Single Pearl Necklace has been featured on the front cover of this month’s Perfect Wedding Magazine with a gorgeous Sophia Tolli wedding dress with a stunning sweetheart neckline which compliments this elegant style.
The Audrey Single Pearl Necklace features one large freshwater pearl, two Swarovski crystals, one of which can be changed to any of the 36 colours in our colour chart to co-ordinate with your wedding look. The crystal pictured here is 'Lt Azore' which can be your something blue.

This necklace is also a perfect gift for bridesmaids and Mother of the Bride or Groom as the classic design suits all ages and the touch of colour gives it a personalised touch.
Pearls have such a luminescent style which is so flattering, and they form the basis of so many of our designs. Our Audrey Collection is based entirely on the beauty of pearls. They create such a timeless look.

The pearls that we use in our wedding jewellery are ivory freshwater pearls as these suit all ages and skin tones and compliment the ivory tones of both vintage and modern wedding dresses.
The tradition of wearing pearls on your wedding day has long been popular. It was once believed the pearls would promote marital harmony as pearls symbolize love, success, happiness, and modesty.
Pearls were also at the height of wedding fashion for royal weddings in days gone by. Everyone from the bride to her male guests wore pearls as part of their wedding day attire, and the tradition of wearing pearls on the wedding day has continued over the years. The height of this wedding tradition occurred during the Victorian Era where pearls were often a gift to the bride.

This tradition does not however as is often thought, require that the strand of pearls be passed from one generation to the next. Quite often brides choose to wear pearls, but prefer to wear a more contemporary style than a piece that their Mother or Grandmother wore. With this in mind we designed our Audrey Collection. New additions to this collection include our The Audrey Single Pearl Necklace as shown above and the Audrey Mixed Pearl Necklace.

The Audrey Mixed Pearl Necklace is a classic look with a contemporary twist, a traditional pearl necklace made with a variety of freshwater pearls of different shapes and sizes. Bringing a touch of style to your wedding day look this necklace also compliments many other outfits and can be worn again after your wedding day.

New Products: Hydrangea hair accessory; and Flower and Butterfly headband

2009-07-16T12:09:00.010+01:00

We have just added two gorgeous new products to the website this week, a butterfly flower headband and a hydrangea hair comb. Both are perfect for bridesmaids, guests or the mother of the Bride or Groom, as an alternative to a hat or fascinator. Click here to see all of the other floral hair accessories that we have.

Butterfly Flower Headband

This stunning headband features a group of cerise flowers and brightly coloured butterflies,
Shown here with one cerise, one blue and one aqua coloured butterfly this design can also be made with 3 cerise coloured butterflies at no additional cost.

Each flower has a sparkling Swarovski crystal centre and is mounted to the side of our silver plated comfort headband.

This band is £48 and is available to buy from Carrieyeo.com

Hydrangea hair comb

Hydrangeas are set to be a popular wedding trend for weddings in 2009-2010. This elegant hydrangea hair accessory features freshwater pearls and silk hydrangeas on a silver plated comb.

Each silk flower has petals of blue and lavender shades and a cluster of three freshwater pearls. This comb can be worn at the back or to the side of the head for a romantic wedding day look.

This comb is £32 and is available to buy from Carrieyeo.com

Suzanne Shaw's Wedding Jewellery

2009-07-01T18:59:00.007+01:00

On June 14th June actress and singer Suzanne Shaw married DJ and television presenter Jason King.

Suzanne who was formerly in pop band Hear'Say with Myleene Klass, and has since gone on to star in the musical Chicago and ITV's Dancing On Ice, chose Carrie Yeo to design and make wedding jewellery for her bridesmaids, her Mother, her Mother in law to be and her Grandmother.

For her bridesmaids Suzanne chose our Deco Droplet Necklace. This simple and understated style worked well with the sophisticated gowns that they were wearing.

As gifts for her Mother, Step Mother and Mother in Law to be Suzanne chose timeless and classic necklaces, including the Braxted Necklace, the Audrey Pearl and Crystal Necklace and a Deco Droplet Necklace which was customised with added pearls. For her grandmother Suzanne had a butterfly brooch custom made from our Bespoke Design Service

Suzanne wore a hair vine similar in style to a number of hair vines that Carrie Yeo make click here to see our range of hair vines. Our bespoke design service allows brides to have pieces designed to their own requirements. Why not have a celebrity inspired piece designed just for you?

Photos from Suzanne Shaw's Wedding were featured in OK! Magazine in June.

To find out more and to see who else's wedding we have been working on click here.

New Product: Liberty Diamante Hair Band

2009-06-28T14:52:00.008+01:00

Just added to the website this week is our new Liberty Diamante Hair Band. Part of the popular liberty range, this sparkling diamante hair band is the perfect accessory for both contemporary and vintage style weddings.

Made of Austrian crystal hand sewn on to an ivory grosgrain ribbon this versatile wedding hair band can be worn in the style of an Alice band or the fashionable "brow band" worn across the forehead as sported by celebrities including Paris Hilton who wore a similar band to her Birthday parrty this year.

The diamante design continues around the band to just behind the ears. The grosgrain ribbon which makes a full circle around the head measures 44cm and there is a small ivory elastic section at the back of 12cm to give extra comfort and allow one size to fit all.

The diamante hair band is a style that will add that extra wow factor to your wedding day look. Why not wear it as a traditional style headband for your ceremony and then adjust it to be worn across your forehead for the reception - for just £95 you have two great looks in one beautiful accessory!

Wedding Ideas Magazine Front Cover

2009-06-18T12:24:00.015+01:00

Our sparkling Astor Flower Tiara was featured on the front cover of July's Wedding Ideas Magazine, along with our Astor Crystal Drop Earrings and Maggie Sottero's 'Penelope' dress. This timeless style suits all face shapes and hair styles. The tiara which is made of Swarovski crystals on a silver plated band features a beautiful vintage style flower in the centre.

Why not create your own cover girl look for your big day by replicating this style?

The tiara is available to buy from our website for £145. Please click here for more information

The Astor Crystal Drop Earrings are £26 and are a classic style that you will wear again long after your wedding day.

How to plan a vintage themed wedding...

2009-05-06T14:03:00.019+01:00

Planning a vintage themed wedding can be difficult if you don't know where to look but your efforts will be worthwhile. Here are some suggestions on how to create the look and where to go for inspiration.

Vintage is a trend that has been around in the fashion world for several seasons, and continues to increase in popularity. The trend works especially well for bridal as it can easily be reflected in your dress and accessories as well as other areas of your wedding for a romantic and nostalgic feel.

The use of lace and pearls in accessories is a beautiful way to give your look a vintage feel. The natural colour of freshwater pearls compliments ivory dresses well and looks great with lace and satin for an heirloom look.

Our Audrey, Astor, Braxted and Vintage leaf collections will help you to achieve the perfect vintage look for you and your bridesmaids.

The Dress...

Vintage conjures up different images for different people, so start by thinking of what vintage means to you. Is it the full decadent skirts of the 1950’s or the slinky dropped waists and art deco styles of the 1930’s? Perhaps Victorian embellishment is more to your taste.

Try on as many styles as possible to work out which style suits you best and flatters your figure. Using the dress as a starting point it can then be the inspiration for all the other aspects of the day. Brides often wonder where can I find a vintage wedding dress? Here are some of the best places that we have found...

Vintage look wedding dresses
Dresses with a vintage feel are widely available right now in all bridal boutiques and wedding dress shops. Look for styles in lace or with sashes to capture the look.
Ivory always looks more vintage than white as it has more of an aged quality.

Vintage style bespoke wedding dresses
An alternative would be to have a vintage style dress made for you. Candy Anthony specialises in bespoke 1950's and 1960's style dresses. A confection of gorgeous designs her dresses are available to see at her London show room. The figure flattering nipped in waists and full skirts exude the glamour old hollywood whilst fitting you like a glove.

The studio is based in London and is by appointment only.http://www.candyanthony.com/

Real vintage wedding dresses

If you want a truly authentic dress from a bygone era try The Vintage Wedding Dress Company:

A showroom that is a treasure chest of beautiful finds, The Vintage Wedding Dress Company was created for brides who would love to wear something completely original but don't have the time, the energy or the faintest idea where to start.
Renowned Stylist Charlie Brear has brought together her years of experience in fashion to create The Vintage Wedding Dress Company, showcasing to her customers a unique and enviable collection of vintage pieces. Dresses are sourced from Victorian times up until the early 1970's so you are sure to find a style that suits your idea of vintage.

I met with Lulu Roper who explained that their on site seamstress is on hand to take care of all of the specialised fittings and alterations that such unique dresses require and can often remove sleeves and alternecklines to help customise the dress into your perfect wedding day style. Lulu also showed me the beautiful collection of vintage veils, and new veils with vintage lace trims, a beautiful additon to any dress. Situated in Bloomsbury London visits are by appointment only, and worth the visit.

Prices start at £1,000 and they have around 50 dresses in their collection at any one time .

Beautiful images of past dresses can be seen on their gorgeous website:

www.thevintageweddingdresscompany.com

Pictured here: 1950's full length Organza embroidered dress with silk flowers

The Accessories...

The next step for your vintage wedding day look is your accessories, these can turn even the plainest dress it to something truly memorable.

At Carrie Yeo we offer many styles with a vintage feel and several of our collections are well suited to vintage style dresses as they take their inspirations from different eras. Here are some of our collections that have a vintage look:

The Vintage Leaf Collection

The pieces in the Vintage Leaf Collection have a romantic feel inspired by aged lace and nostalgic memories of days gone by. The sophisticated styles feature beautiful ivory freshwater pearls, handcrafted into delicate leaf shapes and vines.

The Braxted collection

The designs in our Braxted Collection offer a sophisticated and stylish look for your wedding day. The collection has a refined look with simple lines which exude feminine allure.

The Audrey collection

Drawing inspiration from Victoriana, Freshwater pearls create vintage looking designs with a modern edge in the Audrey Collection.The intricate styles use warm subtle tones for a nostalgic feel inspired by the romance of the era.Each detailed and handcrafted piece works beautifully together to create an elegant collection for you and your bridesmaids.

The Grace Collection

This is a truly glamorous collection, befitting of the starlets of the silver screen, with pieces that will make you feel like a leading lady.The Grace Collection takes inspiration from film stars of the 1950’s such as Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly, and other icons of the era, who were always adorned in bejewelled statement pieces and exuded glamour and sophistication.

If you still cannot find the perfect piece we will make it for you courtesy of our bespoke design service.

Please click here for details Bespoke design service at Carrie Yeo This service is ideal for those brides who are looking for unique one-off pieces made especially for their wedding. The process is very easy and you can have as little or as much input as you would like.

The Cake...

This stunning cake is from Zoe Clark cakes and would be perfect for a vintage style wedding.

The style is called String of pearls and has hand piped dots and sugar blossoms arranged around each tier in different combinations. This wedding cake was inspired by a collection of jewellery featured in a bridal magazine.
Their wedding cakes are layered with Belgian chocolate
ganache or delicious flavoured buttercream and covered with a layer of marzipan underneath the smooth sugarpaste icing. Visit their website for more gorgeous styles.

http://www.zoeclark.com/

Bringing the theme together...

Use all aspects of the wedding to continue the vintage look....

Set the tone of the day from the start by using vintage style invitations. This scroll invitation by Jenniflower Weddings would really set the theme add adds a touch of luxury.

Mandalay also has a beautiful range call Eden (pictured above) that has a vintage feel. www.mandalybride.co.uk

After the wedding have some of your wedding photos customised so that they are Sepia or hand tinted like in Victorian times. ( pictured below) This can give your pictures a timeless yet stylish feel.
Shana Kinsley at Sharna photography offers this service. www.sharnaphotography.com

Pick venue that will suit the day. Venues such as Braxted Park (pictured above) exude stately elegance and would be the perfect back drop to your day. www.braxtedparkweddings.com

Audrey Tiara on the front cover...

2009-05-05T14:52:00.006+01:00

April was a great month for Carrie Yeo with the start of the wedding season and our first front cover of the season!

Our gorgeous Audrey tiara was featured on the front cover of "S Magazine" last week.

The beautiful photo shoot featured wedding dresses that reflected styles through the decades and the stunning cover shot featured a pink strapless Ian Stewart dress.

The Audrey Tiara is available to buy from our online store for £170. For more information or to purchase click here.

Also featured were our popular Delphinium hair flowers:

Also featured this month in the press....

Our gold Crowning Glory Earrings,
anenome hair flower,
Butterfly crystal earrings
and Butterfly Meadow Necklace

Look out for more of our Wedding Jewellery, Wedding Accessories and Wedding Hair Flowers this month in Perfect Wedding magazine, Wedding Ideas magazine, and Scottish Wedding Directory.

All features will be displayed on our website and our press page.

Carrie xx

Wedding Awards

2009-04-01T14:22:00.004+01:00

The Start of 2009 saw the annual Wedding awards take place in London. We were hounoured to be invited to the ceremony in The Andaz Hotel London for a glamorous afternoon that ended up going on well into the evening.

Sharing a table with the presenters of the cerermony, and Wedding Ideas very own "Agony Uncles" Ant and Dick proved an amusing afternoon, with partying going on most of the night.

A day of all things weddings was an enjoyable way to meet new people, including Jill and Karie of Mandalay, the elegant wedding stationary company Mandalay Bride and the lovely team from Wedding Ideas magazine.

Tips for choosing you wedding accessories

2009-03-26T14:25:00.031Z

1. Remember your own style

You want to feel like a more beautiful version yourself on your wedding day so make sure that you pick a style that you will be confident wearing. Try to choose styles that you know will suit you as your wedding photos will last forever. Use our helpful style guide for guidance After you have narrowed your choice of accessories down to your favourite two or three ask a friend to help you pick the one that they think will suit you the best.

2. Know the options
There are so many options when it comes to wedding accessories, styles that you will not have worn before such as a tiara, and some that you may not have even heard of such as a hair vine.

A hair vine is the perfect choice for a bride who wants to add sparkle to the back of the hair or to wear something other than a tiara. Hair vines are perfect for weddings and are suited to long or short hair styles. They can either wrap around or be pinned into the hair.They can be placed around a bun or woven into a plait. They can even be worn as a headband by attaching a ribbon to the loops at each end and tied at the back of your head under your hair line. There are several photos of how to wear hair vines on our website.

Take the time to look at all the different options – you may think that you want one particular style and then be drawn to something totally different, go with what ever you like the most and don’t be restricted by tradition.

3. Consider the details of your dress
Consider the details of the dress to help you select the right wedding accessories. As a general rule a more detailed gown works well with simpler jewellery, while a plainer gown suits more decorative pieces. Look at the embellishment on your dress. Crystals, pearls, beads and diamantes can all be used in your jewellery to co-ordinate you look. Strapless dresses are suited to all styles of jewellery; a sweetheart neckline can be accentuated with a drop style necklace, dresses with thicker straps or one asymmetric strap would suit statement earrings instead of a necklace.

4. Consider your hair style
Having a good idea of a hairstyle will usually help in deciding on the right hair accessories. One of the most popular looks right now is the romantic half up - half down hair style. This style works well with tiaras, combs, pins, hair flowers and barrettes.

For short wedding hair consider a headband, a cluster of hair pins or a hair vine tied with ribbon.

Many of our designs are versatile enough to work with different hairstyles. Unlike mass produced tiaras, all of the bands that we use for our handmade tiaras and headbands are flexible enough for your hairdresser to shape to your own head and will be very comfortable to wear.

5. Something old, something new
For sentimental reasons brides often like to wear a necklace from their Mother or Grandmother for sentimental reasons. If you are doing this why not have earrings made to match? We offer a bespoke design service usually at no extra cost. Having something made ensures that it matches pieces that you already have whilst bringing some of your own style to your look.

6. Ask if the company can customise designs for you.
To get the wedding accessories of your dreams why not commission a piece or have something customised? Many companies including our own offer this service and you can have as little or as much input as you like. Incorporating crystals in you favourite colour or the colour of your birthstone is a nice way to make a design more personal to you. We have made everything from bespoke crowns and brow bands to the simplest earrings for customers who had an idea that we were able to design and make for them. When your guests ask about your accessories you will be able to tell them that you helped to design them your self!

7. Use celebrity inspiration

If there is a celebrity whose style you admire think about replicating that in your wedding look. The type of chandelier earrings that Beyonce favours would add a touch of glamour to your look. The Mama Mia movie has created a big bridal trend for floral hair accessories which can be used in your own wedding style, or why not look closer to home? Denise Van Outen wore a beautiful headband in her recent wedding. Our Eternity hair vine has been a favourite with brides since it was launched last year and can be worn with a ribbon tie for a similar look.

8. Remember that pieces can be worn again

Remember when buying your wedding jewellery that many pieces can be worn again – you don’t get the opportunity to wear a tiara everyday, but necklaces and earrings can be worn on your honeymoon and anniversaries. Even ornate hair combs that are worn on top of or to the back of your hair for your wedding day can be worn again tucked into the side a neat chignon hair style for future formal events.

9. Consider the materials that are used

There is a vast array of wedding jewellery available to choose from which is all made from a variety of materials. By ensuring that you choose accessories that are made of good quality materials they will last the test of time and won't let you down on the day.
At Carrieyeo.com our wedding jewellery, tiaras and accessories are made with freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, shell and mother of pearl, with Stirling silver and silver plated components.

10. Order your accessories in time for your hair trial and dress fitting

One of the most important things to remember is to make sure that you have all of your accessories in time for your hair trial. Your hairdresser will have experience in creating wedding hair styles and be able suggest styles that will work with your chosen accessories.
If you are ordering over the Internet or having something made to order make sure that it will be delivered in time. All of our styles have an estimated delivery time listed next to them but if you need something quicker please call us and we will see what we can do!

New Products Launched for Spring and Summer 2009

We are pleased to announce that we have now added many new products to our website

The new collections feature some beautiful new additions to our popular hair flowers which are perfect for summer weddings:

Ask Carrie.....

2008-08-28T09:35:00.020+01:00

Each season we get many emails asking for styling tips and advice. Here are a few recent questions and answers that may be of help when you are choosing your own wedding accessories. If the answer to your question is not below feel free to email Info@carrieyeo.com or call us for advice on 0203 164 3648.

Short Wedding Hair

Dear Carrie,

I have short hair, what would be the best hair accessories for my wedding day?

Beth - Glasgow

Dear Beth,

I often have brides come to visit me here in the studio who have the same question. There are many things that you can do with short wedding hair to make you look like a bride.

One option is to wear a headband. These are very on trend right now and come in many colours and shapes. We offer several styles with crystals, diamantes and pearls all perfect for a contemporary but romantic look.
Alternatively you could wear a comb or a hair vine. Hair vines are not just for long hair or up-do's. Threaded onto a ribbon the vine can be worn across the top of your head.

If you have any further styling questions do let me know. You can email us at info@carrieyeo.com I hope that this helps?

Carrie x

Eight Bridesmaids

Dear Carrie

I am having 8 bridesmaids. They will be wearing pale pink dresses but they are all different ages ( 5-26 years) , sizes and have different length hair. What can I do to make their accessories match?

Amanda - Cheshire

Dear Amanda

A good option would be to use hair flowers like our delphinium hair pins. These come in a set of three so you could buy three sets and give each girl a flower to wear in her hair ( you could keep the spare one for yourself to wear on honeymoon!)

The pins are versatile enough for all hair styles and suit all ages. You can even have the crystals in the center in pale pink to match the dresses. Vintage rose (pictured) has been a popular colour this season.

For necklaces you can keep it simple with our Deco drop necklace which can be made in the same shade of Pink. We can make the length of the chain different for each girl depending on age. Just email us at Orders@carrieyeo.com or call us on 0203 164 3648 to let us know what lengths you would like.

Carrie x

Unusual Dress

Dear Carrie,

I am having a winter wedding and my dress has a high neckline. What would be the best type of jewellery to wear with this style?

Lily - Derbyshire

Dear Lily,

If you are having a high neckline wearing some detailed or statement earrings and a cuff style bracelet would add extra sparkle to your look without detracting from the neckline of the dress.

I would suggest our Audrey Champagne Earrings and our Cherry Blossom bracelet.

The bracelet comes in 36 colours from the Swarovski colour chart on our website.

The bracelet is shown here in vintage rose but popular colours for Brides are Clear crystal, crystal AB, Golden Shadow and White Opal.

For more advice on choosing colours call us on 0203 164 3648 or email Info@carrieyeo.com

Carrie x

Purple Accessories

Dear Carrie,

My Bridesmaids are having purple strapless dresses, which accessories will go best with this style?

Jenny - Surrey

Dear Jeni,

Strapless dresses are very popular for bridesmaids as they suit most girls and the good news is that this style also suits most jewellery.
Almost any style of necklace suits the strapless style. If the dresses are quite plain go for something with detail. If the dresses are quite embellished choose something more simple.
To get the right colour you can either send us a swatch of the fabric and we can match the colour for you here or you can use a combination of different shades of purple to get a unique look.

Carrie x

About Carrie Yeo

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Our Company...

Based in London, Carrie Yeo, is a boutique design company, founded in February 2008, specialising in handmade tiaras, jewellery and wedding accessories. We use only the highest quality materials and all of our designs are handmade in the UK. Our designs are not mass produced, each piece is made to order and can be tailored to your individual taste and style.

Every season Carrie Yeo designs an entirely new collection based on current trends and bridal styles. Customers can purchase items directly from the collection or we are able to customise designs to meet your requirements.
Our Premium Service is our Bespoke Design Service which gives brides the opportunity to have an original piece designed exclusively for them by Carrie Yeo from start to finish, with the customer having as little or as much input as they desire. We can design anything from a simple individual necklace, to complete sets of wedding jewellery for the entire bridal party.

About the Designer...

With a degree in Fashion Design and a catwalk show at Graduate Fashion week, Carrie went on to work in fashion buying for a number of years for several well know department stores.Learning to make Jewellery as a creative outlet, Carrie first started to sell her work and take comissions over seven years ago, before eventually leaving the fashion industry to set up Carrie Yeo full time and launch her website Carrieyeo.com.
Carrie uses her design training and years of experience to create beautiful, unique and elegant pieces, using high quality materials. Her experience in the fashion industry has given her a good understanding of how to make styles work and how to interpret trends.

"I love to mix colours and materials and take my inspiration from everything that I see, whether it be a vintage piece from the 1920's, a contempory piece of art, or simply something that I see whilst walking through London; it all goes into my work"

Having been a bride herself Carrie knows how important the details of your wedding are, and enjoys working with Brides-to-be discussing their plans, and helping them to create something unique and special.

"I love weddings and everything about them. With every customised piece I design, I try to fully understand the person I'm designing for and ensure the piece is personal and meaningful to them. It's a great honour to be involved with the one of the most important days in a person's life and it gives me great pleasure to have contributed to their special day"

Our Beliefs...

We believe passionately in our level of service and the standard of our products. We understand that your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and we believe that every aspect of your wedding should be perfect. As a small boutique company we strive to offer the highest possible level of service, and give you the time and effort that you deserve for your wedding day.

Visit our website

www.carrieyeo.com