The Tiara's Timeless Appeal

Tiaras have a mystique and romance about them. Usually worn only on special occasions, their feeling of timelessness, fantasy, and ceremony means they never entirely go out of style. But with this weekend’s much-anticipated royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle—and speculation about what the bride will wear—the regal headpiece is definitely having a moment.

With the current bridal gown trends of long sleeves, capes, and higher necklines, the focus is all on the head and face when it comes to accessorizing these days. This makes tiaras a great option for today's brides, either worn with the traditional veil, or without for a more modern approach. And who doesn’t want to feel like royalty on her wedding day?

Below are some of my tips for selecting the perfect bridal tiara.  

My top 3 tips for choosing the perfect bridal tiara:

You’ll want to select a tiara that feels secure and comfortable throughout your wedding day. If you plan on wearing your hair down, a tiara that is a halo style, has adjustable ribbon ties, or is mounted on a headband is a good option, as it will stay in place without the need to use bobby pins. Headbands and halo-style tiaras also work well with shorter hair. Many tiaras come mounted on a thin wire frame with loops at the end. These are perfect if you’re wearing an updo, as the tiara can be incorporated into the hairstyle with hair pins through the loops, or even by wrapping the hair around portions of the headpiece to keep it securely in place. Be sure to bring your tiara when you go to your wedding hair trials so you can discuss with your stylist how best to incorporate your headpiece into your wedding day look. 

Many of the crown designs in my collection feature loops at the end of the tiara, with adjustable ribbon ties that can be removed and where hair pins can be threaded through if desired. Because I make everything to order, though, I’ve customized tiaras for brides by adding small combs, or creating the design on a headband base instead, depending on how a client will be wearing her hair. 

A tiara is definitely a statement piece, but you don’t want it to overwhelm you. If you’re petite, a style that is delicate and smaller in scale, taller at the center and tapering at the sides, will create the illusion of added height. 

You can complement your natural beauty by selecting a tiara that accents your features. A round or square face is typically complemented by a tiara that is fuller at the top and narrower at the sides. If your face is longer, a tiara that fits closely to the head will look more balanced and flattering than one with a lot of height. Heart-shaped faces can be accentuated with a headband-style tiara, with the decoration sitting vertically instead of horizontally across the width of the head or forehead.

If you’re wearing a gown with lace detailing or embroidery, the motifs can provide inspiration for selecting your headpiece—look for a tiara that features a similar pattern and feeling. It can also be fun to mix it up: contrast a geometric shape with florals, or vice versa for a more modern look and an interesting interplay of textures. 

Many bridal gowns these days are embroidered with crystals in metal settings, or have metallic lace or embroidery details, so you may want to select the metal for your tiara based on these accents, as well as the metal used in any other jewelry pieces you’ll be wearing. Wedding dresses created in a pure white fabric generally look best with sterling silver or platinum accessories. Ivory and cream gowns work beautifully with shades of gold.

A tiara can also be a great place to get creative with color. I see a lot of my brides opting for a tiara or headpiece as a way to add a hint of color to their look, whether that be “something blue” or tying in their wedding’s color palette with their accessories. Jewel tones normally complement gold, while pastels pair well with silver. 

Article Photo Credits: Cerise Photography, Carrie McGuire, Ashley Largesse and Colette Kulig

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