Are you considering wearing a tiara or crown for your wedding day?  Styles have moved on dramatically in recent years and are now very different from the large, sparkly princess tiaras that would be lined up on shelves in bridal shops, but should you wear a tiara on your wedding day?

Nowadays you can find headdresses that much better reflect your personality and personal style.  It is easier to find crowns and tiaras that are more meaningful to you and your wedding day. 

Are tiara’s back in fashion?

After being unpopular for a few years, tiaras and crowns are now back in fashion.  And I think we have a couple of royal weddings to thank for that. But, what beautiful weddings they were. 

So what is the etiquette for wearing a tiara? Should you wear them, and what style should you choose?  I say, most definitely YES!

Style the Paloma bridal crown with a soft updo with tendrils of hair for a slightly regal look.

things to consider when choosing and wearing tiaras

Nowadays tiaras can be enjoyed by anyone, but there are a few basic rules (actually, I’m not keen on this word in regards to weddings; I prefer the word suggestions, after all, it’s your choice).  Nevertheless, you are here because you are thinking of wearing a tiara or crown and you want help with the decision making process so here are some things to bear in mind.

1. Will your bridal hair style be
2. You may be wearing a veil
3. Your face shape
4. Consider balance
5. Comfort
6. The overall aesthetic and style
7. The story you want to tell

1. What will your bridal Hair style be?

Firstly, consider your hair style.  This is important for all headdresses, but for tiaras in particular some hair styles may be more suitable than others. It’s fashionable to have your hair down right now, with a gorgeous centre parting and the tiara placed on the head just an inch or so from your hair line.

You need to place it far enough back that it’s comfortable, but still visible and looks correctly centred. I’d consider the tiaras and crowns that sit upright such as NOELLE or HAZEL, rather than angled forwards. It will be easier to secure.

If you are wearing your hair up, then you have a greater choice, and can go for more classic style tiaras and crowns such as NIGHTINGALE or BALLERINA  as these can be secured into your updo hair style. They do look particularly beautiful with a bridal bun and soft styled curls.

The Nightingale tiara is a great style for any romantic bride looking for a non sparkly, sophisticated style

The Ballerina Tiara  for a more traditional styled wedding look for a modern bride. 

The Noelle crown for those with quiet confidence and brides who find magic in simplicity.

Annabelle Crown  For a modern tiara bridal look

2. Can I wear a veil with a tiara?

You can certainly wear a veil. In fact, with a tiara, wearing a veil is very simple.  Try not to attach the veil to your headdress. It’s not a must, but if it’s a really long, or heavy veil, it will pull at the tiara.  If you do, then you’ll need to consider that you will be wearing your veil all day.

If you are styling your hair up, then the veil can be secured where your hair is pinned.  If you are wearing your hair down with your tiara, then the hair stylist will need to use either small elastic bands, or bobby pins.  If you can wear a veil with a metal comb, this is preferable to a plastic one, as it will be less bulky.

3. Should I consider my face shape when choosing a tiara style?

It is a good idea to remember that we all have different shaped faces.  Trying to match the correct style to flatter your face shape is a good idea:

• A rectangle defined face will benefit from a smaller, more delicate tiara. Nothing too tall. Especially if you are choosing a hair up wedding style.
• A square shaped face can look gorgeous with a more upright crown, to elongate the face and draw attention to your gorgeous cheekbones.
• If you have an oval or diamond shaped face, then you’re one of the lucky ones. Most styles will suit you. 
• Heart shaped faces will benefit from styles that are closer to the face – so a tiara or crown that is flatter and more like a vine will accentuate the pretty features. Or something asymmetrical will draw focus down.

Midsummer Wedding Crown perfect for a festival, or country style wedding wearing your hair down.

4. Consider balance

Choosing whether to ‘go tall and big’ or ‘go small and delicate’ has a lot to do with your personality and the vibe you want for the wedding day.

If you can, try different sizes on to get a feel for the look, and how confident you feel wearing it. This is a great indicator that it is the right style for you.

5. Decide on your comfort levels

This is something I consider when I design my tiaras and crowns.  How heavy and comfortable they are. Some designs you’ll see online and in shops will be surprisingly heavy and uncomfortable.

It is likely that you will be wearing your tiara all day, so you may need to choose your comfort level over your desire for the right headdress and look.

Wearing the Noelle tiara with hair down waves.

6. Your overall aesthetic and style

You don’t have to compromise on style and aesthetic. You just need to make a considered choice.  

Floral tiaras and crowns don’t have to only be for a garden or nature inspired wedding.  Flowers and leaves can be a wonderful symbol of new beginnings. A reflecting of growth and togetherness.  Pearls have long been used to represent purity and wisdom. Crystals are the epitome of radiance and royalty.

Consider how you want to feel, and how you want to look and often the decision comes very easily.

Orelia Crown in all her glory

7. What story you want to tell

If you have followed my brand, then you will know I love the stories from your wedding journey.  So it can be important to think about what you want to show of you, and what you want to feel on your wedding day.

Is it important to you to reflect your family, and loved ones in your wedding day? Are you seeking to show people your personality?  Perhaps it is important for you to feel truly authentic and wear something that speaks from your heart.  These are things to think about through your choices.

Last PRACTICAL thoughts on wearing a tiara

 As a fan of the more minimalist look, I’d suggest not wearing too much other jewellery with a tiara. If you do, keep it simple.

And lastly, don’t mix your metals.  If you’re wearing silver jewellery, then wear a silver tiara.  The same goes for gold.  It’s more elegant.

dID YOU KNOW – TIARAS THROUGHOUT HISTORY…

The meaning behind wearing a tiara

Age old tradition follows that only brides were supposed to wear tiaras on their wedding day. It was a symbol for the loss of their innocence and ‘crowning’ of love. After the wedding, married women could also wear tiaras.  Thankfully, times have changed and they now have more meaning for you as the bride, than they do for the wider society.  It is no longer about your status in social, or societal circles, and very much about showing your personality.

Tiaras and Crowns and how they were worn throughout history

I guess to understand the role of the tiara in our modern age, I should briefly explain its tradition and roots.  The wearing of tiaras goes back a very long way, and they were worn in very basic form as far back as the 1^st century by the Greeks in the Olympic games.  Around the same time, the wives of Roman emperors would wear headbands that resembled more modern day headdresses.

Much as it did more recently, tiaras went out of fashion throughout the Middle Ages, and we did not see a revival until the late 18^th century where really, only the royalty and aristocrats, and eventually, the upper classes would wear them. They were often designed to match the colour of their ornate and beautifully made gowns.