Bespoke Accessories
Wearing a bespoke wedding accessory on your wedding day effortlessly adds a personal element to your aisle style, and there’s something remarkably special about knowing that you’ve worked with me to design it. I work with brides who know exactly what they want from their accessories, but I also work with women who need a little guidance and helping hand when it comes to choosing their creation.
My ‘Shop’ collection is also completely customisable, so if you’ve seen something that you’re feeling smitten with, I can tailor it so that it suits you and your special day. See 'The Process' below for further action...
The Process
o Say hello to book in your exclusive appointment at my studio in Torquay, Devon or remotely via email, phone or video call. You can get in touch with me via my contact form or on social media.
o Include a few snippets about your wedding day, such as the date, location, style etc. If you have any ideas, inspiration or imagery prepped, please do send that across! It can be helpful to have a description of your wedding dress, hair style choice and whether you are thinking of wearing a veil.
o If you are considering accessories for your bridesmaids, it is super helpful for me to receive images of their dresses and potential hairstyles too. If you haven’t quite ticked this off your wedding to-do-list, no problem! One of my favourite things to do is to match their jewellery or hair pins to your headpiece so that you all are rocking a coordinated aisle style.
o We’ll have a design consultation and will enjoy tea, cake, bubbles or whatever takes your fancy – all while discussing your unique design and showcasing the various materials I use in the studio (I am based in Torquay, Devon). Alternatively, if you're not local we will chat via video call or over email, WhatsApp or social media where I will send you photographs and videos.
o Once we’ve finalised your design, I will send you a quote, ensuring that we are working within your budget (you can let me know how much you are looking to invest first). I’ll let you know dates and timelines, and I’ll get to work on it. I love sending my brides-to-be video updates – plus it gives you an opportunity to make any changes along the way throughout the whole design process.
o The time frame to complete your order will be discussed with you at the quotation stage, but I usually need between 6 - 8 weeks to design and create your bespoke headpiece before your hair trial or wedding day (please note the timeframe is dependent on the season and whether or not I am shipping your headpiece internationally). Please note, if you would like your accessory for your hair trial you will need to get in touch at least 6 - 8 weeks before if you can (your hair trial will generally be 8 - 10 weeks before you wedding date). This timeframe may increase during busy periods.
o As soon as you have chosen your wedding dress and have a rough idea of how you'd like to have your hair, now is the time to get in touch with me. It's never too early as we can design your accessory and you can pay a booking fee to secure your design slot for a particular month. I am a one woman band and only have a limited number of design slots available each month.
o Depending on the intricacy of the accessory and my workload, I may also be able to complete your order a little quicker than usual so please always double-check if you are planning on tying the knot sooner rather than later as I may be able to fit you in my schedule. You are able to collect your bespoke headpiece from my studio in Torquay, Devon, UK, but I can also post it to you with special delivery in the UK or internationally.
o I ask brides to pay a £50 non-refundable booking fee (this may rise to £100.00 depending on the cost of materials) to secure your slot before the design process begins, which is deducted from the total price of your bespoke headpiece. The remaining balance will be payable upon finishing your accessory and the month will be agreed upon so you have time to set the payment aside in your budget.
Your Experience at Claire Austin
From the very moment you step foot inside my studio, your experience at ‘Claire Austin’ begins. The whole design process is dusted with magic and entwined with meaningful moments, becoming one that you’ll cherish forever.
I promise a completely personal service where you’ll be given my time, commitment and passion. We’ll sit down together with a glass of bubbly or your favourite hot drink with a slice of cake in my studio for your exclusive design consultation. My studio is based in Torquay, Devon so if you don’t live locally, we can arrange a video call to talk through the design online so that I can get to know you and your personality, whilst walking you through the materials and styles on offer. Or I can send you images and videos of materials via email or WhatsApp before coming up with a design – you’ll have the same experience except you won’t be physically in the room with me! Together, we’ll discover ideas within your dress, colour scheme, bouquet and more, unravelling layers of inspiration and capturing your unique style.
You, as the bride, inspire my work. And in return, I offer you the opportunity to wear an heirloom on your wedding day that no one else has ever worn before and never will. My bridal accessory artistry is truly bespoke to you and this is something I wholeheartedly believe in. I also offer a service where I can incorporate details previously worn by loved ones, such a jewellery from your grandma’s necklace, a wedding headpiece worn over 50 years ago, or simply something with a little slice of history.
My Philosophy
Creating made-to-order pieces for the modern bride, I endeavour to work ethically, minimising overproduction, surplus inventory and waste. My brand is built around bespoke accessories, a tailored service and an experience that will be remembered forever. I create hair accessories that are as unique and as special as every bride; designing pieces that become beloved possessions.
Using only the finest materials, my designs have been lovingly crafted using an array of Preciosa gemstones, Czech glass beads, pearl and seed beads, crystals and delicate diamantés. I hand-wire each creation using silver plated, champagne gold or rose gold wire for an extra dash of luxury. Renowned for my stunning ceramic flowers, each petal boasts exquisite detailing and delicate craftsmanship. Handmade and fired in my studio, they can be carefully painted to effortlessly blend in with your chosen colour scheme. My ceramic floral pins also make the prettiest gifts for your bridesmaids – they can be hand-painted to match their gowns and can be worn time and time again after your special day.
My online shop creations are ready and waiting to be worn down the aisle, but they are also customisable, so if you’ve seen something that you’re feeling smitten with, we can tailor it so that it suits you and your special day.
My headpieces are wonderfully flexible and can be worn in a variety of different ways, so if you’ve got your heart set on a particular hairstyle, you can count on a ‘Claire Austin’ piece to complement it perfectly. Please contact me if you would like advice on which base to choose for your hair style. Whether it be a hair vine, comb or pin/s; each and every design can also be worn with or without a veil, so the choice really is yours!
