Unique Ways to Wear a Brooch

We all love the sparkling allure of a brooch.  With a rich history and fun feeling to wear, it's no wonder brides and guests alike want to incorporate brooches in to their wedding day.  Here are our seven favorite ways to wear those brooches!

 1. On Your Shoes - Create a custom pair of wedding shoes by having two petite brooches converted into shoe clips.

2.  In Your Hair - Choose a brooch you love and have in converted into a hair piece, or simply have your stylist pin it into your hairdo.

3.  On Your Bouquet - Gift each of your girls, and yourself, with a beautiful brooch to pin on their wedding bouquet.  Or opt for chic initialed bouquet picks.

4.  On Your Waist - Adorn a simple wedding dress or sash with a bit of sparkle.  Set it in the center for a classic look, or pin it asymmetrically to the side for a more modern feel.

5.  With Your Handbag - Dress up your clutch with some chic sparkle.  Invest in a classic, simple clutch that you can use long after the wedding and dress it up or down with your collection of brooches.

6.  On Your Bridesmaids - Pick a unique brooch for each one of your bridesmaids' matching dresses, or select matching brooches and let them adorn their look anyway they want.

7.  With Your Wrap - A great gift for your mother or mother in law, find a brooch that matches their dress color and pin it to a bright pashmina for a custom look that is fun and functional.

Decided you can't live without a brooch for your wedding dress or bridesmaids? Check out a selection available at our shop. There's some online and even more in the store!

Shop the Photo...(Brooches from top left)
Custom Pearl Ribbon Twist ($88), Bouquet ($68),  Petite Brooch ($46)
Vanity ($48). Braisser ($88), Petite Colette ($56)
Susan ($209), Pretty Ribbon Bow ($29)

See a brooch you love?  Contact us and we'll help you get one.

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Wedding Ceremony Essentials

Once you've found all your perfect wedding accessories and shoes, it's time to shop for all the little details that will make your day complete.  Here are some of our favorite wedding ceremony essentials.

Guest Book
You'll want to remember who was there to watch you tie the knot.  Whether you opt for the traditional lined guest book or something more modern, you'll need a place to put all those well wishes.  We love the Wedding Wishes Envelope Guest Book (above, $82).  Petite note cards allow guests to write congratulation messages and warm memories and tuck them into miniature envelopes.  Made of timeless linen and accented with grosgrain ribbon, this guest book comes complete with 132 petite envelopes and 150 matching note cards.  Slide a photo in the front and accent it with the included personalized engraved silver plate.  We special order it just for you so allow up to four weeks.

Unity Candle
Celebrating the creation of your new family with a unity candle ceremony?  Then make sure to find a beautiful and personal candle set of your very own.  We love the Personally Yours Unity Candle. A small engravable charm adds a new twist to an age old tradition.  Available in white or ivory, engrave your first names on the small charm and thread it through the soft matching satin.  $36.  Matching taper candles are available for $2 each.  Don't forget to see if the church or ceremony site has a stand.  If not, we love a classic gold or silver stand, available for $29.

Ring Pillow & Flower Basket
Make your ring bearer and flower girls feel like the most important person of the bridal party with their very own accessories.  One of our favorites?  The Starlight Collection features sparkly crystals and pearls set on your choice of ring pillows ($36 each), Guest Books ($52), and flower girl baskets ($26), unity candles ($36),  and more.

Memorial Candle
A memory candle is the perfect way to honor your loved ones who have passed.  Choose our Classic Memorial Candle that scrolls the words "In loving memory" and "who is present in our hearts."  Candles may be engraved with up to three custom lines and comes with a small stand, $48.  For a more contemporary look, we offer a Floating Memorial Candle.  An elegant glass bud vase is engraved with the words "Forever in our hearts...forever in our lives" or chose your own custom text up to three lines, $48.

Garter Set
Don't forget your something blue!  Blue Crush Garter set features a crystal heart and comes with a garter to toss and a garter to keep.  $26.  Other unique garter options include the Vine Monogram garter with your choice of a script monogram in colored thread, $36, the Very Special Date garter embroidered with your wedding date in your choice of nine colors, $36, or our most popular "I Do" garter.  A sweet white or ivory garter is embroidered with "I Do" in baby blue thread, $36.

Can you think of anything we forgot?  Any wedding essentials that you're including in your special day?

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Meet Jewel - NEW Wedding Shoe by Grace

The long awaited sister shoe to the glamorous Grazia Valentine is here!  Meet Jewel, by Grace Wedding Shoes.  This gorgeous silk wedding shoe is identical to the Valentine, but features a small pearl accent a top the peep toe.  A stunning 4" heel boasts, genuine leather, interiors and exteriors as well as a  built in platform for comfort.  Jewel is available in white and ivory, and will look gorgeous dyed black after the wedding.  Stop by the shop to take your pair home!  Jewel, $140.

We also love the new romantic lining Grace is using.

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Hairpieces for Half Up, Half Down Wedding Hair

Wearing your hair half up and half down?  Only pulling back a few strands in the front?  Don't worry, you can still wear some bridal bling.  Small and proportionate is the key.  Find a simple, gorgeous piece that will look pretty, but don't expect it to hold up all your hair.  Your stylist will create your hairstyle and hold it in place with bobby pins.  Here are some of our favorite pieces wearing your hair down.  Above, Star Flower Barette, $64.  Simple and sweet, a nice accent for the back center of your hairdo.

Crystal Cluster Comb, $78.  Match the arc to the curve of your head in the back.  Wear one asymmetrically or two surrounding a pile of curls.

This art deco Arienne, $46 is perfect for those with thin air or as a small accent on the top of your head to clip your bangs back.

Flexible wire makes this swag shaped Emma Comb, $98 work in almost any position.

Where to Buy

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Dyeing Bridal Shoes After the Wedding

Valentine Shoe by Grazia, $195

We love the look of matching your wedding shoes to your dress.  A classic white or ivory shoes will look timeless in your photographs.  But what do you do with those shoes after the wedding?  Dye them black and wear them again!  Any good cobbler can dye an all silk or satin shoe to a deep, saturated color like black or navy blue.  So go ahead and spend a little more on gorgeous bridal shoes, dye them, and keep wearing them long after you've gone down the aisle.

In Chicago, we recommend the following cobblers...

Brooks Shoe Service
29 East Madison Street #610
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 704-6805

Clybourn Cobbler
1720 North Clybourn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614-5520
(312) 397-9707

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Colored Bridal Accessories Photoshoot

Photography by Dawn E Roscoe

We sent some of our gorgeous bridal and everyday pieces into the park for a gorgeous summer photo shoot.  Why not take a playful feel with your bridal accessories?  This lovely bride wore ebony and ivory colored pearl and crystal jewels, a something blue cocktail ring, and a stunning black cocktail hat with French netting.  There's no reason to be scared of color on your wedding day.  The results can be stunning!  Take a peek at the photo shoot shot by photographer Dawn Roscoe, then stop by the shop to try on these pieces for yourself!

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Flower Girl Gifts

 

Make the littlest members of your wedding party feel special with gifts selected just for them.  Your flower girl will love feeling like the "big kids" when you gift her with any of these fun and sweet gifts.  Above, A personalized embroidered pint sized tote bag, $22.

 Start out her jewelry collection in style with pretty pearls and a silver pendant.  From left to right, Simplicity Pearl Bracelet with circle engraved charm ($29), Friendship Bracelet with your choice of crystal colors and an engraved heart shaped charm ($29), Simple Pearl Bracelet ($24 each).

 Pink pearls are elegant and age appropriate (Single strand, $42) while a simple sliding pearl necklace is fun and casual (Pearl Float Necklace, $29).

A small, heart shaped keepsake box engraved with her name is a perfect place for her to keep all those little treasures (Monogrammed or Name engraved, $26)

Accessories for Bridal Events and Parties

Everyone always thinks about shopping for jewelry for the wedding day.  But don't forget about all your other bridal events.  All you lovely brides will have a full social schedule with parties and showers to celebrate you and your fabulous fiance.  So make sure you arrive in style with jewelry for all your outfits.  Here are some of our ideas for the perfect look for all your perfect days.

The Engagement Party - Classic and sophisticated pearls make sure everyone knows who they should be toasting!

Flower Crystal Stud Earrings ($54), Jamie Bracelet by Meg ($84), Elisa Necklace by Meg ($249) wear it long or short.

The Bridal Shower - Go for a look that's light and fun.  Bright colors help you celebrate in style while small clustered bracelets lend a modern feel.

Purple Three Strand Necklace ($46), Peacock & Pink Crystal Earrings ($29), Crystal Glam Bracelets ($42 each).

The Bachelorette Party - Let out your inner vixen with sultry, dark colors to match your smokey eyes perfectly. 

Hematite Crystal Necklace & Earring Set ($48), Deco Glam Cuff in Smoke ($98), Mini Gunmetal Coin Purse by Sondra Roberts ($36)

The Morning After Brunch - A perfect blend of sass and sophistication goes from morning after to the honeymoon.

Freshwater Pearl Illusion Necklace in Champagne ($56), Freshwater Pear Drop Earrings in Champagne ($26), Cotillion Fleurette Hair Flower by Camela Nitschke ($79).

Where to Buy

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Find Your Bridal Style Event!

See our pretty jewelry and meet some other wedding pros that can help make your wedding gorgeous at this fun Chicago Social Brides Event.  Stop by the shop for a reminder postcard for this sure to be fabulous event taking place at the Susan Fredman At Home in the City showroom.

Bridal Headpieces - Defined!

Shopping for hair jewelry can be overwhelming, so many styles, terms, and names.  We're here to make it easier.  When shopping for hair pieces, here are the five most common styles you'll find.

1. Tiara - Sits on the top of the head, princess style.  A showcase piece, usually with lots of sparkle.  It is similar to a crown, but doesn't circle around your whole head.  A half crown sits like a tiara but without the height.  One of our most popular tiaras is the Les Beaux tiara (above, $229).

2. Headband - Sits flat across the head and extends down to the ears.  Some headbands stop above the ears while others extend behind them.  The ends of the headband are usually hidden with hair.  Above, Callie Headband by Avant Bride NYC, $220

3.  Haircomb - A small jeweled piece usually one to four inches in length, attached to a comb.  Haircombs are very versatile and can be worn in front, back, or on the side of just about any hairstyle. Above, Emma Comb, $98

4.  Hairpins - Tiny gems attached to an open hairpin.  Usually sold in sets or three, five, or six.  Hairpins are worn by sliding them unto a bun or updo.  Learn how to wear hairpins here.  Above, Hollywood Glam Pins, $149 for a set of three.

5. Fascinator - A delicate headpiece made of fabric, feathers, or flowers.  Usually sits on top of the head and is worn in place of a traditional veil.  Learn more about fascinators here.  Tessa above, $150 by Avant Bride NYC.

Where to Buy


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Still confused?  Need Help?  Try our our Wedding Accessory Styling Service