It’s been just over a week since I launched my 2016 collection of wedding hair accessories and I have been absolutely delighted by the wonderful response it has received!

Sydney crystal and pearl wedding hair vine from the Secret Garden collection

I thought it might be nice to tell you a bit about the inspiration behind the new bridal headpieces – and to talk about the different ways you can style these really versatile pieces to suit your chosen bridal look.

Every piece I’ve created for 2016 was inspired by the English countryside – and in particular the wild flowers and trailing vines that you can see in so many of England’s green spaces, from flower-filled meadows to elegant and overgrown gardens to ethereal trees covered in ivy in woodlands and forests.

Cora silver Grecian style wedding hair vine comb from the Secret Garden collection

Most of the new pieces make up the new Secret Garden collection, a beautifully shimmering and sparkling gathering of silver, freshwater pearl and crystal wedding hair accessories ranging from intricate trailing floral hair vines to traditional bridal headbands, combs and hair pins.

I also updated my ethereal floral Enchanted collection with some new key designs which can be worn alone or teamed with other pieces from the same collection to create your own unique wildflower designs.

Blush pink Isabella mother of pearl flower headband from the new Enchanted range

I think both collections are perfect for vintage-loving bohemian brides and provide a beautiful mix of classic vintage style with a more contemporary fashion-forward edge. Whether you choose the subtle shimmer of the Enchanted Collection or the more sparkly Secret Garden collection, both designs are so delicately elegant that they work equally well in relaxed settings and more glamorous black tie affairs.

Whatever collection you choose you will find coordinating pieces which are designed to be mixed and matched together to create brand new looks. Both include delicate hair pins which you can use to dust your hair with a touch of whimsical sparkle - or to build new headpieces of your own design by teaming them with other pieces from the coordinating collections.

Minna mother of pearl flower hair pins 

As with all my accessories, the designs are made to order in my UK studio. Every piece in my 2016 collection is hand-wired and designed to be flexible so the strands can be gently twisted and turned into and around your hair style.

The Secret Garden collection is created from silver wire, sparkling flower and navette shaped crystals, and tiny ivory freshwater pearls which are all intricately wired together to create a series of stunning looks - from the smallest hair comb and hair pins to the most dramatic of headbands and hair vine combs which trail around the head to create a different look from every angle.

The Sybil crystal hair vine from the Secret Garden collection - from three different angles

The Enchanted collection mixes delicate carved ivory mother of pearl flowers with gently shimmering crystals and freshwater pearls. Every design is available in silver or antique gold – and a new addition to the collection is the delicate blush pink Isabella mother of pearl headband.

We shot lots of pictures of my pieces worn in many different ways but the possibilities are endless and I hope to see lots of photographs from my brides showing the different ways they and their hair stylists have chosen to use the pieces.

Both collections include ribbon tie headbands - you can tie them into place or choose to make a feature of the ribbons by pinning them to the side of the head to create a more bohemian look. If you remove the ribbons from the discreet loops at each end of the piece you can turn your headband into a vine that can be pinned anywhere on your head.

Isadora ribbon tie headband styled as a brow band and as a hair vine above a low bun

I also thought it would be lovely to style some of my jewelled headbands with a fresh flower half-crown (created by the amazing florist Anna Potter from Swallows and Damsons) to create a beautiful and striking bohemian look. I think this is a great idea which will also deal with the problem of flower crowns wilting as the day goes on – you can just remove the crown to reveal your jewelled headband in all its glory for your evening reception!

Elizabetta gold floral wedding headband teamed with a half flower crown

India delicate crystal and pearl headband with real flower crown

Our hair stylist Jenn Edwards came up with a beautiful Dutch fishtail braid (which she later converted into a wonderful braided up-do) and we accessorised it with the new hair pins and vines to create both simple floral looks and super-sparkling jewel-encrusted styles.

Scarlett hair vine (left) with Saffron hair pins (right)

One of my favourite things about the Secret Garden collection is that it offers a really easy way to quickly and easily transform your daytime look into a more glamorous evening style. The Saffron hair pins can be added to any of the other Secret Garden pieces to add extra sparkle – for example we created a more ornate evening look by adding pins to the Scarlet hair vine (above). We also paired two Saffron pins with the small Lucia comb to create a more de-constructed jewelled look for this pretty braided up-do (below).

Lucia small bridal hair comb with two Saffron hair pins

As well as being so flexible, the hair pins also make lovely – and affordable - gifts for bridesmaids and attendants and come in beautiful gift-boxed sets. You can also buy extra presentation boxes so you can split up sets and give them to your attendants. 

The new collection pieces range in price from £10 to £275 and are all made with my signature attention to detail and quality. All of the pieces are light and comfortable to wear and all headbands are wrapped in soft satin ribbon to ensure they don’t rub or pinch.

Eleanora wedding headband wrapped in silver satin ribbon styled with a Juliet cap veil

You can buy pieces direct from the Debbie Carlisle online shop or contact me to make an appointment for a private consultation at my studio in Sheffield city centre where I will help you select the perfect style for you and your gown.

I also hold designer events and attend wedding fairs around the UK and a selection of my accessories are also stocked in a carefully-selected network of beautiful boutique stockists in the UK, US and Japan where you can see, try and buy my designs in person.

Every headpiece is made to order which means you can also request bespoke changes – such as lengthening or shortening a piece, changing the colour of the headband a piece sits on, or even putting a comb or hair vine design onto a headband.

Etta vintage floral crystal wedding headband - choose your own bespoke headband colour

Belle crystal and freshwater pearl ribbon tie headband

I do hope you like the new collection - and the wonderful photographs taken by the hugely talented editorial and wedding photographer India Hobson. To see more images of the new collection pieces - and more, visit the headpieces section of my online shop. My huge and heartfelt thanks go to the following wonderful people who helped to create these beautiful images:

Photographer: India Hobson 

Hair and Make Up: Jenn Edwards

Flower backdrop and crown: Swallows and Damsons

Dresses: Halfpenny London and Jenny Packham courtesy of The White Room