In Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights, Cathy’s hair accessories are doing some of the heaviest emotional lifting in the film. They aren’t incidental embellishments. They’re narrative devices.

Cathy’s transformation from wildling to caged lady of the manor isn’t driven by costume changes alone. It’s told through what she wears in her hair.

We understand her state of being and state of mind through crowns, ribbons, veils, pearls and crystal hair pins. Her hair accessories act as visual subtext - signalling prison, freedom, conformity, rebellion, restraint, wild abandonment to love.

That is the power of a bridal hair accessory.

On your wedding day, your dress sets the tone, but your hair accessory and jewellery tells your story.

Your choice of accessory says so much about you and your bridal style. Not simply a finishing touch but the defining moment.

Not to mention the fact that a hair accessory will frame your face, add that bridal glow, it will be the focal point of every photograph, appearing in every close embrace, every tearful smile. It sits at eye level and can’t be missed. It communicates identity with precision - from editorial bride to boho bride, classic to vintage, timeless to modern, contemporary to heritage.

This is how you frame your style and identity with precision. And Cathy’s hair accessories are a masterclass in this.

The Botanical Crown: Instinct vs Institution

When Cathy wears her botanical crown on her wedding day we don’t just see the traditional heritage tiara headpiece, we see the wild outdoors that has shaped her. Organic forms, heritage references, intricate craftsmanship - it’s a piece that merges tradition with untamed spirit.

Crucially, this is the last time we see her so openly connected to her wild beginnings with Heathcliff. As she steps toward marriage and status, the crown becomes symbolic: she is carrying her past into a more structured future.

For a bride, a botanical crown or headpiece does something similar. It prevents formality and tradition from becoming rigidity. It introduces softness and narrative. It says: I may be entering tradition, but I am not erasing myself. You can get Cathy’s botanical crown look with the Mabel handwired botanical crystal crown, the Coralie floral crystal beaded crown or the delicate Amelia sculptural silver or gold plated leafy crown.

Sheer Veiling: The Art of Suggestion

Cathy’s super-sheer wedding and funeral veils are not about concealment - they’re about tension. Traditionally, veils signal modesty or demureness. Here, the transparency ensures we can still see her clearly. Her emotion is diffused, not hidden, allowing us to see her fully at these major moments. In the film we see that Cathy’s face is emotionless and set - but this same technique can be used to frame and convey the joy and love in a moment, rather than completely disguising what is going on.

That nuance is what makes so veiling that covers the face so powerful for modern brides.

A fine tulle or birdcage veil creates and frames emotion and atmosphere without heaviness. It softens light. It adds movement. It elevates even the simplest gown with an iconic flourish. And most importantly, it frames your expression on this most meaningful of days rather than competing with it.

It’s not about disappearing. It’s about being seen fully and with intention.

Wuthering Heights style sheer face-covering wedding veils by Debbie Carlisle clockwise from top left: Jasmine, Blossom, Tallulah, Dita 

Ribbons: Control and Reinterpretation

We see in the film how important ribbons are to the idea of a woman simply as decoration. Isabella has an entire room for her ribbons which she gladly hands over to Cathy to house the amazing gowns she has ordered for her new pet/doll.

Throughout the film, ribbons are woven intricately into Cathy’s hair. The braiding and corset-style lacing are deliberate -  almost architectural in their cage-like structure. They reflect the effort, discipline and the constraints of the world she is entering.

There’s even an aesthetic echo of The Handmaid's Tale in the severity of the red ribbons we see Cathy wear - a visual reminder of patriarchal structure. This shows how styling choices allow us to see what is really going on, an authentic look at the wearer.

A ribbon or braid can feel restrictive when tightly laced. Or they can feel romantic when tied loosely, trailing in long tendrils. The material doesn’t change - the intention does. For brides, this is liberating. A chance to borrow the romance of a ribbon while turning its symbolism on its head.

Get the Wuthering Heights ribbon style for your wedding - without the Patriarchal caging effect! Free-spirited long velvet Valerie ribbons by Debbie Carlisle 

Crystals vs Pearls: Composure and Wildness

When Cathy embraces societal polish, crystal hair pins appear in structured placements. They add opulence and control. They sharpen her silhouette. They suggest composure.

Later, when she embarks on her moorland trysts, she swaps the carefully placed crystals for scattered pearl hair pins which soften that carefully controlled effect. Still luxurious, but less deliberate. Less contained. The wildness is still there - just reframed within her new context.

This distinction matters in bridal styling:

• Crystals equal glamour.
• Pearls equal softness. 
• Careful placing equals luxury and refined elegance
• Scattered hair pins equal freedom and ease.
• Both are beautiful and perfect for a wedding but they project a different energy.

Wuthering Heights style pearl hair pins by Debbie Carlisle clockwise from top left: May, Prudence, Prudence with Prue headband, Perla

Choose The Hair Accessory That Tells Your Story

The lesson from Wuthering Heights is unambiguous: hair accessories are not just finishing touches. They are emotional cues and a way to ensure the real you shines.

A headpiece personalises your bridal look in a way nothing else can. Because they frame you - not just your outfit. So I say:

Choose the crown.
Wear the veil.
Add the pearls.
Tie the ribbon.

Whatever you choose, let your hair accessory tell your story.

How To Choose Your Hair Accessory:

• Head to my online store to browse my full collection and see what speaks to you
• Create a list of your favourites using my wishlist function or Pinterest
• Take a look at what you've saved and any clear favourite styles that might keep reappearing 
• Think about how your favourites would make you feel when wearing them
• Think about how they might work with your chosen outfit and venue

If you're finding this process hard contact me or simply take my online style quiz - either way you'll get directly through to me and I can help you find an accessory that works with your own unique sense of style.