Rangoli Jewellery and Hair Accessories by Aisling Nelson

Aberystwyth to Vegas via Tipperary!

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 22:41:00 +0000

Annemarie and Paul were married on 12th July 2012. But this love story began 14 years ago in Aberystwyth! I'm thrilled that both Annemarie and Paul are here to tell us more about their beautiful day. Let's begin with how they met.

We met... We lived in the same hall of residence (Ceredigion Hall) in University of Wales Aberystwyth. It was an old rickety building on the seafront but it was full of character, fun and love.

Paul's proposal... Well after 14 years together, you could say we rushed into it! I had planned a Romantic Christmas Day proposal, but we were snowed in so I had to delay it until New Years Eve and had to simplify it somewhat by pretending I was too ill to go out and celebrate NYE with our friends. I did it the old fashioned way on bended knee at the stroke of midnight in front of the Fireworks on TV! The good old Moet came in handy. After leaving me on one knee for about ten minutes thinking I was joking, Annie finally stopped laughing and said “Yes” Happy days!

We were married in St.Helena’s Church in The Nire Valley. The church is up in the mountains and is surrounded by amazing scenery, which gave us the opportunity to have spectacular scenic photos taken. The church is not an easy find and there is no phone reception there but luckily all our guests made it there in one piece!

We also had a 2nd wedding ceremony in Las Vegas, which was conducted by Elvis. Pól’s other best man Jamie and his partner Mel who couldn’t attend our first wedding, attended this one and made it all the more memorable!

Wedding photographer: The very talented Shane O’Neill- Aspect Photography. The minute we saw Shane’s work we knew that we had to have him as our photographer. He has an eye for the absolute unimaginable. Shane was a joy to work with and was also a superb wedding organiser! Shane recommended the very artistic Rodolphe from Best Day Productions; we absolutely loved his quirky video style and his use of the old super 8."

For my wedding day Marie Hiickey created the most amazing hairstyle that I or anyone else had ever seen. How Marie managed to intertwine my beautiful hair piece through the plaits is mystifying and only serves to demonstrate how talented herself and Aisling are. Even nearly a year later people are still talking about how fantastic my hair and hair piece were. Aisling and Marie are exceptionally talented and their creations are works of art.

Our ceremony was emotional and enhanced by the wonderful music from the Scarlet String Quartet. The reception was amazing and great fun. The Opera Singing Waiters provided If you'd like to find out more about Annmarie's hairstyle and 'Cascade' headpiece, you can read the interview with Marie Hickey. As always, I'd love to discuss any jewellery or headpiece ideas you might have! great entertainment for everyone after the meal. They put on such a great act that one of my uncles to this day still thinks that the Raheen House waiters are extremely talented opera singers!

We chose our venue, Raheen House Clonmel, because it was near home and had a lovely country feel. This old country house has fabulous grounds, quirky rooms and the most accommodating managers and staff, We loved the country house theme and always wanted to have sunflowers as our wedding flowers.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen....The amazingly gorgeous Dervla Mulcahy (with baby Chloe in tow!), Mollie Hughes and Deirdre Coyne. Steve Hudson and Fintan Lawlor. We couldn’t have asked for better bridesmaids and grooms-men - they were amazingly brilliant, helpful and so much fun.

The contraversial Allstars provided the jazz band when people arrived at the venue and they were the main band that got everyone dancing the night away. Dave the lead singer even dedicated his own song Sunburst from his other band Picturehouse to us!It was an amazing day and night and one neither of us will ever forget.

And what better way to end this story than to have a look at Annmarie and Paul's vintage Super 8mm wedding video by Rodolphe from Best Day Productions. Featuring converse runners, kaleidoscope trees and much laughing and kisses. Shane and Rodolphe have each captured their own unique take of the day.

A huge thanks to Paul and Annmarie for telling us their memories from the day. Thanks for all the kind words too; I know I say this a lot but this makes my job so rewarding!

We can go dancing from best day productions on Vimeo.

If you'd like to find out more about Annmarie's hairstyle and 'Cascade' headpiece, you can read the interview with Marie Hickey. As always, I'd love to discuss any jewellery or headpiece ideas you might have!

Credits:
Wedding reception: Raheen House Clonmel, Co.Tipperary.
Make-up: Kate-Rose Crean
Hair: Bridal Hair by Marie Hickey
Bridal Accessories: Jewellery and hair accessories by Aisling Nelson at Rangoli Photographer: Shane O’Neill from Aspect Photography
Cinematographer: Rodolphe from Best Day Productions

Bridal hair-stylist Marie Hickey

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Sun, 26 May 2013 23:14:00 +0000

I have so much lined up to share with you from Annemarie' wedding. Magical photos by Shane O'Neil + a cool video by Best Day Productions. But before Annemarie tells us her memories from the day, I wanted to chat with Marie Hickey who created this hairstyle for her.

When headpiece designers and hairdressers work together, amazing things happen. Honestly; that's worth saying twice! It's a crazy form of collaboration because we work separately. I always ask to see photos of hair trials and the style really influences the designs I create. Other times, my design will be the starting point for the hairdresser. I like to think that we inspire each other.

I've called this new design 'Cascade' and I can't think of a better word to describe Marie's hairstyle; asymmetric side braids and interlocking looping locks!

This is the first in a series of interviews with my favourite hairdressers; let's meet Marie Hickey -

Marie, I love your gorgeous boho hairstlyes. And it's fun when the two of us work together with women to create a look that they love. Tell us a bit about how you got into hairstyling for weddings and what you love about it.

I absolutely love weddings! It is such an honour to be part of someone’s wedding day, a day that they will never forget (for better or worse!!) . I have always loved tying hair up and weddings were the perfect opportunity to do what I love best. A bride generally always goes more glamorous on their wedding day and it is great to be part of this makeover.

When Ann-Marie came to visit you, did she have a clear idea of how she's like to wear her hair? What sort of things did you talk to her about when you first met up for her hair trial?

When Anne-Marie came to see me for her hair trial we had a look at her dress and discussed the ideas that she liked. Once I saw her dress and got a feel for her look I knew she had to get in touch with you! I had styled another bride with a similar look and I knew Anne Marie would love the look and we personalised it to suit her. When I showed her a photo of your head piece she loved it straight away and we knew the look was perfect for her.

What I love about this hairstyle is that it looks so natural. I'm guessing it takes a lot of work to make it look so unstructured?!

When a bride goes for a natural look I think you always have to make it a little different so no other guest will have her look. While the look is natural it has to be creative and unique. I do spend the full morning with the bride so I have plenty of time to work on each style.

Another thing I love about your hairstyles is the asymmetry. I think it adds a little drama when the style is not perfectly centered! It probably means that every time you create a style like this, that it'll be slightly different?

I love that every style is different. Everybody has different hair types and textures and head shapes so it has to be a hairstyle that compliments the brides overall look. No two brides are the same so no two hairstyles should be the same.

Do you have one good tip for women choosing a hairstyle for their wedding day?

"Always bring a photo of your dress with you for your trial as this does dictate certain styles. Also be open to other options rather than veils as you can create such an individual look with head pieces as with Ann –Marie’s. Go with a look that you are comfortable with but do go that extra bit different to make the overall look amazing."

Thanks Marie - I hope we'll continue to collaborate from Dublin to Tipperary!

Check back to read Annemarie and Paul's wedding story, coming soon. If this hairstyle is 'talking to you', make sure you get in touch with Marie. You'll find all of her details on her website; Bridal hair by Marie. Marie was also the 2013 Weddings Online Hairstylist of the Year.

Photo credit:
Detail of photo by Shane O'Neil from Aspect Photogrpahy

Joanne (the twirling bride) marries Mark!

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:33:00 +0000

How cool is this image? I saw this photo on Dave Mc Clelland's Facebook page and commented on it... that was before I discovered that this was Joanne; one of my lovely brides. I raced over to Dave's blog to read his epic description of the day. It's quite a feat to create words that are as good as the images. This guy can tell a story in more than one way.

OK girls, how many of you would like to have a twirly whirly pic of you in your dress? I think this should be the new standard. We need a 360° of our dress surely?

So, spinning for our pleasure today is Joanne! As her photographer Dave says "If I had to sum up Joanne in one word it would be Happy". Joanne, I had so much fun when you visited my studio with your friend AnnMarie (who is also seen twirling below!) And I'm thrilled that you're here to tell us about your brilliant wedding day. Congratulations to yourself and Mark.

"Mark proposed to me the night we moved into our new house as I was sitting on the couch watching Coronation Street! Not many people might think that's romantic but for me it was the perfect proposal as it was just the two of us, I would have been mortified with a big public proposal in a restaurant so he knows me well!

When the wedding planning started, we didn't have to take too long choosing a venue as we had been to Killashee House in Naas for a friend's wedding a few years ago and loved everything about it. The hotel also has a gorgeous civil ceremony room so everything worked out great with our plans!"

"I first called to Aisling about six months before the wedding with my bridesmaid AnneMarie. I was a bit apprehensive as I'm completely clueless when it comes to things like hairpieces and I wasn't even 100% sure of the hairstyle I wanted! There was no need to worry though as within 10 minutes of being in Aisling's beautiful studio, she had my hair styled in the shape I was thinking (I wasn't much help as all I said was a "side bun type thing"!) and loads of different haircomb options.

We chose a gorgeous pearl and rhinestone haircomb which I ended up wearing with a birdcage veil, it was great as I could take the veil off later in the night and still had the haircomb to wear. Aisling also made a lovely pearl bracelet for me which I know I'll wear many times in the future!"

"My favourite moment of the day was our "first look" where I met Mark in the bridal suite before the ceremony. It was quite emotional seeing each other all dressed up and there were a couple of tears! This was a nice chance for a few minutes together before all the madness and I think if I had to give any piece of advice to brides and grooms it would be to make sure you have some moments alone throughout the day to remember why you're both there!"

"Our wedding day turned out to be quite a relaxed and really fun day. We both stayed in the hotel the night before with some of our friends and family so we didn't have to get up early or travel anywhere that morning. We were getting ready in two separate rooms and my morning really was stress-free with hair and makeup by Sinead at The Hair Mob and Claire Noonan, no need to worry with those two in charge!"

"Our photographer David McClelland was so easy to have around and we have amazing photos to look back on that captured our day so well. We met when I was bridesmaid for AnneMarie a couple of years ago and loved his informal reportage style. As our ceremony wasn't until 3.30pm there was plenty of time for getting ready and lots of friends and family calling to the room for a glass of bubbly!"

"The whole day was a blur of emotion, laughter, fun and dancing. It's crazy because it's the only day that nearly everyone you know will be in one room so it's quite overwhelming that they're all there for you!"

Joanne, thanks for telling us all about your day. If it was a quarter as good as your photos, it must have been an epic day! I highly recommend that you all now visit David Mc Clelland's blog to see loads more fantastic photos and hear his side of the story.

Thanks to each and every one of you who share memories of your day with me and my readers. You can read more Rangoli bride stories here on the blog.

Credits:
Photography: David Mc Clelland
Jewellery and headpiece: Aisling from Rangoli
Hair: Sinead Gaffney with The Hair Mob
Makeup: Claire Noonan
Cremony and Reception Venue: Killashee House Hotel

Baring all for love!

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:33:00 +0000

Last weekend, I went to the Hugh Lane Gallery and fell in love with the Harry Clarke stained glass windows again. This time, I took the time to read up on the poem that inspired them... I wasn't expecting it to be so risqué!

The Eve of Saint Agnes was written by John keats on 1819. The poem is inspired by an ancient tradition where young maidens would fast and go to bed early on 20th January and hope to dream of their future husbands. In the poem, Madeleine had been forbidden by her father, Lord Maurice, to marry Porphyro who was a sworn family enemy.

"Keats based his poem on the superstition that a girl could see her future husband in a dream if she performed certain rites on the eve of St. Agnes; that is she would go to bed without any supper, undress herself so that she was completely naked and lie on her bed with her hands under the pillow and looking up to the heavens and not to look behind. Then the proposed husband would appear in her dream, kiss her, and feast with her." via Wikipedia.

Brave Porphyro makes his way to the castle and with the help of a maid, is led to Madeleines's room. After spying her preparing for bed, he prepares a feast of rare delicasies! When she wakes up, he declares his undying love for her and promises her a life together over the southern moors. They escape the castle past the party revelers. I suspect there were a few grisly deaths along the way but the girl gets the guy which is the main thing!

The poem describes how there were 'a thousand guests' at the castle party. There was a marine theme to the costumes and many are decorated with peacock feathers, sea shells and pearls. There are even some seaweed-like head dresses. Harry Clarke loved to go to the Aran Islands. He was inspired by nature and loved to sketch jellyfish, shellfish and seaweed as well as butterflies, dragonflies and flowers.

There's a magical feeling when you stand in this small, darkened room and see how the colours light up the space. It's a similar magic to all the dressing up we do for weddings! Decorating our heads and bodies with sumptuous fabrics and jewels. I love being part of that magic too.

Out of the box

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:13:00 +0000

I like to think of my jewels as precious, but not so precious that they are worn once and wrapped (however lovingly) in a box. I firmly believe that life is for living and savings should be for holidays or pensions!

Every time someone buys a piece for me, I quiz them on how they are going to wear it again. And I often get a similar reaction; 'Oh, I didn't think about it like that.' All I do is ask them to visualise the jewellery or headpiece with a completely different outfit. Generally, it won't be a floor length formal gown. My designs tend to look really good with simple, well cut dresses. Save the decorative details for your accessories.

I didn't have to give this advice to Cliodhna though; she loves to dress up on a daily basis and only owns a single pair of jeans. So impressive! She got in touch though, to tell me that she'd prefer to have her wedding comb on a hairband.

She was going to a wedding and had chosen a divine creation from Dirty Fabulous. The lace dress combined a blush/apricot with taupe underlay and bow. 'V' fabulous as my sister would say!

So here is the 'new' headpiece which Cliodhna loves; she tells me she'll be wearing it every weekend. That's what I like to hear.

You can read about Cliodhna's wedding as well as the bridesmaids hairpin I designed for her sister.

Do you plan to wear your bridal accessories again or have I got you thinking if you're already married? Leave me a comment below or on my Facebook page. I'd love to hear from you.

Rangoli bride Norah

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:34:00 +0000

I fall head over heels with hairstyles as much as wedding dresses - they are the starting point for all of my designs. So, when Norah showed me this one, I was so inspired and couldn't wait to play hairdresser with my big can of Elnett hairspray!

Norah visited my studio with her Mum and wanted something really delicate to dress her hair. We had lots of fun trying on different designs. This combination seemed to suit the hairstyle perfectly; a curved rhinestone comb and a scattering of 'Wildflower' hairpins.

"Thank you so much again - myself and Mum just had the best experience going into your studio. I knew exactly what I wanted in my head and you listened and showed us exactly what I was looking for. The slides were perfect!" Norah

Norah - you look stunning and I really appreciate you sharing your photos and for saying such lovely things about me. I'm so glad you enjoyed your experience. That makes me happy too!

Norah wore my 'Wildflower' pearl hairpins and a limited edition rhinestone comb. View my portfolio of designs or have a look at some recent bespoke designs

Photo credit:
Photography by Michael Crean Photography

An Irish themed bridal shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:41:00 +0000

I've been dying to share some photos from a recent shoot I did with The Wedding Crew. The theme celebrated The Gathering; so we all dug deep to come up with our own take on what is to be Irish. I wanted to capture that ethereal Irish beauty and soft understated elegance.

Days like this allow me to meet other creative designers and I always come away buzzing with ideas. And I like being able to recommend these talented people to you.

This was my favourite photo from the day. January, (what a beautiful name) captures everything for me that reflects Irish beauty; porcelain skin, delicate features and a mane of gorgeous auburn hair. I designed this new piece especially for this shoot - it combines multi strands of gold crochet dotted with pearl and blue topaz drops. The headpiece continues in a single strand which is woven into the back of the hair. Lorraine Browne created all of the pretty hairstyles.

January and Jordan braved the extreme cold, to model in the sheerest of outfits. We had to wrap them in blankets in between shots!

Sarah Foy designed the dresses. I particularly loved this peach, chiffon-layered design with the tiniest hand-stitched beading trims. January wears a matching gold crochet bracelet with pearl drops. Jordan is the perfect foil in his 'Pennys' attire!

The second headpiece I designed is the 'Gold Lace' headwrap. It can be worn as a wide hairband, or across the forehead as you see here. I'm a big fan of transparent fabrics and this headpiece allows you to see either the skin or hair through the lattice design.

I had already met Claire from The Informal florist and her business name sums up my favourite kind of flowers - ones that look like they've just been plucked from nature and lovingly 'bunched' together! Although in reality, there is much more to it than that, I know. Claire's blog is filled with wild posies and stories about her love of flowers.

And finally, two fairly new businesses that are offering something different - Little Birds Bake made a whole dessert table filled with sweet bites. The coconut cupcakes were a new flavour sensation for me. Dusty Boy Designs are a stationery company run by make-up artist Kate Rose Crean and her husband Justin. Their designs combine vintage and contemporary elements with lots of fun lettering.

The trio that make up The Wedding Crew were busily working away behind the scenes to co-ordinate and capture all of the story. Lorraine Browne styled all the hair, Naomh Kirwan did the make-up and Paul Kelly was the photographer. Thanks for asking me to be involved in this project - it was a fun day working with all of you!

Here's the low-down on all these great businesses - lots of talent for you to choose from;

The Wedding Crew

    Photographer: Paul Kelly | Studio3
    Photographers Assistant: Feena Kavanagh
    Location: Boyne Hill House

    Hair: Lorraine Browne
    Make Up: Naomh Kirwan
    Bridal Gowns: Sarah Foy

    Jewellery: Rangoli
    Flowers: The Informal Florist
    Cakes: little birds bake
    Stationery: Dusty Boy Designs
    Models: January and Jordan from Morgan the Agency

Why I love designing for you

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:24:00 +0000

Have you ever tried on a dress and loved parts of it but hated the shape or the colour or the scratchy fabric? Thanks for sharing some of your dress-choosing stories with me! Sometimes it's just as important to know what we don't like!

Yesterday I saw this Peter Langner dress over on Wedding Inspirassi. I looked at his collection on my mobile and I found myself zooming in to see the details. And then being sorry that I had zoomed in! Because there were elements of this dress that I loved; the illusion neckline with the delicate embroidery and the dainty striped belt... but I didn't like the fussy bodice or the shape of the skirt.

It got me thinking about how I would love this dress if it had a plainer fabric and a narrower skirt. And then I realised that this is exactly how I work with my customers;

When I first meet each of you, I know nothing about your personal style. And when I talk about your style, I just mean knowing what makes you feel good. I'll get you to tell me your ideas, even if they seem vague to you. And then it's time to try on lots of different styles. Maybe things that you would never have considered trying on yourself; bigger or much smaller, muted or twinkling with rhinestones! I want to know what you like about each piece as well as what you don't. Have you ever considered not wearing a certain item of jewellery at all? Sometimes I need to grab my sketchbook so I can show you an idea that's in my head.

The best part of having a design made for you is that you are involved in the process. And the reason I don't sell my designs to shops is because I want to meet the people who will wear my designs. It's definitely a two-way creative experience. I get some of my best ideas from conversations in my studio!

I've shared some of my recent commissions here on the blog and have lots more examples in my showr oom and in my head! If you have an idea in mind, let's get chatting.

Designing a silent bracelet

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:50:00 +0000

Yesterday there was a surprise in my in-box. When you lovely people get in touch to thank me and share photos, it means the world to me. Thanks Deirdre!

Deirdre made me laugh non-stop every time we met! She had absolutely no time for people telling her what she should or shouldn't do or wear for her wedding. She had some quirky must-haves (and have-nots). She wanted a 'silent' dress and was appalled by the thoughts of ones which make swishing sounds when she walked (more on this later!) and she wanted to wear a big statement bracelet, despite what everyone else thought.

I like how this girl thinks! Deirdre had a dream bracelet in her mind and had trawled the internet for it. She had spied January Jones wearing a wide pearl cuff and had even managed to source the designer's name. But her hunt for this elusive bracelet was in vain.

So, Deirdre got in touch to see if I could design something similar for her. I was on for the challenge. I started experimenting with techniques to create a solid pearl cuff. This style of piece is very different to my signature style but I loved the simplicity of the pure pearls.

The design of this piece took a long time to crack but I thoroughly enjoyed the process. Deirdre was involved at all stages, from initial sketches right through to her finished piece. At first I was going to add moving pearl drops to the crochet structure but Deirdre was fearful that the moving pearls would make a sound :-) More laughter...

The finished cuff was almost 6cm wide at it widest point. Every space was woven with hundreds of different sized pearls. The photo on the left shows the crochet framework that held it all together. The pearls gave an amazing bubbly, organic texture.

"I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for my beautiful cuff, I absolutely loved it on the day and got a million compliments about it!

What a gorgeous picture - Deirdre's dress was designed by Kathy De Stafford. You can't see the bottom of the dress here but it was a beautiful soft tulle.

Thanks for trusting me to make your bracelet Deirdre and for being so much fun to work with!

For more inspiration you can check out my latest commissions or give me a call to chat about your own ideas.

Image credit:
Photo of Deirdre: Icon Photography

Remembering Grandparents

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:46:00 +0000

Recently, lots of you have been showing me photos of your Grandparents weddings. I thought it was time to put our favourite relatives on the stage and hear some stories about their wonderful wedding days! This series is all about the romance, the style and the personalities.

'Love day' is the perfect excuse to share some more glamorous vintage wedding photos. Normally I only post one photo but I just couldn't choose this time! Sian, your Granny looks so beautiful and Gramps looks equally dashing. Sian Sharkey is a hairstylist that I've got to know and I recommend her to you all! That's for another post but today she is sharing photos of her Grandparents wedding in 1945.

So, let's meet Mercedes Munden and Frank Purcell. Apparently these two met at a dance, and were introduced by a family relative. They were both qualified architects and also shared a passion for amateur dramatics.

They married on July 4th and Frank used to joke about losing his independence on independence day! I think a sense of humour is essential for a happy marriage...

Don't they look so relaxed and glamorous? I love Mercede's hairstlye too. Apparently she was always into fashion and style. The couple went on to have eight children.

Sian is delighted to share these images, especially as her Granny died only a few weeks ago. She says that all of the family have followed in their footsteps with their love of music and drama. Check out Sian's website and Facebook page for gorgeous bridal hair-styling.

And here's one final photo of these love-birds. What a stylish and happy looking couple. Thanks for letting me share your family photos Sian!

Do you have photos or know of someone with stories to tell? Drop me an email or leave me a comment below. I'd love to hear from you.

Doodles to designs!

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:46:00 +0000

As soon as I hold a pencil in my hand, I start doodling curvy, delicate patterns. Lines meander off across the page. Before I know it, I have designed another headpiece! It's not quite that simple but I love this part of my work!

I'm so inspired by natural patterns and forms. I won a wrapping paper design competition in school when I was 7 and have been a pattern addict ever since :-)

So yesterday, while researching/noodling over on Pinterest, I discovered the amazing photos of Anna Atkins; an English botanist and photographer (who may have been the first female photographer). Her Cyanotype technique involved laying plants on paper with a photo-sensitive solution and then exposing them to light. Look at that fern wreath. Isn't it beautiful?

I don't think it's possible to create patterns that are more beautiful or intricate than ones found in nature.

Anyway, these beautiful fern images reminded me of a piece I designed for a Christmas photo-shoot. Let's time travel back to December. Claire Barry from White Sage Events asked if I would like to design some jewels for a festive photo-shoot. Yes please! It's always a fun challenge to design something new.

The Theme was Luxe Christmas, with lots of gold and red elements. Claire wanted sparkle over bling which is right up my street! I've picked a few of my faves below but you can view lots more over on One fab Day.

The top design is a crochet beaded headpiece which is inspired by ferns. It can be woven into the hair in lots of different ways. The second design is called 'Gold waves'. Those delicious 1920's finger waves were the starting point for this piece :)

A big thanks to Lisa O'Dwyer for allowing me to feature her photos. The images were shot on film which gives a lovely quality to them. The dresses for the shoot were by Patrick Casey and Adah Lynch. Check out more photos from the day via One Fab Day.

If you like these designs, have a look at some more of my recent bespoke pieces or get in touch if you'd like to chat about your ideas. I'd love to hear from you.

Credits:
White Sage Events - events company
Lisa O'Dwyer Photography
Anna Atkins photos via Wikipedia

My Saturday snippet

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:52:00 +0000

What did you get up to this weekend? I took Saturday off and it felt like a Sunday... no work or huge agendas; just hanging out in a local café and chilling with my hubs. Our favourite new spot is The Fumbally on Clanbrassil Street, Dublin.

It's a fun, mish-mash of random art and furniture. You could easily spend a cosy afternoon nattering with friends here. And the tunes are good too.

The walls are randomly decorated with paintings and photos (see the Irish mozzarella producing buffaloes above!) I went for the Green Gggs and Ham - an unusual but amazing combo of scrambled eggs, avocado and chorizo on brioche.

The coffee got my heart ticking nicely, so my second cuppa was a Wall & Keogh tea. 'Put the cat out' mixed all my favourite flavours; camomile flowers, lime blossom, lavender, mint and liquorice leaves.

I think I'm going to spend more of my days off here, reading books and sipping coffee. The free WiFi is a bonus too. How about you guys - do you have a favourite weekend hangout? Tell me; I want to know about it!

Miriam and Daire's Casares wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:15:00 +0000

I felt ever so special when Miriam told me that she'd flown over from Malaga to visit my showroom! This lucky lady lives in the Moorish influenced, white-washed, village of Casares with Daire. A big thanks to Clíodhna (who's wedding I featured previously) for recommending me to her friend :-) Here is Miriam with some memories from her wedding - this girl knows how to tell a story -

"Daire and I are living in Casares, a gorgeous village in Spain, so deciding where to get married was a no brainer! The reality of getting married started to set in a few days before the wedding, when people started to arrive. My sister Eithne was flying from Sydney, my sister Eimear from London, my brother Ciaran from Vancouver and of course a host of people from Ireland.

The morning of the big day the first thing we did was have a dip in the pool, it was so nice and relaxing! Ciaran then prepared a big fry up so we enjoyed breakfast on the terrace before Kathryn arrived to start on the hair and make up. My dad ran down to the church to open it for the florist and also picked up our beautiful bouquets."

"I am somebody who is so clueless when it comes to hair, makeup etc that I am very grateful I had such good advisors. The hunt for my dress involved a lot of people and trips from Madrid to Malaga to Seville. For hair I had no idea where to start. Luckily my sister in law Clíodhna advised me to meet Aisling before deciding on what to do.

I knew I was going to have a veil and that I didn't want a tiara but that was as far as I'd got. I was actually quite nervous going to meet Aisling as I always feel a little bit helpless but she soon put me at my ease. Once I tried out the hair wires I think I knew straight away that that was what I wanted, but as with dress (which I'd tried on the first day of looking) I felt I had to go through some long drawn out process before making a decision. My hairstylist loved it too and managed to work it in very well (in my opinion!). I also took, for me, the big step of having my ears pierced and could show off the Rangoli pearl earrings on the day too."

"There were a lot of people coming and going. A bottle of champagne was opened. Anna Gazda, the photographer, arrived. She just got on with it, I hadn’t even met her before, but I knew I didn’t really have to tell her what to do. I had some downtime in the hammock while my sisters had their hair and make-up done.

Time flew. Final make-up, dress on, veil on, then we walked out on the balcony to take a few photos. I think I saw my reflection in the balcony window and thought ‘Oh my God, this is really happening'. Then everybody was leaving and it was just my dad, my sisters and the photographer."

"I’d had this idea from the beginning that I wanted to walk down to the church with my sisters, but it wasn’t really practical. Then literally a month before the wedding a new path was opened. It was already 3pm but from the top of the hill I could see that there were still people arriving so we took our time going down.

Then we were off down the aisle. Now that was a blur!
Everything was lovely (I know I’m biased). I’d spent such a lot of time trying to plan the music and it was the part that probably gave me the most stress, but was worth it. We were lucky to have so many talented friends and relatives. My friend Eadaoin was playing piano. Cliodhna was singing some of the songs through the mass and my new sister in law Niamh sang the songs through the signing of the register. The string quartet had been organised by our Spanish teacher and her daughter was playing with them.

We'd organised some drinks in the centre of the village. We were pulled left, right and centre for photos. Then it was time for us to go off and get some more official ones. I had to have some at a beach so we stopped off and I got to dip my feet in the water too! By the time we got to Benahavis, where we were having the reception, it was getting a little bit darker, but we got some fantastic pictures in the park."

"When we arrived the cocktail was in full swing accompanied by some Spanish classical guitar. Then in for the meal, which was as good as I’d remembered from the tasting....and a lot! I was as clueless about decoration but in the end I came up with a few ideas. seaside (shells and stones), cycling (figurines and tour de france markers, bicycle bookends and the cake topper) and books (yup, actual books, preferably older ones and quotes from the authors our tables were named after), our favours were just poems and arty postcards. Oh and lindt spruengli. Our favourites! So a mishmash, from a stylistic point of view it probably looked a mess, but I loved it.

When the band started everybody was up dancing. They played some Irish songs too, which I wasn’t expecting, so that was an added bonus. We had them DJ afterwards as well, though for the last hour or so my sisters were pretty much dictating the music! The DJ had to finish at 4pm, after that my Dad started a bit of a singsong, I’m not sure how long that lasted, we left shortly before 5pm. A long, exhausting but amazing day!"

Miriam, that was a rollicking story - I loved reading every detail of it. That early morning swim sounds amazing and I went Googling 'Lindt Spruengli' - are these what you mean?! Thanks so much to yourself and Daire for letting me share your photos and story. I'll let you know when I'll be over to visit...wink.

Miriam wore my Rangoli Diamond hairwire and matching drop earrings in her newly pierced ears!

Credits:
Photography by Anna Gazda from Limelight Photography.
Hair styled by Kathryn Parr

It's two thousand and thirteen!

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:37:00 +0000

It's a brand spanking new year and I'm glad to be back to my studio after a thoroughly relaxing break. How was your holidays?

This Christmas was all about chilling for Ben and I. We spent a few days unwinding in windswept Donegal. Lots of (indoor) swimming and saunas and long beach walks! The bliss of doing very little was perfect.

Today, I'm sitting at my table, sketchbook in hand. I'm designing some unusual back headpieces to be tucked into romantic rolled hairstyles. And I have a beautiful Spanish wedding to share with you in the next couple of days.

The studio is open for appointments, so get in touch if you'd like to arrange a visit. 2013 brides, this is your year!

Rangoli bride Claire marries Brooks

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:29:00 +0000

One day, Claire came to visit my studio and showed me photos of a delicious hairstyle that Marie Hickey had created for her wedding! Just that week, I had been designing a new crochet headpiece and it was as if it had been made for Claire. As soon as we tried it on, we all (Claire, her Mum and me) knew that this was the headpiece for her!

I often talk about how my designs are influenced by hairstyles and I'm lucky to have met some amazing stylists that I recommend to my clients. Marie and I have worked together with a few clients recently which has been great fun. I hope we'll meet in person soon Marie!

Claire's hairstyle has all the elements I love; it's natural, asymmetric and elegantly simple. I think it complements her dress beautifully. Below you can see Marie weaving the three crochet strands into the side plait.

Hairstylist Marie Hickey working her magic

I'm so delighted that Claire is here to tell us about her amazing day; I've been dying to hear all about it. And even more excited when I heard that the Mastersons duo were photographing the day.

"Planning a wedding from abroad is never easy. I moved to Canada with my Canadian husband over three years ago, but we always knew that we both wanted to get married in Ireland, where we met and fell in love. Brooks and I decided to get married at Mount Juliet, Kilkenny. The hotel and its surroundings were absolutely perfect. Also, half of our guests were coming from Canada and we knew that Mount Juliet would be able to accommodate all of us. Everyone was wowed by the venue and the level of professionalism of the staff."

"The first time I met with Aisling was a week before the wedding. In hindsight I left it a bit late. Luckily it all worked out and I think that is largely because of Aisling’s commitment to her work.

I knew I wanted to wear my hair down for the wedding. I wanted something pretty simple but I also wanted something that was individual to me. After meeting with my hairdresser Marie Hickey she suggested adding a hairwire. We found Rangoli and I was immediately taken with Aisling's work.

My mother and I arranged to meet with Aisling at her shop and we were both in awe of the beautiful range of jewellery she creates. Not only that, Aisling has a very calming and patient presence. She listened carefully to what I was looking for and helped me find something that would suit me."

Marie weaves my 'Cascade' headpiece into the side plait.

"There were many beautiful pieces available in her shop. However once she showed me an intricate piece she was working on and I knew it was perfect! It was subtle yet elegant. Aisling insisted on creating a new hairwire for me and she worked hard that week to make sure that it was flawlessly finished and arrived in time for my wedding day. I also bought a beautiful bracelet she created. Marie, my hairdresser, was blown away by Aisling’s work and Marie worked her magic to make sure that she did the hairpiece justice."

"The wedding day itself was one of the happiest days of my life. It went by so quickly! Before I knew it we were married.

Aisling I want to thank you for your hard work. You are very talented! All of my friends and family commented on the hairwire that you created for me. Thanks for helping to make our day so special!"

Claire, just looking at these photos makes me smile. Your headpiece must have been designed with your name on it before I met you. I'm so glad you enjoyed your experience. Thanks for all your kind words; I really appreciate them. Wishing you both a cozy first married Christmas x

Credits:
Hair styled by Marie Hickey - Bridal Hair by Marie
Photography by We are the Mastersons
Venue: Mount Juliet, Kilkenny

a thousand words - Jenna Thomas

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 14:56:00 +0000

Great photographs tell a story by capturing a moment in time. In this series, I am asking some of my favourite wedding photographers to describe one of their cherished photographs. My inspiration is the book Photography Speaks: 150 Photographers On Their Art. This book features a number of iconic photographers who share some personal reflections about one of their photographs. The idea captured my imagination and is the inspiration for a new series of guest blog posts with photographers.

Searching the internet is like beach-combing really! You spend hours gazing before you find a twinkly gem. And everyone's gems are different. I recently came across Jenna Thomas's photography and loved the emotion in her photos. (I also featured some of her images in my Everyday love... and stripes post) She's from north Carolina and loves costumes, word games and surprises! Here she is to tell us about one of her favourite wedding photographs -

"Photography is nothing - it's life that interests me. "

Henri Cartier-Bresson began to change modern photography with his profound art and his bold philosophy in the late 1920's. His words didn't find me until about 10 years ago but I have been moved since my first encounter.

The variety in philosophies amongst wedding photographers is vast - and beautiful in my opinion. When I first began photographing professionally, I was on a journey to define my philosophy. After years of searching I have realized that the journey is my philosophy. It's an ever-changing theory shaped by experiences.

More than anything, I have learned that the images that speak volumes are never the images that I "set up." There is definitely a time and place for that, but the photos that deliver emotion are the ones that just happen.

Henri says it best:

"There are those who take photographs arranged beforehand and those who go out to discover the image and seize it. For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which - in visual terms - questions and decides simultaneously. In order to "give a meaning" to the world, one has to feel oneself involved in what he frames through the viewfinder."

To me, that is this image.

Jenna, I love how you describe being in the picture and totally get Henri's idea about a camera being his sketchbook. People are generally not 'precious' about sketchbooks either - the pages are made up of random, special observations. I'll remember that idea; it's great. Thanks for being part of this series.

You can see more of Jenna's photography on her website Red White and Gree n. This feature is part of a series called 'a thousand words'.

Photo credit:
Jenna Thomas from Red White and Green.

Rangoli bride Ciara

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 19:24:00 +0000

Ciara, I'll always remember the afternoon you visited my studio with your Mum and sister. I think we laughed for an hour and a half. It was clear that you were not going to stress over your wedding planning. And your sister was so helpful with her advice "You can't look fat in a headpiece"! You really had to be there to fully appreciate Niamh's nugget of wisdom :-)

Do you know what one of the best parts of my job is? It's opening an email or envelope and getting to see how everything turned out on the day. Your kind words are the best reward ever. Here's Ciara to tell us about her wedding to Kevin. Doesn't she look gorgeous?

"Aisling, I just wanted to thank you so much for your beautiful creations that made me feel like a princess the day of the wedding. I feel like there may have been divine intervention that I Googled Rangoli two years ago. So many of my friends and family were blown away by the hair wire and the earrings and an ex-boyfriend of mine that was at the wedding remarked on the hair wire several times saying how beautiful it was, so even men appreciate your talent! Thanks again for making my day so special and for a fantastic time in your studio in January."

"I think we had the only sunny day in Kerry after weeks of torrential rain so we were so lucky that we could go to the beach after the windmill and then up to the Connor Pass on the way to Dingle. The photographer Riona is a genius and loves to take different types of pictures, so she convinced me to climb a very high rock across a little stream and sit right in front of a waterfall. Riona always insists on brides and bridesmaids wearing flip flops for photographs so it made the climbing a bit easier!!

It really was one of the best days of my life and its all the simple little things such as being able to have my my own little touches and our own personality put into the wedding. I think maybe some couples alienate themselves from their own wedding by getting too stressed out, but Kevin and I really enjoyed all the planning and I can honestly say we made sure we had a sense of humour about the whole thing."

Thank you Ciara - I hope we'll meet again some day for another dose of giggles!

Ciara wore my Rangoli Brooch hairwire and matching pearl and rhinestone drop earrings. Her beautiful flowers were by Best of Buds and photos from Riona MacMonagle.

Photo credits:
Photographer:Riona MacMonagle
Flowers by Best of Buds

Remembering Grandparents

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:54:00 +0000

Recently, lots of you have been showing me photos of your Grandparents weddings. I thought it was time to put our favourite relatives on the stage and hear some stories about their wonderful wedding days! This series is all about the romance, the style and the personalities.

Jo is a friend of my husband and he heard me tweeting about this series! I'm so glad that he got in touch to show me this beautiful photo of his Grandmother, Ellen. I'm not sure if you can see that this photo has been hand-tinted by her husband Noel. It's so delicate. Here is Jo's Mum, Noeleen to tell us a bit more about her parent's wedding and their runaway photographer.

Ellen Smith on her wedding day in 1960

"Ellen Smyth and Noel Green were married on the 18th of June 1960, it was a typical wedding with about forty guests attending. Ellen wore a beautiful lace dress that was made for her by her sister in law Mrs Rosaleen Kenny and her wedding bouquet was made up of red silk roses and was borrowed from a neighbour. The bouquet was passed on to many brides in the area but still remained as beautiful as the day it was made.

Ellen was a shy quiet girl as is evident from her shy smile in the photo. Herself and Noel were married by a Fr Con Sayers in the Church of the Nativity in Whitehall and it was a beautiful summers day. Unfortunately the photographer who was to take the photos never turned up and so all the wedding photos were collected from guests who had cameras that day. The wedding breakfast was held in the Melvin hotel in Drumcondra and the entertainment was by a blind accordian player. Noel and Ellen still have the invoice for the wedding breakfast tucked into the back of their wedding album."

Noleen - thanks for telling us these stories. It's great to hear all those memorable details. Obviously there were wedding dramas even in the 60's; I'd say that photographer's reputation was finished after his no-show?! But whoever took this photo had a great eye. Please thank Noel and Ellen for allowing me to share this beautiful photo.

This post is part of a series - do you have an image of your Grandparent's that you'd like to see up on the blog? Please send me an email [aisling at rangoli dot ie] or leave a comment below.

Style my wedding dress

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:35:00 +0000

Today I'm launching a brand new series on the blog. Here, I'll be sharing some the styling advice that I offer my customers when they visit my studio. So if you can't meet me in person, I can help you here! Most of you tell me that you need help and advice in choosing your accessories. And that's a really important part of my designing process. I start by getting to know you and then we look at your beautiful dress.

"Here's my top tip; stay true to your own personal style. Of course, you'll be a much more glamorous version of your everyday you but you should still be very much you! Does that make sense?"

I'm really excited about the first dress in this series. I've chosen the Bettina dress by Rembo Styling. It's from the 2013 collection. The series will cover a variety of different style dresses. Please get in touch if you'd like me to feature yours!

Bettina dress by Rembo Styling, 2013 collection

So, first of all I'm going to start by describing this gorgeous dress in a bit more detail!

The style

This soft, romantic dress is contemporary in style. It is unstructured and slightly asymmetric. The silhouette is slim but not figure-hugging and there is no embellishment. The layered tulle folds create an organic and very natural feel.

Lines

The lines of this dress are so soft - it almost looks like a sketch. So much so, I grabbed my pencil and sketchbook! The delicate irregular folds along the neckline look like waves. If you have a look at the video below, you'll see that it was shot on a beach and the collection inspired by the sea.

My sketch of Bettina dress by Rembo Styling showing the delicate lines

Words

I often use words with clients to describe dress styles. Sometimes a client may have chosen a dress and has an idea for accessories that I feel may be at odds with it. By using words to describe both things, it can highlight why things may not be a good match.

Here are my words to describe this gorgeous dress: floaty, whisper, transparent, layers, waves, soft, quiet, romantic, playful.

A quirky 'behind the scenes' video of the Rembo Styling 2013 collection

Advice on jewellery and accessories to match this dress

Everything about this dress is soft and romantic. I would suggest delicate and unstructured accessories. I would (and often!) say no to a necklace. The halter-neck straps create a neckline that jewellery would interfere with. I think a beaded hairwire or wrap would be perfect with this dress - something to mimic the soft waves in the dress. Alternatively a pair of long delicate earrings might be just enough with some small hairpins dotted through the hair. A fine or multi-stranded bracelet could also be an option. Remember, you don't have to go for every possible accessory option. Often (another favourite mantra) less is more. An example of something that I feel wouldn't work with this look would be a vintage rhinestone comb or chandelier earrings.

Hairstyles

Although this is not my area of expertise, I have been looking at dresses and hairstyles for fifteen years now! I visualise the hair as another important element in the look. As crazy as it might sound, I think of hairstyles as sculptures. My skill is to design headpieces to suit the form of the hair. If someone hasn't had a hair trial, I'll often offer advice too.

I like the asymmetric braid that the model is wearing. There are lots of amazing variations on a soft or woven style which is up or down. The words that come to mind are soft and unstructured rather than defined or classic.

For hairstyle inspiration you might like to check out my Pinterest board called 'Yummy Hairstyles' as well as my photo albums on Facebook.

This ongoing blog feature is for you. I want to help you choose gorgeous accessories that you will love wearing! Please get in touch if you'd like to arrange a visit to my studio; I'd love to meet you and chat about your ideas! And if you can't meet me in person, I'd be delighted to offer you advice through this blog. Just email me a picture of your dress[aisling at rangoli dot ie] and I will come up with lots of suggestions and a string of words to describe your yummy dress :-)

Everyday love... and stripes

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:44:00 +0000

I'm a big fan of everyday love; the simple things that couples do together. Last weekend, myself and Ben climbed Djouce mountain. We were surrounded on all sides by a wet blanket of chilly fog. We clambered upwards along railway sleepers, greeting random walkers along the way. It was a perverse kind of fun and my left ear got very cold. And then we celebrated our achievement with sweet tea and Austrian chocolate, given to us by a friend (thank you John)! It was magical.

I believe that weddings are for celebrating the hundreds of everyday moments you have enjoyed together. Plus the ones that are waiting to happen. That's why I love these photos of Katrina and Hutch. This is not an engagement shoot - they are just pictures of them hanging out together... while looking uber-stylish, it has to be said. I also have a stripe addiction and love of wild-flower meadows so you can see why I had to share these gorgeous photos.

Jenna Thomas is the photographer who took these relaxed photos. She is based in North Carolina and describes herself as 100% Italian in her great 'About' page! Below, she tells us about the afternoon she spent hanging out with Katrina and Hutch.

"These are a few of my favorite images of Katrina and Hutch being married. A few weeks ago, the three of us frolicked through some tall grass and flowery weeds just because. I think there's something really right about documenting a time in your life just because. Call me a romantic. Or Alladin (my family members have deemed my idealogy "magic carpet world") but I love the innocence found in the small things. Don't get me wrong, I love the excitement of capturing a family right after they have welcomed their first child into the world...or a couple who recently decided they were going to spend the rest of their lives together....or a boy and a girl vowing to love each other forever and ever in front of all their favorite people in the world. But the regular days. The regular days are what life is really made up of. So, needless to say after that little window into my soul, I was really happy when Katrina asked me to document her and Hutch just because."

Let's start a new trend; I think 'Just because' photos should be taken more often! What do you think? How many decent couple photos of yourselves do you have that were not taken at a formal occasion?

Thanks Jenna for sharing these photos. You can see the rest of the photos on her website Red White & Green.

Photo credit:
Photos by JennaThomas from Red White & Green

Styling your wedding dress

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:27:00 +0000

So you have picked your wedding dress and you love it. You've trawled the internet and have found a tiny picture of an extremely leggy 7 foot woman wearing it. You know that you look better in it but this is what you carry around with you when you're trying to choose your accessories and other visual elements for your day.

It's tricky to know how to style this dress isn't it? And it's a bit stressful too when you don't want to show too many people what your dress is like. Your dress has been ordered and you haven't seen it in 6 months. And you won't see it again until a month before your wedding. That's where I am here to help you!

I have been looking at wedding gowns for 15 years now and I have a really good eye for styling the complete look. From talking to clients, one of the main concerns that you have is that all of the elements you need are in different places. You need someone who can look at hairstyle and dress images and guide you through the process of choosing accessories that will complement and not compete with your dress.

I offer this advice as part of my one-on-one consultations. I spend lots of time getting to know you and your sense of style. It's very much about keeping it real and feeling like you.

So, I've decided to start a new regular feature here on the blog where I will talk about how to style a particular dress. We'll be looking at;

The style of dress
The lines
The embellishment
Words to describe it - this is where the imagination comes in!
And suggestions for hairstyles and accessories that will add that perfect touch of glamour.

I want you to get in touch by email [aisling at rangoli dot ie] and send me a picture of your dress. International brides, I want to hear from you too. We may never get to meet in person but I would love to help you style your wedding dress.

For more inspiration, have a look at some of my bespoke commissions on my blog or Rangoli Brides Albums on my website and Facebook page.

Photo credit:
Image of origami dresses found via Mod Cloth on Tumblr

Good Eyesight and Patience

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Today I am working away in my studio. It's quiet here; no music playing! And I'm reminded of the two words that I often hear when people describe what I do. "You must have great patience and good eye sight!"

This got me thinking about what it is that I love about my work. It's definitely the balance between meeting and chatting with clients and then designing and making in my own peaceful space. I've always enjoyed getting to know the people I design for. That's where great ideas are born and secrets shared! My studio is the perfect place for me to create. I have a huge work table which I've had since the day I set up my business in 1998. I'm very sentimental about it!

Bespoke Rangoli pearl cuff in progress

I'm working on this pearl cuff bracelet which is very intricate. My "good eyesight" has recently been aided by a pair of glasses but my patience trait is still going strong! A piece like this can take a few days to make and I just relax into it. Sometimes I listen to music but I'm just as happy to quietly sit and think of the person who will be wearing my jewellery.

Funny stories often pop into my head if I'm sitting quietly. For example, the person who I'm designing this for wanted a bracelet covered in pearls of different sizes. She was adamant that she didn't want it to jangle or make any noise. She even chose a dress where the fabric didn't make a swishing sound as she walked. I love that! Swish, swish, swish... So rather than having moving pearls on the bracelet, I am weaving them into my crochet structure. I knew there was a reason for me not playing music in the studio today!

If you're interested in seeing more of my studio, you should check out a fun photographic interview by Noel and Aga called "What's the craic with Rangoli Jewellery". They are from the amazing White Tea Photography - check out their cool work.

As always, I'd love to hear from you so leave me a comment or arrange a visit to my 'sometimes quiet' studio.

Remembering grandparents

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 14:20:00 +0000

Weddings are all about stories and I get to hear some brilliant ones! Our wedding memories are wrapped up in images. There's the ones in our head that are as vivid as the day they happened. And then we have treasured photographs which capture a moment in time. Photos allow us to remember emotions which is what makes them so special.

Recently, lots of you have been showing me photos of your Grandparents weddings. I thought it was time to put our favourite relatives on the stage and hear some stories about their wonderful wedding days! The series is all about the romance, the style and the personalities.

Sarah was married recently and I remember her telling me that she was going to have framed pictures of her parents and grandparents at her wedding. She was lucky to have great photos from both sets of grandparents, so this is the first of two features!

Here's Sarah to tell us about her Grandparents, Rosaleen and Patrick O' Loughlin who were married in Killany church in County Louth on the 12th of June 1956!

Rosaleen and Patrick O' Loughlin are married on 12th June 1956

"My nanny Rosaleen O' Loughlin was quite ahead of her time (for Ireland) in a white tea length wedding dress. She brought her wedding cake and dress back from London and according to my Mam was the "height of fashion with a slight London accent", that Mam picked up as a young child.

My Nanny and Grandad met in London and ended up living in the same building near Notting Hill. Grandad always says their song was "Knock three times on the ceiling if you want me, twice on the pipe." As this was apparently something they could do! When things got bad they decided to make their life back in Ireland. Nanny had originally gone to England to train as a nurse but quickly realised it wasn't for her. Grandad was a carpenter working in London at the time. So, nanny persuaded Grandad to become a member of the Garda Síochána as it was a good pensionable steady job. (but a big pay cut for him at the time!)

And so it happened that Nanny O' Loughlin was working in Lyons tea shop in England while my Grandad trained as a Garda in Ireland for two years. Love letters went back and forth during this time and I'd love to find them. My Mam says they're in the attic. Anyway, my favourite part of the story has to be when my Grandad met my nanny off the train. Nanny saw that my Grandad had his hair in a tight crew cut for the guards. Her first words to him after after a year of these beautiful love letters were...

"I don't like your hair"

... and my Grandad, a normally easy tempered man, retorted,

"You don't look so hot yourself!"

Despite the fiery start, a trait my mother attributes to my beautiful Nanny often (and that runs in our family!) I have never heard of a couple as in love as my Nanny and Grandad O' Loughlin. If you bump into my Grandad playing his mouth organ in Grace's pub in Rathmines and get chatting to him, you can be guaranteed that at some point in the conversation he will begin to tell you all about my lovely Nanny and how much he still misses her. My Nanny O'Loughlin passed away 21 years ago this August and her memory is still fresh in all our heads."

Post wedding smiles outside the church!

What an amazing love story Sarah - thanks for sharing it with us. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for your Grandad if I'm ever in Grace's Pub in Rathmines. I'm sure he has great stories to tell.

This is the first in a series about Grandparents weddings - do you have any photos that you'd like to share? I'd love to hear from you.

Blog Awards Ireland finalists

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:33:00 +0000

Blogging has been a big part of my life for the last four years and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I'm thrilled to say that my Rangoli blog is nominated as a finalist in the Blog Awards Ireland! Thank you to everyone who nominated me.

I have met the most amazing and supportive friends - some virtually and others over mugs of coffee or glasses of rum. You know who you are! Most of all though, I want to thank all of my loyal clients who are the constant support for my work.

I hope this blog has helped those of you who are planning a wedding. My intention is to show you a peek of me behind the scenes so you can see what it's like to have a bespoke Rangoli design made! You are the inspiration for my designs and I want to share the process with you.

Amanda, Beatrice and Lorna are the women behind Blog Awards Ireland and they have put lots of work into organising this great event. The awards celebrate Ireland's online blogging community and it feels so great to receive this recognition.

My blog is a finalist in the Best Beauty & Fashion category. My pals from Dirty Fabulous are in the line-up too - what a test of a friendship! Check out the great finalists in my category as well as the full listing.

All shall be revealed on Saturday 13th October in the Osprey Hotel in Navan. For me it will be a night to turn more friendly online buddies into face to face ones. I would like to wish all the finalists the best luck and continued success with their blogging!

Beaded sash belt

noreply@blogger.com (Aisling Nelson) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:26:00 +0000

I missed seeing Kate Middleton's dress for the London Olympic Gala Concert but one of my client's didn't! She loved it so much that she asked her dress designer to make her a variation to wear to her upcoming brother's wedding.

This Jenny Packham dress is just gorgeous and I sighed when I first saw it! I've always loved the delicacy and feminine quality of Jenny's designs. Illusion or transparent elements are really popular for 2012 and this sheer lace back is gorgeous. Cap sleeves and fine pleating give lots of contrast and the jewelled sash belt is the perfect finishing touch. And that's without even mentioning the colour!

I was thrilled to be asked to come up with a design for the belt brooch detail. Norma said she wanted to keep a dark pewter base with some rhinestone as well as the zircon Swarovski crystal. I followed the tapered oval shape and came up with a beaded design that will be sewn onto a ribbon sash.

Of course, this dress will not be a replica. Norma's designer wants to give it a few creative twists! The back of her dress will have a scalloped edge opening from the neckline to the waist. Wow!

I was also asked to design a hair accessory. This is the finished design; a dainty jewelled comb to tuck into her soft chignon hairstyle. I think this lady is going to look stunning at her brother's wedding and I can't wait to see some photos.

I always like to share some of my bespoke commissions on my blog so that you can see what's involved in having a piece made. Your imagination is the only limitation. Please get in touch if you would like to visit me and discuss your ideas!

Rangoli Jewellery and Hair Accessories by Aisling Nelson

Aberystwyth to Vegas via Tipperary!

Annemarie and Paul were married on 12th July 2012. But this love story began 14 years ago in Aberystwyth! I'm thrilled that both Annemarie and Paul are here to tell us more about their beautiful day. Let's begin with how they met.

A huge thanks to Paul and Annmarie for telling us their memories from the day. Thanks for all the kind words too; I know I say this a lot but this makes my job so rewarding!

If you'd like to find out more about Annmarie's hairstyle and 'Cascade' headpiece, you can read the interview with Marie Hickey. As always, I'd love to discuss any jewellery or headpiece ideas you might have!

Bridal hair-stylist Marie Hickey

I have so much lined up to share with you from Annemarie' wedding. Magical photos by Shane O'Neil + a cool video by Best Day Productions. But before Annemarie tells us her memories from the day, I wanted to chat with Marie Hickey who created this hairstyle for her.

Joanne (the twirling bride) marries Mark!

OK girls, how many of you would like to have a twirly whirly pic of you in your dress? I think this should be the new standard. We need a 360° of our dress surely?

Joanne, thanks for telling us all about your day. If it was a quarter as good as your photos, it must have been an epic day! I highly recommend that you all now visit David Mc Clelland's blog to see loads more fantastic photos and hear his side of the story.

Thanks to each and every one of you who share memories of your day with me and my readers. You can read more Rangoli bride stories here on the blog.

Baring all for love!

Last weekend, I went to the Hugh Lane Gallery and fell in love with the Harry Clarke stained glass windows again. This time, I took the time to read up on the poem that inspired them... I wasn't expecting it to be so risqué!

There's a magical feeling when you stand in this small, darkened room and see how the colours light up the space. It's a similar magic to all the dressing up we do for weddings! Decorating our heads and bodies with sumptuous fabrics and jewels. I love being part of that magic too.

Out of the box

I like to think of my jewels as precious, but not so precious that they are worn once and wrapped (however lovingly) in a box. I firmly believe that life is for living and savings should be for holidays or pensions!

Do you plan to wear your bridal accessories again or have I got you thinking if you're already married? Leave me a comment below or on my Facebook page. I'd love to hear from you.

Rangoli bride Norah

I fall head over heels with hairstyles as much as wedding dresses - they are the starting point for all of my designs. So, when Norah showed me this one, I was so inspired and couldn't wait to play hairdresser with my big can of Elnett hairspray!

Norah - you look stunning and I really appreciate you sharing your photos and for saying such lovely things about me. I'm so glad you enjoyed your experience. That makes me happy too!

An Irish themed bridal shoot

I've been dying to share some photos from a recent shoot I did with The Wedding Crew. The theme celebrated The Gathering; so we all dug deep to come up with our own take on what is to be Irish. I wanted to capture that ethereal Irish beauty and soft understated elegance.

Why I love designing for you

Have you ever tried on a dress and loved parts of it but hated the shape or the colour or the scratchy fabric? Thanks for sharing some of your dress-choosing stories with me! Sometimes it's just as important to know what we don't like!

It got me thinking about how I would love this dress if it had a plainer fabric and a narrower skirt. And then I realised that this is exactly how I work with my customers;

I've shared some of my recent commissions here on the blog and have lots more examples in my showroom and in my head! If you have an idea in mind, let's get chatting.

Designing a silent bracelet

Yesterday there was a surprise in my in-box. When you lovely people get in touch to thank me and share photos, it means the world to me. Thanks Deirdre!

Thanks for trusting me to make your bracelet Deirdre and for being so much fun to work with!

For more inspiration you can check out my latest commissions or give me a call to chat about your own ideas.

Remembering Grandparents

Recently, lots of you have been showing me photos of your Grandparents weddings. I thought it was time to put our favourite relatives on the stage and hear some stories about their wonderful wedding days! This series is all about the romance, the style and the personalities.

So, let's meet Mercedes Munden and Frank Purcell. Apparently these two met at a dance, and were introduced by a family relative. They were both qualified architects and also shared a passion for amateur dramatics.

Do you have photos or know of someone with stories to tell? Drop me an email or leave me a comment below. I'd love to hear from you.

Doodles to designs!

As soon as I hold a pencil in my hand, I start doodling curvy, delicate patterns. Lines meander off across the page. Before I know it, I have designed another headpiece! It's not quite that simple but I love this part of my work!

The Theme was Luxe Christmas, with lots of gold and red elements. Claire wanted sparkle over bling which is right up my street! I've picked a few of my faves below but you can view lots more over on One fab Day.

A big thanks to Lisa O'Dwyer for allowing me to feature her photos. The images were shot on film which gives a lovely quality to them. The dresses for the shoot were by Patrick Casey and Adah Lynch. Check out more photos from the day via One Fab Day.

If you like these designs, have a look at some more of my recent bespoke pieces or get in touch if you'd like to chat about your ideas. I'd love to hear from you.

Credits: White Sage Events - events companyLisa O'Dwyer PhotographyAnna Atkins photos via Wikipedia

My Saturday snippet

What did you get up to this weekend? I took Saturday off and it felt like a Sunday... no work or huge agendas; just hanging out in a local café and chilling with my hubs. Our favourite new spot is The Fumbally on Clanbrassil Street, Dublin.

I think I'm going to spend more of my days off here, reading books and sipping coffee. The free WiFi is a bonus too. How about you guys - do you have a favourite weekend hangout? Tell me; I want to know about it!

Miriam and Daire's Casares wedding

Miriam wore my Rangoli Diamond hairwire and matching drop earrings in her newly pierced ears!

It's two thousand and thirteen!

It's a brand spanking new year and I'm glad to be back to my studio after a thoroughly relaxing break. How was your holidays?

The studio is open for appointments, so get in touch if you'd like to arrange a visit. 2013 brides, this is your year!

Rangoli bride Claire marries Brooks

Claire, just looking at these photos makes me smile. Your headpiece must have been designed with your name on it before I met you. I'm so glad you enjoyed your experience. Thanks for all your kind words; I really appreciate them. Wishing you both a cozy first married Christmas x

a thousand words - Jenna Thomas

You can see more of Jenna's photography on her website Red White and Green. This feature is part of a series called 'a thousand words'.

Rangoli bride Ciara

Thank you Ciara - I hope we'll meet again some day for another dose of giggles!

Ciara wore my Rangoli Brooch hairwire and matching pearl and rhinestone drop earrings. Her beautiful flowers were by Best of Buds and photos from Riona MacMonagle.

Remembering Grandparents

Recently, lots of you have been showing me photos of your Grandparents weddings. I thought it was time to put our favourite relatives on the stage and hear some stories about their wonderful wedding days! This series is all about the romance, the style and the personalities.

This post is part of a series - do you have an image of your Grandparent's that you'd like to see up on the blog? Please send me an email [aisling at rangoli dot ie] or leave a comment below.

Style my wedding dress

The style

Lines

Words

Here are my words to describe this gorgeous dress: floaty, whisper, transparent, layers, waves, soft, quiet, romantic, playful.

A quirky 'behind the scenes' video of the Rembo Styling 2013 collection

Advice on jewellery and accessories to match this dress

Hairstyles

Everyday love... and stripes

Let's start a new trend; I think 'Just because' photos should be taken more often! What do you think? How many decent couple photos of yourselves do you have that were not taken at a formal occasion?

Thanks Jenna for sharing these photos. You can see the rest of the photos on her website Red White & Green.

Styling your wedding dress

I offer this advice as part of my one-on-one consultations. I spend lots of time getting to know you and your sense of style. It's very much about keeping it real and feeling like you.

I want you to get in touch by email [aisling at rangoli dot ie] and send me a picture of your dress. International brides, I want to hear from you too. We may never get to meet in person but I would love to help you style your wedding dress.

For more inspiration, have a look at some of my bespoke commissions on my blog or Rangoli Brides Albums on my website and Facebook page.

Good Eyesight and Patience

Today I am working away in my studio. It's quiet here; no music playing! And I'm reminded of the two words that I often hear when people describe what I do. "You must have great patience and good eye sight!"

Remembering grandparents

Here's Sarah to tell us about her Grandparents, Rosaleen and Patrick O' Loughlin who were married in Killany church in County Louth on the 12th of June 1956!

Rosaleen and Patrick O' Loughlin are married on 12th June 1956

Blog Awards Ireland finalists

Blogging has been a big part of my life for the last four years and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I'm thrilled to say that my Rangoli blog is nominated as a finalist in the Blog Awards Ireland! Thank you to everyone who nominated me.

I've shared some of my recent commissions here on the blog and have lots more examples in my showr oom and in my head! If you have an idea in mind, let's get chatting.

Credits:
White Sage Events - events company
Lisa O'Dwyer Photography
Anna Atkins photos via Wikipedia

You can see more of Jenna's photography on her website Red White and Gree n. This feature is part of a series called 'a thousand words'.