Tiara

When I'm talking about crystal wedding tiaras I'm referring to a wedding tiara handcrafted from Swarovski or other types of crystal, not manufactured tiaras which contain rhinestones or diamantes.

So why choose crystal over diamante?

Diamante tiaras are mass produced and therefore cheap, often imported and widely available, for some they make the perfect choice especially if the budget is severely limited. But since they are machine produced there's no option to amend the design for example changing the colour. So if you've seen a design you like but want to shorter, in different colours or in a child size, you're stuck. This is where crystal tiaras have a massive advantage.

If you choose a crystal wedding tiara you will be able to add other crystal colours to your tiara so you can co-ordinate your bridal accessories with your wedding colours. For example when I created my own tiara I added fire opal crystals to match the orange of my bouquet. Another idea is incorporating the colour of the embroidery on your wedding dress into your wedding tiara.

If you're planning on having similar but less detailed tiaras for your bridesmaids this can easily be done with crystal tiaras where as it would be very difficult to find a diamante manufactured tiara that will match. Many brides that I've worked with have young daughters with are either being child bridesmaids or flower girls and they want a miniature version of their own tiaras which is only possible with crystal wedding tiaras and it looks really cute.

How much should I pay for a crystal wedding tiara?

Crystal wedding tiaras are usually handcrafted. Their prices range considerably and at the top end of the spectrum you could pay £100's. Be aware that crystal tiaras that cost this much have a massive mark up and you can probably find a similar design for much less. At the other end of the scale there are very inexpensive designs which may be poorly finished with sharp wires and substandard crystal, glass or even plastic beads. A price between £40 to £70 is considered reasonable for a full crystal wedding tiara but this depends on the time taken and the cost of the materials involved. Obviously the more time it takes to create a tiara the more you will pay. You may also be able to buy bridesmaids tiaras for much less than this.

Rules for buying a crystal tiara

There are some general rules when choosing a crystal tiara. When deciding on the height of your crystal tiara ensure it will compliment your face shape. You can read more about this in our free tiara advice guide. Ensure your tiara will match your other wedding jewellery, many crystal tiaras are available with either silver or gold base and clear or clear AB crystals, so don't choose an all clear AB tiara then match it with clear crystal jewellery it just won't look right.

So will you be buying a crystal wedding tiara?

There are so many advantages to choosing a crystal tiara over a diamante one, even if your not 100% won over, its definitely worth taking a look at crystal tiaras and having a chat to see if your dream tiara can be made within your budget.