The Reviews are in! Real Bridal Jewelry Reviews from 2021
At the end of each year, I use the lull between Christmas and New Years to round up photos and reviews from my bridal customers. Their kind words and photos from their wedding days lift my spirits and provide inspiration for future designs. We all love reviews; don’t we?!
Wedding Season Favorites! Best Selling Handmade Wedding Accessories
It’s wedding season & several handmade wedding accessories are emerging as our best sellers! Find your bridal jewelry & hair accessories in time for your big event!
Looking for Unique June Birthstone Gift Ideas?
Looking for unique June birthstone gift ideas? Choosing a new pearl shape is a great way to create a unique freshwater pearl jewelry gift. Let’s take a look at our best selling shaped pearls!
Retailers We Love: Pieces Home Decor
Connecting with Jennifer Holdworth and was a silver lining in this unpredictable year. After recently opening, she contacted me this summer to have a look at my jewelry collection. It was a pleasant surprise to hear about the opening of her shop and I was glad to take the drive up the Connecticut shore to Old Saybrook to check out her shop. Upon entering Pieces I immediately noticed it is a well curated space.
Add Meaning with Delicate Jewelry Details
If you’re buying handcrafted jewelry it’s because you love the details an artisan infuses into each piece. All those elegant touches that can’t be found in manufactured accessories are the result of each piece being crafted by hand. Those details are at the heart of why I love to design jewelry and what customers say keeps them coming back.
Gold Wedding Accessories for a Fine Art Bride
The saying ‘timing is everything’ could be the driving force behind this gorgeous bridal shoot. This inspiration was supposed to be photographed in a garden venue, but then the pandemic changed plans. While this shoot was on pause, I took advantage of the time and began designing in gold.
Whimsical Garden Inspired Hair Accessories
Spent my time during the pandemic doing some Marie Kondo style cleaning my house and no area was safe, not even the studio. During my studio cleaning and rearranging I discovered, or should I say rediscovered, some amazing beads and components. As the cleaning projects wined down, I allowed myself to step outside my usual design simplicity, try new techniques and what developed was a collection of whimsical hair accessories.
Delicate Bridal Accessories for a Garden Wedding
Delighted to share this wedding photo shoot full of garden inspired details. Set at the Stonepine Estates in Carmel, California this wedding inspiration is for the detail loving brides. From the invitations and wax seals to the hand beaded gowns and shoes, the craftsmanship and quality is gorgeous.
Sophisticated Wedding Inspiration featured in The Connecticut Bride
Shaken, not stirred… a hint of James Bond inspiration! I am so honored to be a part of this sophisticated wedding inspiration featured in The Connecticut Bride. It was amazing to be a part of the team of Connecticut wedding vendors that put together this day of all things classy wedding.
Handmade Jewelry Lover’s Holiday Gift Guide
The holidays are the perfect time to treat the ones you love to a meaningful gift that has some shimmer! This handmade jewelry holiday gift guide includes our artisan pearl cluster earrings and popular gemstone bobby pins. Perfect handcrafted jewelry gifts for her.
Styling a Romantic Fairy Tale Wedding
This wedding inspiration is perfect for the classy lady that dreamed of having a fairy tale wedding day. Built in 1906, the Thomas House and Garden in small town, Ridgeway, South Carolina is the ideal setting for an intimate, storybook wedding.
Romantic Boho Bridesmaid Inspiration
The contrast of textured, historic architecture and soft, ethereal styling details makes this wedding inspiration simply divine. Set at the Mission at San Juan Capistrano, this photo shoot by Styled Shoots Across America, provided so many gorgeous images, I decided to bring the romantic boho bridesmaid inspiration here.
Handmade Bridal Accessories for a French Inspired Wedding
What a joy to be a part of this elegant Connecticut wedding photo shoot! The Fitch House, a historical bed and breakfast, was the perfect setting for a French-inspired wedding. With its historical details it was a great choice for a French brunch time wedding.
Timeless Pearl Bridal Jewelry for a Vintage Styled Wedding
When I heard that Jessica Drew Photography was putting together a vintage wedding photo shoot, I knew immediately my jewelry would be a great fit for the theme. While I’m no southern belle, timeless pearl jewelry is my thing! It fits like a hand in a glove with a vintage styled wedding.
Retailers We Love: Bella Bridesmaids of Westport
I’m so excited to introduce Maggie of Bella Bridesmaids of Westport. I met Maggie while I was setting up the photo shoot for my hair accessories lookbook. She was a breeze to work with, lending me a dreamy, pink gown from Theia. Pairing her bridesmaid gown selection with my jewelry seemed like a no-brainer and so began our new partnership.
D.I.Y. Printable Bridesmaid Card Tips
So glad you found us and love our printable bridesmaid cards! If you’re looking around, like “Hey, what cards is she talking about?” – go grab your D.I.Y. printable bridesmaid cards. They’re a sweet treat for joining our community. It’s quick and easy to print these beautiful cards, using these simple instructions you’ll be ready to give them to your bridesmaids in no time.
Retailers We Love: Great Lakes Wedding Gown Specialists
I had the pleasure of meeting Tami of Great Lakes Wedding Gowns Specialists at the New York Bridal Market this past fall. She willingly shared her bridal business experiences and was the first retailer to order the bridal hair accessories collection.
Studio News: New York Bridal Market
In a sun-filled gallery in Chelsea, the Entwined Collection, my first hair accessories designs debuted at New York Bridal Market. The bridal market is part of New York Bridal Fashion week, marked with runway shows of the latest in bridal fashion.
Ten Fascinating Facts About Pearls
Pearls have been a special part of my jewelry design journey; they’re definitely my favorite material. With the varieties of shapes and colors available, they have inspired so much of my design. Each pearl unique, they bring something special to every piece of jewelry.
Styled Shoot: Romantic Wedding Inspiration
On an early spring day a group of Connecticut wedding vendors worked their magic to create some romantic wedding inspiration. A palette of soft purples and several timeless bridal styles, including jewelry from our White Bouquet collection, to get you inspired.
Real Bride: Lori, A Classic Bride From Connecticut
Lori, the first real bride I’m featuring, is close to my heart. Lori is a lifelong friend, more like a sister, so I couldn’t have been more delighted to design jewelry for her wedding. When she first sent me pictures of her gown, I knew right away styling it with jewelry from my Champagne Roses collection was the perfect pairing.
Welcome to My Blog!
Welcome to the Carrie Whelan Designs blog! I’ve created this space to share the latest news from the studio. You can expect to see jewelry fresh from design table, photos from weddings I’ve designed for and plenty of inspiration if you’re just looking for something pretty.