Where the lovely Debbie started with her business – I started my business by making my own (& bridesmaids) bouquet for my wedding, packed full of vintage jewellery, buttons, crystals, beads, pearls – and lots of sentimental items from my relatives. After my wedding I made more and put them up on Etsy to see if I got any interest. I got orders very quickly and later went on to set up my own website, and Debbie Carlisle Bouquets was born.

Every bouquet is a one off individual piece and Debbie sources all the vintage and vintage style items to make them up – she can also add your own sentimental items of jewellery or buttons to make it truly special and personal to you. You can even have your “something blue” included!

Each item is unique and varies, so prices vary – but they range around £295 - £1,295. Worth every penny for such a beautiful creation you get to keep forever.

As you would expect Debbie’s brides were requesting accessories to match their bouquets and this led to her designing her first full collection of accessories (of headpieces and cuffs) for 2012 – launched in October at the Designer Wedding Show. 

This 2012 accessories collection takes inspiration from many different eras, with many pieces designed to have a softer more romantic vintage feel – but all with a modern, fashion-forward edge.

The ribbon bands included in the collection can be worn as headbands, forehead bands and bun wraps – allowing brides to mix up their look – and wear their headpiece in different ways long after their wedding day.

More recently Debbie has also added a specific bridesmaids range to the collection of accessories which are designed for style-conscious brides and their maids who want something a bit different to the traditional bridal norm.

Prices for the bridesmaid collection are between £25 to £100 and styles range from small simple bows to seriously glamorous forehead bands.

The collection fuses vintage-inspired glamour with a modern edge and is designed to be as versatile as possible. Debbie wanted to create something that was rock and roll rather than twee and traditional so brides and their maids could embrace fashion-forward style on their way down the aisle.

Debbie – I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to transform a DIY experiment for my own wedding into a profitable business that now sees hundreds of brides walking down the aisle in my creations. It’s such a privilege to be a part of anyone’s wedding day and I feel so proud every time a bride chooses me to make her accessories. The best part of my job is the excited reactions of my brides when they receive their piece from me – there’s no other feeling like it in the world!

Please visit the DC Bouquets website for more information and contact Debbie to discuss your own bespoke creation.

What do you think – it is all gorgeous isn’t it?! Do you like the idea of having one of these bouquets instead of a floral one? Yes they cost a bit more than flowers, but it is something you get to keep and treasure forever – it will look fabulous displayed at home and you can hand it down to your children to use on their own wedding day.

Have a lovely morning and I shall be back soon xx