Tag: fashion jewellery

As I hand solder metal jewellery, saw, hammer, sand and shape as required, being handcrafted enables me to be even more creative for my brides to make jewellery and hairpieces that are unique and not flooding the stores. I help you bring your vision to life to wear on your wedding day, so you know everything is perfect.

➳ Take us back to the beginning of it all for you – How and when was ‘Redki -Couture Jewellery’ born? 

I found when wearing my jewellery others loved them also as the designs were different and they wanted unique pieces as well. Women started buying and commissioning me to make fabulous jewellery for them and so I started Redki – Couture Jewellery.

My Mum was always catching me playing with her jewellery and shoes as a child; I have always loved fashion and accessorising. I am truly a creative person and have been all my life. Jewellery has always been a part of my life and I never feel an outfit is complete without wearing gorgeous jewellery as it makes me feel fabulous and empowered.

I am often asked where the name ‘Redki’ came from and it was from my two beautiful fur babies Red and Kiki who sadly are no longer with me. Redki was named with these beautiful fur babies in mind, and their memory lives on through my brand

As I hand solder metal jewellery, saw, hammer, sand and shape as required, being handcrafted enables me to be even more creative for my brides to make jewellery and hairpieces that are unique and not flooding the stores. I help you bring your vision to life to wear on your wedding day, so you know everything is perfect.

➳ Did you always know that you wanted to design Bridal accessories?

Oh yes, as I just love the elegance of the bridal world. I love my marriage and love hearing how couples meet and their beautiful story. I just adore being part of a bride’s journey up to her walking down the aisle and everyone turning in admiration at how beautiful she looks.

My very first bridal jewellery was for a girlfriend who was marrying her love. Her daughter was the bridesmaid and they wanted truly unique jewellery and couldn’t find it anywhere. That is where I came in and created beautiful Swarovski Crystal jewellery for the Bride and Bridesmaid. It is fabulous as they both wear their jewellery beyond the wedding.

Helping brides gives me so much pleasure as I am able to take the stress away for them in creating exactly what they are wanting in their jewellery and hairpieces. Saves them going shop-to-shop or online and not being able to find their perfect pieces, saves time, saves stress and they can concentrate on other areas of their wedding.

I am a very passionate creative person, I love what I do and I feel privileged and honoured beyond words to be part of a brides wedding day.

➳ What keeps you inspired along the way?

Women inspire me. I adore helping brides to have their dream wedding. I just love hearing a bride-to-be’s wedding dream and desires. To hear the stories of how the couple met and what their future holds.

Helping my bride to have those beautiful pieces of jewellery and hairpiece is so special. Designing together her jewellery and hairpiece for herself and her bridal party so that it all coordinates and the whole look compliments each other. Most of my brides are distance brides and we communicate over messenger, email or phone, it just depends on where they are in the world.

I love hearing feedback when a bride receives her jewellery. To hear her gushing with excitement over the jewellery and saying it is better than expected makes my heart swell with pride. As I have crafted them better than her expectations and I have been a part of her wedding day and helping her to achieve her dream wedding.

Jewellery is personal, it is very intimate for a woman and it should be made for her, it should be what she wants, her vision and made with love. I am inspired by everyday life, when meeting a woman and transforming her vision into her signature style.

➳ Do you have any stories that you would like to share from your experiences?

I have had the greatest honour of recreating bridal headpieces and jewellery to honour Mothers and Grandmother and shed a tear on the phone with my brides. Where a bride would like a special piece of jewellery recreated, sometimes exactly the same and sometimes with the bride’s inspiration added into the piece. When a bride tags ‘Redki – Couture Jewellery’ or gives me a review it is the biggest compliment to receive xo.

Bianca wanted to honour her Mum and I recreated a modern take on a circlet tiara in beautiful Swarovski crystals and pearls. I was emailed a photo from the 70’s of Bianca’s Mum as a bride and after a discussion I understood what Bianca wanted and created her gorgeous tiara with matching jewellery for her and her bridesmaids.

Bianca’s kind words “I asked Michelle to recreate a very special piece headpiece that my mother wore on her wedding day, for me to wear on my day. Not only did she make me the most beautiful headpieces I have ever seen…it was perfect in every way.
Michelle has the most incredible way of creating jewellery that speaks a thousand words and leaves you speechless at the sight of them. I will never forget the time, effort and love that Michelle put into making my headpiece. She not only created my headpiece, she created matching earrings and bracelet for me and created beautiful hair combs and jewellery for my bridesmaids that complimented my jewellery perfectly.
Thank you once again for everything you did Michelle”

Ruth kindly wrote “My wedding headpiece was created from a replica of my mums, Michelle did a wonderful job of matching it 100% perfectly, I will always treasure it, thank you”

Jemanda was just adorable and so much fun. Jemanda wanted the Kim Kardashian circlet tiara without having to pay the $2m price tag yet wanted it to be as sparkling and beautiful. I recreated it with a difference by adding Jemanda’s personality to it – it was perfect.

Jemanda wrote “Michelle made the most beautiful custom jewellery piece for my wedding, it was stunning. Thank you again Michelle”

➳ What advice would you offer a Bride just starting out on their search for the perfect Wedding accessories?

Have photos of your gorgeous gown and your bridesmaid’s gown, hairstyles and the theme of your wedding to send through. As these help me to understand your dream wedding, your signature style and your personality for when we talk about your custom made pieces or to help and advise which of the ready made pieces would suit you best.

Depending on the gown’s style will depend on which jewellery you choose, you may have a higher neckline and want more statement earrings and bracelet with a hairpiece at the back/side. Don’t forget your photos, as you turn your head and you would like to have a lovely hairpiece that matches and compliments your jewellery.

Also as you walk down the aisle and stand with your love, your guests will see the back and side of your head for some time and the photographer will take photos from this angle; how pretty will it look to have a hairpiece in your hair.

I always suggest that you have your jewellery and hairpieces made by the same jeweller. Buying elsewhere and trying to match just won’t work. You will see the difference, as glass just doesn’t look as beautiful as crystals. It’s like wearing two difference coloured shoes, it just doesn’t look right; and this is your wedding day and you want everything to coordinate and look beautiful.

Choose jewellery that you love, don’t get caught up in trends (remember you will look back at these photos 20 years time and you can avoid that trend). Just be yourself and you will be the most relaxed and comfortable bride, as you know you look beautiful and you will feel empowered and fabulous on your wedding day.

➳ What is your own personal favourite piece?

I have managed to narrow this down to pick three as it is so very hard to choose! Deep breath now.

The ‘Parisian Nights Earrings’ in Golden Shadow (although the Silver Clear Crystals are also gorgeous). The marquee shapes in these earrings are just stunning and I love how brides can wear these with any outfit after their wedding.

I adore a statement bracelet and this bracelet is so popular with my gorgeous brides, the ‘Sway My Way 5 strand bracelet’

I can’t go past a fabulous statement ring; I wear these everyday and love seeing these on women as they just finish any outfit so perfectly. They look so fabulous on bridesmaids to complete their gown. I have so many statement rings to choose from although I do love the ‘Manhattan Nights Ring’ in Golden Shadow, it is sooooo pretty with its big Swarovski crystal teardrop.

➳ What is the best part about what you do:

Making jewellery, I am in my happy place when I am creating jewellery, what better business could I be in than making women happy? I pinch myself on a daily basis that I have the honour of making jewellery for a brides wedding. A permanent reminder of her wedding day, that she can wear her sparkling jewels for many years later to enjoy.

One of my favourite things is when a bride contacts me many years later or posts on social media with a photo and that they “still love my jewellery” and are wearing it with fond memories of their wedding day; now that is truly special, so beautiful and makes me very happy.

You can’t buy that memory, a bride’s jewellery that has created a memory and it is something that a bride will cherish. Every time you wear your jewellery you are reminded of a beautiful memory of your wedding day marrying your love, the person of your dreams.

Love is Love and True Love lasts forever….