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Bel Canto Designs Blog bio picture

Welcome to the Bel Canto Designs Blog!

Working with sophisticated vintage jewelry to create new haircombs and bridal jewelry has become a passion of mine in the past year. It has also been such an inspiration to be able to share in the incredible creativity that is part of the present day wedding community. In this blog I share ideas and discoveries in the bridal community, stories of some of our clients, as well as some of my creations.

As you continue to follow you will find that my real love is for vintage designs. I collect rare antique pieces from the 1940's to 60's and use them in my work. Their flowing lines, sparkle and beautiful workmanship are just so appealing.

Please click the Collections link to view our shop.

My hope is that this blog will inspire you.

A Little Sparkle for the Ear

No matter if you like lots of shine or a small pearl, every bride looks for that special pair of earrings. Here are a few of our creations to inspire

This one of our most popular, “Antonia”, with freshwater pearl dangles from a rhinestone chandelier

"Sophia"

The “Sophia” is 2 1/2 inches of pure sparkle!

“Francesca” is a 2 3/4 silver filigree drop with rhinestones outlining the filigree

“Antoinette” in blue…also available in crystal…is a remake of vintage filigree and rhinestone dangles.

More Sparkle

This is a vintage inspired dangle on the left with a 2 inch drop. Simple but elegant.


To the right is an Art Deco Dangle. One of my favorites! I love the etched pave rhinestones on the teardrop

Twinkling sparkle from the large marquis stud below. Pave rhinestone leaves dangle in 2 pieces  that sway gently when you move.

Amazing Hairstyles with Vintage Brooch Hair Combs

We recently did a photo shoot showcasing many of our hair adornments in special occasion hairstyles.  Central to the success of the shoot was the talented Liz Perniciaro, the stylist.

Liz has been doing updos for weddings, proms as well as performances for 30 years.  Not only is she a talented stylist, she’s also FUN! We had such a good time, the six (!) hours just zipped by.

My husband, Davis Palmer, did all the photography.  Avieanna Dantzler, Caroline Miller and Joy Perniciaro were the lovely models. We chose these beautiful young women for their different hair types and styles so that it would be easier to envision what these pieces might look like in your hair.

Liz started with Caroline, giving her a 60′s look with our popular Starburst headband.

.   .  


Joy Perniciaro, Liz’s daughter, has  thick hair with natural wave. In addition to the more formal look, Liz chose some “messy” styles that do well with Joy’s natural hair type.

Avieanna’s hair did well with headbands.  I also love the vintage look with a beau jewels baroque hair comb.


Southern Bridal Show and Expo – “Best in Show”

As promised, the one display at the Southern Bridal Show that so caught my attention by its beauty, artistry, colors and originality that I had to stop and take a picture of it. See if you agree…

This incredible fruit sculpture/platter is the creation of Fabricio Barahona,  the talented chef at The General Store Cafe in Pittsboro, NC. I had never seen such an exquisite floral design created from a watermelon before. And though the array of strawberries, blueberries, grapes, apple, star fruit, cantaloupe and papaya was awfully tempting, I am so glad that sampling was not encouraged. How would you like to be the first one to take a piece out of this masterpiece?

In addition to the ever-popular cafe, The General Store Cafe offers catering service utilizing local, healthy and natural ingredients. Perfect for your “green” wedding!

Southern Bridal Show and Expo – more pictures

Here are a few more pictures from the recent Southern Bridal Show & Expo in Raleigh, NC. Beautiful table settings and wedding cakes abounded as well as the work of a number of talented photographers.

Belk’s department store had an impressive area set up with samples from their bridal registry, plenty of available help and opportunities to register online at the show.

Across the aisle from Bel Canto Designs at Victorian Rose Bridals was a very friendly group from A Floral Essence, unique in their provision of very realistic, and affordable, permanent floral displays. They also offer many other event design services for weddings and other special occasions.

Another impressive vendor was Southern Bride & Groom magazine. As a future father-of-a-bride, I found this magazine to be a most helpful compendium of wedding information – not just vendors, of which many of the finest in the Triangle are represented, but also valuable planning guidelines and helpful insights into the whole wedding as the multiple events it comprises. All that information, coupled with the beautiful photography and handy size, makes it the most valuable wedding reference I have yet come across in the Triangle. (Locals might want to check out their online resources as well.)

Next up, my personal pick for “Best of Show”, just because the sight of it stopped me in my tracks…

Southern Bridal Show and Expo

As many of our brides in North Carolina know, the Southern Bridal Show & Expo was recently held at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

What a fun show! We joined Victorian Rose Bridals for this event…their gorgeous gowns, our sparkling jewelry. It just doesn’t get much better! But the Bel Canto Designs collections were not the only sparklers in the booth. Witness the Victorian Rose “girls”, Amber and Lisa, who are not only beautiful, but fun, creative and a joy to work with.

Smiling Faces - Amber & Lisa of Vistorian Rose Bridals
Note that the girls are modeling their own Bel Canto Design hair adornments!

Talking to a Father-of-the-Bride-to-Be
Amber tells a story
Periodically throughout the day there would be a short fashion show of some of the vendors’ gowns. Models wearing gowns from Victorian Rose Bridals also wore hair adornments from Bel Canto Designs. We were able to get a few runway shots.

Southern Bridal Show modelHair CombModel with Head BandReceding Hair Comb

Later, some more images from the show…

Elegant Wedding Gala

Such a wonderful evening it was! The setting was the
amazing Umstead Hotel so it truly was elegant.

We were busy…well swamped…most of the evening so we weren’t able to get out and about. Thankfully Sugarland (amazing wedding cakes as well as gelato) was our neighbor….and they were giving out samples. My husband said their pistachio gelato has ruined him ….he can’t eat any other now. Sad state of affairs, don’t you think?

My friend, Debbie Lipstone, was having a great time with the brides. After planning two weddings for her kids, she is a pro.

We were able to spend  time with the brides helping them coordinate their jewelry and hairpiece with their dress. It was so much fun because it opened unknown possibilities for many of the brides! The photos are the intense conversations with some of the now Bel Canto Brides-to-be.

The setting was great for our 1930′s to 1960′s vintage pieces. The brides were most appreciative to find real vintage/heirloom jewelry.

Wedding Gala Tickets Give Away

We are getting more excited each day as the Wedding Gala approaches! We have 4 winners in our ticket give away:

Amy, Lauren, Dotty and Kim

You will each receive 2 tickets. Please email me at belcantodesigns@gmail.com so we can make arrangements.

Look forward to meeting you!

Winners of The Junebug Wedding and Project Wedding Give-aways

And we have a winner …..Kenya Franklin won at Junebug Weddings and Kayla Erickson won at Project Wedding. I look forward to the photos of their weddings!

Keep checking in for more contests. Classic Bride will be coming up in March.

Elegant Weddings Gala

For our North Carolina readers:

Cary Magazine’s Elegant Weddings Gala will be at The Umstead Hotel and Spa on March 4th.  The setting is more intimate and boutique-like than a larger wedding show. We at  Bel Canto Designs are excited to be part of it this year.

Please stop by and introduce yourself. We will be in booth #25

We have a few tickets ( a $20 value) to give away. Please subscribe to our blog and then leave a comment to enter to win tickets. We will chose the winners on March 1st so please check back then!

Another Contest Celebrating Our Shop Opening!

Project Wedding is helping us celebrate by sponsoring a give away. You may enter up until February 22nd and while you are there check out wedding ideas!