A Bespoke Picture Wedding Hat in Cornflower and Cerise: A Mother of the Groom Story from My Winchester Studio
- Simon Meanwell-Ralph
- Jan 13
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 17
Some commissions stay with me long after the wedding day, and this beautiful picture hat, created late last summer, is one I remember with real fondness. It was designed for a charming Mother of the Groom who wanted something truly special to complement her handmade silk dress. The process began not with the dress itself but with a swatch of exquisite shot silk purchased from Borovick’s Fabrics in Berwick Street, London – a much-loved destination for anyone who values exceptional textiles.
She arrived at my Winchester studio with the swatch folded neatly in her handbag, and she also brought something else that proved invaluable: a sketch of her planned dress design. The illustration showed gentle draping, with pleated gathering detailing around the 3/4
length sleeves and the soft v-shaped neckline, giving me early insight into the mood and movement the dress would have. Even before a single stitch of her dress had been sewn, I could already see how her hat needed to respond to those lines.
The swatch itself was captivating. It was a beautiful shot silk woven from two contrasting threads – a soft, luminous cornflower blue and a deep, romantic cerise pink. Even in its tiny strip, the silk shimmered as it moved. Her dressmaker later provided me with half a metre of the fabric to use in the hat, which allowed me to achieve a perfect match.
Choosing a Timeless Shape for the Wedding Hat
During her consultation, we explored several sample styles before she gravitated towards one of my favourite picture-hat designs in my bespoke portfolio (a sample I’d named ‘Oona’). With its graceful east–west brim and flattering line across the face, it’s a shape that offers elegance without heaviness and I’ve learned that variations of this style suits many Mothers of the Bride or Groom beautifully.
Once we agreed on the silhouette, I designed an angled crown to give the hat a sense of movement. The dress sketch had already suggested soft folds and gentle fabric detailing, so I knew the hat needed a subtle drape of the silk around the crown to echo her dress.
Using the Dress Sketch to Guide the Millinery
Because I hadn’t seen the completed dress, the sketch became incredibly helpful in directing the trim. The ruching shown in the drawing inspired me to incorporate a silk drape around the angled crown, mirroring the fluidity and direction of the dress design. Even though the dress itself was still in progress, the harmony between the two pieces began right there. I often find this is exactly how I match a hat to your dress, shoes and jewellery: I look for the lines, proportions and small details first, then echo them quietly in the millinery. I also suggested a particular type of silhouette for the little bow that sits behind the posy of roses, because it features a soft V shape in cross-section, and that shape reflects the shape of her neckline perfectly.
Working with Shot Silk: Capturing Light and Texture
Shot silk is a delight to handle, and this cornflower-and-cerise colour way was particularly striking. I used much of the half metre to create a carefully tailored bias bind around the brim, allowing the colours to shimmer with every turn of the head. The soft crown drape added depth and texture, gently picking up the movement suggested in the dress sketch. If you are looking for wedding hat advice for a Mother of the Bride or Mother of the Groom, I share more practical guidance in my main advice hub.
Just over the right eye, I placed a beautifully crafted cluster of handmade silk roses with matching leaves. Because they were made from the same shot silk as the dress, the roses held the same shifting tones, giving them a wonderful natural radiance.
Behind the posy, I shaped an elegant bow made from the same layered sinamay as the body of the hat. Rather than a small decorative touch, this bow was sculpted to create a striking, architectural silhouette, adding lift and balance to the composition without overpowering it.
Recreating the Shot-Silk Effect in Sinamay
The body of the hat was made from sinamay, so I recreated the beautiful interplay of the silk’s colours by laminating layers: a sheet of cerise sinamay sandwiched between two sheets of cornflower-blue. This approach allowed me to emulate the silk’s movement and depth while still giving the hat the structure and lightness that sinamay provides.
My customer chose to highlight the cerise in her accessories, carrying a rich pink clutch bag and wearing matching shoes. This brought the pink undertones of both the hat and the dress fabric to the forefront beautifully.
Seeing Everything Come to Life
When she returned to collect her finished hat, we placed it gently on her head, and she lifted her chin slightly, and the whole design blossomed into life. It is always a special moment when a client sees her bespoke hat properly for the first time, and this occasion was no exception.
As she turned towards the mirror, she smiled and said she felt completely herself in it – elegant, confident, and ready for the day ahead. Then she asked whether my partner would mind taking a photograph of her holding the hatbox before she left. She wanted a little keepsake of the moment, as she had enjoyed the whole process so much. It was a simple request, but a very touching one, and it reminded me how significant these preparations can be for a Mother of the Groom as she looks ahead to such an important family celebration.
A Beautiful Result on the Day
A few days after the wedding, she emailed me the photograph you see above. Standing outdoors in soft late-summer light, she looked poised, relaxed and entirely herself. The hat settled beautifully into her overall look, shimmering just as the silk was meant to shimmer.
These are the moments I treasure – seeing a client looking confident, elegant and comfortable, knowing that a hat I created here in Winchester helped her feel her best on such a meaningful day.
Working with Dressmaker’s Remnants and Designs
I always encourage clients to bring swatches, sketches, or any early notes from their dressmaker. Even the smallest detail can influence the balance, flow and line of a bespoke hat. A remnant of fabric allows me to match colours with exact precision; a sketch reveals the dress’s proportions, movement and personality.
And when extra fabric isn’t available, my extensive library of sinamay, silks and organzas gives us tremendous freedom. Laminating sinamay allows me to create unique colours that simply don’t exist on any shade card – particularly useful for complex or unusual fabrics such as shot silks.
A Joyful Wedding Hat Commission from Start to Finish
This Mother of the Groom commission was an absolute joy. From the first glimpse of that cornflower-and-cerise silk swatch to the finished picture hat with its elegant crown drape and sculptural sinamay bow, every detail came together harmoniously.
If you are the Mother of the Bride or Groom and would like a bespoke hat designed especially for your outfit, I would be delighted to welcome you to my Winchester studio. Together we can create something beautifully individual, refined and entirely yours.
FAQs
What styles of hats suit Mothers of the Bride best?
I often suggest percher, pillbox or neat saucer styles as they flatter most face shapes and give a refined, elegant look without overwhelming your outfit.
How far in advance should I order a bespoke hat?
Most bespoke commissions take 6–10 weeks, so it’s best to book as soon as you’ve chosen your dress and shoes.
Can you match the exact colour of my outfit?
Yes. I work with a wide range of sinamay shades, silks, and trims, and I can blend layers to create subtle, unique tones that perfectly complement your dress.
For more help, visit my Marvellous Millinery FAQ hub, where I answer the questions I hear most often about ordering, my bespoke process, ready-to-wear hats, wedding hat etiquette, visiting my Winchester studio and more. If you cannot find your exact question, please get in touch, and I will guide you personally.
About Marvellous Millinery
I create bespoke and ready-to-wear wedding hats here in my Rose Garden Studio in Winchester, Hampshire. I specialise in elegant, flattering designs for Mothers of the Bride and Mothers of the Groom who want a beautifully coordinated hat that feels secure, comfortable and perfectly suited to their outfit. Every hat is designed and created by me with careful attention to proportion, balance and colour so it complements your look and feels a joy to wear.
If you’d like personal guidance, I’m always delighted to arrange a one-to-one consultation at my Winchester studio.
Helpful Links
Further Reading & Resources
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About the Author
Simon Meanwell-Ralph, Milliner
Founder of Marvellous Millinery (Established 2011), Winchester, Hampshire, UK.
I graduated with a first-class honours degree in Jewellery Design and have spent many years creating hats for weddings, Royal Ascot and special events. I design and create each piece myself in my Winchester studio, using high-quality materials such as sinamay, silk and millinery feathers. My aim is always to help my clients feel confident, elegant and beautifully put together for their big day.
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“Look Amazing and Feel Fantastic!”