Five-Star Reviews & Testimonials
I’m humbled and immensely proud that Marvellous Millinery holds a perfect 5.0-star rating across Google, Trustpilot, Facebook, and Yell, with well over 100+ verified reviews from Happy Customers who include; Mother of the Bride, Mother of the Groom, those attending Ladies Day at Royal Ascot, guests at Royal Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace and people going to Investiture ceremonies, who come to me from across Hampshire and beyond. Customers generously praise the personal design guidance, precise colour-matching, comfortable fit and calm studio experience I provide at my Rose Garden Studio here in Winchester.
If you are considering a bespoke or ready-to-wear wedding hat, I hope these reviews help you feel confident about what to expect.
What My Customers Value Most
Reading through these reviews, certain themes come up again and again - and they are the things I work hardest to get right for every customer.
Colour-matching that looks “meant to be.”
Many ladies arrive at my Winchester studio feeling uncertain about how to coordinate their hat with a block-coloured dress, a patterned fabric, or a soft, ‘in-between’ coloured outfit. By the end of the consultation, we have found a combination that works beautifully in natural light and will photograph elegantly on the day. Several reviewers kindly mentioned this as the detail that made the biggest difference.
A comfortable, secure fit from the ceremony to the last photograph.
A hat that wobbles, pinches or needs constant adjusting quickly becomes a distraction. I create every hat to feel balanced and light, secured with a discreet headband, comb, or hair elastic, so you can greet guests, embrace your family, and enjoy the whole day without giving your hat a second thought. Comfort is one of the most frequently praised aspects in these reviews.
A calm, enjoyable consultation.
I work hard to ensure that ordering your wedding hat is one of the enjoyable parts of the planning - an experience to be cherished. My one-to-one appointments at my air-conditioned Rose Garden Studio here in Winchester are unhurried and relaxed. You will work directly with me throughout, and many reviewers describe the experience as a memorable highlight.
A truly individual hat.
Because every bespoke hat is created specifically for one customer, you will never see the same design on someone else at the wedding. That sense of individuality - knowing your hat was made just for you - is something my customers mention time and again.
Trusted by Mothers of the Bride and Mothers of the Groom Across Hampshire and Beyond
Since establishing Marvellous Millinery in 2011, I have had the privilege of creating hats for ladies attending weddings and events across Winchester, Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and much further afield. Most of my customers travel specifically to visit my Studio for a personal consultation, often making a day or even a weekend of their trip, and a good number return for subsequent family weddings or Royal Ascot.
I never take a personal recommendation for granted. When a customer tells a friend, family member, colleague or even her neighbour about their experience, it means the world to me - and it is the reason so many of my enquiries begin with the words, “my friend came to you for her hat, and she said I absolutely must come to see you too!”
“From start to finish Simon was helpful, professional and friendly. The end result was a stunning hat made for my son’s wedding. I was thrilled! I felt amazing all day and had so many compliments. Thank you Simon!”
Barbara Barclay - 5* Google Review
“I wore one of Simon’s hats to a Royal Garden Party - and the whole experience was a joy. His hat absolutely finished my outfit perfectly and made me feel like a princess on the day. I cannot recommend Marvellous Millinery highly enough.”
Anne Croudass - 5* Google Review
“Had a lovely time in Simons beautiful studio. He was very patient with all my requests and so helpful with everything.”
Zillah Coxon - 5* Google Review
“Simon is incredibly talented and made the entire process comfortable and enjoyable. His service is truly bespoke, he listens, knows what works & takes away any anxiety. The hats are beautifully designed and made with attention to detail.”
Cressida Bullough - 5* Trustpilot Review
“The sensational fascinator and handbag Simon created for my son's wedding was absolutely perfect. The initial consultation was a joy as Simon talked me through the options and listened carefully to my wishes. His attention to detail was quite extraordinary and Simon's quest for perfection, particularly in colour matching was very reassuring. The whole process was an absolute delight from beginning to end and the finished product was so much more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you Simon, you are an absolute genius and a real sweetheart to boot!”
Lorraine Morgan - 5* Google Review
“You can trust Simon to create you something incredible, unique, a work of art that will look sensational. And the best part, no one will have anything remotely similar on!”
Jayne Ralph - 5* Google review
“I wasn’t sure what I wanted at first, but Simon is expert at teasing out a client’s ideas. He looked at the colour and style and suggested a headpiece which would add height and impact while remaining elegant and understated. The headpiece he produced was a monochrome work of art. It was an absolute pleasure to wear, and to receive the very many compliments and enquiries it generated. Thank you Simon for a Marvellous Millinery headpiece which transformed my wedding look from smart to sublime!”
Jo Barker - 5* Google Review
“Everyone at the wedding commented on my wonderful hat. Two words sum up this wonderful hat. Class and elegance. Simon totally ‘got’ what I wanted.”
Juliet Surridge - 5* Trustpilot Review
“The colours match absolutely perfectly and I couldn't be more thrilled. Simon was utterly brilliant throughout the whole process. He was very open to what I wanted and offered advice on what would and wouldn't work.”
Katie Hickson - 5* Trustpilot Review
“Simon offers a complete bespoke service from his beautiful studio. He is highly professional, patient, talented & knowledgable man. I asked Simon to design a hat for my son’s wedding. My dress was very bold & he created the perfect hat to complement it. So if you want a hat making, I can highly recommend you contact Simon, you won’t be disappointed.”
Carolyn Breakwell - 5* Google Review
“Simon’s attention to detail is second to none. The consultation not only gives the opportunity to try a huge variety of imaginative styles and to have an experienced eye overseeing, but also gives the chance to tailor make the colours and materials to complement the customers outfit. The finished hat is a dream!…”
Liz PJ - 5* Google Review
“Simon is a hugely talented and professional man. I’ve never met anyone with his attention to detail and aesthetic eye. He is a highly talented milliner and stylist and can assist you with your outfit, accessories and jewellery, all to perfectly coordinate with the bespoke headwear he creates. The amount of effort and time spent on making your hat perfect is impressive.”
Mrs. Francis - 5* Google Review
“His approach was gentle and he listened to me. Gradually he guided me towards a style that I actually really liked. On my daughter’s wedding day I felt ‘a million dollars’ and received many complements on my beautiful hat. I would without reservation recommend Simon and Marvellous Millinery.”
Joanna Whiteman - 5* Trustpilot Review
“Simon's attention to detail, skill with colour and skill in general are superb. I would not hesitate in recommending Marvellous Millinery to anyone who is looking for an addition to their outfit that is individual, beautiful and wonderfully unique.”
Tricia Trott - 5* Trustpilot Review
“Simon at Marvellous Millinery has the most glorious array of hats and an eye for the details that make a design special. But perhaps the best part of commissioning a hat from him is that he brings such a delight to the whole experience, and clearly aims to make his clients feel relaxed, confident and attractive in their chosen outfit. He is so patient if you are undecided and takes such care to ensure you feel happy with your whole look, inviting you to bring along your dress and shoes so colours can be perfectly matched. I am looking forward to my next excuse to visit his studio! Thank you Simon, for taking away the anxiety about choices and making it fun from start to finish.”
Penny Bullough - 5* Google Review
“Wonderful service and a totally fabulous end result! Would highly recommend x”
Louisa Revolta - 5* Google Review
“Simon designed and created the most stunning hat for me. It was innovative, beautiful and the attention to detail was just amazing. I received so many compliments each time I wore it... The whole process was fabulous. It was fun, I felt relaxed and enjoyed the creative discussion and matching the colours to my outfits. I can’t recommend this personal, bespoke service enough!”
Miss Bullough - 5* Google Review
“I had the pleasure of wearing one of these fabulous hats to a wedding recently. The hats are so beautifully made, with so much care and attention to detail. Simon worked out exactly what style and colour would go with my outfit and it was the perfect match. I had so many compliments about it at the wedding. I would recommend Marvellous Millinery to anyone! Such a talent and such a wonderful service!”
Annie Tatnall - 5* Google Review
“Having purchased my hat, a joyous experience, I initially trotted off to Epsom Races. Simon actually remembered I also had another occasion when I would be able to wear my beautiful hat again. If you want to feel fabulous with confidence a hat from Marvellous Millinery is definitely for you!”
Alyson Elms - 5* Trustpilot Review
“Marvellous Millinery is very aptly named and is a truly bespoke service from start to finish, which is not always easy to find nowadays. The whole process of working with Simon is fantastic and he shows an incredible attention to detail, beginning with your outfit to make sure the final hat complements and enhances what you’re wearing. The colour matching is incredible. He immediately makes you feel at ease. I highly recommend Marvellous Millinery to anyone who is considering a hat for an occasion. Simon is extremely skilled and professional.”
Lucy Francis - 5* Trustpilot Review
“I always go to Marvellous Millinery when I need a hat for a special occasion. I’ve now had several hats (with matching accessories) designed and created by Simon at Marvellous Millinery and have no reservations about recommending him… Simon has incredible attention to detail and amazing design ideas. It’s clear that he wants his customers to really love and enjoy wearing the hats he makes for them. The process from beginning to end is always stress free and easy, You don’t have to know a lot about hats or even know what suits you, he’ll guide you through the whole process. Simon has so much knowledge that I enjoyed every minute in his beautiful studio as much as wearing the hats themselves.”
LK Ward - 5* Trustpilot Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these reviews genuine?
Yes, every review on this page is a verified review from a real customer on Google, Facebook, or Yell. The reviews widget you see above pulls directly from those platforms, so you can also read them independently by searching for Marvellous Millinery on Google or Facebook.
What do customers say about the bespoke process?
Customers frequently describe the consultation as relaxed, creative and enjoyable. Many mention how reassuring it was to try on a wide range of shapes and colours, and how much they appreciated being guided through the design decisions without any pressure. The phrase “I felt completely looked after” appears in many reviews.
How important is colour-matching, according to your customers?
It is one of the most commonly praised elements. Ladies often arrive unsure which shades will work with their outfit, and leave delighted with a colour story that ties their dress, shoes, bag and hat together. Several reviews specifically mention how well the colours photographed on the day.
Do customers find the hats comfortable to wear all day?
Yes - comfort is mentioned in many reviews. Many customers say they forgot they were wearing a hat, which is exactly what I aim for. Each hat is created to feel balanced, lightweight and secure, so it stays in place from the ceremony through to the evening without fuss.
Can I leave a review after my event?
I would be delighted if you did. After the wedding or occasion, you are welcome to leave a review on Google, Facebook or Yell. There is also a link at the bottom of this page. Your feedback helps other ladies feel confident about their decision, and it genuinely makes my day to hear how things went.
Looking for more answers?
Browse my full collection of FAQs covering the bespoke process, ready-to-wear hats, hat etiquette, visiting Winchester, and more.