Gillian Million is a name you need to know, brides-to-be, when it comes to choosing your bridal accessories. Designing and creating glittering luxuries for brides-to-be everywhere (including celebrity and royal clients) you’ll definitely want to make a visit to her online site or shop when the dress hunt is over and the accessory hunt has begun.
I managed to grab five minutes with the designer to talk to her more about her designs, style and inspiration…
#1 Where did the brand Gillian Million start? What inspired you to launch the label?
“I got married in 1998 in a castle on New Year’s Eve and after hunting high and low for something stunning to go in my hair to go with a very plain and simple wedding gown, I decided to make my own. Encouraged by others having seen my hair accessory, I started to design and create a collection which I showcased to Liberty in London (who took the whole lot) and Gillian Million Bespoke Wedding Accessories was born.”
#2 Tell us a little bit about your background in terms of designing, accessories and bridal…
“The brand was launched in 2001 and I offered bespoke accessory appointments from my home in Teddington, London. After great success and growing too big for our home, I opened the most beautiful shop in the world in Teddington High Street. Four years ago, we added the Designer Wedding Dress Agency taking in Designer Wedding Gowns that were between £2,500 and £15,000 new and now available at a fraction of their original cost. These dresses are either preloved, once worn or sample wedding gowns from designers both in London and worldwide.”
#3 What can brides-to-be expect from Gillian Million. What do you offer as a brand and as a bridal experience?
“We offer personal wedding styling at Gillian Million, both for accessories and designer wedding gowns. We only have one of each dress and each dress is available at a fraction of the original cost. Also, our brides enjoy the opportunity to view and try on a 16 year collection of the most beautiful accessories all created in London giving them different ideas and ultimately creating a piece that is individual and unique to them whilst not charging bespoke prices.
We are open seven days a week by appointment and our appointments last one and a half hours each. We don’t charge for appointments. The shop is closed for each and every appointment so our brides get individual and personal attention offered by Gillian Million herself.”
#4 When it comes to designing your endless array of accessories, what inspires you? Do the trends have an impact on your designs?
“Recent customer demands and individual bespoke orders for different wedding gowns and on-trend London weddings inspire my work. As well as this, destination weddings are becoming more popular creating different ideas and practicalities.
The vibe of each and every wedding sets the scene and a fifteen minute consultation about all the details of the dress and personality of each and every bride gives us all we need to create something individual and unique for each and every bride.”
#5 What materials are used in your designs?
“We don’t compromise on our materials and only use Swarovski crystal, freshwater pearls, original vintage pieces and silver and gold findings.”
#6 If Gillian Million had to have a celebrity face to front it, who would you choose? Who embodies the brand in their style and personality?
“My clients/brides are my role models as they bring their own ideas and creations in their heads to be interpreted in the Gillian Million studio, enabling us to come up with new ideas and designs every day.
There is not an individual personality that encapsulates the Gillian Million brand as each and every bride is individual and has their own personalities, objectives, wedding destinations and budgets.”
#7 Do you design and make bespoke accessory for brides? If so, do you have any really memorable bridal moments with this service?
“I design and myself and my team create each and every piece in our shop in Teddington, London.
We recently had a mother fly in from Stockholm to choose the dress and accessories for her daughter to wear on her wedding day. Her daughter watched us closely on Skype while her mother tried on dresses from our diverse and exciting collection and was able to choose her dress and her accessories using her mother as her model. She knew that it would be a fulfilling trip having read our reviews on line, seen our exciting range of dresses and knowing that we had a bespoke sixteen year collection of the most exquisite accessories.”
#8 In it’s twelve years, Gillian Million has made many brides happy, what’s the best bit about working with brides?
“Having two teenage boys! I love my girls and I am absolutely passionate about giving each and every bride my time and advice. I love making brides feel at home, not rushed and offering them beautiful dresses as well as accessorising each and every dress: making their look personal and individual to them.
It is a happy and personal experience resulting in so much appreciation, emotional moments and many hugs and thank you letters. I love it!”
For more information on Gillian Million click here.
All images are sourced from Gillian Million/ Photography by Paul Winstone
