Every bride feels like a princess or even a queen at her wedding. What better way to underscore and celebrate that feeling than with wedding headpieces called tiaras.

What Is A Tiara?

Wikipedia.org tells us that a tiara is "a semi-circular band, often metal, and decorated with jewels, which is worn as a form of adornment. Tiaras are worn by women around their heads or on their foreheads as circlets at very formal or high social occasions." Tiaras also carry the connotation that their wearers are royal or regal personages. Usually made of precious metals, the best wedding tiaras are fully encrusted with gemstones and pearls,

History of the Tiara

The tiara has a rather endearing history. Said to signify wealth and status, a wedding tiara is a gift to the bride from her father or husband-to-be. Throughout history, bridal hair tiaras have been set with diamonds, the stone that symbolizes "forever" or "eternal love." Although diamonds are most popular, other gemstones and pearls are often featured on UK bridal tiaras. In past centuries, tiaras were considered to be important parts of coordinated jewellery ensembles that included chandelier earrings, necklaces and even jewelled hair combs. There are three types of bridal tiaras, the diadem or circlet, the garland and the kokoshnik, with its familiar central peak.

The Diadem

The diadem is an ornamental headdress worn originally by royalty to indicate their status. This history of the diadem can be traced back to the ancient Persians and early diadems were made of white cloth with trailing ends that reached to the shoulders. Eventually cultures like the ancient Egyptians adapted diadems into metal circlets embellished with symbols like the ankh, which represented eternal life. It's no wonder that when worn by a modern bride, a diadem wedding tiara symbolizes eternal love.

The Garland

The garland also has royal connotations because one of its meanings refers to the crown of a king. A second meaning describes a " wreath or chaplet made of branches, flowers, or feathers, and sometimes of precious stones, to be worn on the head like a crown; a coronal; a wreath." [Source: http://www.encyclo.co.uk/define/Garland]. With such an estimable history, it's no wonder that the garland is also a very popular bridal headpiece.

The Kokoshnik

Despite its odd-sounding name, the kokoshnik is the familiar-looking wedding tiara that practically anyone would recognize. The kokoshnik has been worn by women for centuries and also denotes royalty. The front of the kokoshnik can be either pointed or rounded. Regardless of shape, it is often encrusted with pearls or jewels. From formal dances to beauty pageants, this tiara is also an exceedingly appropriate wedding headdress.

Bridal tiaras have a storied history in the UK and a strong symbolic meaning. Tiaras never fail bring an air of elegance and a royal touch to the weddings of those who choose to wear them.