Every fairytale wedding gown needs a crowning glory, and for many brides that is a tiara. Bridal tiaras are very much a personal choice, and aside from likes and dislikes, there are a few considerations.

For example, the bride must consider the length of her hair and how the hair will be worn on her wedding day, and whether or not a veil will also be worn with the tiara.

Bridal tiaras come in a variety of styles including halo style that sits close to the head, crown style that sits high up off the head and headband style that sits delicately across the forehead and adorns the bride’s face and highlights the hairstyle.

It is always best to hold off on purchasing a bridal tiara until after the wedding gown has been selected. Once the wedding gown has been chosen, the bride will know better whether she wants a tiara with pearls, rhinestones or colored beading; and the style of tiara that will go best with her gown. It is important that the bridal tiara compliment the dress but not compete with it. For example, a tiara headpiece that is plain with a single row of rhinestones may be perfect for a simple tea length wedding dress, while a fancier tiara with polished floral embellishments such as French petals or glittering daisy flowers would be an ideal accessory for a wedding dress in white satin with an A-line bodice. Just keep in mind that accoutrements on the bridal tiara, like the crystals, rhinestones, sequin, or pearls should match or compliment any detailing on the wedding dress or veil.

For a bride who is wearing her hair long, a crown style tiara is the best choice as it shows off the headpiece and showcases long, beautiful hair. If the bride is wearing an up-do, a halo style tiara will look amazing, as will a low profile crown style tiara that complements the princess’ hairstyle without being overpowering. For a bride who is having her hair styled with the front of the hair pulled back and the back tresses long and loose, almost any bridal tiara style will be appropriate, so the bride may choose whatever one tickles her fancy.

One of the most beneficial aspects of choosing a bridal tiara instead of another type of hair accessory such as a floral wreath, ribbon, lace or baby’s breath is that a quality bridal tiara is a wedding day keepsake that can be kept by the bride and cherished forever, perhaps handing it down to a daughter on her wedding day many years from now.

Tiaras date back to ancient Egyptian times when kings and queens were thought to be the earthly manifestations of the Gods. The tiaras or crowns that were placed on their heads were meant to show and remind everyone who looked at them that they were not men and women, but Gods to be worshiped. These original crowns or tiaras were usually made of feathers, but soon they were crafted out of solid gold circles that would sparkle in the sun. The word “tiara” comes from the ancient Persians who would place elaborately designed tiaras on the heads of their kings. These were tall headdresses that were fashioned together with gold and precious gems and only the king could wear a tiara of great height upon the head.

The ancient Greeks wore golden tiaras decorated with jewels during the reign of Alexander the Great. Even the common people would wear golden tiaras in their hair as a regular part of their daily attire. These tiaras, or diadems, would have a tie on the back and could be tightened so that it wouldn’t fall off of the head. On the other hand, the ancient Romans rejected the idea of wearing ostentatious crowns of gold and jewels. Even Julius Caesar himself would not wear a golden tiara, instead donning the laurel wreath that was fashionable in Roman society at the time.

Throughout Europe, kings and queens would commonly wear tiaras or crowns as a symbol of their power and royalty. While made of gold circlets and decorated with gems, these tiaras were simpler in nature. It wasn’t until Napoleon came into power that large, exquisitely decorated, and elaborately bejeweled crowns became commonplace for leaders to wear. These developed into the large crowns you might find on the heads of the kings and queens of England.

Soon tiaras became a common accessory among the common people and women began wearing them on their wedding days as a sign of celebration and symbol of high fashion. By the 1950s, bridal tiaras were commonplace and have been going in and out of fashion ever since. The modern bridal tiara is usually not a complete circle, but instead a half moon shape that can be placed towards the front of the head or pushed more towards the back. These modern tiaras are not generally worth a great deal of money, but they are lavishly decorated with crystals, semi-precious stones, or pearls. While gold is the favored color of royal crowns, silver is a more common color choice for most bridal tiaras.

Today, bridal tiaras come in wide variety of shapes, styles, and designs. Flowers, lace, swirls, loops, butterflies, and royal crests are some of the most common bridal tiara styles available. Some are very thin and barely even noticeable when placed upon the head and others are wide bands that are meant to frame the hair or face. You can also get tall, elaborately designed bridal tiaras that are more reminiscent of a royal crown than a simple hairpiece.

Bridal tiaras can be worn alone or with a bridal veil. Most modern bridal tiaras have combs or clips that will grab onto the back of the hair to keep them in place. If you are going to incorporate a bridal tiara into your wedding day hairdo, make sure to take it with you to your hairdresser when you’re deciding on what style to wear. This way they can create the best hairstyle for your face and determine the most attractive placement of the tiara itself.