Recently, I was able to interview an incredibly talented custom bridal jewelry designer, Heidi Hull.
By chance, Heidi and I first met on a Southwest flight, going from Denver to Oakland a few months ago. Heidi was friendly, offering me and the other person in our row some gum before take-off. While we didn’t talk too much during the flight, we did chat as we landed and the subject of why she was in the Denver area came up. Heidi let me know that she was a custom bridal jewelry designer, and traveled to various locations to showcase her designs and help brides pick out jewelry for their weddings.
I knew I had to know more. I mean, I have been aware that bridal jewelry is a thing, but never knew that custom bridal jewelry was available to everyday brides.
Luckily, Heidi agreed to an interview before the end of our flight and we were able to stay connected through the power of social media and email. I had a lot of questions for Heidi, and she was able to graciously answer them for this post. Before we get started, I’d like to thank Heidi for her time and let you all know how you can see her designs and connect with her yourself. The site links to her jewelry are Heidi Hull Designs and Heidi Hull Jewelry. You can find her on two Instagram accounts, Heidi Hull Designs and Heidi Hull Bridal, and also on Facebook here.
My Interview with A Custom Bridal Jewelry Designer
This post is going to share with you my interview with a custom jewelry designer. It goes into topics like getting started in the world of wedding jewelry, tips for picking out custom bridal jewelry, finding inspiration, and much more. It reads as an interview, though I have modified and edited it a little bit. Again, thank you, Heidi, for your time and for letting me find out more about your business. I truly appreciate it!
Let’s get into it!
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT HOW HEIDI HULL DESIGNS STARTED?
Heidi: I first started making jewelry while student teaching in New Zealand. Some of the teachers asked to buy the jewelry, so the principal suggested I set up a display in the staff room. That was the start of the business.
When I returned home to the United States people started to seek me out about doing custom pieces for their weddings. The first store I appreciated agreed to let me set up at their location and sold out quickly. Twenty years later, I am still making and selling jewelry.
Today, I work with brides at trunk shows across the USA. This means that bridal boutiques will host me. I travel to them with a big suitcase filled with bridal accessories. While at the boutiques, I meet with brides and help style them and their bridal parties. It’s an opportunity to do something really special for their big day.
WHAT ARE SOME GENERAL TIPS FOR BRIDES LOOKING FOR CUSTOM BRIDAL JEWELRY?
Heidi: My main tip is that this is your wedding day. It’s an opportunity to do something really special for yourself. Unlike a wedding dress, you will probably wear your wedding jewelry again. The items can also be passed down to your children. Adding jewelry to your ensemble helps complete the look and adds the last little bit of polish.
I suggest that you stick with your own style when it comes to accessorizing and making decisions. Don’t let your friends and family pressure you into wearing something that is not you. One day, they will be the ones getting married, or perhaps they have already had their wedding. Sometimes, friends and family mean to be well-intended, but they persuade the bride to go with something that is more in line with their style than the brides. At the end of the day, you want to choose what’s best for you and your wedding.
If you find yourself being indecisive remember that many things will look good on you. Choose what represents your style and personality.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FUNNY STORIES ABOUT BEING A CUSTOM BRIDAL JEWELRY DESIGNER?
Heidi: In the early days of making jewelry, I had several side jobs. One was moonlighting as a wedding bartender. By the way, when you are bartending you don’t know whose wedding it is until the event.
At one particular wedding, the bride walked by wearing a statement necklace that I designed. I had actually met her at a trunk show earlier in the year. It was a chance coincidence that I ended up bartending her wedding.
Funnily enough, my cousin was also at that wedding. She had grown up with the bride and was her neighbor for years. My cousin shared with me that the bride loved the necklace so much she actually bought it first, and then found a wedding dress that would go well with it. I remember thinking “I can’t believe I get to create things for people to wear on one of the biggest days of their lives. I mean, what an accomplishment!”.
WHERE DOES YOUR INSPIRATION COME FROM?
Heidi: Working with brides is so helpful for my inspiration. It allows the collection to progress and stay fresh. I also love seeing how trends change with each year. As styles change, I’m able to keep my collection up to date while still showcasing and updating previous pieces.
I’m also starting to dabble more in men’s jewelry. It’s really fun to work with a stylish groom!
WHAT ARE THE BEST PARTS OF BEING A CUSTOM BRIDAL JEWELRY DESIGNER?
Heidi: I love being creative and collaborating with other designers. It’s so fun to dream something up and watch it come to life. A couple months ago I was at Donna Beth Creations in Colorado. Their team is so talented. It was fun to watch a custom dress go from concept to wearable art in just a few days. It’s even more fun to create jewelry to finish off the look.
DO YOU EVER GET TO SEE PHOTOS OF YOUR CUSTOM BRIDAL JEWELRY IN ACTION?
Heidi: Sometimes I get tagged in photos from the bride or I see my pieces in publications! Back in the day when magazines were the thing, before social media, I stopped to check out a couple bridal magazines and was actually featured in two of them. One was a cover, and the other was a real wedding where I never met the bride. It was a pretty good day when I came across that!
DO YOU DESIGN JEWELRY FOR BRIDAL PARTIES?
Heidi: Yes, I do. Having a clear vision and a budget are two things that help with that. After those are determined, it’s easy for me to offer suggestions.
Knowing the priorities for types of jewelry helps, too. For example, is it more important that everyone has earrings and a bracelet, or just an amazing earring that each bridal attendant will cherish? Do they all need to be the same? How much time do we have before the wedding? Would the bride rather the bridesmaids wear pearls, or crystals, and what colors? These are all just a few things to that are important to consider before creating the final touches on the bride and her party.
WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PIECES OF BRIDAL AND WEDDING JEWELRY TO DESIGN?
Heidi: My favorite pieces are very simple and versatile. However, if I’m being honest, I love it when a bride has an outlandish style. It’s always fun for me to do something totally out of the ordinary.
One time, I was able to design some fun black crystal and pearl jewelry for a bridal party. We chose to incorporate some vintage pieces into the design. This made all the jewelry one of a kind and totally original. That particular experience of working with that bride and bringing her vision to life was super rewarding.
WHAT SHOULD BRIDES KNOW ABOUT CUSTOM BRIDAL JEWELRY?
Heidi: The main takeaway is that custom work takes time. It’s always a good idea to allow your design team time to bring an idea to reality. Problems may arise and it’s helpful to have a margin of time to make the magic happen. Additionally, being open to design changes and new ideas may help the team discover something in the design practice that is better than you had even thought of.
To all my past, present and future brides…thank you for letting me be part of your special day! I love what I do, and I hope you feel the love when you wear the jewelry I have made for you. Please feel free to contact me directly at heidi@heidihulldesigns.com!
THOUGHTS ON MY INTERVIEW WITH HEIDI HULL
I’d like to thank Heidi for her time meeting with me and discussing custom bridal jewelry. As I mentioned earlier, even though I write about wedding planning, I don’t focus much on the beauty and accessories. Being able to talk about the design process with Heidi was insightful and inspiring. I’m so happy we got to meet. Thank you to all of you for checking out this post, too! Happy wedding planning!
If you’d like to connect with Heidi, or find out if she’ll be in your area, please follow, reach out, or check out the following links:
- www.heidihulldesigns.com
- instagram.com/heidihulldesigns/
- instagram.com/heidihulldesignsbridal/
- www.facebook.com/pages/Heidi-Hull-Designs/125299257526753
- www.heidihulljewelry.com
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I find it surprising that hiring a custom jewelry designer makes it easier to create a custom piece that can complement your future wife’s aesthetic. My friend wants to marry his wife next year and give her jewelry that she won’t forget. I will talk to him about finding a jewelry store that can help them with this someday.
Heidi’s insights into custom bridal jewelry are absolutely invaluable! As someone navigating wedding planning, finding this interview was like stumbling upon a treasure trove of wisdom. Her advice about staying true to your style resonates deeply, and the anecdotes shared, like the serendipitous wedding where she bartended for her own jewelry wearer, are heartwarming. It’s wonderful to hear about the passion and dedication behind these stunning pieces. Can’t wait to explore Heidi’s designs and maybe add a touch of her magic to my big day!
Hi Sadhana! I’m so glad you enjoyed the interview. Heidi is very talented and such a warm and kind person. Congratulations on getting married, and happy wedding planning!