How Stylists Choose Bridal Accessory Collaborations in 2025 — And Why Imperial Lola Is Launching Exclusively on WhatsApp Business
As the founder of Imperial Lola, a soon-to-launch exclusive brand offering embellished bridal hair accessories and summer hats, I’ve spent countless hours listening, learning, and refining the details behind each piece in our Vintage Colette Collection. With our collection launching exclusively through WhatsApp Business this summer, I wanted to understand how to authentically connect with stylists — those creative visionaries who shape a bride’s final look and confidence.
To gain insight, I posed a thoughtful question on Featured.com:
“What bridal accessory styles are your clients gravitating toward in 2025, and how can new accessory brands collaborate effectively with bridal stylists like you?”
What followed was not only insightful but creatively inspiring — a roadmap for any new bridal accessory brand hoping to enter the space meaningfully rather than just "marketing loudly." Two respected voices — Tess Bahbouche of Epris Weddings and Ricards Ramonausks of Aesthete — graciously shared their expert perspectives, which I’ll explore in depth here. I’ll also share how Imperial Lola is using these lessons to shape our brand values, outreach approach, and exclusive launch strategy.
The 2025 Bride: Craving Emotion, Not Just Elegance
One recurring theme from both experts was clear: brides today want more than “beautiful” — they want deeply personal, emotionally resonant pieces.
Tess Bahbouche says her clients are “gravitating toward accessories that feel like heirlooms with a modern soul,” such as antique-inspired combs, sculptural pearl pieces, and delicate veils with custom embroidery.
These aren't generic finishing touches — they’re emotional extensions of a bride’s story. Think gloves that whisper rather than scream, combs with patina that feel plucked from a grandmother’s treasure chest, or asymmetrical pearls that move with natural grace.
Likewise, Ricards Ramonausks frames bridal accessories as the “emotional punctuation marks of a bride’s look.” His brides seek out artisanal, narratively rich pieces — sculptural, storied, and sophisticated. Gloves are reimagined in sheer tulle, while pearls become asymmetrical or baroque.
Key Takeaway:
For accessory brands, especially those with vintage or heritage inspiration, there’s space to thrive — but only when designs honor both the bride’s individuality and timelessness. The 2025 bride doesn’t want cookie-cutter glam. She wants modern heirlooms that whisper her story.
What Makes Stylists Say “Yes” to New Accessory Brands?
Designers may assume it’s about price, placement, or pure aesthetics — but stylists revealed much deeper reasoning.
1. Emotional Alignment Over Trend Following
Tess notes: “I don’t gravitate toward trends — I gravitate toward emotion.”
That means your accessory must do more than just "look nice" in a styled shoot. It must feel like it belongs in the bride’s world — her story, her love, her moment.
2. Quality + Customization = Gold Standard
Both stylists emphasized craftsmanship and the ability to customize as major differentiators. Today’s brides want custom-embroidered veils or personalized packaging — the kind of details that signal care and intention.
“Clients crave pieces that walk the line between timelessness and individuality,” Ricards says.
This is especially true when stylists are crafting editorial moments or photo shoots — they need pieces that not only look stunning on camera but tell a tale through texture, silhouette, and meaning.
3. Discovery Through Aesthetic Storytelling
Stylists discover new brands through platforms like Instagram, styled shoots, referrals, and visual storytelling.
Ricards says, “If a brand’s imagery already tells a story, I can envision how it integrates into my clients’ narratives.”
Your visuals are your first language — they should speak emotion, elegance, and intent.
How to Impress a Stylist? Create a Thoughtful First Impression
Both experts highlighted the power of intention behind outreach. Here’s what stood out:
Sample Kits Matter: A small, curated collection lets stylists touch, feel, and play with your creations. Think of it as a storytelling kit, not just a catalog.
Personal Notes Go Far: Stylists appreciate when you reference a specific styled shoot or aesthetic they’ve done — it shows you see their art, not just your opportunity.
Be Flexible, Not Forceful: Offer to lend pieces for fittings, shoots, or client try-ons. Stylists need collaborators, not just suppliers.
How Imperial Lola Is Using These Insights to Launch With Meaning
Launching a bridal accessories brand in 2025 requires more than good taste. It demands deep alignment with the evolving priorities of modern brides and their stylists.
Here’s how Imperial Lola is using these insights to shape our Vintage Collette Collection launch and collaboration process:
1. Launching Exclusively on WhatsApp Business
Why WhatsApp? Because our ideal clients — stylists, brides, and editors — deserve a private, concierge-style experience. Instead of navigating mass-market platforms, our VIPs will receive:
Early access to limited-edition pieces
Styling videos and inspiration boards
Personalized bridal accessory consultations
Real-time updates and behind-the-scenes creation videos
Ability to request customizations or schedule virtual fittings
This channel mirrors how stylists operate: intimately, quickly, and visually.
2. Curated Sample Kits for Stylists
Taking Tess and Ricards’ advice, we are preparing limited-run accessory styling boxes for select stylists. Each will include:
A small capsule of signature pieces from the Vintage Collette Collection
A printed lookbook inspired by vintage bridal icons like Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor
A handwritten note explaining the origin, emotion, and materials behind each piece
Customization options and QR code to connect directly via WhatsApp Business
3. Visual Storytelling that Honors the Bride’s Narrative
We’re not just photographing our pieces. We’re creating scenes.
Each accessory in our collection is paired with:
A story or fictional bridal muse
Moodboards showing how to style the piece in real weddings
Quotes about the timeless elegance we’re channeling (think: “Old Hollywood meets Parisian Garden romance”)
4. Building Genuine Stylist Relationships
We’re inviting select bridal stylists into our creative process — asking them to weigh in on:
Which accessories their brides are loving
What details are missing in the market
What materials or finishes resonate most
This isn't influencer marketing. It’s creative collaboration with a shared goal: elevate the modern bridal experience with heart, history, and artistry.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Bridal Accessory Collaborations
As I prepare to unveil Imperial Lola’s Vintage Collette Collection this fall, I am more inspired than ever by the collaborative energy of today’s bridal world. Stylists are more than middlemen — they are vision shapers. Accessory brands, if intentional, can be memory makers.
To recap, if you’re a new bridal accessory designer hoping to collaborate with stylists:
✔️ DO:
Lead with emotional alignment
Customize when possible
Offer thoughtful sample kits
Craft visuals that tell a story
Create channels for private, flexible communication (like WhatsApp Business)
❌ DON’T:
Follow trends blindly
Mass-email without personalization
Underestimate the value of presentation and narrative
Assume styling is just about fashion — it’s about feeling.
Final Word: Let’s Craft Bridal Magic Together
At Imperial Lola, every embellishment, every comb, and every pearl is chosen not to impress — but to express. Our upcoming Vintage Collette Collection is a love letter to bridal individuality, heirloom elegance, and stylist collaboration.
As we launch exclusively through WhatsApp Business, I invite stylists, editors, and bridal tastemakers to join our private community and be the first to experience the collection that whispers, not shouts — a collection for brides who want to feel like the most timeless version of themselves.
✨ Want to receive our private lookbook, moodboards, and early access to our collection?
📲 DM us on Instagram or message us directly on WhatsApp at +1 667-439-2961
Let’s build bridal beauty — one meaningful accessory at a time.
About the Author:
Grace Olayiwola is the founder of Imperial Lola, an exclusive brand dedicated to vintage-inspired, handcrafted bridal hair accessories and hats. She is also the creative force behind ALGStudioStore and ALGelysianFlamesCo, where self-care meets personalization. Follow her journey on Instagram @imperiallolaofficial for behind-the-scenes, vintage glam, and more.
