Unique Wedding Gifts with a Personal Touch…

The inspiration behind Betty’s Glamour Box began when I was preparing for my own wedding.

At the time I was a clothing designer working for a small brand in London. I had my ‘ideal’ dress in mind but was struggling to find it! I booked an appointment at my favourite designers boutique in Notting Hill, assuming everything would be way out of budget. To my delight the designer had released an off the peg collection of bridal gowns and I instantly fell in love with ‘the’ dress. 

Whilst I was there, indulging in the array of beautiful fabrics and colours I saw a sketch book the designer had left out for customers to admire. She had designed wedding dresses for many famous people and always included something old, new, borrowed and blue from each bride which would then be hand sewn by her into each dress. I loved this idea, but this service was only available to customers from the bespoke service she offered. I started to think how this could be incorporated into every brides day as it felt so heartwarming.

The First Bridal Charm Pin

That same year, I was a bridesmaid for my sister-in-law. She wasn’t superstitious and hadn’t planned to follow the classic wedding rhyme, until the night before the wedding when nerves kicked in. Wanting to comfort her, I used my collection of trinkets and a sixpence from my own wedding to create a handmade charm pin of sorts for her.

She loved it and wore it proudly, treasuring it to this day. That moment sparked the idea for a personalised bridal charm pin that could be gifted by a mother of the bride, maid of honour, bridesmaid, or any close friend or family member looking for a meaningful wedding day gift.

I spent some time to develop and refine my idea then gave the first finished pin to my friend Emma for her wedding, She adored it and from there, word spread. Friends of friends began asking for one and I realised I could have my own small business. I wanted to stay true to the rhyme and create a unique and thoughtful wedding gift, so I sourced real, vintage threepences and sixpence’s. Natural, borrowed from nature pearls. New, sterling silver horseshoe and lucky four-leaf clover charms and a variety of ‘something blue’ to give customers a wider choice and make my pin a truly personalised gift for the bride.

Since 2009, I’ve lovingly made bridal pins for over 20,000 customers worldwide. Each one is made by hand in the UK by me. I love reading customers messages to their loved ones and hearing how brides have used or displayed the pin - from bridal bouquet charms to Dr. Marten accessories! It’s a heartwarming experience I never want to end.

Why ‘Betty’s Glamour Box’?

The name honours my great aunt Betty — a glamorous, theatre-loving spirit who inspired creativity in my family. My grandmother often told stories of Betty’s magical costume trunk, filled with treasures and sparkle. When I came across a photo of her in a family album, the name Betty’s Glamour Box just clicked. Her spirit lives on in every charm I make.

For years, her photo adorned my packaging, echoing the elegance of 1920s glamour — a nod to both my personal story and the vintage charm that inspired the designer of my own wedding dress, where the story of my business began.

Today, each pin is presented in a sleek, white bridal box, foil-embossed for a classic finish — but the heartfelt origins remain the same.

Original Bettys box and imaging.