"Ideally, you shouldn't remove your headpiece, but you can do so after the meal, before the dancing."

Paula Beneytez: "Ideally, you shouldn't remove your headpiece, but you can do so after the meal, before the dancing."

Behind every headpiece lies a story. But behind every Marcela & Co. headpiece is a woman who traded strategy reports for silk flowers, sinamay pleats , and understated elegance. Paula Beneytez is the founder of this Spanish brand that has won over brides and guests alike with handcrafted, customizable, and thoughtfully designed headpieces. We spoke with her about 2025 trends, wedding etiquette, common mistakes, the importance of hairstyle, and that intuition that makes an accessory the perfect complement to a stunning look.

Marcela & Co: a leading firm in headpieces

Some projects are born from elegant nonconformity. They take shape amidst real runways, office meetings, and a pent-up desire to create something that truly connects with beauty, time well spent, and contemporary femininity. This is how Marcela & Co., the handmade headpiece brand that has won over brides and guests with soul, was born, thanks to its founder, Paula Beneytez.

"I've always been fascinated by the "I've followed the royals since I was a child," Paula confesses with a smile. A graduate in Business Administration from ICADE, her professional career began in consulting and later at a large multinational telecommunications company. "I worked in several departments: finance, marketing, strategy... But I didn't love my job," she recalls. Meanwhile, her schedule filled up with weddings, and her passion for classic elegance blossomed: "When I had a wedding to attend, I wanted to wear a fascinator like the princesses."

The rest is history: a first improvised headdress with feathers and veil, the enthusiasm of friends and acquaintances, the first training courses by hobby , an account of Instagram And, little by little, a community of women who wanted to feel unique without sacrificing good taste or their budget. "Last August I left my job at the multinational. Now I dedicate myself full time "Marcela and the doctorate," he points out.

"We have a very diverse clientele: from young women in their 30s to women between 45 and 54 years old."

Marcela & Co does not sell Accessories : They offer a way to present yourself to the world. Adorned, confident, and stylish. "We have very diverse clients : from young women in their 30s who attend the weddings of their best friends or cousins, to women between 45 and 54 years old, with a professional career, little free time and a strong desire to look elegant without complicating things," explains Paula.

The brand is also a haven for godmothers and mothers of the bride, women who "want to look sophisticated, without spending a fortune and with the possibility of reusing accessories"

The firm is also a haven for godmothers and mothers of the bride, women who "They want to look sophisticated without spending a fortune and with the option of reusing accessories." That's why, in addition to fascinators and wide-brimmed hats, Marcela & Co also offers handbags, gloves, earrings, capes... Everything you need to complete your look with just a click (or a visit to the atelier).

Trends in headpieces: flowers, volume and Audrey Hepburn spirit

Looking ahead to spring/summer 2025, Paula has a clear vision: "Flowers, Audrey Hepburn-style flared hats, horsehair ornaments, and headbands with veils are very popular." All these trends are already available on the web."

"Flowers, wide-brimmed hats like Audrey Hepburn's, horsehair ornaments, and headbands with veils are very popular."

Regarding colors, two shades stand out among their clients' orders: "Brown, in all its versions, from the mocca chocolate, and baby blue, which is in high demand this season." The star material, without a doubt, is the sinamay silk, elegant and versatile.

"Brown, in all its versions, from the mocca chocolate, and baby blue, which is in high demand this season."

In a world that oscillates between minimalism and maximalism, Paula anticipates a return to baroque style: "I think we're going back to headdresses with flowers, feathers and volume." There's a desire to stand out, to return to the festive and artisanal."

In a world that oscillates between minimalism and maximalism, Paula anticipates a return to baroque style: "I think we're going back to headdresses with flowers, feathers and volume." There's a desire to stand out, to return to the festive and artisanal."

Protocol and good taste

Although protocol evolves, at Marcela & Co there is a palpable respect for classic norms. "In the morning, it is recommended to wear wide-brimmed hats, fascinators, headbands with veils, and in the afternoon, headbands without veils, hairpins with glitter, and feather decorations in buns," Paula explains.

"Ideally, you should arrive home with your hat on. But if a guest wants to take it off, the ideal time is just before the dancing, after the meal."

And she adds, with that touch of serene humor that always accompanies her style: "Really, you should arrive home with your hat on. But if a guest wants to take it off, the ideal time is just before the dancing, after the meal."

"I don't like seeing faces covered at evening weddings or glitter at morning weddings."

A touch of elegance should never come at the expense of comfort or common sense. That said, there are some mistakes Paula would avoid at all costs: "I don't like seeing faces covered at evening weddings or sparkles at morning weddings. Nor do I like sunglasses with fascinators or winter materials in summer. Like clothing, fascinators also have their seasonality."

One of the firm's most unique offerings is the option to personalize the headpiece using fabric from the bride's own dress. "It's a super popular service. We just need the bride to bring us the fabric with the measurements we specify, and if the fabric allows it, we'll make a headband with it," explains Paula. "The most requested models are Baroness and Duchess. And the best part: the price is the same as any other. We don't charge more for being a bride or for personalization."

For those seeking elegance without commitment, the hat rental service for a week, For just 60 euros , it's a real bargain. "You can rent any hat or fascinator from the website if it's available. We deliver and pick it up at the customer's home, anywhere in the country." " Spain ," he explains. And he highlights its advantages: "It prevents you from accumulating headpieces at home, it's more sustainable, and it offers the possibility of changing your style at each wedding without spending too much."

Expert advice

When choosing a headpiece, Paula sums it up with one essential key: "You have to feel flattered, not in disguise. If you feel like yourself, it shows and elevates the look."

"If you're close to the bride and groom, for me it's a must to wear a spectacular headpiece."

But it's not all a matter of taste: the time, the place, and the role you play in the celebration also matter. "If you're close to the bride and groom, for me it's a must to wear a spectacular headpiece," she says. And as for her hairstyle, she's clear about it: "An updo is a safe bet: bun, ponytail, braid... Even a half-updo, as long as the hair is sleek." "No loose strands that might interfere with the veil."