A collage featuring Honour Wainwright & Charlie Coleman's engagement photo and Boodles wedding jewellery
Interviews

Boodles Heiress Honour Wainwright Talks Heirloom Jewellery And Her Wedding Plans

Plus, she gives expert insights on bridal jewellery trends, tips for choosing rings, and reveals the pieces she never takes off.

Read time:

10 minutes

Honour Wainwright, heiress and marketing manager of iconic British jewellery brand Boodles, grew up surrounded by the sparkle of precious stones. Her passion for jewellery is woven into her DNA, and as a key member of the Boodles team — and now also a bride-to-be — she offers a unique perspective on wedding jewellery. We spoke to Honour about how she chooses and designs her pieces, bridal jewellery trends, and what it was like growing up on the shop floor. We also get a peek into the plans for her own upcoming wedding, including the gifts she has put on her wedding registry.

Honour Wainwright talks wedding planning…

Can you share your engagement story?

The whole engagement happened in Thurlestone, Devon — a spot my family has been visiting for generations. Charlie had been pulling a sneaky double bluff, acting like he wasn’t sure if he could make the trip because of work. He even made a big show of "deciding last minute" to come along, but of course, he’d been planning it the whole time! The week before, he’d already asked my dad for permission, and my brother (who works in sales at Boodles) was in the loop because of the ring. Naturally, my dad spilt the beans to my mom, and my brother even warned his girlfriend that the weekend might not be as relaxed as she was hoping for. So, pretty much everyone knew — except me!

Honour Wainwright shows her engagement ring
Honour Wainwright and Charlie Coleman celebrate their engagement with champagne

Charlie spent the entire morning trying to get me to go for a walk, but I was having none of it, perfectly happy to sunbathe. Then he suggested a swim later in the afternoon, but I was glued to the TV, watching the Olympics. Poor guy didn’t stand a chance! It wasn’t until my brother and his girlfriend stepped in that I finally gave in to FOMO and decided to join them for a swim. I put on a swimsuit and an oversized shirt, ready to go.

Still, I didn’t suspect a thing — even when my brother conveniently had “emails to reply to” and his girlfriend had a sudden “important call” to make. When Charlie suggested heading to a specific beach, I was a bit stubborn (not my finest moment), insisting on the closest one so I could get back quickly after my dip in the freezing British sea. But, thankfully, he convinced me, and we ended up on a cliff with a gorgeous view of the water. Way more romantic than my original plan!

What I didn’t know was that Charlie had been carrying the ring around since 11 AM, patiently waiting for his not-so-cooperative girlfriend to finally cooperate! By the time he got me out of the house, it was 5:30 PM! And there I was, completely unprepared — no makeup, messy hair that hadn’t seen a wash in a few days, and nails that were far from perfect. But honestly, it was perfect because it felt like me.

We celebrated that evening with my extended family (the Boodles side — yes, we work together and holiday together!). And the next day was all about nursing hangovers while calling all our friends to share the big news!

Charlie Coleman and Honour Wainwright's engagement on the beach

Tell us about your engagement ring?

Charlie proposed with an Ashoka cut diamond ring, which has 62 facets and is exclusive to Boodles in the UK! My brother was a lifesaver, guiding Charlie through every step of the engagement ring process. Since Charlie works just one street away from the Boodles showroom, they held secret meetings in nearby coffee shops to pick out the perfect stone without me catching on.

I had two designs in mind for an engagement ring: a classic 3-stone Ashoka and a more unique style. To be honest, I wasn’t sure which I preferred until after Charlie proposed. He presented me with a stunning Boodles 3-stone Ashoka ring (sneakily grabbed by my brother from the Boodles vault before our holiday) as a placeholder. Since it was similar to my mom’s ring, I decided to go for something different. I wore it for a few weeks while my bespoke ring was made, and I loved it!

Together, Charlie and I designed the final engagement ring, inspired by a Boodles piece that sold a few months before, which I was gutted about when I heard it had gone! It has an Art Deco feel, featuring the Ashoka diamond at its centre and two hidden pink diamonds that I absolutely adore!

I had never experienced the full "Boodles experience" before — being treated like a client with champagne and all the works! I didn’t even know the ring was ready; I just popped down to the shop after a colleague called to say a delivery had arrived for me. And there was Charlie! It was such a lovely surprise, and I felt like a proper Boodles client.

The girls at the shop insisted Charlie get down on one knee again, teasing him that it would be "bad luck" if he didn’t. Now we have some hilarious photos of him proposing (again) with the final engagement ring — definitely not as romantic this time, with everyone there laughing (us included)!

Honour's second engagement at Boodles

Do you have a vision for your wedding day already? 

We're early in our wedding planning journey — there’s still so much to consider and decide! My vision keeps evolving, to be honest. But so far for our wedding inspiration, we’re thinking of an English country wedding. It will be at my childhood home in Hampshire, starting with a church wedding ceremony, followed by a marquee in the garden. Day 2 will be a pool party with a BBQ — I'm just so excited to have all my favourite people gathered in one place!

You recently had a wedding registry appointment in our Chelsea showroom. How was it?

Visiting The Wedding Present Company was so much fun — like being a child in a sweet shop! I wanted everything! The Wedding List Advisor team were amazing, guiding us through the process and wedding gift ideas, making what could have been an overwhelming experience feel completely effortless. Now we just have to hope we receive some of the gifts!

Honour Wainwright talks wedding jewellery…

You probably already know what wedding jewellery you want...

Jewellery is going to be a key focus for me on the wedding day! I want to really think through the wedding jewellery pieces I’ll wear before deciding on the dress. Definitely something timeless and classic, like our Ashoka collar or Beach necklace. For earrings, I have always loved our Mosaic Ashoka drop earrings or the classic Raindance double drop earrings. But at the moment I still haven’t decided on my jewellery set for the wedding, so we will have to wait and see! 

Honour Wainwright's wedding jewellery choice, Boodles classic Ashoka diamond white gold necklace

Boodles Classic Ashoka Diamond White Gold Necklace

Honour Wainwright's wedding jewellery choice: Boodles Raindance double drop earrings

Boodles Raindance Large Detachable Double Drop Earrings

How do you choose your jewellery?

My personal style plays a big role in the jewellery I choose and also put to the design department. I tend to gravitate towards pieces that have both a classic elegance and a bit of individuality. I love jewellery that can make a statement without being too overpowering and pieces that can be worn from day to night. I never take my jewellery off, so it’s really important for it to be comfortable and wearable. 

I often look for designs that are versatile, whether it’s something a bit chunkier like a Beach necklace (from the Beach collection that was designed to be wearable from the beach to an evening event), or a more delicate, classic ring, such as the Raindance ring. One thing I do love is layering my jewellery — you can never have enough diamonds, is our motto at Boodles! Ultimately, my choices reflect my appreciation for Boodles' craftsmanship and design, which feel unique while standing the test of time.


Model wearing Raindance and Be You collection

Model wearing Raindance and Be You collection

Do you have heirloom jewellery that you treasure?

I wear my grandmother’s wedding band every day on my pinky finger. The wedding ring is particularly special as it is coincidentally from Boodles, despite it being from my non-Boodles side of the family. It has become another heirloom in my family, as it was passed down from my grandmother to my mother, who recently gave it to me, making it even more special!

The first piece of Boodles jewellery I bought myself with some money that was left to me by my grandfather was a Be You bangle. I never take the bracelet off, and I have my four grandparents' initials engraved on the inside, which makes me feel like they are always with me.

I also inherited a watch from my grandmother, and it is the most precious piece of jewellery I own. It was passed down from her mother, therefore passed from generation to generation, and has become a family heirloom that I hope to pass on to my daughter one day. By wearing something she wore every day, I am reminded of her every time I look at it.

And I hope my beautiful new engagement ring will become a family heirloom too now!

Boodles House in Liverpool, 1921

Boodles House in 1921

Honour Wainwright talks Boodles…

What are your early memories of Boodles?

I’ve been totally brought up in Boodles! Every school holiday was spent on the shop floor, making tea and coffee for our clients and cutting bits of ribbon for our packaging. One colleague still teases me about the time my twin and I came to work with our father when we were about four, proudly carrying briefcases filled with colouring pencils — so it’s been ingrained in my DNA since I was a little girl! I've always been a bit of a magpie, drawn to anything sparkly. Now, I get to channel that passion into my role, working in both marketing and design.

Tell us about Boodles history...

Boodles started in 1798 by my great (x6) grandfather in Liverpool. Initially, it was a small family-run business creating jewellery and selling watches to the local clientele. The brand has expanded from what was a county jeweller to now being one of Britain’s leading jewellers with ten showrooms in and around the UK, and one in Dublin.

What are your favourite Boodles pieces or collections?

I love all of our jewellery, so picking a favourite seems like I am choosing a favourite child! However…The Raindance collection, for instance, is super special as it was the collection that put Boodles on the map. The Raindance ring was one of the first Boodles pieces I owned, and it was also gifted to me by my parents on my 21st birthday. Its unique design and intricate detailing make it both contemporary and wearable, all while being inspired by Britishness, which is at the heart of Boodles' DNA. It’s also Boodles’ most iconic piece and was handpicked by the V&A Museum’s jewellery curator to showcase in their permanent exhibition as an icon of British jewellery design, so it felt like a fitting gift, being a family member of the business. 

A hand with Boodles Raindance classic platinum diamond ring

Iconic Raindance Ring

A woman wearing Boodles Fifth Avenue cushion sapphire yellow gold ring as her wedding jewellery

Fifth Avenue Collection

A woman wearing Boodles A Piece of Mined pink diamond drop earrings

Peace of Mined Collection

I also love our new Fifth Avenue collection, which is a celebration of working with the Ashoka cut diamond for 25 years. This is my favourite cut of diamond; it has 62 facets rather than the 58 facets of an emerald cut, meaning it appears much more sparkly! 

Peace of Mined is another really important collection to me  — it was a high jewellery collection that we launched a few years ago, featuring fully traceable stones from three different mines. The diamonds can be traced from the moment they are mined until they arrive fully mounted in our showrooms. There is something really special about knowing the diamond on your finger was in the ground just a few months ago! 

Honour’s Top Tips For Choosing Engagement And Wedding Rings

  1. Know the basics: Familiarise yourself with the four Cs of diamonds (Boodles have a great guide) — cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. This knowledge is helpful for a basic understanding of what you are doing when choosing wedding and engagement rings! 
  2. Set a budget: Determine a comfortable budget before doing your engagement or wedding ring shopping. It makes it so much easier for both you and the salesperson and means they never show you anything that is out of budget.
  3. Understand the metal: When designing or choosing your wedding ring, choose a metal that matches your lifestyle and personal style — yellow/rose/white gold or platinum.
  4. Consider personal style: Reflect on your partner’s jewellery style. Does it lean more towards classic, vintage, or contemporary?  
  5. Opt for quality: At Boodles, quality is the utmost important thing. Invest in high-quality materials and craftsmanship to ensure your engagement or wedding ring lasts a lifetime.
  6. Seek expert advice: Don’t hesitate to consult experts for guidance throughout the jewellery selection process. Their experience can help narrow down choices.
  7. Explore customisation: If you have a specific wedding jewellery vision, consider customising or creating your own ring. Boodles can work with you to create a unique piece that reflects your love story.
  8. Remember the experience: Make the ring selection a memorable occasion. Enjoy the process with or without your partner!
  9. And finally, trust your instincts — go with your gut. It’s usually right! 

Making of wedding jewellery with diamonds
Making of wedding jewellery
Making of wedding and engagement ring

Honour Wainwright is the heiress and marketing director of the iconic British jeweller Boodles. To explore wedding jewellery collections and learn about the brand's service, visit boodles.com. You can also follow Honour on Instagram at @boodles. All photos provided courtesy of Boodles and Honour Wainwright's personal archive.

The Wedding Present Company is a bespoke wedding gift list experience; couples come to us seeking the extraordinary. We offer a tailored and completely personalised wedding registry experience free of charge. Our team goes above and beyond to help you create a wedding list that is unique to both of you and full of items that you will love and use for a lifetime.

Create a list

Honour Wainwright's wedding gift picks