As we all know, the bridal industry evolves at a fast pace—what’s trending today can change tomorrow. That’s why we launched the Bridal Buyer Lounge Session programme at Bridal Week Harrogate: to provide retailers with valuable insights and guidance on getting ahead and staying ahead.

The sessions provided a perfect place for experts to gather, exchange ideas, and offer valuable insights into the future of bridal fashion. In these exclusive sessions, our Editor Anna-Marie sat down with several industry names across key areas such as sustainability, marketing, inclusivity, and design, giving attendees a comprehensive overview of the forces shaping the bridal landscape today. Here are some of the main highlights from the talks:

1. Sustainability: A must

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword in fashion—it’s becoming an essential consideration for both designers and retailers. Joined by bespoke dress designer and author Caroline Arthur, the pair discussed Caroline’s new book ’Relovable’, which covers not only the practical aspects of re-using materials and repurposing existing pieces, but also personal stories of how those she has worked with have reconnected with their own personal histories. Sustainability isn’t just a trend with brides, but a movement that needs to start from the top. Caroline and Anna-Marie not only encouraged bridal boutiques and designers to improve their sustainable practices, but also to educate their brides on these offerings.

2. Inclusivity: Setting a new standard

Anna-Marie was joined by a group of women advocating for change in the bridal industry. They emphasised the need for delivering a diverse range of styles, sizes and aesthetics to meet the needs of all brides. Danni Hesketh (You Are Precious/Love Above), Julia Smith (Unveiled Group), Crystal Lu (Casablanca) and Christina Blanchette (Maggie Sottero Designs) came together to discuss the old-fashioned image of ’the ideal bride’, urging brands and boutique owners to embrace diversity in their offerings and stressing the need for more inclusive representation in advertising and in-store. The key takeaway: the modern bride wants to feel seen and celebrated for who she is, no matter her size, background, or identity.

3. Design Trends: What’s hot in bridal

Exciting trends are on the horizon for 2025, and the Lounge Sessions provided an overview of what brides are looking for in terms of style and aesthetics. Anna-Marie was also joined by Lydia Jones of Miabelle Bridal, who came to discuss her own creative process, her take on hot industry topics and allow retailers to get up-close and personal with her newest bridal edit.

4. Marketing in the Digital Age: Reaching the modern bride

Marketing Consultant Ella O’Keefe sat down with Anna-Marie to discuss what retailers need to be doing to operate a success multi-channel marketing campaign for your boutique. The digital landscape has fundamentally reshaped how brides discover and shop for their wedding gowns, and a highly competitive market means social media, partnerships, branding, targeted communications and online reviews play pivotal roles in purchasing decisions.

Several key pain points faced by retailers were addressed during the discussions, including how to navigate the overwhelming number of digital marketing options and the struggle to stand out in a saturated market. Ella emphasised the importance of building your brand presence across multiple platforms, and establishing key pillars to ensure every piece of content you distribute is authentic and driven by a clear purpose.

5. Bridal Retail: Troubleshooting

Megan Garmers (The Bridal Masterclass) and Diana McMann (Badass Mama/The Little Pearl Bridal Boutique) joined Anna-Marie to answer questions from our readers, alongside a host of her own burning questions to help retailers take their businesses to the next level. The two Bridal Buyer experts discussed how retailers and designers have had to adapt to new challenges in recent times, and enhance their services to better meet the needs of the modern bride. 

The Bridal Buyer Lounge Sessions offered a wealth of insight into the future of bridal fashion. Sustainability, inclusivity, and digital innovation are no longer optional—they are the pillars of the modern bridal industry, and need to be embraced and prioritised by both designers and retailers alike. For all of our in-depth lounge discussions and to find out more about what our experts had to say, make sure to keep an eye out for our newest issue of Bridal Buyer Magazine, coming soon.