Jill Eckersley spoke to retailers up and down the country to ask them what they thought of the show and what they’re hoping for next year.

“We liked the fact that the show was on separate dates from White Gallery, so we didn’t have to rush between the two venues,” said Emma Hartley from Emma Hartley Bridalwear in Colne, Lancashire. “We found time to pick up a new shoe collection and an accessory company we hadn’t seen at Harrogate. We found that The London Bridal Show was less hectic than Harrogate and it had a much more relaxed feel. As usual, in 2016 we are hoping to find next year’s best-sellers and also maybe some new suppliers we haven’t seen before.”

Miranda Carder from Be You Bridal in Tavistock, Devon, said: “Networking is a big part of why we visit the show. It’s great to go and meet new people in the industry. It’s also nice to see the new collections from different designers, even when we only stock a couple of them. Seeing what everyone else is doing helps us to point our brides in the right direction if they are looking for something in particular. The show is very well organised and put together. Just the small things, like serving nibbles and Champagne, add to the atmosphere and allow people to relax in an environment where they are ultimately making big decisions for their businesses. It was our fi rst time in 2015 and we loved it! We are really looking forward to returning in 2016!”