After a long drive up to London, we arrived at Bridal Week’s brand new venue in Brick Lane, Shoreditch - a fresh, vibrant setting that perfectly reflected the energy of the event. There’s always a sense of excitement when arriving at Bridal Week - a combination of inspiration, anticipation (and the question of where to begin!). Our first stop was Morilee, where we enjoyed a glass (or two) of prosecco while watching the catwalk presentations. Seeing the gowns come to life on the runway, followed by the opportunity to view them up close, is always invaluable - from the fabrics and structure to the finer design details that truly set each piece apart. Between appointments, we took time to explore the show, making the most of the all-access areas and capturing a few moments along the way. We loved all the Instagram-worthy backdrops. The Ellis catwalk was, as ever, a standout. The attention to detail across the entire presentation - from the set design to the styling and, of course, the gowns themselves - was exceptional. We rounded off the first day with the Justin Alexander team, enjoying espresso martinis while discussing the collections with designer Tony Mentel - a highlight of the event for us, the JA team are always amazing.

After checking into our hotel, we made the most of our time in London with dinner at Hawksmoor - the perfect way to end a busy first day. The following morning, it was straight back to the trade show to finalise our selections. We always value taking the time to reflect on the collections overnight - if a gown resonates just as strongly the next day, we know it’s the right choice for our brides. While selecting the styles often comes naturally, refining size runs is where the real consideration lies. We revisited our designers, placed our orders and also enjoyed some of the additional experiences on offer, adding to the inspirational wall which was cute & a quick visit to the tarot reader - a thoughtful and memorable touch (Eva at @thepositivetribes was a little gem).

Bridal Week is about far more than placing orders; it’s an opportunity to reconnect with the industry, chat to likeminded shop owners, gain fresh perspective and return to the boutique with renewed energy and inspiration. This season, the more intimate setting made the experience feel even more personal and we left feeling excited for the months ahead. We look forward to welcoming our AW26 collections into High Society Bridal Lounge and sharing them with our brides. We were also the winners of the grand prize - a tarot-inspired direct mail ’what’s written in the stars’ scratchcard design, where we won a £500 supplier spend, travel and dinner, and glasses of bubbles for the whole team, so we were able to bring the full team and fully embrace the experience. The only thing we would change would have been to get the train as it ended up taking us 8 hours to get home. The horrific weather meant the bridge was closed and I drive an all-electric so had to keep stopping to charge, but honestly it wouldn’t be us if there wasn’t a story - see you again next time!

Love, High Society Bridal Lounge