Find out who will be judging the industry’s most prestigious awards
Each year we gather judges from different areas within the bridal industry for the Bridal Buyer Awards, which are recognised as the leading awards within the bridal industry in the UK. The event takes place on 10th September, during the Harrogate Bridal Show.
There’s still time to enter the awards, but make sure you do so before 4th May. Click here to submit your entries.
This year, we have gathered the following industry experts to judge each category:
Jo Kent, Something Blue PR
Something Blue knows everything there is to know about brides and weddings – so Jo is in the perfect position to judge this category.
Katie Ruocco, Luxe Bride
This bridal retail expert has her finger on the pulse and knows exactly what retailers are looking for in suppliers.
Laura Daly, Bellissima Weddings
Having won a number of BB Awards for her business in the past, Laura has a wealth of experience in the industry.
Maria Musgrove, The Pantiles Bride
Bridal Buyer columnist Maria knows the industry inside and out. She has her own very successful boutique and is a training expert.
Natasha Radmehr, Scottish Wedding Directory
From planning to venues, fashion and more, the Scottish Wedding Directory is a well-respected and much-loved resource for brides.
Nicola Garton, Retail Bridalwear Association
As well as running a successful boutique, Nicola is Chair of the RBA, helping boutiques nationwide to boost their businesses.
Rebecca Baddeley, The Dressing Rooms
This 2017 BBA winner owns a gorgeous boutique in the Midlands; the shop is loved by the industry and brides alike.
Chris Williams, Peter Posh
With over 25 years of expertise in formal suit hire, Peter Posh’s reputation for quality and service means its long-standing reputation is grounded in customer recommendations.
Helena Cotter, Sales Training Expert
Helena is a bridal industry expert; she dedicates her time to supporting hard working independent bridal retailers across the country.
Martine Harris, Essense Designs
Essense is an outstanding Australian brand, which won the Wedding Dress of the Year 2017 award
Neil Flatley, The LJ Group
Neil started Linzi Jay in 1995, and has since built up the business to include the Arianna designer accessories collection and the Linzi Jay bridesmaids range.
Richard Lill, Ladybird
A regular contributor to Bridal Buyer, Richard not only runs a much-loved fashion house, but is also Vice Chair of the BBSA.
Stephanie Lomas, JLM
With a wealth of brands, from Hayley Paige to Lazaro, Tara Keely and Blush, JLM is an ultra-successful and key bridal industry name.
Wynn Penton, Ireland’s Wedding Journal
Ireland’s best-selling bridal magazine, the Journal has been helping brides-to-be plan their perfect wedding since it was successfully launched back in 1996.
Caroline Bradley, Sorella & Co.
Sorella + Co is a digital content agency; Caroline is the former editor of the UK’s largest wedding planning website and has worked with countless wedding and lifestyle brands.
Julia Braime, Brides Up North & Unveiled
Brides Up North’s founder, Julia Braime, is a respected industry expert, and has being editing the luxurious Unveiled Magazine since in January 2015.
Keren Smith, Idoidoido
I do I do has been successfully designing websites for the wedding industry since 2007. Keren is the company’s resident designer and wordsmith.
Bradley Taylor, Group Head of Visual Merchandising, Mulberry
This globally loved brand is in the know when it comes to store design and concept. They present luxury in a fun and appealing way.
Helen Goodwin, Made You Look
Helen is an expert in designing and installing window displays, as well as running must-attend training courses to share her skills.
Phil Pond, Scarlet Opus
Scarlett Opus is a trend forecaster and works with a multitude of businesses to predict interior trends two or three-years ahead of time.
Amanda Bradwell, BBSA
Amanda heads up Eternity Bridal and is also the Chair of the BBSA.
Wendy Adams, Ocean Media
Wendy knows everything about the bridal industry and runs Ocean Media’s iconic shows.