Meet the bridal NEXT! judges - Rachel Attwell of Luella's Boudoir

Rachel on her Wedding day in 2005

Beloved by many leading bridal magazines and blogs, as well as a whole lot of brides, Rachel Attwell is the founder of Luella’s Boudoir, bridal boutique extraordinaire and providers of plenty of gorgeous vintage styling inspiration as well as a whole lot of stunning Wedding must-haves!

Rachel is the inspirational brain behind the brand, and was inspired to open Luella's Boudoir after planning her own wedding in 2005 - with a busy career, and limited time for planning and wedding shopping, she saw the need for a boutique which housed a huge selection of wedding loveliness and a cross section of brands, and offered in-house styling advice too.

As well as offering a vast and delectable selection of Wedding dresses (including vintage), bridal accessories, lingerie, shoes and fascinators (including many handpicked exclusives),
Luella's is also a one-stop haven for those in need of some wedding assistance with their range of Wedding styling and planning services.  From full coordination packages right through to just a little help in the way of inspiration with their consultation service, and their in-house Bridal Coordinator is a specialist in Vintage Wedding Design from 1920s through the swinging 60s.  All this AND set in a gorgeous girly boudoir-style haven tucked away in Wimbledon - what more could a Most Curious Bride want?

We are so excited Rachel is going to be joining us as a judge for bridal NEXT! and know that the abilities that have taken her fab brand from strength to strength make her very well placed for the part.

1) You got married back in 2005 - tell us all about your dress! Do you also think you would do it differently if you were getting married this year instead?

My dress was a very simple, strapless, A-line style and it was all about the fabric and the cut of the dress as opposed to any detailing. I firmly believe that brides should look effortlessly elegant on their wedding day and since I am quite a simple style dresser normally, this style was perfect for me.

If I was getting married now, I would definitely choose something a bit less traditional but it would still have to be made from a really nice quality fabric. One of Sally Lacock's lace designs, Caroline Atelier's simple styles or this stunning dress by Charlotte Casadejus would be perfect.


Sally Lacock



Caroline Atelier

Caroline Casadejus

2) What was the most important thing planning your wedding - and was this the same as what was the most important on the actual day itself?

The most important thing I did when I was planning my wedding was to involve all my family and friends in some way. I did lots of little social things with everyone along the way so by the time the day came they were almost as excited as we were! Most of my friends and family still say it was the best wedding they have ever been too and I don't think that it's because of any one particular detail....it's just because they really enjoyed sharing our day with us.

3) Who excites you the most in the wedding industry right now?

I am working with a number of really great designers that have really gone from strength to strength over the last few years - designers such as Charlotte Casadejus, Victoria Fergusson, Rachel Simpson and Love by Susie as well as some brand new designers including Vicky Rowe, Saving Face jewellery and Cherished Vintage. It's really nice to be sharing that journey with them and to watch them grow and flourish as they go from strength to strength.

4) What will you be looking for at Bridal NEXT! ?I will be looking for someone that has created something really new and interesting. There are lots of new designers entering the wedding industry right now but they aren't necessarily offering something different and sometimes the quality isn't there. They will also have to have thought about how commercially viable their product is in terms of the production costs, distribution etc. It's really exciting to be involved in this project!!

5) What are you working on right now?

We are currently working on updating our website. We have some great new designers coming onboard this autumn and I really want to be able to showcase their collections in the best possible way, so watch out for plenty of exciting new things!

6) What is on your desk today?
A banana because I am on a diet, my iPad because I seem to be permanently attached to it and of course lots of paperwork!

And check out this stunner - one of our personal favourites from Luella's Boudoir, this amazing vintage wedding dress is by Vicky Rowe - yummy! As well as Rachel joining us as a judge, you'll see a selection of Luella's finest Wedding dresses sashaying down the runway in our London catwalk show - what more reason do you need to check it out?!

Images courtesy of http://www.segeriusbruceblog.com/

Meet the bridal NEXT! judges - Hazel Holtham, founding director of Rag & Bow

You know when you just know you are in the presence of someone who was born cool, someone you KNOW is going places, if not already there, and that place is HUGE! Well that's how we feel when we are lucky enough to spend some time with Most Curious friend Hazel Holtham of roaming vintage store Rag & Bow.

Rag & Bow is way more than a vintage store, Holtham is a social media mogul, a brand creating 'don', inspirational speaker and can predict a trend at 30 paces better than anyone you'll ever meet! Holtham, London College of Fashion graduate, self-confessed street style junkie has previously work in international music television & artist management, with an acclaimed back catalogue includes work with Sony, Polydor, The Brits and 19 Entertainment. She has also produced documentaries such as Don Letts:Punk Attitude and was Personal Manager to The Prodigy front man, Keith ‘firestarter’ Flint. And with Rag & Bow has worked with On|Off, Channel 4, Tate & Supermarket Sarah.

Enough said. 

Well one more thing...she is launching a styling service for Brides and events. Aren't you a lucky lot!

We are thrilled to have her a bridal NEXT! judge and are kicking off our 'Meet the Judges' series with Miss Holtham.

1) There is not a Mr Holtham just yet, but have you got any plans for a future wedding dress?

I haven’t given my dress any thought but I love finding the perfect match for somebody else!

2) What will be the most important aspect of your wedding?

For me it will definitely be the people who attend, without them the day just wouldn’t be the same.

3) What do you think you will spend the most time planning?

Probably making sure there is cohesion throughout any creative elements of the day. Everyone knows even the tea-towels in my house have to have a design element. I’d probably be the nightmare person obsessing over the hues of the flowers and font on the invites.

4) Who excites you the most in the wedding industry right now?

Its more innovative wedding design blogs that inspire me such as http://www.100layercake.com/blog/ who are great ambassador for a modern, design led wedding.

5) What will you be looking for at Bridal NEXT! ?

Someone who can seamlessly produce fresh, modern items in tandem with a thoughtfulness to the thoroughly traditional occasion. Craftsmanship and quality our always our top priority, duplicated in our vintage collections, combined with absolute individuality and innovation.

Beautiful and fashion forward wedding dress options that Rag & Bow have available

Wedding dresses for the fashionista from Rag & Bow

6) What are you working on right now?

We’re officially launching a bespoke personal styling service from mood board creation to sourcing dream dresses. We’re combining years of expert fashion knowledge, Hazel’s experienced professional styling skills and our specialist access to vintage sources and traders.

7) What is on your desk today?

London Fashion Week invites, Japanese Vogue and our continual to-do-list!

We leave you with Hazel's most inspirational wedding style couple she has encountered so far, her mum and dad. Ahhh.......

Norfolk Brides - a collaboration

Earlier this year we were asked to exhibit in our other guise, vintage events, waitressing and china hire company A Most Curious Party, at the Norfolk Brides Wedding Fair on the 7th October. Never ones to shy away from an opportunity, we said well how about we curate an entire vintage section for you?! Vintage elements for wedding style are popular with most modern brides too and we thought it could make a great addition to the day. And fortunately the lovely Dalia at Norfolk Brides agreed!


So we have got a great range of exhibitors, a few more if you include the cars outside and we still have one spot available if you are interested actually! All in the rather grand Drayton Old Lodge, from 11am till 3.30pm till Sunday the 7th of October. (yes this is the day after our London Fair, we like to keep ourselves busy!)

Our exhibitors include

Vintage event planners, including weddings, hen and engagement parties, Blue Skies Vintage

The one and only Flamingo Amy with her pop up vintage hair salon

Vintage party experts and stylists The Historical Sauces 

Reginald Spleen and his travelling snuff bar!  

The amazing Suzi McClaughlin and her paper bouquets and button holes any general beautiful paper crafts

Jo Flowers, who provided the beautiful bohemian flowers for this shoot. amazing flower lady from the shoot!

Love Moi Make Up, make up artist extrodinairre who also worked with us on the shoot

Claire Spake stationery , cool and cute bespoke stationery for your big day

And the show stopping, two tone 1964 Super Snipe (a classic car to you and me) from Norfolk vintage car hire Wedding Wheels-next-the-Sea will be outside too.


But to celebrate this exciting collaboration we teamed up with Norfolk Brides to put together a promotional photoshoot that celebrates the coming together of different styles. Dalia styled the modern couple and we did our Most Curious thing with the bohemian bride and groom.

It was a great day and it was refreshing for us to work in quite an unlikely collaboration! It also confirmed that there still is a reason that we do what we do, sometimes it feels like absolutely everyone's weddings are becoming so cool that there is no need for alternative wedding fairs, but seeing the two couples looking so completely different made us realise there is still definitely a place for Most Curious on the map too.

Thank you to everyone involved, full credits below.

Photography: Emily Jane Morgan

Venue: Drayton Old Lodge

Car: Wedding Wheels-Next-The Sea

Picnic blankets and basket can be hired at A Most Curious Party



Boho Bride & Groom:

Bride: Sophia @ Sandra Reynolds Agency

Groom: Kieran @ Sandra Reynolds Agency

Styling: Becky Hoh Hale @ Most Curious Party

Vintage Dresses: Vintage Deli

Feather and chain headress: Bohemian Love Story

Grooms Wear: Antidote Vintage Fashion

Make Up: Love Moi Makeup

Hair: Kathy Collins

Flowers: Jo Flowers

Cake: Sassa’s Cake



Modern Bride & Groom:

Bride: Georgina@ Sandra Reynolds Agency

Groom: Piers@ Sandra Reynolds Agency

Styling: Dalia @ Norfolk Brides

Dress: Bespoke by Sophie & Smith

Accessories: Dalia (personal Items)

Grooms Wear: Greenwoods Norwich

Make Up: Emily @ Love Moi Makeup

Hair: Kathy Collins

Flowers: Flower 30

Cake: Sassa’s Cakes

Bridal NEXT! Final 10 for LONDON announced

So you've heard us harping on about it but what exactly is it and what and who will be involved and just how will it help you find THE most awesome, cutting edge design for your wedding? Read on. We are so excited about bridal NEXT! we can't even tell you, just have a look for your selves.

Bridal NEXT!
Showcasing the new bridal design generation

A platform for 10 emerging makers to launch themselves into the creative and fashion forward end of the wedding industry.


Taking place in

A Most Curious Wedding Fair LONDON
York Hall, East London
6th October 2012


A Most Curious Wedding Fair NORWICH

St Andrews Hall, Norwich
21st October 2012


A Most Curious has set up Bridal NEXT! to provide ten emerging makers with a platform to launch themselves into the creative and fashion forward end of the wedding industry.


It will take place in a special section at both the Norwich and London Most Curious Wedding Fairs. It will also feature the ‘Most Curious One To Watch’ award, which will be given to one Bridal NEXT! exhibitor as judged by industry experts.

The winner will be stocked by the prestigious Luella’s Boudoir in Wimbledon Village and Ruby & Diva online bridal boutique (London winner)and in Antidote Vintage and Handmade Fashion (Norwich winner) as well being featured in Most Curious’s next bridal photoshoots and be given online exposure by all the sponsors.

We searched the country for inspiring and innovative contemporary designers, fashion enthusiasts, ateliers, crafters, artists and creatives who would like to showcase their products and services to the coolest of brides and grooms. Applicants do not have to have studied or be studying in their field but if they have, they need to have graduated 2010, 2011 and 2012. Or if they had gone that step further and started a business it needed to have been established no more that 18 months ago. We are dedicated to keeping Bridal NEXT! a platform for those truly starting out in their creative careers.

And here's the final 10 for London!


Thank you to Most Curious friend Ruth Ling for compiling the 10 profiles

Federica Bruno Couture 

Federica Bruno Couture
With an innate passion for dressmaking and embroidery, this young Italian designer uses her traditional dressmaking skills to marry a ‘super luxurious’ service to an old school made-to-measure one. Federica’s studio (or ‘ARTelier’) is a quirky but cosy space in her East London house, where you’ll be given tea in a vintage cup, a little crystal (often a rose quartz, the stone of love) will be sewn inside the gown as a good luck charm and a personalised vintage padded hanger will come with the dress. Federica specialises in lacework and hand-made haute couture beading and her services include bespoke accessories and wedding styling. Exhibiting in London, 6 October.

Georgina Rose 

Georgina Rose
English fashion/textiles bridal designer Georgina Rose Beaton creates original designs with a quirky vibe hand-stitched into every garment. Inspiration comes from sources as varied as the French queen Marie-Antoinette, Alice In Wonderland and the masonry of cathedrals. Beautiful fabric is intricately laser-cut, sculpted with embroidered three-dimensional floral elements and combined with elegant experimental prints, which Georgina describes as “manipulating fabrics to their limits”. Exhibiting in London, 6 October.

Haunted Fantasy

Haunted Fantasy
Designer Julie Louise Phillips specialises in statement feather and fur hooded coats and creates extravagant one-off showpieces with overtones of dark fairytales and fantasy. Exhibiting in London, 6 October.

The Garden Rose 

The Garden Rose

The Garden Rose A small florist shop in Hinckley, Leicestershire run by Jessica Rose Andrews, who won a Gold Medal as Young Florist of the Year at the 2012 Chelsea Flower Show. She offers traditional or contemporary ready-made or custom-made arrangements, working with brides to fit the flowers to the venue, dresses and décor, and runs workshops in how to be creative with flowers and plants. Exhibiting in London, 6 October and Norwich, 21 October. October 

Ieva Poriete 

Ieva Poriete
Designing custom-made couture ranging from a simple summer dress to a glamorous wedding gown, Ieva likes to keep things simple but also to work on shape, individuality and the unique. She offers alterations to achieve an optimum fit. Exhibiting in London, 6 October. www.ievaporiete.com

Jessica Holmes

Jessica Holmes

Unique and eclectic bridal design inspired by nature and historical patterns. Determined to create something beautiful while keeping true to what the bride aspires to, Jessica uses unusual fabrics, subtle colours and embroidery to create an extra depth to her garments. “Nothing is off limits and hidden depths and secrets are woven into each dress,” she says. Exhibiting in London, 6 October.

Lisa Critcher Millinery

Lisa Critcher Millinery
Specialising in creating individually hand-made chic and exclusive hats, headdresses and veils, Lisa Critcher has a bespoke line, working directly with brides to create unique pieces to complete and complement their dress, and a small ready-to-wear collection. Exhibiting in London, 6 October.

Lorie X

Lorie X
Laura Hall designs pattern-cut bridal gowns and corsets which typically mix luxurious Duchess satins and sand-washed Habotai silks with specially sourced vintage lace to ensure each dress is truly unique. Inspired by writer Charles Dickens’ notion of tragic romance, she also combines elements of Victoriana with digital print for a modern twist, incorporating her own inky hand drawings. With digital print making it possible for short runs of cloth to be produced, a bride can even have her own choice of words or illustration in the printed section of her gown. “Perfect for those not sold on the traditional idea of 'marriage' and looking for an anti-wedding wedding dress,” says Laura. Exhibiting in London, 6 October.

Michele Hartmann Shoes

Michele Hartmann Shoes
Romance and luxury are the themes of this collection, with the shoes made from an Italian satin which can be dyed to whatever colour the bride wishes – ideal for pairing with her dress. There are accessories to match the shoes or Michele will help you to design something personal for your special day. Exhibiting in London, 6 October and Norwich, 21 October. www.mhshoes.com (coming soon).

Veronica Dearly

Veronica Dearly
Quirky stationery inspired by retro tattoos and rock’n’roll and based on bold illustrations. Her new designs, says Veronica, are inspired by fortune telling and “strip back the Photoshoppery to focus on whimsy in character-full drawings”. Exhibiting in London, 6 October.


Wow, we love all of them! Our judges have a hard job right? This is who will be facing that tougher than tough challenge on the day.




Kat Williams, founder and director of Rock n Roll Bride

Starting life in 2007 as a wedding planning blog, in the lead up to William’s own nuptials, with a rebrand and relaunch in January 2009 as a ‘Mecca for gorgeous photography and inspiring real weddings’ Rock n Roll Bride has exploded into one of the biggest, most influential and important blogs on the scene and has been featured in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan Bride, The Guardian and The Sunday Times Style. Accolades include Best Style Blog category of the Wedding Channel’s 2010 Bridal Blog Awards and Best Wedding Blog by Cosmopolitan Magazine in their Blog Awards 2011. In short, anyone who knows anything about cool weddings has Kat on their radar.



Peta Hunt, editor-at-large and fashion director, You and Your Wedding

Hunt has more than 10 years experience with the You &Your Wedding team, a perfect mix of fashion and bridal journalist and expert stylist, she really does have all the biggest names in bridal fashion on speed dial. She spends her days crisscrossing London to attend press days, fashion shows and bridal exhibitions to bring you the latest inspirational goodies, and frequently jets off to exotic locations to shoot some of the fabulous fashion stories in the magazine. This lady knows her ‘bridal’ and is extremely passionate about supporting new talent and finding the ‘next big thing’.

Hazel Holtham, founder and director of Rag and Bow

London College of Fashion graduate, self-confessed street style junkie and fashion obsessive who’s roaming vintage store is just one string to her perfectly styled bow. Her most recent collaborations have been with On|Off, Channel 4, Tate and Selfridge’s Supermarket Sarah. She has worked at The Independent and Emap and IPC fashion titles where attending and dissecting catwalk shows has set her in good stead as an established expert in translating and forecasting future trends. She also offers a personal styling service for the most chic of brides.


Rachel Attwell, founder of Luella’s Boudoir

Attwell has worked in the bridal industry for 6 years following the
opening of what is now known as the one stop shop for innovative, one off bridal wear, Luella's boutique in Wimbledon Village in 2006. She has since launched The Luella's Boudoir brand. Rachel is recognised in the
industry as an expert and is regularly featured in the
leading bridal magazines and blogs. The ethos behind the Luella's brand is
to seek out new and exciting designers to introduce into the UK bridal
industry, a perfect bridal NEXT! Judge.



And what is the prize?

They will choose one exhibitor the 'Most Curious One to Watch' award, as well as
a second 'Highly Commended' prize.

This exhibitor will win the opportunity to be stocked at two locations-  At Luella’s Boudoir itself in the prestigious shopping district Wimbledon Village and the hugely popular and fantastic online bridal boutique Ruby & Diva. As well as receive exposure on online presence of all the above companies.

Most Curious will also feature both the One to Watch and Highly Commended
designer's work in an inspirational bridal photoshoot.

Oh my gosh we cannot wait!

And don't forget you can still enter bridal NEXT Norwich, sponsored and judged by Norwich magazine, EDP News, Antidote Vintage and Goldfinches Vintage - with the prize to be stocked in Antidote Vintage, Norwich's period and handmade fashion hub! The deadline is the 21st September and the event will take place on the 21st October.