LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS! - Meet our fashion show Groom's stylist and style consultant Sammy Aki

New groom's stylist on the block, Sammy Aki's resume reads like a who's who of the coolest menswear tailors, designers and retailers. From a young age, Aki developed her interest for Menswear, which saw her start off as a Luxury Men's style consultant for a number of flagship stores including Harvey Nichols, Harrods, Reiss, Thomas Pink and Topshop. After completing her BA in Spanish and Management she worked in the fashion teams at Esquire and Drapers, which led to a career as a freelance stylist, working on advertising campaigns, fashion shows and music videos.

In 2008 Aki joined Kilgour Savile Row and produced the RTW collections developing her technical understanding of fabric and garment construction. After Kilgour she spent some time as the PR Manager for the UK'S oldest Bridal brand. 

I told you right?! And guess what.... she is not only exhibiting at our show, she is styling the grooms on the catwalk. We are thrilled! We have heard a few of her inspiration words - ' Rustic Winter, Rustic Summer, Something blue and ....Pineapple'.  We can't wait!

All this amazing experience has given her fundamental insight into the industry and it also showed Sammy someone had been forgotten- the Groom. Which has spurred her into launching her own Groom consultancy service and we are over the moon to have her involved with our London fair.

Aki really is offering something new for the chicest and cool hunting grooms, telling us..

'My service is founded on enthusiasm to see discerning and dapper Grooms beside their Brides. This is a service all about personal interaction and direct recommendation...

It’s your wedding day so why are you hiring a suit! Our Groom recognises that this is his special day and intends to feel and look great from this day forward. This starts by selecting the right items that can be treasured and worn time and time again.

Let’s not forget, this is a time for the Groom, Best Man and Ushers to indulge in the finer things in life. With our guidance he will be in his element in the run up to the wedding and on the day itself. 'Brides can rest assured that they are in safe hands,' says Aki, 'and their groom will be looking picture perfect (with gifts* in tow).' 

Focused on British brands, and having first-hand experience of Savile Row tailoring Aki has a real appreciation of the signature qualities and characteristics of the best brands on the market. Obviously budgets vary so she can guide and advise each client on Ready To Wear, Made to Measure and Bespoke, to ensure each groom gets the best within the couple's budgets as well as aiming to create an outfit that reflects his personality, whilst being in keeping with the wedding. That ticks ALL the right boxes!

With a mixed heritage background Most Curious loves a little multiculturalism too and this is also one of Sammy Aki's passions, we love how doing what we do brings us to people who have similar outlooks to us! Born to West African parents and raised in North West London and Somerset, Sammy has travelled extensively internationally and worked on her fair share of Weddings, Simcha’ s, V edic Y ajna, Al Aadaa and K okookos,

“I find tradition and culture exciting, especially when two families come together in matrimony. This is a time when couples can show all friends and family what their ancestry is about, in all its Glory”

We love it! Come and meet her at the fair and see her work in action. 

Featured Exhibitor: Jordanna Marston Photography

Now, as you know, we at Most Curious HQ are suckers for super-gorgeous, candid and personality-packed wedding photography, and as it just so happens,our exhibitor Jordanna Marston Photography fits that bill in a rather spectacular fashion. With bags of style, character and the ability to really capture her clients nuptials in all their glory, Jordanna is going to be an awesome addition to our London fair, and we know you'll love her too - in her own words she wants to meet people and "make them beam with cheek-aching happiness" through her images.

Here Jordanna shares with us five of her fave 2012 shots so far, and in her own words tells us why she loves them so much (although I'm guessing that's pretty obvious - stunning stuff huh?!)

1) This is Tanya and Olly's London Engagement shoot - they are a couple from the Philippines getting married out there in November. This photo just oozes everything I think love is about - sooooo happy and relaxed in each other's company. Best of friends, and yet so romantic too, with the sun setting on Primrose Hill. Beautiful! 

2) The moment the groom - Joel - saw his bride and turned away from her to catch his tears - a very tender moment and luckily he looked straight down my lens! I like to think he was thinking, "holy smokes she looks amazing and I am a lucky lucky man!" *Blub*

 

3) Joel and Louisa (the bride I was referring to in the previous photo) - married. So jubilant. Let's get the party started! 

 

4) I love this photo of three babies that I took at a wedding on the hottest day of the year so far. They all looked so smart earlier on but ended up being stripped to their shorts. So cute and so timeless.

 

5) And to finish - Boyd and Ellie's engagement. Ellie lives and breathes the '50s and I think this shot just exudes that style and cinematic romance. Their wedding was just as vintage inspired and very fun to shoot.

Introducing a London special guest - Sara Smyth of ruby+diva

Paola de Paola Photography

Here at Most Curious HQ we are feeling super dooper privileged to have with us for our London Fair some real Wedding royalty in the gorgeous form of Sara Smyth, the co-founder of chic and unique wedding boutique ruby+diva! Sara is the creative force behind this stylish and eclectic behind the brand, which was designed to offer brides the chance to have a single place in which to plan, create and personalise their big day, and will be joining us as a guest of honour to present the prize at bridal NEXT! as well as stocking the winning design in the ruby+diva boutique itself!

Sara’s business light-bulb moment came when she realised there were no websites showcasing all that is original and fun in the world of weddings and where you can plan and buy your wedding day. Putting all that and more into one place, and ruby+diva was born -  the UK’s 1st design-led wedding marketplace bringing inspirational products and creative services from around the world into one place to help you plan your unique wedding.

 From all aspects of wedding planning including photography, the transport, the venue and even the Stag do, through to the gift list, and even the honeymoon (with a little help from travel expert Laura), ruby+diva offers a one stop shop for a vast and varied range of the UK's top creatives and designers. A stroke of genius, yes?

ruby+diva are going to be exhibiting at both the London and Norwich fairs, and we just know you are going to thank us for it - it's planning a beautiful wedding made easy! Sara took some time to tell us more about what makes her tick and also gives us a few cheeky insights into lovely r+d newness!


1) You got married in 2011 - would you do it differently if you were getting married this year?

 I married Rob on Friday 13 May 2011 and wore 'Alessia' by Jenny Packham. We totally steam-rolled into getting married, just 10 months after we started officially dating and before I had set up ruby+diva, so I didn't know about all the creative wedding designers out there. I did feel beautiful on the day but if I were to do it again I would definitely go for something a little more individual. I love 'Margot' by Charlotte Casdejus for a super-glam do and for something a little more low-key, the 'Astor' dress by Suzannah - it's a lovely vintage shape, very flattering and easy to wear.

 

2) What was the most important thing when planning your wedding and was this the same as what you felt was the most important on the actual day itself?
We planned our wedding in about 9 weeks and I guess the most important thing for me was making sure we added special touches that reflected our personalities. Neither of us are big on tradition or formality so I focused on finding a beautiful private room in a restaurant for a celebration lunch, my son, Lucas, played the guitar as I walked into the ceremony room, we had Led Zeppelin blasting out as we signed the register and we all walked down the King's Road to the reception. And yes, on the day, I was really pleased we had made those decisions and stuck to what we were comfortable with. Rob would never have made it through the day if it had been in a church with 200 guests!

 

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

 At the moment, I am particularly excited about the way in which colour and pattern is influencing wedding dress designers. I also love creative headwear and am especially enamoured with bright, floral head dresses. 



White Dahlia 1940′s Inspired Wedding Dress
by Joan Shum



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

I am super excited to see the talent on offer at Bridal NEXT! and will be looking for designers who are doing something totally against the grain of traditional weddings.

 

5) What are you working on right now?

At the moment we are working on launching a few new ranges to the site, including our new 'Boudoir Luxe' section on the ruby+diva site - a collection of luxurious bedroom accessories along the lines of 'Fifty Shades of Grey'. 

 

We are just about to launch a new group gifting option so customers can set up a group gifting page and ask their friends to contribute towards any product in our e-boutique. 

 

Now, this is strictly confidential, but we are also working on a top secret honeymoon project which will be launched at the time of the Most Curious Wedding Fair -  Hush Hush Honeymoons....ssshh! 

 

6) Wow that does sound super exciting! And to finish, can you tell us what is on your desk today?

I am currently surrounded by the most massive pile of glorious samples which are coming from around the world from ruby+diva members. I arrived home the other day to find that the postman has shoved a package with over £1000 worth of lingerie under the doormat! 

 

Lumiere Photography

And to finish, here's one of Sara's gorgeous wedding photos of her big day - we are ALWAYS a sucker for a Jenny Packham gown, and this one is naturally making us swoon! *sigh*

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.