I wasn’t the first of my inner circle to get engaged, and while I loved fawning over my friends as they tried on billowing gowns of lace, tulle, and taffeta, I knew the whole “say yes to the dress” thing wasn’t for me. Instead, I opened my laptop, browsed the Net-a-Porter sale, and chose a non-bridal dress. It came, I tried it on in my flat, I liked it, and the rest is history.
In the almost seven years since I tied the knot, several of my closest friends have all opted for the in-boutique experience. We sipped champagne and shed tears when the bride-to-be emerged wearing The One. And although this wasn’t the shopping path I chose for myself, the occasion’s specialness was, and still isn’t, lost on me. And this year, I’ve had to console more friends than I could have imaged, whose wedding dreams were dashed due to the pandemic.
While some decided to postpone their weddings, others, when restrictions allowed, carried on as-planned—albeit with significantly smaller guest lists. It’s these women who, whether they realise it or not, have changed the wedding fashion landscape, forever.
