Weddings have much in common with the world of theatre: stage fright in the face of speech-making (you can do it, best man!), dancing in the spotlight, dramatic rehearsal dinners and venue décor to rival even the most elaborate efforts of set designers. And the best part of both? The costumes, of course.
On that note, there was more than a touch of the theatrical about Glasgow bridal boutique Eleganza Sposa‘s 2016 runway show, held at the Bothwell Bridge Hotel during the venue’s annual wedding exhibition. For a start, a spectacular flurry of snow greeted us on arrival – cue an Instagram-able winter wonderland in a matter of minutes. Then, there was the new season bridal and occasion wear, styled by Ian Tod and divided into four looks, Principessa, Classica, Romantica and Dolce Vita.
Dresses took on a character of their own: Principessa saw full-skirted ballgowns by Martina Liana, Suzanne Neville, Tarik Ediz and Eleganza Iconica sweep past gracefully with a regal confidence, sporting sweetheart necklines, floral appliqué and lace panelling, while Dolce Vita oozed Italian glamour and Sophia Loren sex appeal, focusing on figure-enhancing cuts and feather embellishments.
While bridal certainly had its moment, the supporting players were equally as inspiring. Blush and pale blue made an appearance in occasion wear, with full-length gowns from the likes of Eleganza Collezioni and Tarik Ediz opting for a mix of floaty, cap sleeves and glitzy beading. Elsewhere, kilts in understated forest green, navy and black tartan came courtesy of The Kilt Centre, sculptural bridal headpieces designed by Glasgow milliner William Chambers added an edge to the elegance of the wedding gowns and delicate jewellery by Euan McWhirter topped up the sparkle.
We can’t wait for the encore!