Introducing the wedding-dress designers and labels that have aisle style sussed this year. The best bit? These wedding dresses are all available right now at Scottish bridal boutiques
Armed with the hottest wedding dresses for 2024, stylist Backstage With Beth pulled together numerous chic bridal looks to inspire brides-to-be. To capture these styles, we headed to Cove One Studios, where stylist Duchess Seerra brought our vision for the set to life with plenty of pink and red decor, hints of leopard print and disco balls!
Photographer Euan Anderson captured all of the stunning photos, while second photographer Carla-Marcia Girvan got the behind-the-scenes photos. Read on to see it all…
Isobel Florence Bridal (below right)
“Designed for the traditional bride with a strong creative vision, the Patricia Barclay Bridals collection is super-glamorous with a sassy edge. It boasts clean lines created in sumptuous satin and rich, elegant lace. Case in point: this Gwyneth ballgown (below right), crafted from superior satin, features a fully boned corset with delicate beaded overlay and dramatic textured ballgown skirt.
“Isobel Florence Bridal is a flagship for Patricia Barclay Bridals, which means we have the full collection available in store, rather than just having a few select samples. If a bride wants a Patricia Barclay gown, we’ll have it.” Julia Wong, Isobel Florence Bridal, Dalbeattie.
Left: Kalea dress by Rosa Clará Soft, £1,950, Kudos Bridal Boutique Edinburgh. Gold star hair pins, stylist’s own. 18ct white-gold and diamond ring, £2,100, Ian Mundie & Son. Gold moon earrings, £44, Gemini Clay Studio. Gracie shoes, from £110 in ivory, to additionally hand dye, from £20-£40, Rainbow Club. Penelope sofa, and pampas grass and disco-ball arrangements, all £POA, Duchess Seerra; Right: Gwyneth ballgown by Patricia Barclay Bridals, from £2,990, Isobel Florence Bridal. Secret Hearts red pendant, £81, bangle, £151, and earrings, £74, all Sheila Fleet. Diamond ring, as before. Avalanche scattered pearl long veil, from £125, Rainbow Club. Bridal bouquet; wooden ceremony backdrop with red drape; and disco-ball arrangement, all £POA, Duchess Seerra
Kudos Bridal Boutique Edinburgh (above left)
“Spanish label Rosa Clará describes its 2024 Soft collection as a ‘masterful marriage of sensuality and lightness’ – and we have to say we agree! These gowns are perfect for brides who want a romantic, fresh and youthful look in luxe-but-light fabrics such as silk muslin, crepe and tulle.
“The fluid Kalea gown (above left) typifies the label’s approach and is ideal for both city or country settings. It is as light as a feather to wear, making it a dream to twirl on the dancefloor!” Michelle Scott, Kudos Bridal Edinburgh.
Opus Couture
“Pronovias are world leaders in bridal design and it’s an honour to stock their dresses at our boutique in West Kilbride. The Barcelona-based label crafts ultra-flattering silhouettes using luxurious fabrics and unique construction techniques to form gowns that skim, hug and flatter your body in all the right places. The wow-factor comes in the form of intricate beadwork, delicate embellishments, alluring appliqué adornments and sophisticated embroidery.
“The Albite gown showcases all these hallmarks and more; it is romantic and sensual with the most gorgeous detachable sleeves. With the current trend for two dresses, the ability to remove the sleeves can give a different look for dancing the night away without having to spend twice.” Susan Lightbody, Opus Couture, West Kilbride.
lbite mermaid glitter wedding dress by Pronovias, from £4,100 without sleeves, from £4,200 with sleeves, Opus Couture. Tulle bow bridal earrings, £24, Gemini Clay Studio. Pink and red bridal bouquet; Penelope blush-pink sofa; and pampas grass and disco-ball arrangements, all £POA, Duchess Seerra.(Photo: Euan Anderson)
Melle Cloche
“Ukrainian label Esty Style design for the new-generation bride and we’re thrilled to have them at our boutique in Glasgow – in fact, we’re their only Scottish stockist! They understand what a modern-day bride is searching for: a look that no-one else has; a dress that feels like it was created just for her.
“Made by a small team of ateliers, these gowns are not mass produced, have little-to-no-waste and combine impeccable fit with the highest-quality fabrics, such as the luxe matte organza of this effortlessly cool Daniella gown and its fun, over-the-top asymmetric shoulder.” Lisa Bell, Melle Cloche, Glasgow.
Daniella matte organza gown by Esty Style, £2,295, Melle Cloche. Diamond ring, as before. Secret Hearts red pendant, £81, Sheila Fleet. Freya sparkly slingback shoes, from £110 in ivory, to additionally hand dye, from £20-£40, Rainbow Club
Pamela Jayne's Bridal
“The Adore by Justin Alexander collection is designed for the vibrant bride who has a relaxed confidence and is unapologetically herself. The line is filled with easy-going wedding dresses with a sexy twist.
“The light and airy Angelina gown features modern beading on the bodice (that would catch the light beautifully) and a romantic flowing skirt. The skirt is available with a sassy slit if a bride wants to up the wow-factor even more!” Pamela Marshall, Pamela Jayne’s Bridal, Bonnybridge.
Angelina sparkle-tulle A-line gown by Adore by Justin Alexander, £POA, Pamela Jayne’s Bridal. Pearl hairpins, stylist’s own. 18ct white-gold, morganite and cultured pearl pendant, £2,995, matching earrings, £2,130, and ring, £2,795, all Ian Mundie & Son. Pink and red bridal bouquet and decor, as before
Kudos Bridal Boutique Dunfermline
“The latest collection from Australian powerhouse Maggie Sottero is full of personality and style. One of our top picks from the line is the stunning Doritte, a sexy crepe fit-and-flare gown that combines some of our top trends for 2024: decadent pearl details, illusion corset bodice and removable sleeves.” Megan Carberry, Kudos Bridal Boutique Dunfermline.
Doritte pearl and crepe wedding dress by Maggie Sottero, from £1,660, Kudos Bridal Boutique Dunfermline. Marble heart earrings, £20, Gemini Clay Studio. ‘Til Death Do Us Party’ neon sign, and pampas grass arrangement, both £POA, Duchess Seerra
Reflections Bridal
“Kenneth Winston has been designing and producing wedding dresses for over three decades, with a renowned pedigree in quality and design. The brand’s Ella Rosa line offers something for every bride at a price point that won’t break the bank.
“This gorgeous, luxe satin dress features illusion side panels with delicate beadwork that bring a sexy edge to the sleek look. The one-shouldered neckline is certainly going to turn heads – we think it’s perfect for a bride looking for a modern, chic wedding dress.” Carol and Chloe, Reflections Bridal, Kelso.
Luxe satin asymmetric-shouldered dress (style BE645) by Ella Rosa by Kenneth Winston, £POA, Reflections Bridal. Diamond ring, £2,100, Ian Mundie & Son. Pebble drop earrings, £26, Gemini Clay Studio. Bridal bouquet; ‘Til Death Do Us Party’ neon sign; and Sofia red two-seater sofa, all £POA, Duchess Seerra
The props and flowers
After spotting an image on Instagram that summed up what we had in mind for our photoshoot set, we knew we had to get wedding stylist and florist Emma Mallen from Duchess Seerra on board to help us realise our vision. She’s an in-demand gal, so we even changed the date of our photoshoot to accommodate her availability.
And we’re so glad we did. She rocked up with a van full of chic vintage furniture, cool neon signs, glittering disco balls and props galore to bring our red and pink mash-up to life. She even whipped up the gorgeous bridal bouquet on the day (as we all watched on in awe at her mad skills) and finished it with a length of leopard-print ribbon that we all couldn’t get enough of.
The hair and makeup
We had two of the best in the Scottish bridal beauty biz to make model Anna look even more gorgeous than she already did: Anne Marie McElroy (hair) and Jay Mcloughlan (makeup) from AMM Hair and Makeup Team. “Our inspiration for the shoot was a fun ’70s feel with a modern edge and we created several looks to match the dresses,” says Anne Marie. “We feel what we produced is great for 2024 bridal inspiration.” Hear, hear.
First of all, Anne Marie set about prepping Anna’s tumbling red locks with GHD’s Classic Curl Tong. “We kicked off with pin curls. I used L’Oréal Pli spray that is soft, pliable and gives ‘memory’ to the hair. It allowed us to transition the hair easily as the shoot styling progressed, from big bouncy curls, to a ponytail, to a piled-high updo that is predicted to be a popular style with brides this year,” she says.
Left: Daniella matte organza gown. Diamond ring, Secret Hearts red pendant, Pink and red bridal bouquet, all as before Right: Doritte pearl and crepe wedding dress, as before. Primula Scotica hot pink pendant, £101, and matching earrings, £155, both Sheila Fleet. Avalanche scattered pearl long veil, from £125, Rainbow Club. Bouquet, as before
Jay updates us on what she used makeup-wise for each look: “The makeup overall was natural glam with a soft lash and base that had a matte finish.
“Aside from Vieve Skin Dew, Vieve Skin Nova, Hourglass Ambient Lighting palette and NARS Luster, I used Charlotte Tilbury products. The lipstick shades were some of my favourites from the brand: Velvet Underground; First Dance and Patsy Red.”
Gwyneth ballgown las before. Secret Hearts red pendant, £81, bangle, £151, and earrings, £74, all Sheila Fleet. 18ct white-gold and diamond triple-row ring, Avalanche scattered pearl long veil, Bridal bouquet, wooden hexagonal ceremony backdrop with red drape, all as before
Behind the scenes
The team
Styling Beth Farquhar, Backstage With Beth
Photography Euan Anderson
Behind-the-scenes photography Carla-Marcia Girvan
Studio Cove One Studios
Hair and makeup Anne Marie McElroy and Jay Mcloughlan at AMM Hair and Makeup Team
Model Anna Young, Colours Agency
Set styling, props and flowers Emma Mallen, Duchess Seerra
Digital content and shoot assistants Beth Forsyth, Amy Shearer, Emma Simper and Hazel Scott
Carla-Marcia Girvan was on standby to capture all our behind-the-scenes moments, such as AMM Hair and Makeup Team perfecting Anna’s look and smiles between takes
As well as getting some amazing behind-the-scenes photos, we also documented the photoshoot process. Come behind the scenes with us…
