As 2022 draws to a close, we’re taking time to reflect on our amazing Harrogate Wedding Lounge brides that have tied the knot in glorious style this year.

After a turbulent time for weddings, we’re thrilled (and relieved!) to have seen so many incredible celebrations finally go ahead hitch-free, with our superstar brides 100% rocking their dream dress choices.

Here, we spotlight just some of the incredible women who found their gowns at our North Yorkshire bridal boutique as they share their dress-shopping journeys, including their experience with the HWL team.

It truly lights up our souls to read their beautiful words, knowing that the effort we put into choosing our wedding dress collections and delivering warm, friendly and expert styling advice makes their time with us so special. And seeing the insanely gorgeous images of them in their gowns is the absolute cherry on the ‘we-love-what-we-do’ cake!

Having graced the aisle in their HWL dresses, some of these lovely ladies are also sharing their top dress-shopping tips, so be sure to have those wedding-planning notebooks at the ready!

Our Harrogate Wedding Lounge Brides

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Abigail

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The Dress

Style 88122 by Justin Alexander

The Details

Wedding date: 30th May 

Venue: Wynyard Hall, Billingham, County Durham

Photographer: Nikki Paxton

The Experience 

“After attending two other dress shops where I hadn’t had a nice experience, and I’d tried on around 20 dresses, I was completely deflated. I decided to try HWL after spotting the boutique’s beautiful gowns on Instagram. From the moment we stepped in the door, everything was easy. All the gowns were incredible, the bridal stylist was so lovely and attentive, and the boutique itself was so calm and welcoming. I only tried on around five gowns, and my dress turned out to be the first one I tried on. The appointment was a dream, and so was every fitting that followed.” 

Bride’s Top Tip

“Start looking early! I started looking 18 months before my original date. I would also say only take one, or maybe two, people dress shopping with you. I can imagine it would have been a really stressful time if I’d had lots of bridesmaids there.”

We Love:

The dreamy romance emitted from Abigail’s stunning images. Her sweetheart neckline, off-the-shoulder ballgown with layers of dreamy tulle, fits her big day perfectly!

Samantha

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The Dress

Martha by Blue By Enzoani

The Deets

Wedding date: 2nd June

Venue: The Coniston Hotel & Country Estate, Skipton, North Yorkshire

Photographer: Hayley Baxter Photography 

The Experience

“I was really apprehensive about looking for my wedding dress, but after walking into HWL, I received such a genuinely warm welcome, and the team made me feel at ease. I instantly knew I could find what I was looking for in this beautiful boutique. I felt no pressure at any appointment, and the staff gave honest and genuine feedback. I knew the Martha dress was ‘the one’ as soon as I put it on. I loved the elegance of the dress, the detachable straps and the detail on the train.”

Bride’s Top Tip

“Just relax and enjoy every part of the build-up to the big day. It’s all part of the fun!”

We Love

The elegant yet striking nature of Samantha’s stunning Blue By Enzoani dress, with captivating lace bodice, illusion side panels and the statement train of dreams!

Karen

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The Dress

Peony by Suzanne Neville 

The Details

Wedding date: 27th May 

Venue: Wagner Cove, Central Park, New York

Photographer: NY Dream Weddings, Harley Hall Photography

The Experience

“I loved the Peony dress from the moment I saw it on the Suzanne Neville website. Jeanette at HWL helped me through the trying-on process, and we selected a few other possible options, but it was always Peony for me. It was such an enjoyable boutique experience.”

We Love

We adore helping brides find the perfect dress for destination weddings, and what a destination to pick! The glamorous Peony gown was a super-fitting choice for Karen’s gorgeous NYC wedding.

Florence

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The Dress

India by Sassi Holford

The Details

Wedding date: 12th November 

Venue: Goldsborough Hall, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire 

Photographer: Joel Skingle Photography

The Experience

“I had the most amazing experience at HWL, from the moment I stepped in all the way through to my final fitting. As soon as I tried on my Sassi Holford dress, I knew it was the one, although there were so many other beautiful dresses to choose from. A massive thank you to Janette for guiding me through my first appointment and helping me pick out my dream dress.”

We Love

The long-sleeved India dress was perfect for Florence’s November wedding, providing extra warmth, while its satin chiffon skirt with subtle sheen captured the wintery light beautifully. 

Farrah

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The Dress

Admire by Suzanne Neville

The Details

Wedding date: 10th April

Venue: Middleton Lodge, Richmond, North Yorkshire

Photographer: Georgina Harrison Photography

The Experience

“The HWL team was amazing and so helpful when getting hold of my chosen dress, Admire by Suzanne Neville.” 

We Love

Chic, sophisticated and effortlessly beautiful, this elegant A-line gown with wrap-over effect bodice, full-length sleeves and flowing crepe skirt was a dream for Farrah’s country estate ‘I dos’.

Jodie

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The Dress

Riva by Enzoani

The Details

Wedding date: 14th April

Venue: Dunedin Country House, Patrington, East Yorkshire

Photographer: Ginger Snaps Photography

The Experience

“My experience at HWL was incredible from start to finish. Leanne looked after us like family. She was so lovely and kind, and there was no pressure, just honesty, and I enjoyed the process so much. I fell in love with the Enzoani Riva dress immediately. When I saw myself in the dress, I cried instantly, and so did my mum. The HWL seamstress was also incredible and altered my dress to fit perfectly!”

We Love

There’s no better match for Jodie’s heavenly big day than the ethereal beauty of Enzonai’s Riva gown, with the beaded floral lace detailing enhancing those romantic rural feels.

Chloë

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The Dress

66067 by Lilian West with bespoke jacket

The Details

Wedding date: 4th September

Venue: Majestic Hotel, Harrogate

Photographer: Rob Clayton Photography

The Experience

“I loved my experience at HWL, from my first appointment with Jeanette, who perfectly balanced a hands-on approach without being pushy or overbearing. For my later fittings, Arnya was so wonderful and warm, though the biggest shout-out has to go to Hayley, who created a bespoke jacket for my ceremony, which matched my dress perfectly and got so many compliments on the day. From me showing her my vision when we first met to making final tweaks as I had my last fitting, Hayley was incredible, and I can’t thank her enough for getting the jacket so spot-on.!”

Bride’s Top Tip

“Dress shopping is a process of elimination – figuring out what you don’t like as much as what you do like. It’s okay if that ‘wow’ moment doesn’t happen – just choose the dress that feels right to you. For me, it wasn’t instantaneous; it was more of a warm glow and a good feeling about my dress that I felt most like ‘me’ in.”

We Love:

The regal styling of Chloë’s gorgeous big day, plus it was an absolute joy to create a bespoke jacket to complement her stunning Lillian West gown and achieve her bridal vision.

Lyndsay

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The Dress

Style 8937 by Justin Alexander

The Details

Wedding date: 26th March

Venue: Priory Church of St Peter, Thurgarton & The Old Vicarage, Southwell, Nottinghamshire

Photographer: McAra Film & Photography

The Experience

“From our initial appointment through the fittings, the HWL team made me feel really comfortable helping me work around my big concern of being a fuller busted bride and making me feel secure and confident going braless on my big day. The seamstress was excellent with adjustments to the dress too. I was nervous about the length of the train initially but decided to embrace the big white dress and loved the clean and elegant silhouette of the dress and the gorgeous detailing of the illusion back.”

Bride’s Top Tip

“This tip actually came from my sister, who told me that wedding dresses are designed to make you look beautiful, so there will be many that look stunning on you, but ‘the dress’ is the one that makes you feel like a bride.  As soon as I put my dress on, I had a beaming smile – it perfectly complemented my body shape and the style of my wedding.”

We Love:

Spellbindingly beautiful, this Justin Alexander box pleat ballgown is nothing short of a showstopper, and Lyndsay looked nothing short of showstopping in it!

Sarah

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The Dress

Millie by Suzanne Neville

The Details

Wedding date: 16th October 

Venue: Norwood Park, Southwell, Nottinghamshire

Photographer: Esther Louise Triffitt Photography

The Experience

“Arnya, Jen and Hayley were so kind and helpful throughout the process at HWL, and nothing was too much trouble. We chatted through ideas over the phone between appointments and experimented with about five different veils; their advice and expertise were invaluable. Millie was the first dress I tried on, and I knew it was the one because of how I felt when wearing it…nothing else compared. I had it altered to be bespoke with a slightly high v-neckline, thanks to the advice of Arnya.” 

Bride’s Top Tip

“Choose your dress based on how it makes you feel – I found this to be the most important element.”

We Love:

Romantic, stately and oh-so-pretty with its delicate floral detailing, we adored the gorgeous Millie gown on Sarah for her captivating country house wedding. 

Emily

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The Dress

Malia by Blue By Enzoani

The Details

Wedding date: 20th May

Venue: Masham Church, North Yorkshire, & marquee reception  

Photographer: Brendan Knight Photography 

The Experience

“My HWL experience was incredible from start to finish and something I will cherish forever. I felt like I was given a very personal experience, never felt rushed and looking back on my wedding, choosing my dress and visiting the shop was one of my highlights! I completely fell in love with my dress from the moment I put it on. Elegant and classy, modern and so comfy! I felt completely stunning on my wedding day.”

We Love:

Emily’s confidence shines through, making her look incredible in this mesmerisingly beautiful mermaid-style gown with romantic floral lace appliqué cascading from its bodice to the head-turning train. 

Sophie

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The Dress

Rosette by Maggie Sottero

The Details

Wedding date: 3rd September

Venue: Denton Hall, Ilkley, West Yorkshire 

Photographer: Richard Perry Photography

The Experience

“I absolutely loved my experience at HWL. Everyone was so friendly, and my bridal consultant was so knowledgeable and helpful. She knew I’d found the one even before I did; she left my gown hung up while I tried on a few more, knowing I wouldn’t find anything better than that dress! It was the most perfect experience.”

Bride’s Top Tip

“Make sure to try on at least one dress that is completely out of your comfort zone; you never know what might surprise you!”

We Love:

Glamour radiates through every element of Sophie’s gorgeous wedding, including her Maggie Sottero ballgown complete with exquisite pearl embellished sleeves and bodice.

Olivia

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The Dress

Camryn by Justin Alexander

The Details

Wedding date: 3rd September

Venue: Goldsborough Hall, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire

Photographer: Yorkshire Portraits

The Experience

“I had the most magical experience at HWL. Thank you all so much for making me feel so special and for helping me to find the dress of my dreams! I’ll never forget the day I came to the boutique and found ‘the one’!” 

We Love

Giving us all the timeless bride vibes, Olivia’s Mikado ballgown fitted her luxurious stately home wedding perfectly with the beaded back detail, adding an extra touch of glamour.

Pippa

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The Dress

Oleesa by Blue By Enzoani  

The Details

Wedding date: 10th June 

Venue: The Crab and Lobster, Thirsk, North Yorkshire

Photographer: Ruth Mitchell Photography

The Experience

“The Harrogate Wedding Lounge is a beautiful boutique with a calm and welcoming atmosphere. The ladies were all so friendly and helpful and really listened to what I wanted when helping me find my dress. When it arrived, and I tried it on for the first time with my shoes and accessories, they made the whole experience so special. The seamstress was fantastic, and my dress fitted perfectly on my wedding day. It sparkled beautifully in the sun during our outdoor ceremony, and the long cape really brought something different and magical to the dress.”

Bride’s Top Tip

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself! You’ve never seen yourself in a wedding dress before, so it’s okay not to get that instant this-is-my-dress feeling. If it is ‘the one’, you won’t be able to stop thinking about it!” 

We Love:

Full-on ethereal magic emits from Pippa’s gorgeous wedding photos, and we totally agree that the off-shoulder split cape further elevates the beauty of her wow-worthy big-day look.

Olivia

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The Dress

Carlee by Justin Alexander

The Details

Wedding date: 8th October 

Venue: St George’s Havelock North, New Zealand

Photographer: Knight By Light Photography 

The Experience

“The HWL team clearly knows their stock and listens to their brides. The dress I ended up choosing was actually the ‘wild card’ picked by one of the team! It was everything I wanted, yet I hadn’t picked it off the rail. I also thought the seamstress was incredible – so calming, reassuring and patient! I loved the romantic detail on my dress, the detachable straps and the leg split. The dress was perfect in the heat and a fun/modern twist on the classic wedding dress!”

Bride’s Top Tip 

“Make sure you have a look at some styles before you go dress shopping, but then keep an open mind throughout the process – you never know what you might see!”

We Love:

Taking advantage of Carlee’s adaptable design, Olivia wore her dress with the shoulder straps during the ceremony, drinks and dinner and then later removed them for the party, giving her a different look and more freedom to dance in the evening!

Sophie

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The Dress

Iris by Sassi Holford

The Details

Wedding date: 16th September 

Venue: The Morritt Garage & Spa, Barnard Castle, County Durham

Photographer: Claire Collinson Photography

The Experience

“I loved every second of purchasing my dress, and it’s all thanks to the team at the HWL. I never felt pressured or rushed, and everyone was so knowledgeable and lovely that I was immediately put at ease. The store has such a great range of dresses, and the team are incredibly accommodating and really helped bring my vision to life. For me, being comfortable on the day was really important, and my dress nailed that requirement – it was so light and flowed where I wanted it to. I couldn’t have felt more beautiful on the day.” 

We Love:

Sophie told us that she had always envisioned a gown with sleeves, and they don’t come much more romantic than the beautifully adorned tulle belle sleeves of Iris, which suited Sophie down to the ground!

Charlotte

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The Dress

Mimi by Blue By Enzoani

The Details

Wedding date: 19th August

Venue: Relais Villa Vittoria, Lake Como, Italy

Photographer: Matteo Coltro

The Experience

“I had the best experience with The Harrogate Wedding Lounge. At my first appointment, I was able to try so many different styles and was even given some ‘wild cards’ to try from the lovely team, which allowed me to find my dream dress! Then at my fittings, the in-house seamstress was able to add the most beautiful sleeves to my dress, tailoring it to my needs. I was really grateful for advice about a veil, as the team helped me pick one that went perfectly with my dress.”

Bride’s Top Tip

“Don’t be scared to try on lots of shapes and necklines until you find one that you feel most comfortable in. Dresses look different on different people, so what you see in a picture on Instagram may look different on you.”

We Love:

The opulent style of Charlotte’s lace-detailed gown with statement train works an absolute dream with her breathtaking Lake Como wedding setting.

Kate

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The Dress

Forever top and Ariel skirt by Suzanne Neville

The Details

Wedding Date: 1st April

Venue: The Tithe Barn & Bolton Priory, Skipton, North Yorkshire

Photographer: Charlotte Nelson Photography 

The Experience

“As a curvy girl, the corset bodice of my Suzanne Neville gown was perfect. It enhanced my shape, which I can so often feel very self-conscious about, and made me feel a million bucks!”

Bride’s Top Tip

“Do research into the designers stocked in certain bridal shops before booking an appointment. As a curvy bride, I wasn’t aware that British designers tend to use a more fitted corset structure better suited to larger chests compared to some European labels. Also, trust the experts! The ladies at HWL were so great at letting out seams of the small sample sizes so that I could get them on and were so accommodating when I requested to ‘try this one again, just one last time’.”

We Love:

The shape created by this figure-hugging Suzanne Neville design is nothing short of sensational, and we couldn’t agree more that Kate looked a million bucks in it!

Hannah

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The Dress

Rosette by Maggie Sottero 

The Details

Wedding date: 9th July

Venue: The Secret Garden, Gringley On The Hill, Nottinghamshire

Photographer: Annalise Rose Photography

The Experience

“HWL is beautiful, intimate, and so welcoming. After trying on three to four dresses, I didn’t get ‘that feeling’, and then out came Rosette. As soon as I put her on, I knew she was the one. I had in my mind the dress would be fitted, minimal and not too much. But this was the ultimate princess dress, and I fell in love. There were tears and huge smiles throughout the shop, and I just didn’t want to take her off! The whole experience was magical, we were never rushed, and I felt really special. I remember that feeling on the morning of my wedding, stepping into the dress and seeing the reaction of everyone. I will never forget it. This was the dress of dreams for the most magical day of my life.”

We Love:

Giving us ultimate princess vibes, Hannah fully embraced her bridal moment by dazzling in her wow-worthy Maggie Sottero ballgown adorned with sparkling beads and luxe pearls. 

Want to follow in the footsteps of these gorgeous brides by visiting our warm, welcoming and stylish Harrogate bridal boutique? Then, simply book a bridal consultation appointment to get your dream dress-shopping experience underway!