BARCELONA BRIDAL FASHION WEEK 2023
‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Cinderella’ Silhouettes both had their Moments of Glory on the Runway, Blue was the new Pink, and Ornate Hand-Crafted Lace Stole the Show at Barcelona Bridal Week
Image Credit Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week
Image Credit Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week on Instagram and Facebook, and Participating Brands’ Official Websites, Instagram and Facebook.
The glorious city of Barcelona becomes the focal point for all things glamorously matrimonial and haute couture for a week in April. Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week is a perennial highlight in the global bridal calendar, and the stats for this highly anticipated event are pretty impressive too: this year saw over 350 brands showcase their collections – three quarters of these brands international, with 21 500 visitors and over 1500 international buyers attending the proceedings!
No mean feat to pull off an event this momentous, but Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week rose to the occasion yet again and delivered an unbeatable set of live and trade shows. On the runways we saw collections by 34 designers from 15 countries, many of which were stalwart local Spanish  brands – the likes of Isabel Sanchis, Jesús Peiró, Pronovias, Rosa Clará, Yolancris, Sophie et Voilà , Lorena Formoso, Marco y Maria, Ramon Sanjurjo, Ogadenia Couture, Pedro Palmas, and Lucas Balboa. A contingent of top International bridal brands included The Atelier from Malaysia, Wona Concept & Eva Lendel from Ukraine, Nicole Milano from Italy, Vietnamese brand Joli Poli, Polish brand Agnieszka Swiatly, Marylise and Cymbeline (France), Julia Kontogruni (Bulgaria); Demetrios and Carlo Pignatelli (Italy),  Modeca (The Netherlands), Madeline (USA), Madam Burcu (Turkey) and Ines di Santo (Canada). Haute couture house Elie Saab was the star of ‘Barcelona Bridal Night’ and sought-after British brand Jenny Packham joined the Trade Show.
As for trends, we saw the classic bridal silhouettes – the ‘Cinderalla’ / princess-style gown and ‘Mermaid’ fishtail shapes – present themselves in many guises, in every conceivable combination and permutation – from romantic tulle, floral and 3-D roses, lavish lace and exquisite embroidery to satin and silk gowns with their full underskirts billowing. There was definitely a renewed trend for highly decorative, hand-crafted gowns across the board – many creations displayed months of many hands’ labour of love! The previous seasons’ trend for a hint of pink was most certainly replaced by a touch of blue. Some designers opted to pay homage to vintage fashions, in particular the bias-cut, low waisted and sweeping long 30s-style frocks in nude and neutral shades. There was a sizable portion of dresses that were pure black, a trend we’ve seen gaining momentum over the past few seasons. As for hemlines, the majority of frocks were – unsurprisingly – floor-sweeping, but there were a handful shorter dresses as well as some cheeky super short hot pants in the mix too!
Sit back and enjoy our selection of the best of the brands – both on and off the runway. (Image Credit Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week on Instagram and Facebook, and Participating Brands’ Official Websites, Instagram and Facebook.)
Let’s kick off with Elie Saab’s fabulous show (Credit Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week):
Exquisite floral embroidery at Marco y Maria
Image Credit Marco y Maria on Instagram
Behind the scenes – at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week
The Venue – at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week
Buyers at the Trade Show – at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week
1. MAKE IT BLACK (AND DON’T FORGET THE FLOWERS)!
A sizable proportion of gowns were either a very striking pure black or a combination of black and white, most notably at Isabel Sanchis, Marco y Maria, Demetrios and Studio Serravalle. Flowers featured everywhere: floral lace, flowery embellishments and florid motifs were the surface and 3-D design of choice.
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week
Black floral lace – at Marco y Maria
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week
Exposed back and oversized floral embellishments in a combination of black and white – at Isabel Sanchis
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week
Sculptural lines – at Studio Serravalle
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week
Mysterious bride in floral black Chantilly lace over a white under-dress – at Demetrios Bridal
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week
Sleek, reflective and futuristic black curves and a long train – at Isabel Sanchis
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week
80s Romance – at Demetrios Bridal
Credit Marco y Maria on Instagram
Floral rhinestone embellishments on this princess-style gown – at Marco y Maria
2. AND NOW FOR A TOUCH OF COLOUR ….
Although the majority of gowns were in a virginal white, cream or ivory, we did spot a few touches of exquisite colour at Demetrios, for the bride who wants to be somewhat different.
Image Credit Demetrios Bridal Room on Instagram
Fluffy ochre tulle in this divine gown – at Demetrios Bridal Room
Image Credit Demetrios Bridal Room
Scarlet magic! At Demetrios Bridal Room
Image Credit Demetrios Bridal Room
Frothy sea folly and feathers in this tiered tulle creation – at Demetrios Bridal Room
3. THE ‘DIRTY THIRTIES’
The classic romantic 20s and 30s silhouettes with dropped waistlines, fluid silhouettes, stunning lacework and lavish embellishments featured in a few collections, most notable so that of Marco y Maria.
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Marco y Maria on Instagram
Exquisite lace and beadwork in this floor-sweeping, floaty gowns – at Marco y Maria
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Marco y Maria on Instagram
Decorative glasses and jewellery add to the nostalgia of this beaded gown – at Marco y Maria
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Rosa Clara on Instagram
A nod to the Dirty Thirties – at Rosa Clara
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Isabel Sanchis on Instagram
Large pearls embellish this romantic gown – at Isabel Sanchis
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Nice Milano on Instagram
Fluid, asymmetrical and covered in shiny stones – at Nicole Milano
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Studio Serravalle on Instagram
A sculptural Greek-inspired shape in this one-shoulder gown – at Studio Serravalle
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Serravalle on Instagram
A sparkly 30s-inspired draped silhouette – at Serravalle
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Poesie Sposa on Instagram
A vintage-inspired sheath dress with deep V – at Poesie Sposa
4. AND CINDERELLA WILL GO TO THE BALL!
There will always be brides who opt for the nipped-in-the-waist, classic princess / Cinderella-style, floor-sweeping, voluminous silhouettes, and we saw a breathtaking array of these at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week. Bodices were often of a balconette type, with pin-thin straps, sometimes strapless and at other times sleeves were deliberately made into a feature.
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Ines di Santo on Instagram
A balconette bodice on this nipped-in-the-waist gown with its full, floral embellished skirt – at Ines di Santo
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Julia Kontogruni on Instagram
A dress fir for a princess! Rhinestones drip from the sleeves onto the full skirt – at Julia Kontogruni
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Elie Saab on Instagram
A romantic, voluminous, full tulle skirt and train – classic Elie Saab
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Julia Kontugruni on Instagram
And Cinderella will go to the ball! At Julia Kontogruni
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Poesie Sposa on Instagram
Shiny floral embroidery radiates from the tiny waist of this classic gown with its organza sleeves – at Poesie Sposa
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Demetrios Bridal on Instagram
Fluffy tulle tiers form the princess-silhouette – at Demetrios Bridal
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Madeline Collection
3-D Roses beautifully sculpt the shape of the voluminous skirt – at Madeline Collection
5. THE LITTLE MERMAID
A classic style that has never gone out of fashion as it is ever so flattering to the female figure! These fishtail dresses often come with an open back or strapless bodice, for the full mermaid effect!
Galia Lahav on Instagram
A throwback to a classic Mermaid dress at a previous Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week – at Galia Lahav
Elie Saab on Instagram
A fishtail dress with stunning lace features – at Elie Saab
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Atelier Pronovias on Instagram
A shapely silhouette – at Atelier Pronovias
Libelle Bridal on Instagram
The classic mermaid shape – always flattering! At Libelle Bridal
6. SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE …
We saw the trend for a hint of pink of previous seasons replaced by a desire for a touch of blue this season. The softest and most romantic sky blue was seen in many places – just heavenly, especially when constructed from layers and layers of silk tulle!
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Randy Fenoli Bridal on Instagram
Blue or white? It’s a matter of personal taste – at Randy Fenoli Bridal
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Ines di Santo on Instagram
This is true romance! At Ines di Santo
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Lorena Panea on Instagram
Hints of blue frame this dress with its fabulously high slit – at Lorena Panea
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Randy Fenoli Bridal on Instagram
Powder-blue tulle and pearl beading – at Randy Fenoli Bridal
7. FRILLED TO BE TYING THE KNOT!
Frilly dresses, skirts, sleeves and collars most certainly made their twirl on the runways at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week. Cheeky, fun and contemporary, these frills are most certainly thrilled.
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Nicole Milano on Instagram
A frilly bustiere – at Nicole Milano
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Madam Burcu on Instagram
Frilled sleeves and copious quantities of delicious lace – at Madam Burcu
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Cymbelline on Instagram
A frilly Pierot-type collar and bare midriff – just joyous! At Cymbelline
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Cymbelline on Instagram
A frilled, lace cape looks modern and fun – at Cymbelline
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Wona Concept on Instagram
An 80s-style frilled-skirted dress with a long train – at Wona Concept
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Ines di Santo on Instagram
Frilled and thrilled! At Ines di Santo
8. LACE IS A BRIDE’S BEST FRIEND
As ever, hundreds of hours of hand-stitching went into many of the creations we saw – from exquisite pearl and rhinestone beading to embroidery, sequin-applications, frogging, scalloping and every other hand-craft known to man, to make each gown super special to its wearer.
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Elie Saab on Instagram
Painting with beads! At Elie Saab
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Elie Saab on Instagram
Contouring with beads and embroidery – at Elie Saab
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Poesie Sposa on Instagram
This dress ticks all the boxes – lace, embroidery and a fabulous butterfly-bow on the back. At Poesie Sposa
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Modeca Bridal
70s-Inspired chic, with fabulous embroidery allover – at Modeca Bridal
9. SLEEK & CHIC
Some brides like it sleek, chic and simple! Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week had plenty sleek styles on show, taking inspiration from previous eras – 50’s, 60’ and 70’s and beyond.
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Ogadenia Couture on Instagram
A 60’s inspired catsuit/dress, complete with silver platforms – at Ogadenia Couture
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Jesus del Piero on Instagram
Sweeping 60’s style – at Jesus del Piero
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Rose Clara on Instagram
Bring on the 1930’s and keep it simple and super chic! At Rosa Clara
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Jesus del Piero on Instagram
A nod to the 1950s in this stunningly elegant gown – at Jesus del Piero
10. AND SHE WILL BE WEARING THE TROUSERS
We saw many trouser/hot pants variations on the runway this season – all looking decidedly chic, contemporary and very elegant. Although it’s not the choice for many, there are clearly a contingent of brides who feel confident enough to sport these stunning, cropped creations!
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Poesie Sposa on Instagram
All you need is a good pair of legs and plenty confidence to pull that off – at Poesie Sposa
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Ogadenia Couture on Instagram
Lace does it! At Ogadenia Couture
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Madeline Collection on Instagram
50’-Inspired corsetry in virginal lace – at Madeline Collection
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Poesie Sposa on Instagram
Lacy romance, complete with white stiletto boots – at Poesie Sposa
11. DASHING & DAPPER
Grooms’ fashion looked decidedly elegant and distinguished, with sharply tailored suits, fun accessories like bow ties, handkerchiefs and fur collars adding to the overall look.
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Lucas Balboa on Instagram
Fur adds to the glamour – at Lucas Balboa
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Lucas Balboa on Instagram
Tailored and immaculately coiffed – at Lucas Balboa
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Ramon Sanjurjo on Instagram
Green and a touch of tartan look very dapper indeed – at Ramon Sanjurjo
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week and Lucas Balboa on Instagram
And of course the groom could be wearing white too! At Lucas Balboa
STOCKISTS
AGNIEZKA SWIATLY
@agniezkaswiatly
ATELIER PRONOVIAS
Atelierpronovias_mexico
CARLO PIGNATELLI
@carlopignatelliofficialpage
CYMBELINE
@cymbelineparisofficiel
DEMETRIOS
@demetriosbridalroom
ELIE SAAB
@eliesaabbridal
INES DI SANTO
@inesdisanto
ISABEL SANCHIS
@isabelsanchiscosture
JULIA KONTOGRUNI
@juliakonogruni
LIBELLE BRIDAL
@libellebridal
LUCAS BALBOA
@Lucasbalboa_
MADAM BURCU COUTURE
@madamburcucoutureofficial
MARCO Y MARIA
@marcoymaria
MODECA BRIDAL
@modeca
NICOLE MILANO
@nicolemilanoofficial
POESIE SPOSA
@poesiesposa
RAMON SANJURJO
@ramonsanjurjo
RANDY FENOLI BRIDAL
@randyfenolibride
ROSA CLARA
@rosa_clara
STUDIO SERRAVALLE
@studioserravalle
WONA CONCEPT
@Wona_concept
