As your go-to wedding planner and bridal stylist, I strode through New York Bridal Fashion Week with one mission: to spot which designers aren’t just showing dresses, but rewriting the bridal rulebook. After the sequins settled and the spotlights cooled, four labels leapt off the runway in my mental highlight reel—and I’m serving them to you now, with my take on how each is elevating the wedding planning game (and your future wedding dress vision).

(Psst: for more of my insider musings and planning resources, you know where to go: The Bailey Experience.)

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1. Esé Azénabor — Couture With Soul

For me, Esé Azénabor is the designer who doesn’t just do bridal—she does statement bridal. Her gowns are couture poems in beading, lace, and structure. There’s a fearless artistry behind every silhouette, and that’s what keeps her in my “must watch” list.
Her Fall 2026 Luminous collection leaned into sparkle, light, and drama—think Swarovski crystals dancing over soft floral motifs. Meanwhile, her “In Bloom” bridal pieces nod to nature with subtle floral appliqués and pearl accents.
What I love as a planner is how her gowns bridge boldness and wearability: they feel red-carpet, but with brides in mind. She’s not just designing wedding gowns—she’s imagining how they live, photograph, and move in real ceremonies.
Check out her world here: Esé Azénabor → eseazenabor.com

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2. Sareh Nouri — Timelessness Meets Whimsy

If Esé is the avant-garde poet, Sareh Nouri is the romantic novelist of bridal fashion. Sareh’s gowns marry classic silhouettes with whisper-light touches—3D flowers, illusion backs, gowns that feel both grounded and dreamy.
Her Fall 2026 line came out the gate swinging (and yes, it had everyone talking). Sareh has always championed craftsmanship, and this collection reminded us why she’s a bridal industry favorite. There’s a softness and a confidence to her work that reminds brides you can be both delicate and strong.
Peek at her bridal universe: Sareh Nouri → sarehnouri.com

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3. Thalia Paul Bridal — Eclectic & Effortless

Thalia Paul is the vibe-shifter in bridal fashion—a designer for the bride who wants elegance with attitude. Her Fall 2026 gowns delivered texture, sculptural sleeves, and silhouettes that toe the line between ethereal and editorial.
Her origin story—steeped in Greek muse energy and an obsession with hand-craft—gives her work that poetic edge. And she’s not shy about print, texture, or unexpected proportions.
As a planner, what I see with Thalia Paul is freedom: she invites brides to break the mold. Want a gown that’s less “cookie-cutter wedding dress” and more “your personal work of art”? I’m writing down her name for you now.
Visit her portfolio: Thalia Paul Bridal → thaliapaul.com

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4. ElleNelle Bridal — Where Modern Curves & Couture Collide

ElleNelle is the kind of brand that feels like a whispered promise—that bridal couture should know all bodies. Leah Langley-McClean, founder and lead designer, has positioned ElleNelle as a space where style, inclusion, and luxury converge.
Her Fall 2026 collection continued that mission beautifully—clean lines, bold cuts, and high-fashion detailing that celebrates curves instead of hiding them. She’s designing for “the modern high-fashion bride who creates her own rules,” and honestly, I’m here for it.
As a wedding planner, ElleNelle gives me confidence: when I say to a bride, “Yes, you can have a couture-level wedding gown that fits you perfectly,” I mean it.
Check her vision: ElleNelle Bridal → ellenellebridal.com

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Why These Four Matter in 2026 Bridal

• Each pushes beyond trend-chasing: their work feels rooted in identity, narrative, and intention (not just what’s “in” this season).
• They understand the dual life of a wedding gown: it’s art that must function. Movement, photography, ceremony—these are part of the job.
• They widen the bridal lens: from Sareh’s timeless romance to ElleNelle’s inclusive couture and Thalia Paul’s daring shapes, they’re expanding what “bridal fashion” looks like, feels like, and who it’s for.

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If you’re bride-hunting, or just love bridal couture as much as I do (guilty), these four deserve a front-row bookmark in your heart. And if you want help interpreting their silhouettes into your wedding-day story—well, you know who to call.