Europe’s largest bridalwear exhibition, British Bridal Exhibition (BBEH), returns to Harrogate this March. Spread over the halls of the Harrogate Exhibition Centre and surrounding hotels, this exhibition is the highlight of the buying season in the bridal industry. BBEH attracts retailers and exhibitors from across the globe that recognise the importance of being on the bridal ball; at Harrogate they will see a product mix of over 150 exhibitors and more than 250 collections, as well as having the opportunity to discover new talents alongside many of the biggest names in the business.

Photo: www.bbeh.co.uk

A valuable new addition to the March BBEH programme will be a series of exclusive seminars designed to help retailers maximise specific business opportunities. Speakers are Keren Alderson from bridal website specialists I Do, I Do (www.idoido.co.uk) on how to ‘manage your brand and reputation online’, Peter Cunningham from Design CLD, who will discuss ‘Interior Design for all budgets’ and Richard Freedman from Xedo whose new retail software package is designed specifically with the bridal and formalwear market in mind.

BBEH also showcases the latest fashion in its daily catwalk shows. The Bridal Preview will present directional trends with influential, big-name collections. Further, there will be an evening drinks reception prior to the catwalk show, on 14 March 2010, the opening day of BBEH.

Also on during BBEH are the Bridal Buyer Awards, one of the most important events on the bridal industry calendar, held this year on 15 March during the British Bridal Exhibition. Now in its ninth year, the Bridal Buyer Awards programme recognises excellence in design, manufacturing and retailing and is an occasion to celebrate the best the sector has to offer.

By Jonathan Fulwell