New campaign encourages bridal diversity
Beautiful Brides Liverpool set out to make a statement with its newest campaign, featuring only brides above a size 16
A new bridal wear campaign created by a size-inclusive boutique in Liverpool has caused quite the industry stir. Beautiful Brides Liverpool released the first of its latest advertising images on April 19th, at the same time a number of the shoot’s models shared the photograph also.
Featuring body positive influencers and activists, the campaign – aptly named ‘You Can’t Sit With Us’ as a nod to the elitism of the bridal world – stars Lauren McKenzie, Abbie Hart and Gabrielle Quinn of Instagram fame. Each woman wears a gown from the boutique alongside a full bridal outfit, showing that brides over the size 10 usually shown in wedding advertising are beautiful, and valuable as customers, too.
Image courtesy of @beautfifulbridesliverpool via Instagram
Since then, it seems the images have been picked up by a number of wedding platforms and shared on Instagram multiple times, by fans, activist and industry workers alike.
Speaking to Marisa Rooney, the founder and owner of Beautiful Brides Liverpool and the creative director of the campaign, she tells us: “The campaign is to educate designers, suppliers and retailers on the fact that inclusion-makes good business sense.” Not only that, but the advertising also plays a part in the boutique’s #lifesizenotpluzsize campaign - “an ongoing mission to get the plus size label dropped, not only in the bridal industry but the fashion industry too”, she says.
The shoot was aimed to “reflect true representation of brides by using a variety of sizes above the norm”, she says, with each model wearing a size 22, 26 and 24 respectively.
With a background in fashion education, Rooney saw a gap in the market that needed filling. She’s been working on Beautiful Brides Liverpool, and the campaign at large, ever since. “We want to offer everybody an amazing experience when shopping for their wedding gown, regardless of size, age, gender identify or religious beliefs”, she says boldly, and it’s a sentiment you can tell she fully means.
“I’m hoping that this amazing collaboration will make an impact, as I’m sure the change is coming”, Rooney shares.
All of this before the full campaign has even been released.
Image courtesy of @beautifulbridesliverpool via Instagram
Set to coincide with the upcoming launch of her own bridal line, something Rooney has been developing for years. It will not include a sizing label in any of its dresses, instead, the gown’s will only be labelled as a ‘size beautiful’.
The full shoot, and Beautiful Brides Liverpool’s first bridal collection, are set for release in early Summer. Keep an eye on the brands social media channels for further updates.