Navigating New York Bridal Fashion Week is not for the faint of heart. Each day unfolds as a carefully choreographed dance of early alarms, tightly scheduled appointments, outfit changes squeezed into taxi back seats, and a constant rhythm of subway stops and city blocks. It’s exhilarating, fast-paced, and wonderfully chaotic in the way only New York can be. Every moment feels charged with anticipation, knowing that just beyond the next doorway is a collection months — sometimes years — in the making.

On this particular morning, my day began with a slight misstep: I left my hotel room just a bit too late while heading uptown to Lotte New York Palace for Union Square Couture’s showcase with Sareh Nouri. Thankfully, New York has a way of rewarding flexibility. I was warmly welcomed backstage, stepping straight into the hum of pre-show magic — models slipping into gowns, final adjustments being pinned, fabrics catching the light as stylists and designers moved with focused precision. Photographing the models as they were dressed in Sareh Nouri’s FW26 designs was an intimate and energizing experience, offering a rare glimpse at the artistry and teamwork that happens moments before a collection meets the world.

What unfolded backstage was everything I love about bridal fashion: elegance paired with intention, luxury grounded in craftsmanship, and a quiet reverence for the details. Below is a curated selection of my favorite images from that morning, moments that capture not just the gowns themselves, but the atmosphere, movement, and emotion that make New York Bridal Fashion Week so unforgettable.