Jenny Packham Fall 2021 Wedding Dress Collection

For brides all over the world—at every stage of the wedding-planning process—this has been a season like no other. And they aren't alone: The creatives who make their wedding dresses feel the same way. At least, lauded designer Jenny Packham, who just debuted her newest bridal collection, does. "The collection was designed and created against a backdrop of the pandemic. A time when weddings were cancelled, and appointments not kept," she explained in a press release, noting that it was a challenging season to create and remain creative. "Whilst our factories were sporadically open, their focus was on more important matters—staying safe. Our team at the studio, creating the designs, and making the patterns and artwork for the embroideries, was smaller than ever."

With the world, and the majority of her resources, at a standstill, she felt pressure to make a series of dresses that met this moment. "For me, it felt like the most important collection I have ever made," she continued. She was confident that "brides the world over would have the imagination to reinvent the way in which they marry, turning limitations into fashions"—so she followed their lead. "Rather than forsaking their special day, they would begin to tailor it around circumstance—and I found I had the inspiration I needed."

Packham can't say that this body of work was inspired by "trips to faraway places or hunting vintage treasures in Parisian markets." Instead, her ideas for each dress in her 2021 collection was born out of the "undefeatable power of love" and the incredible brides that have weathered this storm. This explains why this series of garments feels so upbeat and unexpected: Gowns with bold, voluminous tulle sleeves, colorful beadwork, and cool capes feel daring and joyous, suggesting that nothing can weigh a bride down (not even a pandemic). Ahead, see the entire lineup from Jenny Packham's 2021 wedding dress collection for yourself.