More Than 1,000 International Guests: The Sixth White Wedding Platform Takes Place at Vienna’s Hofburg Palace
A Viennese waltz, a collaborative art performance and the international showcase of Ukrainian wedding heritage
On November 1–2, 2026, the sixth edition of the White Wedding Platform, an international wedding industry event initiated by a Ukrainian team, took place at Vienna’s Hofburg Palace. This year’s edition, titled «The Art of Bloom», brought together a professional trade exhibition, fashion shows and a cultural programme dedicated to Ukrainian fashion, wedding traditions and contemporary art. Over the course of two days, the event welcomed more than 1,000 guests from around the world.
Attendees included representatives from Italy, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland and other countries. Among them were bridal boutique owners, buyers, designers, stylists, wedding planners and other industry professionals.
On the first day, Ukrainian and international brands presented their latest collections in showroom formats across the halls of the former imperial residence of the Habsburgs. Guests had the opportunity to explore the designs, fabrics and embellishments, meet with manufacturers and place orders for upcoming wedding seasons. The professional exhibition ran throughout both days, creating opportunities for new international partnerships.
The participating bridal brands included YEDYNA, LIRETTA, DOMINISS, POLLARDI, DARIA KARLOZI, NOMES, ARMONIA and LANESTA. Each showcased its latest collection through its own distinctive design vision. One of the highlights of the YEDYNA show was an original interpretation of the Viennese waltz.
On the second day, the Hofburg’s grand ceremonial hall hosted a cultural and educational programme exploring Ukrainian cultural memory, the history of fashion and the symbolism of wedding traditions.
Nataliia Kryvda, Doctor of Philosophy, professor at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, spoke about wedding attire as a vessel of cultural memory and the symbolic significance of Ukrainian wedding rituals. Writer and researcher Hanna Lodyhina and fashion journalist Roman Tymofieiev explored Ukrainian figures who have shaped the international history of fashion and art, while stylist and founder of the MODETON school Olha Halushka examined the evolution of dressing for special occasions.
The artistic programme featured Home: Love, a collaborative art performance by artist Lilit Sarkisian, who was born in Armenia, grew up in Ukraine and is now based in Portugal. Participants worked together to create a painting, exploring their personal perceptions of love, home and belonging. The concept involved dividing the finished canvas into individual fragments, which participants could take home as a keepsake of their shared artistic experience.
Another highlight was the presentation of the bilingual book «The Ukrainian Wedding Wonder», conceived by Maryna Vasylieva, founder of YEDYNA, initiator of the White Wedding Platform and Chair of the NGO Export Alliance «Ukrainian Wedding Dresses». The publication traces the development of Ukraine’s wedding industry, from small home-based ateliers to international recognition, while also exploring the history of bridal attire and its cultural significance.
«For me, this is a deeply personal story. I have come a long way – from a time when we preferred to conceal the Ukrainian origins of our dresses because it made them easier to sell, to wanting that very heritage to become a source of pride. The world is already choosing Ukrainian wedding dresses. Now I want people to know that they are Ukrainian and understand who and what stands behind them.
That is precisely why, at the White Wedding Platform, we present cultural heritage alongside contemporary bridal fashion. It is important to us that people see not only the quality of the dresses but also the cultural depth from which they emerge. I want the admiration for our dresses to go hand in hand with growing curiosity about and appreciation for Ukraine», says Maryna Vasylieva, founder of YEDYNA and initiator of the White Wedding Platform.
The White Wedding Platform has been organising international industry events since 2023. To date, the platform has hosted exhibitions in Milan, Bergamo, Venice, Turin and Rome. Its sixth edition in Vienna continued its mission of supporting the international growth of Ukrainian bridal brands while bringing together industry professionals and promoting Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
Photos: Press Office
