PHOTO: Thomas Demol Photographie
ILLUSTRATOR Leela Taylor, formerly of Stanhope and in the Class of 2000 at Wolsingham School, has been announced as a Yorkshire and North East Regional Winner at The Wedding Industry Awards 2026 in the Wedding Special Touch of The Year category, as well as Highly Commended in the Newcomer category. Regional Winners now go through to the National Final in Liverpool in January 2026.
Excitement reached fever pitch as The Wedding Industry Awards Yorkshire and North East Winners were announced at a glittering event at South Causey Inn in County Durham.
Leela Taylor, owner of Leela Illustrates, says “These accolades are just a dream come true! I’ve worked incredibly hard to build my business from scratch over the last 18 months, and I absolutely love what I do. My biggest thanks goes to my wonderful couples who put their trust in me to provide a memorable live illustration experience on their most special day. To know that I make people happy with my work makes it all worthwhile!”
PHOTO:STEVEN BRISTOW
The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA) are one of the UK’s most respected accolades, celebrating excellence across all areas of the wedding sector. Regional winners are chosen based on client feedback and independent judging by a panel of industry experts.
“TWIA is the most rigorous, respected and coveted awards in the UK wedding industry so the regional Winners really are at the top of their game,” says Founder of The Wedding Industry Awards, Damian Bailey. “The competition is tough, the standards very high indeed, but thanks to over 26,747 client votes and our panel of more than 160 expert judges, the Regional Winners have risen to the top in an industry that absolutely demands the best.”
With the UK wedding industry being worth an estimated £15 billion annually, it’s no surprise that wedding suppliers are working hard to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Happily, for last week’s winners, they’ve now got a coveted award to help them woo clients in 2026 and beyond.
Regional Winners are being announced at a series of events held across the country throughout November. All of the Regional Winners will then go through to the National Final in Liverpool on 21st January.
If the excited buzz in the wedding world is anything to go by, The Wedding Industry Awards 2026 are set to be the best yet.
You can find details of the Regional Winners and Highly Commended finalists here: https://www.the-wedding-industry-awards.co.uk/
PHOTO – Thomas Demol Photographie
