This Stylist Tied The Knot In A Custom Gown Inspired By Her Mother’s ’80s Wedding Dress
“We technically got married at a town hall in 2019, and our real wedding was meant to be the following year, but Covid happened, so it all got delayed,” stylist and jewellery designer Isabel Bonner tells Vogue. “I’m glad we waited, though, because it turned out to be the most fun, warm and lovely time with my favourite people. And it was surprisingly stress-free, too.”
Taking place in Gagliano del Capo, an Italian commune in the province of Lecce, Bonner tied the knot, again, with her husband Joshua Checkley – a project manager in advertising, TV and fashion – in front of their nearest and dearest. As Bonner’s family are predominantly US-based, the pair decided that it was best for the event to happen in the summer months to accommodate travel plans.
Despite the momentous occasion happening in Italy, where the bride also has family, the couple’s romance began at a coffee shop in southeast London. “When we met, Josh was working as a freelance illustrator, as well as a barista in a coffee shop in Camberwell,” says the bride. “I used to go with my dog, Winnie, and I always noticed him and his cute smile. Then, it turned out that my roommate’s cousin worked with him, and so Josh gave his number to pass over to me. Then he asked me out on a date and the rest is history.”
The proposal happened casually on a dog walk. “I’m cynical about engagements and weddings, so I’m glad the proposal happened this way, because it felt natural and very us,” Isabel explains. “He was just like ‘I think we should get married,’ and that was it, it was very chill.”
Fast forward to this summer, and the couple finally got to have the wedding of their dreams. But, of course, it was important for Bonner to find the right dress. After trying on a handful of designer pieces, the bride decided she wanted something custom-made by eco-conscious London-based label Wed Studio, with whom she worked closely on the design. “I love Wed’s avant-garde take on wedding dresses, it’s so special,” she says. “The silhouette was inspired by my mum’s dress when she married my dad in the ’80s. I wanted to feel hot in it, so we did a boned corset and left it quite minimal with a full skirt. It was all about incorporating my favourite details with the brand’s signatures.”
The bride’s look was completed with a diamond bangle that belonged to her mum, a small diamond chain bracelet gifted to her by her dad, baby-blue strappy Jimmy Choo sandals and three earrings, which Bonner designed herself especially for the event. “The jewellery was an important element to keep the dress from feeling too ’50s,” she says. And the engagement ring? “It features a lab diamond – for me, it had to be either antique or sustainably created. Josh designed it and had it made by an old friend of mine from university named Robert Mutter. Our wedding bands are both antique. We found Josh’s at Grays, it’s from the early 20th century. I bought mine in one of those lovely jewellery shops in the Burlington Arcade the day before we got married back in 2019. It’s from the late 19th century.”
The bride’s hair and make-up was done by Rebecca Wordingham. Bonner wanted to keep the look modern. “I had two small calla lilies wrapped around my bun in lieu of a veil,” she says. “I wanted the make-up to feel sexy and a little more grungy to avoid it all being overly feminine. My nails were a soft ombre French manicure that featured a little red heart on my ring fingers to match our invites, and I had pink chrome toes.”
Josh, on the other hand, wore a custom suit by their friend Elliot Mason of Mason & Sons named the Conduit suit, which is created from softly structured, lightweight Italian linen. The horsebit loafers he wore with the suit were by Horatio London.
The bridesmaids (who included Bonner’s Italian cousins Caterina Passoni and Annabelle Passoni) all wore custom dresses by the bride’s maid of honour, Charley Keighley – who runs a sustainable brand called Kitten – as well as jewellery pieces by Isabel Bonner Studios. The mother of the bride opted for a coral, pleated Roksanda dress, beaded Dries van Noten shoes and an orange Coperni bag.
Helping to bring the wedding to life? The couple’s talented loved ones. Florist Olivia Bloch looked after the flowers, while art director Iona Judd oversaw the table settings, and artist Louie Isaaman-Jones designed the wedding invitations. “My brother officiated the ceremony and then my mother read a short, sweet poem about equal love,” Isabel says with a big smile. “All guests were included in the ceremony by being given stones, which I found on the beach with my cousins, and we told them to make their wishes and intentions for us onto those stones.”
Guests proceeded to have a four-course meal, which lasted for hours, with speeches made throughout the night. There was also a display of local Italian desserts, as well as a giant olive oil cake with candied orange slices and camomile flowers on top. After dinner, another close friend of the couple’s, Matte Meape, DJed as everyone danced the night away. Of course, the newlyweds were among the last ones standing, before everyone decided to jump in the pool together.
Alli Woods1/45Wedding prep with make-up artist Rebecca Wordingham.
Alli Woods2/45Two calla lilies sit in the bride’s hair.
Alli Woods3/45The bouquet was filled with calla lilies and sweet peas.
Alli Woods4/45Isabel Bonner Studio earrings laid out for the bridesmaids to wear.
Alli Woods5/45The groom getting ready in his suite.
Alli Woods6/45Joshua Checkley and his father, Steve Checkley.
Alli Woods7/45Joshua Checkley, Steve Checkley, Elliot Mason (who custom made the groom’s suit), MC Sabba Keynejad, and brother of the bride, Pace McMullan.
Alli Woods8/45The baby-blue satin and crystal-heel bridal shoes are by Jimmy Choo.
