I LET A FASHION LEGEND CHOOSE MY DRESS

Fashion writer Ella Alexander thought she knew what she'd wear on her big day – until Dame Zandra Rhodes changed everything

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One thing I've learnt about wedding dress shopping is that we don't always know what's best.

As a fashion journalist who has worked in the industry for 15-plus years, I thought I knew what I wanted to get married in, but I discovered that sometimes it pays to try the unexpected and to listen to those you trust who really see you. It's a truth with utility that will last a long time.

I had a very specific idea of what I thought I would get married in - a knee-length, full-skirted bandeau dress like the relaxed Chanel look Keira Knightley chose when she married James Righton in 2013.

My husband and I were getting married in Sicily, in the baroque Palazzo Biscari, so although the dress had to hold its own, I wanted to juxtapose the grand setting with something non-traditional and low-key, more in keeping with my everyday style.

FINDING YOUR STYLE

I started with Halfpenny London, a contemporary bridal brand that's become a go-to for fashion editors. What makes Halfpenny particularly alluring is that it enables brides to create their perfect look through customisation.

For most women, our wedding dress is the first time that the idea of anything custom-made crosses our mind. It simply isn't an option for most of us until that point, but our wedding day gives us reason to really think about what makes us feel our absolute best.

In Halfpenny’s Bloomsbury boutique, I was presented with many different options: slinky styles, halterneck gowns, voluminous designs, even capes. I was surprised by how at ease I felt in looks that I never would have considered without the stylist's advice, and how unsure I felt in the dress that I thought would be “the one”.