The Bride Wore a Custom Dress by Hermione de Paula to Walk Down the Delphinium-Lined Aisle at Her Bedford Wedding

Additionally, the bride’s aunt, artist Pisamai Jaigla, hand-painted all of the wedding invitations, meaning the wedding was very much a family affair. “It made it so much more meaningful to have one-of-a-kind artwork done by my aunt,” Alexandria says. (Many of the florals she painted were included in the wedding as well.)

The search for the perfect wedding dress proved a little more elusive. “After trying on just about every dress in New York, I reached out to Hermione de Paula’s studio in London,” Alexandria recalls. “I had seen some of her couture work and was always enamored by the customization of her embroidery work and use of color.” Having worked in fashion for her entire career—Alexandria currently works on the client engagement team at Chanel—her standards were high, and she wanted something different but needed a designer to help bring her vision to life. “Hermione was an absolute pleasure to work with, and I enjoyed every moment of the process,” she says.

The two ended up creating a completely custom wedding gown. The bride wanted a traditional silhouette with intricate embroidery, and together, they made the dress of her dreams. “I collaborated with Hermione on every aspect of the gown on several trips to London and video calls,” Alexandria says. The flowers on the dress were inspired by the florals that Alexandria’s mother used in the wedding, and Hermione created a custom embroidery for the bodice that incorporated soft colors and light beading. “I don’t think I could have done this with any other designer,” Alexandria says. “Being so far away I had to trust the process but it was all worth it in the end.”

Because Bud is an avid fly fisherman, Alexandria had two fish embroidered on the bodice of her dress along with his name and our wedding date on the skirt. “It was a surprise for him on our wedding day,” Alexandria says. “He loved the surprise and the personal touches. The dress was truly a work of art.” The bride never pictured herself in a veil, so she wore a cape instead. “I absolutely love how it complimented the dress and how perfectly it meshed with the outdoor setting,” she says.

The bridal party wore shades of sea foam green to complement all of the purple florals. “Everyone in my bridal party had a different look which spoke uniquely to their personalities,” Alexandria explains. “I loved that each chose a different silhouette including my bridesmaid, Jacob, who wore a green linen suit from Suit Supply!”

Weather-wise, Alexandria describes it as one of the most beautiful days of the year. “The sun was shining all day, the air was uncharacteristically dry, and we had a light breeze,” she remembers. The ceremony was held in a sunken garden in the center of the property surrounded by old stone walls. The aisle boasted waist-high delphinium florals all designed by the bride’s mother and the service was framed by two English oak trees that were planted just for the occasion.

Close friend Thomas Rogers officiated the wedding, and the bride’s father walked her down the aisle to Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” played by a string quartet band. “I will always cherish this moment with my dad,” Alexandria remembers. “It was a long walk but allowed us to really take in the moment—it felt like we were floating. I felt overwhelmingly happy and content. I knew in that moment everything was perfect and meant to be. Having all our loved ones in one place was so special to us.”

Following the ceremony, guests walked up the lawn to the outdoor terrace and had cocktails by the pool. Acquolina created a farm-style table of hors d’oeuvres complete with a jamón Ibérico leg and carving station, while specialty cocktails including a summer spritz and mango margaritas were served.

Once cocktail hour was up, guests went down to the tent to get settled before the first dance. In the meantime, the newlyweds did a private send-off in the Vallelys’ 1979 white Cadillac convertible, which the bride’s mom had adorned with flowers.

After that, the couple entered the tent for their first dance to “Caravan” by Van Morrison. “The tent was absolute magic,” Alexandria says. “The trees suspended on the tent poles and the vanda orchids on the tables were spectacular. It felt and looked like a greenhouse.”

For the reception, the bride changed into a shorter dress to cut the cake. She initially struggled to find an after-party look, but ultimately discovered the dress by Ronalina Bridal on Instagram. She worked with their team in Israel to make the dress complete with the matching gloves, and she paired it with two stacked Mikimoto pearl choker necklaces to add a little flair. “We danced the night away with our guests and served McDonald’s and espresso martinis on the dance floor to keep the energy high,” Alexandria says. “It was a magical evening filled with so much love!”