Marisa Abela Wore Emilia Wickstead for Her Old Hollywood–Inspired Wedding to Jamie Bogyo in East Sussex

The couple worked with Katrina Otter Weddings to plan the entirety of the weekend. “She’s amazing and deserves a Pride of Britain award for her efforts,” Marisa jokes. “We’ve both been filming or rehearsing throughout this planning process, so to have someone being our eyes, ears, and the rest has meant we can really have fun with the process. She’s kind to everyone, respectful to everyone, she has an amazing eye, and she’s very patient with Jamie and me. Huge win.”

Marisa’s friend and stylist, Aimée Croysdill, helped bring the bride’s dream dresses and Jamie’s suit and tuxedo to fruition. “We made a choice early on to go for British female designers for clothing and jewelry,” Marisa says. “There’s something so beautiful about having my dress made nearby.”

For the rehearsal dinner, Marisa wore a bespoke The Own Studio dress and a Noel Stewart hat. “There’s a photo of Marilyn Monroe in a strapless dress with a shawl that I sent to them and to Aimée,” Marisa remembers. “That was the vibe, and they absolutely nailed it. I wanted it to feel bridal but sexy and chic and playful.”

Both Marisa and Jamie have always had a love for classic movies, Old Hollywood glamour, and all-consuming romance. Some of their favorite films include Singin’ in the Rain, Cinema Paradiso, Funny Girl, and West Side Story—and they wanted to infuse their wedding with that maximalist spirit. “We are both theatrical,” Marisa says. “And we don’t shy away from a touch of drama when it feels appropriate, so I knew I wanted my wedding dress to feel like a real moment.”

She and Aimée quickly decided to turn to Emilia Wickstead, whose classically glamorous designs felt like the perfect fit. “Emilia creates dresses with such timeless elegance, so I knew she would understand my references immediately,” Marisa notes. Audrey Hepburn was her main inspiration: From her drop-waisted wedding dress in Funny Face to the couture Givenchy gown she wore in Amsterdam in 1954 to a headshot of her with a diamond necklace in her hair. The bride’s own headpiece, featuring vintage diamonds, came courtesy of another British brand: Mayfair jeweler Bentley & Skinner.

The dress, which took over 250 hours to make, was constructed from 20 meters of silk duchesse satin, with a drop waist and a draped off-the-shoulder micro-sleeve molded to the bride’s arms atop a structured corset. Meanwhile, the train with its double-folded sculptural pleats was nearly three meters long. “If I had to do this all over again, a million times, I would choose working with Emilia every single one,” Marisa says. “Her attention to detail, her love of women’s bodies, her desire for perfection is unparalleled.” For her accessories, the bride wore Jimmy Choo Max 150s, which were color-matched to her dress and personalized with the couple’s initials on the sole.

Jamie wore a tuxedo by Dunhill. “The brand represents the absolute best of British tailoring,” Jamie says. “It gave me the classic silhouette and impeccable craftsmanship any man would want for their wedding tux. I’ve never felt so cool. In addition, they also gave us one-on-one attention and understood that Aimée and I wanted to take my look to a new level of modern, structural elegance. With our running theme of ‘female-led design,’ we were fortunate enough to know a female cutter at Dunhill, who we asked to be placed with, and Dunhill very kindly agreed. My only note coming in was I wanted a very nice double-breasted tuxedo, and the result was beyond my wildest expectations.” To accessorize, both the bride and groom wore Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses, and Jamie completed his look with shoes by Jimmy Choo.

For the dinner after the ceremony, Marisa changed into the Micheline dress, also by Emilia Wickstead. “It was its own showstopping moment with its simplicity and cut, but was slightly more practical,” she says. “I needed something to be able to dance in!” Finally, the Ukrainian designer Bevza made her a custom blazer and sport shorts for late night. “I wanted something sexy that really felt like me, and I love tailoring,” Marisa says. “The sport shorts were perfect, and I could really let loose.”

Emilia Wickstead also made custom dresses for all of the bridesmaids and the mother of the bride. “I really wanted everyone to feel their best,” Marisa says. “The inspiration was what would the girl wearing my dress wear to her own courthouse wedding. The white tights brought even more of a playful vibe to the look.” The bridesmaids paired their looks with Lucy Delius jewelry, bespoke DeMellier handbags, and Jimmy Fairly sunglasses, and then switched into Russell & Bromley penny loafers for dancing.

The ceremony began at Firle Place on Saturday in the late afternoon. “I walked down the aisle to the theme of Cinema Paradiso, which was the film that Jamie and I watched at his apartment in Ladbroke Grove before we both told each other ‘I love you,’” Marisa recalls.

For the service, Jamie’s best man, Nate Janis, officiated; the bride’s and groom’s fathers both did readings; and their best friends from drama school, Liadán Dunlea and Iwan Davis, sang and played “May You Never” by John Martyn.

“We wrote our own vows,” Marisa notes. “We actually did a legal ceremony at Islington Town Hall the week before, which was incredibly special and intimate, with just our parents in attendance and a lunch at one of our favorite local spots afterward. This meant that our ceremony at Firle could be totally unique to us, a real celebration of who we are as people and what we mean to one another. It was the greatest moment of our lives. We cried, of course. Completely overwhelmed. There was just so much love in that room. It was just the most personal, heartfelt ceremony.”

After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests toasted with the couple’s favorite Champagne, cocktails, and canapés, and celebrated amid confetti before everyone was driven to Brighton’s Soho House to enjoy dinner and dancing. “The speeches were absolutely incredible,” Marisa says. “They had us all in fits of laughter and fits of tears. With one final toast of 1942, and then we danced! And now, I’m overwhelmed, still on cloud nine, and unbelievably happy.”