Finding the perfect wedding dress is a huge part of planning for the big day. Hannah Nathan shares their journey to finding ‘The One’.
When Hannah Nathan, founder of luxury bridal jewellery studio Dove House, married Elliott Dagul in June 2022, it wasn’t just a wedding – it was a celebration of style, identity, and impeccable taste. Set across three dazzling days abroad, the couple welcomed 200 guests to a series of unforgettable events: a beachside welcome party, a white-themed courtyard soirée, and a ceremony surrounded by lush greenery in a serene nature reserve.
For Hannah, a woman who gravitates towards tailored silhouettes and refined, androgynous aesthetics, finding the perfect wedding dress was never going to be conventional. Her journey to the aisle became a personal and emotional pilgrimage – one that took her across continents, challenged her perceptions of bridal fashion, and ultimately led her to a look that felt completely, unapologetically her.
Below, she shares her experience, from New York showrooms to midnight dancing in custom flares, and offers a rare glimpse into the sartorial and sentimental details that defined her wedding wardrobe.
The Journey
As someone who’s always been drawn to trousers and more structured, androgynous styles, I suspected finding a wedding dress would be challenging. I kept putting off trying anything on because I hadn’t seen a dress that truly felt like me. I started questioning whether I was somehow doing it all wrong – maybe I just wasn’t the kind of girl who dreamed of looking like a princess.
I booked a few dress appointments in London with my mum, but I struggled to connect with anything I tried. New York had always held a special place in my heart from living there, and I’d long admired designers whose aesthetics felt more aligned with mine.
About nine months after our engagement, I saw a photo of a dress on Instagram. For the first time ever, I had the urge to put a dress on my body. It was from a New York designer, of course. So my mum and I planned a girls’ trip, booking appointments with five or six designers – but really, I only had eyes for one.
We spent a whirlwind week running between showrooms. There was one other designer I desperately hoped would work, but ultimately, their pieces didn’t flatter my shape. Then we stepped into Prabal Gurung’s midtown showroom – and it felt like a scene out of The Devil Wears Prada. Models greeted us at the door, the main studio featured a wall-sized mirror, and racks of his latest collection lined the room.
As soon as I tried the dress on, I just knew. It was a sample, and it didn’t close at the back, but I didn’t care. I never wanted to take it off.
From there, it was full steam ahead. His team began taking measurements, discussing every detail, and preparing the toile. My mum and I made two more trips back to New York for fittings – those moments became some of the most special memories of my life. Sharing that experience with her and watching the dress come to life felt surreal.
For the final fitting, we returned one last time. I put the dress on, and it just felt right. Prabal himself came to that appointment to help with the final styling touches. The entire experience was a dream – right down to lugging the finished piece through JFK, protected and precious. I think my arms are still recovering.
The Vision
I had a strong sense of what I didn’t want – and surprisingly, that was incredibly helpful. People kept telling me I’d probably choose something completely different than I expected, but that wasn’t true for me. I know my body and what makes me feel good, so I trusted that instinct. I wanted to feel like myself, and to wear something that felt authentic to my personality.
The Decision
Choosing the dress was the easiest part because I followed my gut. I didn’t let self-doubt talk me out of something I knew was right.
The whole process taught me that I could make this as stressful or as joyful as I wanted. The pressure melted away because I chose to create beautiful memories with my mum, and that mindset carried through my entire wedding. Every detail became an opportunity to make something meaningful, rather than just ticking boxes.
Style Support
One of my bridesmaids – a true fashion girl who lives in New York – joined me for one of the fittings to offer another opinion (my mum, bless her, would say I looked amazing in a bin bag). I also sent her options for some of the other wedding events. But I was careful not to invite too many voices into the process. Too many opinions can make things confusing. In the end, what mattered most was how I felt. If I felt beautiful and like myself, that was enough.
The Evening Look
One of my favourite things about the dress was that it was actually two pieces – a corset and a skirt, connected by rows of delicate white buttons. I knew I wanted to dance, properly dance, so Prabal created a custom pair of white flared trousers for me to change into later. It transformed my look completely and was honestly the best decision. I partied until 4 a.m. without a care in the world – the photos are absolute chaos, in the best way.
Accessories
My shoes were the Amina Muaddi Begum pumps – playful, modern, and the perfect match. My veil was custom-made in Italy: simple, cathedral-length lace that brought drama to the aisle, especially since my dress didn’t have a train.
Jewellery, however, was the most important element for me. After going through the engagement ring process, I fell in love with diamonds and realised I wanted to explore that passion more seriously – which eventually led me to launching Dove House.
It was important that my jewellery received the same level of care and intention as my dress. I didn’t want to just make do. I rented a pair of stunning marquise cluster earrings and a tennis bracelet with marquise and round diamonds from a US company. They were elegant, modern, and exactly what I was looking for. The only catch? I had to get a wedding guest to fly them over to the UK.
The experience was so meaningful that I knew I had to bring something similar to brides here – and that’s how the vision for Dove House was born.
READ NEXT: You Can Now Rent Showstopping Diamond Jewellery For Your Wedding Day
