Anya Taylor-Joy, who poses in her custom couture wedding dress after her wedding in Venice this weekend, could have stepped out of a classic film; the new bride looked every bit a glamorous movie star as she gazed out over the Italian streets below from her hotel balcony.
However, there was nothing classic about her custom wedding dress; it was a thoroughly modern affair. The Queen’s Gambit star, 27, who tied the knot with musician Malcolm McRae in a lavish ceremony with 150 friends gathered, plumped for a stunning dress that broke every rule in the bridal book.
The tiered Dior dress, which exposed the star’s shoulders, was less white and more nude, crafted from tulle that was constricted by a bodice before ending in a fairytale skirt. The only nod to tradition? A flowing white veil.
A closer look at the dress reveals that Taylor-Joy, who has been a Dior ambassador since 2021, enjoyed creating a dress that embraces the ‘hyper-personal’ trend, adding one-off details tailor-made for the bride .
Her dress was full of hand-embroidered motifs. The star opted for nature-inspired designs with symbolic meanings, including the zodiac signs, her birth sign and a hummingbird, among others, with sThere are also all kinds of words sewn onto the dress.
Anya Taylor-Joy pictured in her custom couture gown in Venice this weekend after marrying musician Malcolm McRae in front of 150 guests. The Queen’s Gambit star’s stunning dress was ‘hyper-personal’ and featured numerous embroidered motifs with personal meaning
Here, FEMAIL looks at some of the symbolism chosen by the A-listerwith a little help from expert bridal consultant Sarah Bedingfield Shutt.
The bridal brand’s director says those getting a split are increasingly looking for sustainable options when it comes to their big day, and Taylor-Joy’s dress is a perfect example of this. She says: ‘Brides are smart and sustainability is so important. If your dream dress is also one that can be worn again, how great is that?’
And hyper-personalization is a new buzzword for bridal fashion: ‘A woman’s bridal look is such a focused opportunity for self-expression, so it’s no surprise that the trend for hyper-personalization is increasingly coming into play here.
‘Brides are looking for real meaning – changing the straps or belt is not enough. Bespoke embroidery is incredibly popular, but I’m also seeing more bespoke colours, a return to the Victorian ‘language of flowers’, and perhaps my favorite because it’s so accessible: the use of hidden, sewn-in labels with messages or illustrations of lovers.’
THE HUMMINGBIRD AND THE FLOWER
Lovebird: A caramel-colored hummingbird is the main embroidered detail on the corseted bodice of the dress; the bird can mean happiness, beauty, healing and love
On the corseted bodice, the scene-stealer is a hummingbird dipping in a flower. The hummingbird is often associated with happiness, beauty and healing – and in some parts of the world the beautiful birds are also a sign of love.
In an interview with Elle magazine, the actress alluded to her love for the hummingbird. When asked what her spirit animal might be, she replied, “I’d like to say an orca, but I don’t think I’m actually one. I think I’m a big cat and a hummingbird at the same time.’
CHERRY BLOSSOM AND JAPANESE WRITING
Japan’s national flower appears on the custom-made dress, as well as what appears to be a Japanese script line
Japan’s national flower is featured on the skirt of the dress, with a hint of pink cherry blossoms embroidered near the front hem.
The fast-blooming flowers are known as ‘sakura’ in Japan and are said to symbolize ‘renewal’ when they bloom in spring – and have close ties to Buddhism.
Aries Star Sign
Something blue! Taylor-Joy’s appreciation for her birth sign also features, via a little blue Aries symbol
The actress’ wedding dress was clearly a fan of the zodiac and featured a bright blue Aries sign on the bodice. Born on April 16, Taylor-Joy just makes it as Aries, but is clearly the ‘fire’ sign close to her heart.
TRADITIONAL WHITE VEIL
The actress waved as she turned and left the Venetian balcony, offering fans a glimpse of her traditional floor-length white veil
The Netflix actress, who has also appeared in drama series Peaky Blinders and Last Night In Soho, is the latest bride to rip up the ‘must wear white’ rule book on her wedding day.
However, Taylor-Joy did give a subtle nod to traditional bridal wear, wearing a white veil tied to the back of her signature blonde hair.
Taylor-Joy’s white veil wore her long hair tied up and then down, continuing down to the floor.
HEAVENLY SCENES
Shimmering gold thread covered much of the nude tulle dress, hinting at an overriding celestial theme
Throughout the dress are scenes in celestial style – perhaps depicting constellations – embroidered with gold thread.
There are also carefully crafted scenes – one of which appears to feature a classic car – sewn onto the dress and a selection of handwritten words and phrases – in blue and black thread – that have special meaning.