Olivia Henson became the Duchess of Westminster after marrying Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, at Chester Cathedral.
Around 400 guests, including the Prince of Wales and Princess Eugenie, gathered in Northern England for the societal wedding of the year. As with any high-profile wedding, there was much buzz about what the bride would wear. Olivia chose British designer Emma Victoria Payne to create both her bespoke dress and veil.
Although the exact reason for Olivia’s choice is unknown, Emma Payne’s reputation within the social set and beyond speaks for itself. She studied at the prestigious fashion school Central St. Martins before designing for John Galliano in Paris and Levi Strauss in Brussels.
In 2010, Emma opened her boutique on Beauchamp Place in Knightsbridge (now located in Chelsea), one of London’s chicest shopping streets. She has since become renowned in the bridal world for her bespoke service, offering personalized designs from the initial sketch to the final product.
While Olivia may become the most notable name in Emma’s bridal book, her designs are already favored by the social elite. Emma designed Sophie Carter’s wedding dress, one of Princess Kate’s closest friends and godmother to Princess Charlotte, as well as Camilla Thorp’s satin pink bridesmaid dresses for her wedding to George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford, at Blenheim Palace in 2018. Emma has also created a collection of dresses for the Queen Charlotte’s Ball, an annual British debutante ball and a highlight of the social season.
Olivia’s ethereal ivory silk gown reflected her personal style: sleek and elegant, timeless yet modern. The gown featured an oval cut-out on the back, adding a contemporary touch to its traditional design.
Emma hand-drew the embroidery on both the dress and veil, incorporating floral motifs and edgings from Olivia’s great-great-grandmother’s veil from around 1880. She also designed a version of Olivia’s family veil with a new repeat pattern featuring scalloped edges and oval shapes to reflect her engagement ring.
Topping off her sleek, side-parted updo, Olivia wore the Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara, a piece that has been in the Grosvenor family since 1906 and is traditionally worn by Grosvenor brides on their wedding day.
