Rachel Piper-Ambridge in the Poise Dress with Eve Sleeves
A refined Tuscan celebration where sculptural design met timeless black-tie elegance.
Photography: Melody Joy
“Finding my bridal look with Halfpenny London was truly a wonderful experience,” Rachel reflects. What had once felt overwhelming “particularly as a curvier bride, navigating sample-size dresses.” The experience shifted entirely the moment she stepped into the boutique. Together, they explored silhouettes that honoured both Rachel’s shape, her personal style. She recalls that after her first appointment, “for the first time in the whole process, I could relax, and breathe knowing it was all going to be ok and that I would finally look like a bride, one that was still as beautiful as all the other brides, to date (even with the curves).”
THE DRESS
“Finding my bridal look with Halfpenny London was truly a wonderful experience,” Rachel reflects. What had once felt overwhelming—particularly navigating traditional sample sizing—shifted entirely the moment she stepped into the boutique. “Walking in and being greeted by Kate, I instantly felt at ease… she couldn’t have done enough to make me feel comfortable, confident and beautiful.”
Rachel chose the Poise dress with a belt and Eve sleeves, a look defined by both architectural precision and effortless movement. “Even after trying other gowns, I kept coming back to Poise. I had found the dress… for the first time in the whole process, I could relax and breathe.”
Crafted in lightweight silk taffeta, the gown carried her seamlessly through every moment of the day. “It was wonderfully breathable—perfect for a Tuscan wedding in September.” Hidden pockets held a sentimental detail: “a sixpence my mum presented me on the morning of the wedding.”
The custom Eve sleeves—refined through multiple iterations—added volume and softness in equal measure. “We kept pushing them… bigger, more elevated, until they were just right.”
THE DAY
Set among the rolling vineyards of Dievole, Rachel and Patrick’s wedding was a celebration of elegance and intention. “We always envisioned a black-tie wedding that felt both elegant and sophisticated,” she shares.
Drawing from the natural palette of Chianti—black, brass, white, and green—the day unfolded with a sense of harmony between setting and style. Food and wine were central to the experience. “Our relationship has always involved us eating well and drinking some of the best wines…”
Guests gathered for a traditional Italian feast, designed to linger. “We wanted people to savour every moment,” she says, from aperitivo through to a four-course dinner, ending with a towering tiramisu and rounds of limoncello.
“It was unapologetically us,” Rachel reflects. “From the prosciutto carving station to the Fiorentina steak… everything felt personal.” Even the dress carried meaning, with their wedding date embroidered inside and their initials stitched onto her sleeve, “so he could see it when we were exchanging rings.”
CREDITS
Photography: Melody Joy
Videography: Soby Films
Venue & Catering: Dievole
Flowers: Le Petit Jardin Italy
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Jewellery: Celine
Hair: Tommy Taylor Hair
Makeup: Mattie White Makeup
Stationery: Danielle Bleuse
Celebrant: Wedding Celebrant Italy
Music: Chiara Trallori Music Planner | The Gloves Band
Lighting: Namida Elegant Events
Planner: Wedding in Wonderland UK