The Bride Wore a Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen Dress Made From Her Own Vintage Textiles Collection

Hannah Martin never thought exactly what her wedding dress would look like. “I always wanted a really cool, statement piece of clothing,” she says. “I really didn’t expect this to be a quote-unquote wedding dress“.

When Hannah was Senior Design Editor architectural digest, Taylor Adams, Senior Editor this new york timesWhen they decided to get married after dating for 11 years, the pair were more interested in dinners with friends than a free-spirited feast. At first, they thought weddings would be stressful and expensive. “But,” she admits, “eventually you think, ‘How many times in your life do you get to bring all your favorite people together and throw a really amazing party?'” The two planned their wedding in just six months—an intimate ceremony at St. Peter’s Church in Midtown Manhattan, followed by dinner at their favorite Long Island City restaurant, Tournesol.

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For Hannah, the celebration also provided an opportunity to wear a once-in-a-lifetime gown. Passionate about customization, she turned to New York designer Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen, a friend of a friend, for help. Hannah attended Zoe’s fashion show last year, where she was attracted to her sculptural, historically influenced designs. “She never directly refers to a moment in history—it’s always churned together in this way, and I think that’s really compelling,” Hannah said.

While Zoe rarely takes on bridal clients, Hannah’s vision was a perfect fit for her practice. “It fits in really well with my overall idea that clothes are these objects that have weight and emotion,” says Zoe Fashion. “So when it’s the right fit, it’s wonderful to be able to create it for other people with that intention.”