Alexis Nevan Whelan, a bridal designer, created her entire wedding wardrobe for a three-day celebration on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean. She had begun running her brand full-time shortly before her engagement to Cooper Davis and said she had "no doubt" she would design the looks herself. Whelan had spent years building relationships with ateliers, factories and lace suppliers that would support the project.
The choice of Nevis held personal significance; Whelan's aunt lives on the island and she had visited throughout her life. She and Davis selected the location and began scouting venues before they got engaged. "I love designing with a location in mind," Whelan said. "It just feels so much better to me."
Each event during the weekend had its own aesthetic, she said. For the welcome party, she designed a high-low dress with a delicate lace overlay and an organza corset with sheer elements. She revised the corset structure four times to balance visibility with support. The final design came together only a week before the wedding when she finished hand-draping the chiffon with her pattern maker.
"I really love when things are organic and very hand-done," Whelan said of the process. She hand-sewed the final pleating into the garment, completing the piece shortly before the event.