Finding the wedding dress of your dreams is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to completing your bridal style. There are so many other fun wedding-related events to plan looks for. From the engagement party and hen do to the civil ceremony and the rehearsal dinner, the day two as well as the long-awaited honeymoon – weddings can be multi-event affair, and we get tonnes of emails asking for advice about what to wear. Building a capsule of outfits that allows you to express your personal style and feel not only confident but absolutely fabulous will make the celebrations all-the-more unforgettable.
If you’re getting married abroad there is even more to consider especially when you factor in how you’re going to travel and the weather. To inspire your style choices, we ask stylish brides to share their sartorial secrets as part of our My Wedding Wardrobe series. In our latest edition in our style series, we’re checking out the dazzling destination style of real bride Robyn; what she wore, how she wore it and where she sourced it… let’s go!
Bride Bio
Name: Robyn Kavanagh From: Dublin, Ireland Wedding Date: 30/08/2025 Wedding Venue: Villa Bonomi, Lake Como, Italy Instagram: @robyn__kavanagh
Let’s get to know our bride… Robyn met the love of her life Ryan by complete chance at Xico in Dublin. She was celebrating her birthday with her girlfriends when he came over with a friend and introduced himself. Sparks flew instantly as she tells us, “We spent most of the night talking and laughing, and I remember thinking that something about it all felt different – how easy the conversation flowed, and how funny and genuine he was. The following morning, I woke up to a message from Ryan asking me out on our first date, where we quickly realised just how much we had in common. From that point on, we’ve been inseparable and this month we celebrate nine years together.”
Ryan proposed during a surprise trip to Paris which he had planned over the course of a year, and he only told Robyn about it a month beforehand. He kept tight-lipped on the details but he told her there was a show booked with a black-tie dress code, so she knew to pack accordingly. She wore a black maxi dress by Arcina Ori for the occasion which boasted floral detailing that was not only romantic but felt distinctly Parisian.
“On the day of the show, after a few beautiful days in Paris, Ryan told me he’d booked us a table at Café de Marley for a drink beforehand. A couple of espresso martinis later, he suddenly panicked and said he’d forgotten the tickets and that we needed to make a quick stop back at the hotel to collect them. He asked me to wait in the car while he ran upstairs. Moments later, a member of the hotel knocked on the window with a rose and a handwritten note from Ryan, which ended by asking me to follow him up to our room. I instantly had butterflies. I remember my hands shaking so much I could barely hold onto the note.”
“When I stepped into the room, there was a trail of candles and rose petals leading me through to the balcony, where Ryan was waiting – the Eiffel Tower behind him, roses and hydrangeas everywhere, and a violinist playing Wildest Dreams, the same song I later walked down the aisle to. It was truly the most magical moment of my life. Ryan had thoughtfully arranged a photographer to capture the proposal for us. We then took a few more photos downstairs on the iconic gold staircase at Shangri-La Hotel Paris. Looking back, the dress felt perfectly suited to both the setting and the occasion.”
Robyn describes her personal style as timeless and feminine and she really believes in quality over quantity so she tries not to follow trends too closely but to invest in pieces that can live in her wardrobe for years to come.
“On nights out, I’m drawn to more playful, feminine pieces that I can style with understated basics, while day to day I tend to keep things clean and simple, often opting for a fitted silhouette balanced with something more oversized. Overall, I like to mix everyday pieces I get plenty of wear from with more special items, creating a wardrobe that feels considered but still refined.”
She wanted her wedding wardrobe to feel like a natural extension of her personal style and she had a crystal-clear idea of what bridal looks she wanted from the beginning.
“I really enjoyed the process of curating my bridal wardrobe. One of the most important things for me was starting early, so it never felt rushed or driven by panic. I approached it intuitively, taking my time and choosing each piece thoughtfully to ensure I genuinely loved every look I would be wearing. Over the years, I’d saved bridal styles I was drawn to on Pinterest, and when it came to planning my own wardrobe, I refined those ideas down to the ones that truly felt like me rather than following trends. I focused on timeless, feminine silhouettes and thoughtful detailing, choosing pieces that felt elegant and refined. At the same time, it was important to me that every look felt cohesive and complemented our setting. As our wedding weekend took place in an Italian garden, I was naturally drawn to subtle floral elements, which felt like a gentle, considered nod to the surroundings while still staying true to my personal style.”
Ryan had yet another stunning surprise up his sleeve. They travelled down to the south of France where he had arranged for Robyn’s family and his mum to meet them, it was an unforgettable way to celebrate their exciting news! For the sun-kissed celebrations, Robyn wore a floral mini dress by House of CB with a fitted bodice and a voluminous skirt, which she paired with white Gucci tennis shoes and a white Prada bag.
“On this day, we drove to a beautiful hotel in Saint-Tropez for lunch before spending the afternoon wandering through the streets — it was absolute bliss.”
Robyn soaked up the sun and made memories to last a lifetime with her favourite ladies on her hen in Mykonos in Greece. Her ensembles included a sheer lace co-ord from Majorelle which she bought on Revolve that she accessorised with Celine sunglasses.
“There were fifteen of us heading out on a catamaran for the day, with a sunset dinner served on board, followed by drinks at Scorpios that evening. I wanted something versatile that I could wear easily over my bikini on the boat, but that would also suit the relaxed, beach-club atmosphere at Scorpios. Most of the pieces I wore for my hen and during Como were chosen with the intention of wearing them again and again. Living in Dubai, I tend to live in sundresses, so many of those looks have already been worn a handful of times.I found a beautiful vintage beige Chanel East West bag, which I wore to most of my bridal events and have since loved wearing again.”
She wanted a short civil ceremony dress that was fun and playful while still remaining elegant and timeless. She was a vision of contemporary elegance wearing a fitted Solace London mini dress with a dramatic train cascading at the back. Her accessories included a sweet double-tiered short veil with a bow detail and metallic Jimmy Choo Saeda metallic sandal heels with crystal detailing.
“When I came across this dress by Solace London online, I was instantly drawn to it as it felt like it ticked all the boxes. I loved the length and the contrast of the shorter front with the dramatic train at the back. I was also drawn to the idea of a strapless silhouette, particularly as we were getting married in the summer in London, at Chelsea Old Town Hall – a city we had lived in and loved for many years.”
The couple were surrounded by love throughout their breathtaking destination wedding. To greet their loved ones at their wedding villa, the bride-to-be exuded effortless elegance wearing a strapless knitted bodycon dress with a sweetheart neckline from DISSH and Gucci slingbacks.
“Honestly, I can’t describe the butterflies I felt walking into our wedding villa, knowing that the following morning I would be a bride, marrying the love of my life. It all felt incredibly surreal. Ryan and I checked in first, as we wanted a couple of hours there just the two of us – to have a drink, get ready, and really let that special moment sink in. The rest of our family and friends who were staying at the villa with us, arrived a couple of hours later.”
Opting for a cocktail dress vibe, she dazzled in a satin and lace Majorelle dress which was one of the very first pieces she purchased for her wedding wardrobe. She had an image of a model wearing a very similar dress saved on her style mood board for years and when she came across the Majorelle midi on Revolve, she instantly knew it was the perfect piece for their welcome dinner. She let the textured dress shine bright by pairing it with a simple pair of cream strappy heels from ASOS.
“We hosted the evening at an Italian restaurant owned by the same owner as Villa Bonomi, so it felt like a natural extension of our setting and the perfect way to begin the celebrations.”
She began her wedding day in a silk slip with delicate lace accents by Homebodii which was actually a gift from her mum. How gorgeous!
“I knew I wanted to wear a long silk gown with lace detailing — something that felt beautiful, feminine and elegant. It was actually a piece I almost overlooked, and I’m so glad I didn’t, as getting ready in it felt like a lovely stepping stone before putting on my wedding dress. From the moment I slipped it on, I truly felt like a bride, which made the morning feel even more special. I remember showing it to her over Zoom one day, and she texted me straight after the call to say she’d ordered it – such a sweet and thoughtful surprise.”
“I chose blue pyjamas for my family to wear while we were getting ready, so they could be my lucky something blue.”
Timeless yet wonderfully modern, Robyn was breathtaking wearing the textured ballgown Elegance wedding dress by Reem Acra which she sourced at Verona Bridal.
“When I first tried on my wedding dress, I knew it was the one. It was actually the very first boutique I visited, and having worked as a model for several years and been involved in bridal shows, I already had a clear idea of the shape and style I was drawn to. From the moment I put it on, it felt right. I didn’t have the emotional reaction I’d seen so many brides talk about, which initially made me hesitate, but I soon realised I was overthinking it. I’m not someone who’s naturally very emotional, and instead of tears, what I felt was a quiet certainty. The dress felt like everything I wanted – timeless, feminine and perfectly in keeping with our Italian garden setting – and once I allowed myself to trust that feeling, the decision felt incredibly easy. I truly can’t thank the team there enough — Maria in particular was an absolute sweetheart, and every appointment with her was such a joy. A little fun detail I love is that when my dress was ready, the Verona team were actually in New York for Bridal Fashion Week. Instead of shipping it home as usual, they brought it back with them on the flight, which felt like a lovely and thoughtful coincidence.”
The bride wore a long, double-tiered veil that was very kindly gifted to her by Verona Bridal and she kept her accessories very minimal and chose to wear just earrings.
“I wanted everything to feel effortless, classic and timeless, which for me meant keeping the jewellery subtle and considered rather than over-styling the look. My bridal jewellery has also become a real staple – I wear it weekly.”
She took everyone’s breath away once more with her second wedding dress which was a vintage-inspired French lace gown by Australian designer Kate Willa. Boasting light-catching hand-beaded pearls and sequins, she shone in every moment.
“I absolutely fell in love with this dress the moment I saw it. Each gown is handmade to order and my dress felt incredibly special. I was, and still am, completely obsessed with it. For me, this dress was the perfect balance between vintage, romantic and elegant, with just the right amount of allure. The corset back I think added a fun, modern edge to this beautiful gown.”
The celebrations continued the next day with a sun-drenched garden party complete with Italian food stalls serving wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta, salads, and gelato, alongside vintage lawn games such as Tuscan can toss and boules and an open bar.
“For the occasion, I knew I wanted something with movement that felt in keeping with the garden setting. When I came across this dress online by For Love & Lemons, I instantly knew it was perfect for the day. The corset-style bodice paired with the voluminous skirt and long train created such a beautiful shape, while the delicate floral detailing felt like a subtle nod to the surroundings. I also loved that the dress was a soft pale pink – after wearing so much white, it felt refreshing yet still romantic and feminine. I finished the look with a vintage Chanel East West bag,Prada sunglassesand I also sourced a vintage pair of Gucci sandals, brand new in the box, which was honestly one of my proudest finds.”
The rose mesh slingbacks awash with glittering GG crystals also happen to be a truly iconic pair of bridal heels.
On their last evening in Como they booked dinner at the Mandarin Oriental and Robyn wore cut-out knitted maxi dress from NA-KD Fashion which she styled with black sandals from 4th & Reckless.
“It felt incredibly bittersweet — I was so beyond happy knowing how perfectly everything had unfolded and how special the last couple of weeks had been, while also a little sad realising that our wedding celebrations were now coming to an end. To anyone currently entering their own bridal era, enjoy every moment — it’s such a special, exciting time, and it truly goes by so quickly.”
“My advice would be to trust your instincts. With so many trends and expectations surrounding bridal style, it can easily feel overwhelming. I think the best way to begin is simply to try on a range of silhouettes, fabrics and styles, and allow yourself to discover what you genuinely love. Ultimately, choosing pieces that feel true to you and make you feel confident and beautiful is what matters most.”
A very special thank you to our sensational bride Robyn. You can see even more pictures in the gallery below.
