2 weeks Ago By Rebecca Cope
When you’re a fashion designer known for designing the perfect wedding party dresses, what you wear for your own big day is a bit of a no-brainer. Such was the case for Clio Peppiatt, whose signature beaded and sequined minidresses have become a favourite for fashion-forward brides. “The wedding party dress is such a staple for Clio Peppiatt, so I wanted to design a one-off bespoke dress for myself,” she shares.
“I draped it on the stand in a day, and the final garment took about three weeks to complete. We offer a bespoke service for the label, so it was quite entertaining to go through the process myself after years of doing it for clients!” Clio met her husband, Emmy-nominated advertising director Elliott Power, when she was a teenager growing up in West London, but the two only got together after bumping into each other during a friend’s birthday at Loft Studios. “Elliott offered to buy me a drink, and we ended up going on a date the following week,” she explains.
“From there, we clicked and shared so many common interests that we could talk for hours.” Elliott proposed on the couple’s 10-year anniversary last December during a trip to St Lucia, getting down on one knee on New Year’s Eve. “We’ve been together since our early twenties and have supported each other through our careers, so this trip felt like the perfect way to celebrate our journey together,” says Clio.
Like many modern brides, Clio chose to spread her wedding celebrations across a number of days – and destinations. In July, the couple had a registry office ceremony with just two friends, before toasting their nuptials with oysters and champagne at Bibendum and then dinner at River Café. Next came a family-focused party in France, where Clio’s family is from, before a final London-based reception, where the couple met.
“We planned everything in just eight months, so it was a bit hectic!” she remembers. “My parents have a home in Charente, France, and we always knew it would be a beautiful place to get married. My mum spent months perfecting the garden for the occasion, which was incredibly special.
Many of our friends and family pitched in as well, and we’re fortunate to have a wide range of skills within our circle. We made two trips in the lead-up to finalise every detail, from the order of the day down to the table settings. We did it all ourselves with help from my mum and my PA.
It was a big task, but we were both really clear on what we wanted, which made the process easier.” For the civil ceremony, she wore a vintage Jean Paul Gaultier red lace sheer dress, paired with a dark red corset and skirt underneath. “I carried black lilies for a bold, dramatic effect,” she says.
“I loved how the black and red contrasted so beautifully.” For her accessories, she chose a vintage Lacroix gold orchid necklace and Alaïa shoes with playful, sculptural heels featuring ladies’ legs and bottoms. “I also carried a Clio Peppiatt burgundy Petal bag, which perfectly complemented the deep shades of red and organic textures of the look,” she adds.
For her wedding day look in France, she chose a classic Vivienne Westwood Cocotte dress, which she paired with a Clio Peppiatt Chantilly veil. “The veil is one of my favourite accessories we’ve made, with embroidery inspired by glittering sun rays – it has such a celebratory feel,” she explains. For her beauty look, she went for an elevated version of her usual self, with her hair styled half up, half down to go with her veil.
Ahead of the big day, she also had a series of lymphatic facials from The Sculptress, which left her glowing. “I was fortunate enough to have my friend and make-up artist, Madeleine Feeny, come out for both days of the wedding celebrations,” explains Clio. “I had always envisioned an evening ceremony because the light at that time is so beautifully golden.
” The night before the wedding, things kicked off with a welcome BBQ and cocktails by the pool of her parents’ home. “By the end of the night, most of us had ended up in the pool,” she laughs. Choosing a burgundy silk gown with a feather trim, she added classic Miu Miu sunglasses, crystal Gucci mules and a red Dilara Findikoglu swimsuit for a glamorous look.
“It was also my mum’s birthday that evening, and we surprised her with a cake, finishing the night with everyone singing Happy Birthday.” The wedding ceremony itself took place in the garden, with Clio’s brother – one of Elliott’s best friends – officiating. Afterwards, guests enjoyed canapés and drinks in the garden before sitting down for a dinner that celebrated local produce, including tiny caviar baked potatoes, duck with plums from the garden, cheese and a classic Fraisier cake.
For the evening, she removed the veil and switched to vintage gold and pearl hoop earrings. “The long dining table was lit with delicate, magical lighting overhead, creating an enchanting atmosphere,” Clio remembers. “For the place settings, we had a calligrapher create personalised place cards, and we bought our plates and cutlery from Merci in Paris – beautiful pieces we’ll treasure for years.
We got enough sets to also gift my parents and brother as a thank you and keepsake of the special day. I work closely with a women’s school in Mumbai, where the women are taught embroidery skills. The ladies there kindly made us a set of custom napkins, each hand-embroidered with lily of the valley and our guests’ initials.
” A few weeks later, Clio and Elliott celebrated their marriage with 75 of their nearest and dearest at the ICA in London. “Elliott and I have been frequenting the cinema there for the last decade, so the venue holds a special significance in our relationship,” Clio explains. “When we visited, I instantly fell in love with the balconies overlooking London and the spacious Regency-era rooms.
” For the reception, she wore a bespoke dress by her namesake brand, featuring an extremely cinched corset on top and a skirt reminiscent of a large bow, complete with ties that played on the idea of a classic train. “I wanted the look to feel sexy and fun,” she explains. “I added two hand-embellished birds carrying bright, primary-coloured flowers, inspired by Picasso’s Paloma doves.
For me, they symbolise love, peace and happiness, making them perfect symbols for such a significant moment in our lives.” Rather than carrying real flowers, Clio’s friends Breanna and Peter from Home in Heven created a glass bouquet of peonies, with a turquoise butterfly resting on them. “The bouquet was so lifelike it even featured delicate dew drops on the petals,” she remembers.
“I paired it with pearl and diamond earrings from Completedworks, which I felt captured that blend of classic elegance with a contemporary twist.” After welcoming guests with cocktails, canapés and a string quartet, everyone moved next door for dinner courtesy of Bistrotheque. The tablescapes were just as exquisite – but quite different in feeling – to the couple’s French nuptials.
“My friend Holly at Flúr created the most beautiful flower arrangements in shades of pale peach and deep burgundy,” shares Clio. “Each table was set with calligrapher name cards and long, tapered deep red candles. Home in Heven crafted exquisite glasses for us to clink as we toasted our guests before sitting down to eat.
” The evening finished with the cutting of the cake, made by Clio’s friend Lily Vanilli. “It was almost as tall as I am and decorated with swallows, cherubs, and bows – an absolute masterpiece!” explains Clio. “On top of the cake, we had tiny custom wedding figurines of Elliott and me, complete with the details of his tattoos.
It’s a sweet keepsake that will sit on our mantelpiece forever!” As well as being one of the most wonderful times in their lives, the wedding will always hold a particular significance for Clio and Elliott, because it coincided with tragedy. “I found out I was pregnant 10 days before the wedding, but unfortunately, I had a miscarriage in mid-August,” says Clio. “It was a time of extreme highs and lows, and I wanted to mention it because miscarriage is something so many women go through, yet it’s rarely talked about.
There’s still a lot of silence and shame surrounding these experiences. For me, being pregnant and going through a miscarriage is deeply intertwined with getting married, as it all happened at once. The silver lining was having our loved ones close during this time.
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