After years of designing custom bridal looks for her clients, Alexis Nevan Whelan said there was “no doubt” she would create her own wedding wardrobe. Her engagement to Cooper Davis came right as she started running her brand full-time, and she was ready to design a full set of outfits for her own celebration. “I had already done all the groundwork—finding the best ateliers, factories, and laces,” she says. “It was actually really beautiful to get engaged and go through that time alongside my clients.”
The wedding weekend was set to take place over three days on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean. The bride had a personal tie to the location—her aunt lived there, and she had visited with her family throughout her life. Alexis and Cooper knew it was the perfect spot for their wedding and started scouting venues for a full weekend of events even before they got engaged. Those visits helped Alexis begin shaping her looks. “I love designing with a location in mind,” says the designer. “It just feels so much better to me. I feel more comfortable and confident when I’m in a space and my outfit makes sense.”
Each event’s look had its own style, weaving together the story of the weekend. “I always like to balance out the looks,” she notes. This approach started with her welcome party dress. Alexis wanted it to feel sexy, with a high-low hemline, delicate lace overlay, and an organza corset. “I really wanted some sheer element, so it felt light and floaty,” she says. “I did four versions of the corset because I needed the inner structure to feel good but still look sheer.” Although she began dreaming up her looks well in advance, Alexis didn’t finish draping the chiffon with her pattern maker until just a week before the wedding. “I really love when things are organic and very hand-done, so I needed to put it on and exactly place where the pleating was,” explains the designer. “We hand-sewed it, and the whole thing came to life.”
The next day, the couple and their guests spent the afternoon celebrating at a rustic beach club, with dips in the water and volleyball games. Alexis took on the challenge of creating her first-ever bathing suit, along with a skirt and headscarf to protect from the sun. While searching for fabric for another project, the bride found a hand-woven tussar silk she fell in love with. That project fell through, but she was able to use the silk to craft her cover-up skirt. Her headscarf incorporated French lace and chiffon in a similar shade to tie the look together.
“In designing the whole beach look, it had to be functional. I had to not pop out while I’m on the volleyball court, because I’m very competitive,” Alexis laughs. To get that coverage, the designer created a piece with a halter neckline and tie closures. “I feel like with my collections in general, I like to add a lot of hardware,” she adds. “I used this gorgeous gold clasp at the back that felt sporty but still elevated. It was kind of the perfect balance of elevating a swimsuit and making it feel interesting enough, but while still feeling comfortable and able to move.”
Her wedding day would take place at the ruins of a church on the island, so Alexis hoped to bring that vintage romance to her ceremony look. In a sense, the fabric she used to create the dress was “something borrowed.” Alexis connected with a bridal designer who was shutting down her own business and was given garbage bags full of fabric to use for her growing brand. “My wedding dress fabric was in there, which I didn’t know at the time,” says the bride. “It’s a silk dupioni, so it has these raw rips in it, which is very me and true to my brand. I like when things aren’t so perfect, and they had a vintage edge to them.”
Alexis thought about what she wanted to feature most—her décolletage and torso—and began draping on her own body. “I was like, ‘You know what? I’m just goShe says, “I wanted to make sure I loved how it looked in the real fabric, not just the muslin sample.” She found hardware to create a front closure down the middle and used extra lace from her sister’s wedding dress to make the straps. Her atelier helped bring everything together just as she had envisioned.
Photo: Jenny Losee
Photo: Jenny Losee
Alexis also started searching for more lace to make a veil and a purse, but finding the right match took time. Two weeks before the wedding, she finally figured it out. “I went to my favorite lace mill in New York, and I knew something there would be perfect. When I finally found the lace I used, I almost started crying,” she shares. “Thank God I loved it!” When she finally wore the finished piece on her wedding day, she says, “I was so comfortable because everything was made for my body. I felt so happy and free in it.”
Photo: Jenny Losee
To end the night, the bride and groom hoped to dance on the sand next to a beachfront bar made of driftwood. When Alexis found a silver, beaded fabric that looked like fishnet, she knew it was perfect for the after-party. “I really just wanted to wrap it around my body,” says the designer. Unfortunately, the fabric’s weight scared off many seamstresses. A friend who is a technical designer came to her studio, and the two started brainstorming.
The solution? The design was made in three layers. First, a silver corset and shorts were created as a base to add extra shine. A second layer of the beaded fabric attached to the corset to keep it secure. Finally, a third layer added shape and flow with a long skirt that tied to the other layers. Alexis often had to hold up the long, heavy material to keep it from dragging in the sand. “I liked holding it while dancing,” says the bride. “It was like a little prop to move with.”
Photo: Jenny Losee
Looking back, the bride says she felt proud not only to plan a wedding but also to launch her brand and create her entire bridal collection. “My biggest takeaway is how much fun it was and how lucky I was to be able to do all of this,” she says. “Even though I did so much work, it feels like just a blink in time. I’ll never forget this year and a half for so many reasons.”
Photo: Jenny Losee
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about a bridal designer creating her own wedding wardrobe for a tropical wedding in Nevis
General Inspiration
Q What does it mean that the bride was her own bridal designer
A It means she didnt buy her dress off the rack She conceptualized sketched and oversaw the creation of her dress herself usually with a team of seamstresses or tailors to help with the technical sewing
Q Why would a designer choose to make her own wedding dress
A For the ultimate personalization It guarantees a perfect fit allows her to use unique fabrics and ensures the design is exactly what she wantsnot just what a store has in stock Its also a beautiful way to showcase her craft
Q What is a wedding wardrobe and why did she need more than one dress
A It means she had multiple outfits for different events A tropical wedding often includes a welcome party the ceremony a reception and a farewell brunch She likely had a ceremony dress a reception dress and a casual swimsuit coverup or sundress for other events
Q Is it normal for a bride to have more than one outfit for a destination wedding
A Yes its becoming very popular It allows the bride to be comfortable for dancing practical for the beach and formal for the ceremony
Design Fabric
Q What kind of fabric is best for a hot humid tropical wedding
A Lightweight breathable and natural fabrics Think silk chiffon organza crepe or cotton lace These fabrics move well in the breeze and dont trap heat like heavy satin or velvet would
Q How does the design differ from a traditional ballroom wedding dress
A The silhouette is usually less structured You wont see heavy corsets or massive heavy skirts Instead you see flowing Alines slip dresses or mermaid cuts that are easier to walk in on sand and dont cause overheating
Q How did she handle the issue of sweat stains or humidity ruining the dress