This Fashion-Designer Bride Wore a Wedding Gown Inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s Ascot Dress in My Fair Lady
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Their love story began nearly a decade ago when they were introduced through a family member. “It was love at first sight,” says Georgie Wright, cofounder of The Veil, as she thinks back to when she began dating Charles Forte, her now-husband and the vice president of development at Rocco Forte Hotels. However, it wasn’t your typical whirlwind romance. “What followed was a few years of us both pretending not to be interested and playing it very cool,” she says. “Somehow that worked.”
After eight years together, the couple traveled to Mustique, a private island in the Caribbean that a select group of royalty and rock stars call home. It was there, shortly after arriving, that they got engaged. “The proposal happened on New Year’s Eve 2024 in our hotel room after breakfast,” Wright says. Forte was nervous, profusely sweating, as she recalls, trying hard to keep his cool. “It gave the game away rather quickly,” she says. “But it was understated, incredibly sweet, and very us.” The ring is an antique cushion-cut diamond that Wright sourced. “I’ve always been obsessed with the character of old-cut stones,” she says. “Unlike modern diamonds, they were originally cut to sparkle by candlelight, giving them a softer, more romantic brilliance that I find incredibly beautiful.”
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The couple exchanged vows on April 24, 2026, with festivities centered around Villa Igiea in Palermo. “Choosing our venue was actually one of the easiest decisions,” Wright says. “Villa Igiea has enormous significance for Charles and his family. His father, Sir Rocco Forte, founded Rocco Forte Hotels, and Charles spent time living there during its reopening.”
The two-day celebration embraced the grandeur of Sicily while remaining deeply personal. Invitations, by Laura Graham, founder and owner of GG Print, set the tone. They included bespoke illustrations of Palermo’s landmarks—including Villa Igiea and Monreale Cathedral, a 12th-century Catholic church where the ceremony was held—as well as a charming drawing of Forte and Wright’s miniature dachshund on the RSVP cards.
To bring their design vision to life, the two worked closely with friend and planner Anna Boglione, focusing on celebrating the extraordinary architecture of the venues rather than competing with them. This intentionality shone through in Wright’s choice of bridal attire. For the first night, which included the ceremony and dinner, she wore an Audrey Hepburn–inspired gown of her own design, which she accessorized with a custom ivory version of The Veil’s signature Melt bag. Her ensemble for the second night showcased another bespoke, hand-embellished gown created by Wright, beautifully layered with a fur-trimmed opera coat by London-based designer Viktor Gichev. Keep reading to admire all of the elegant details that made this wedding feel so special.
“I got ready at Villa Igiea surrounded by my closest friends and family, which was one of the most special parts of the weekend. We played ‘Going to the Chapel’ by The Dixie Cups just a couple of times…”
“I thought about getting the dress designed for me; however, since launching The Veil and the knowledge I have about embroidery, it didn’t feel right for me not to design it myself. The biggest inspiration came from Audrey Hepburn’s Ascot dress in My Fair Lady—a look I’ve been obsessed with since childhood.”
“I incorporated an incredibly meaningful family heirloom: a veil that belongs to Charles’s family. I photocopied every flower within the veil before re-creating my own embroidery pattern inspired by those floral motifs. Once the embroidery artwork was complete, I traveled to our embroidery factory in India over several months, perfecting every tiny detail. The final dress took around four months to develop and featured thousands of miniature ivory and glass beads that shimmered almost like diamonds.”
WWW Weddings Tip: “If you’re designing or custom-making anything, start far earlier than you think you need to. Beautiful craftsmanship always takes longer than expected.”
“Hair was by Pierre Saint Sever and makeup by Mayumi Oda, who created an elegant and timeless beauty look that made me feel like the best version of myself rather than someone completely different. Mayumi did the most insane facial massage every morning to bring me back to life.”
“As the cofounder of The Veil, it felt only right to create my own bridal handbag, too. I designed a bespoke ivory version of our signature Melt bag especially for the wedding and a mini crystal tassel bag.”
Wright with her close friends.
(Image credit: Gioconda and August)
Wright poses with her parents.
“We got married in Monreale Cathedral in a traditional Catholic ceremony surrounded by our closest family and friends. The moment we walked inside and saw the extraordinary gold Byzantine mosaics, we knew it was where we wanted to get married—it is mind-blowing.”
“Walking into the cathedral remains one of the most emotional moments of my life.”
Wright’s father walks her down the aisle.
“Charles wore a bespoke Anderson & Sheppard suit, finished with his grandfather’s beautiful pearl and diamond dress studs, making his look feel incredibly personal while honoring family tradition.”
Wright and Forte officially become husband and wife.
Wright and Forte leave the cathedral and get showered with rose petals.
Wright and Forte make their way to Monreale’s square for aperitivo.
Wright and Forte celebrate with the Monreale local band and traditional Sicilian food.
“Dinner took place in the spectacular Benedictine Cloisters beside Monreale Cathedral. Our vision was always to celebrate the extraordinary architecture of our venues rather than compete with them.”
“We wanted the setting to feel as though it had always belonged there. Long tables were positioned around the cloisters, framed by the beautiful golden mosaic columns and Romanesque arches, allowing the historic surroundings to become the backdrop to the evening. The tables were dressed simply but romantically, with an abundance of candlelight winding down their full length alongside scented seasonal greenery and delicate touches of white flowers. We deliberately kept the florals understated, allowing the centuries-old architecture to remain the focal point. Looking around and seeing everyone we love together in one place was the highlight of the entire weekend, along with the most incredible speeches.”
“As the sun set and the candles were lit, the entire cloister took on an incredibly intimate and magical atmosphere.”
Wright tosses the bouquet over her shoulder for a guest to catch.
“Instead of a traditional wedding cake, we served a beautiful three-tier pavlova.”
Aerial acrobats close out the evening.
WWW Weddings Tip: “Design your wedding around how you want everyone to feel rather than simply how you want it to look.”
“For the celebrations at Villa Igiea the following evening, our inspiration shifted to the hotel’s belle époque heritage. During the aperitivo, guests were welcomed by a spectacular ice fountain installation that doubled as a crudo bar, surrounded by fragrant lemon trees and sprawling foliage—a celebration of Sicily and its abundance.”
“I designed my second look myself. The dress was entirely hand-embroidered in thousands of tiny ivory glass microbeads, creating a subtle shimmer that perfectly matched my bespoke ivory Mini Melt bag from The Veil.”
“To complete the look, I wore a custom cream lace opera coat, finished with vintage white fur trim by Viktor Gichev. It was incredibly dramatic yet timeless, and I think it ended up being the star of the show.”
Wright shares a laugh with her father.
WWW Wedding Tips: “Don’t over-schedule your wedding weekend. Leave enough time to actually enjoy your guests.”
Guests enter Villa Igiea for dinner.
“The floral design and overall aesthetic were inspired by the magnificent murals in the Sala Basile, reinterpreting their colors and romantic botanical motifs throughout the ballroom. We wanted it to feel as though the flowers had grown naturally from the building itself, creating something that felt authentic to the hotel rather than simply decorating it.”
“Everything was softly lit with candles and warm lighting to create a romantic, intimate atmosphere.”
Wright and Forte share a kiss.
“We loved the contrast between the timeless elegance of the dinner and the vibrant, joyful energy of the party that followed. This all came to life by my party planner and dear friend Anna Boglione—a creative genius.”
“Once dinner was over, the mood shifted. The dance floor became much more playful, with rich pink and red drapery framing the stage and a large draped heart creating the backdrop for the band.”
Details of the dessert buffet at the after-party.
WWW Weddings Tip: “Trust your instincts. Every decision became much easier once we stopped thinking about what weddings ‘should’ look like and focused on what felt authentic to us.”
Photographer: Gioconda & August
Planner: Anna Boglione
Hair: Pierre Saint Sever
Makeup: Mayumi Oda
Florals: Frascati Fiori
Stationery: GG Print
Catering: Chef Fulvio Pierangelini
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