The Dress With Jessie Hyman McKelvey

Finding the perfect wedding dress is a huge part of planning for the big day. In this series, we discuss Jessie Hyman McKelvey’s wedding dress.

The Journey

I knew I wanted a dress that was modern yet unforgettable — a silhouette that felt extraordinary, not something I’d typically wear. I envisioned something bold, like a voluminous skirt, to create that statement moment. My search took me to designers like Danielle Frankel and The Wed Studio in London. Interestingly, the styles I initially chose at Danielle Frankel (my first appointment) were nothing like the ones I ultimately felt drawn to. It became clear that I felt my best in a fitted top paired with the dramatic contrast of a full skirt.

After just three stops, I found myself at Maison Rabih Kayrouz. The moment I tried on the dress, I knew it was the one I’d wear. Thanks to my earlier appointments, I had clarity on the details I wanted: a square neckline with delicate straps. The MRK team helped me bring that vision to life, custom designing the top to perfectly complement the skirt. The result was everything I had imagined and more.

The Vision

I focused more on how I wanted to feel than on finding a specific dress. I worried that having a rigid vision might lead me to chase trends or something popular instead of choosing a dress that truly felt like me. For a moment, I considered designing a dress from scratch, but I’m so glad I didn’t take that route. Instead, I customized a stunning gown and brought in texture and personality through jewelry and veils, rather than overloading one dress with every idea. The result felt authentically me.

The Decision

The process felt surprisingly high-pressure—and not easy! It was overwhelming to make such a significant decision so far in advance of the day. We started by choosing the venue, then the date, and immediately followed with the dress. Most designers require six to nine months to create a gown, with some asking for a year. On top of that, booking appointments at stores or studios can be competitive.

Maison Rabih Kayrouz ended up being the perfect fit for me. They were confident in the timeline and offered incredibly attentive service throughout the fittings and every decision along the way. Renu in London helped me with every detail and with their expertise in crafting stunning custom gowns, they made me feel completely at ease and in trusted hands. Rabih Kayrouz is an amazing and experienced couture designer. I made sure to follow the lead of such a talented designer. The customizations I made felt important to me – I love design and I’ve always loved dramatic dresses. Being involved in the process was special and unique and I’m happy that I got the opportunity to make something that felt truly me.

Style Support

I actually went dress shopping with my husband! I wanted to form my own opinions without being influenced by friends or family, and I knew he would give me the space to do that. He didn’t attend the final fittings, so certain elements—like the custom top—remained a surprise. Seeing the dress come together with all the accessories on the wedding day was such an incredible moment. It’s amazing how, even after trying it on before, the dress feels completely different when it’s the real thing.

The Accessories

My dress was quite a modern take on bridal so I knew I wanted to have a veil with lace as opposed to tulle. I went to Jane Bourvis in London. She has the most amazing vintage veils. When I tried this one on, I was amazed by how gorgeous it was. It’s from the 1920’s and was sourced in Ireland. It’s an extremely beautiful textile – it features a lace pattern and scalloped edges. I was truly amazed by how beautiful it was, and it was the perfect traditional bridal fabric to complete the look.

For shoes, you couldn’t see them at all under the dress so I opted for comfort as well as style. I wore a pair of Sandy Liang white peep toe heeled sandals. These were insanely comfortable and I cannot recommend enough. Especially when my shoes at the rehearsal dinner the night before, 80cm Louboutin lace pumps!, had destroyed my feet.

I wanted the dress and veil to be the star so I tried on the final look with one of my dear friend’s Alice to finalize all the jewellery and decide how to wear my hair. I loved the idea of earrings so that the beautiful neckline of the dress was highlighted rather than covered in a necklace. It turns out that a pair of Lie Studio Hoops with a Navy Crystal Ball that I wear most days already ended up being the perfect signature jewelry to finish the bridal look.

Advice for brides

My biggest piece of advice: start shopping for your dress as soon as possible. The earlier you begin, the better your chances of securing the dress you truly love without being limited by designer timelines. For example, Paula Nandal, who designed my second look, creates stunning bridal gowns but requires ample lead time due to the intricate craftsmanship involved. It’s completely understandable, and being realistic about how long these dresses take to make is key.

Secondly, focus on how you want to feel. Trying on dresses taught me which silhouettes I loved, but what sold me on my gown was how perfect I felt in it—even when it was clipped and didn’t fit quite right yet! Keep an open mind; sometimes, the dress that surprises you is the one.

Lastly, think about comfort and dancing. Choose shoes you can wear all day and consider a second look if it suits you. I co-created a luxurious, slinky dress with Paula Nandal that was designed for dancing the night away. I paired this look with a rose boa from her as well, which made me feel extremely glamorous yet completely ready to dance and enjoy with all my closest friends and family. I would encourage every bride to think about wearing something that they can move in so that they can truly live up the whole day!

Favourite photo of the dress

I love the framing of this shot – I’m on my way to my first look. It was such a special moment – I felt the beauty and importance of the moment and how special the day was. It was the moment that kicked off the wedding and it really shows feeling like a bride, on her way to meet her groom.