Cressida Bonas recently celebrated her fourth wedding anniversary with Harry Wentworth-Stanley, reflecting on their unique and intimate wedding day. The couple married on 27 July 2020 at Cowdray Park in Midhurst, West Sussex, in a ceremony that was anything but traditional.

Cressida, an actress best known for her role in “White House Farm,” made headlines not only for her wedding, but also for her choice of wedding attire. In a departure from the conventional wedding dress, she opted for a midi dress from high street brand Whistles. This dress was not a new purchase; instead, it was a recycled piece that Cressida had previously worn in a music video for James Arthur.

In an article for The Spectator, Cressida shared the story behind her dress. Just four days before the wedding, she was looking for an outfit. After scouring Oxford Street and finding nothing that met her expectations, she remembered the Whistles dress she had hidden away in her wardrobe. After a bit of ironing, the dress was ready for her big day.

The dress, known as the ‘Guinevere Wedding Dress’, featured a high neckline adorned with a feminine flounce, a cut-out back with a bow and an embroidered tiered midi skirt. Originally priced at £599, it was reduced to £299 before selling out. Cressida’s choice of a midi dress was a bold statement, showcasing her desire to break away from traditional bridal norms.

The wedding itself was a small affair, limited to just 30 guests due to the ongoing pandemic. Cressida described the ceremony as a “socially distanced, sanitized church service” that was organized in less than two weeks. The couple had to abandon their original wedding plans, but Cressida found solace in the intimate nature of the day. She noted: “Not what we had imagined, but a more intimate and special day than we could have ever imagined. Imperfect yet perfect – a day we will never forget.”

Planning a wedding during a global pandemic came with its own set of challenges. Cressida candidly discussed the strong opinions she faced about her wedding plans. She had always envisioned a small wedding, but the reality of their families alone with 120 people made that difficult. Her father’s expectations for a traditional church wedding clashed with her desire for a more personal ceremony. Cressida humorously recounted how she angered her father by expressing her desire to get married under a tree, as he believed vows exchanged in a church would be taken more seriously.

Despite the limitations, Cressida managed to create the nature-filled wedding she wanted. A memorable moment captured by her brother showed the couple riding into the sunset on horseback, symbolizing their new life together.

Cressida and Harry’s journey to marriage wasn’t without history. Before her relationship with Harry, Cressida dated Prince Harry from 2012 to 2014. Their romance was marked by long-distance relationships, most notably during Harry’s deployment in Afghanistan. They eventually separated, with Cressida attending Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018 and maintaining an amicable relationship.

Cressida’s wedding to Harry Wentworth-Stanley marked a new chapter in her life. The couple got engaged in August 2019 in Nantucket and their wedding day was a reflection of their personalities: unconventional and genuine.

Following their wedding, Cressida and Harry welcomed their son Wilbur, further cementing their family. Cressida’s choice of a non-traditional wedding dress and the intimate nature of their ceremony appealed to many, showing a modern approach to love and commitment.

As Cressida reflects on her wedding day, she embraces the imperfections that made it special. Her story serves as a reminder that love can flourish in the most unexpected circumstances, and that sometimes the most memorable moments come from breaking with tradition.

Source: Various sources