How Model Clara Paget Realized Her Dream Wedding Dress From a Napkin Sketch
Eleven years ago, concert promoter Oscar Tuttiett randomly answered a friend’s lost phone when it rang. Clara Paget was on the line. After hitting it off on the call, the two models met and started dating soon after. Oscar eventually proposed in Koh Lanta, Thailand, and largely because of various delays caused by the pandemic, he and Clara were engaged for two and half years before they ultimately got married on July 17th.
“I remember having a planning meeting two days before lockdown, and the reality and the gravity of the situation was really setting in,” Clara says. “It was still so up in the air until the very last minute.”
The couple ultimately worked with Liz Linkleter Events to plan the event, while Catherine Coombes and Aesme Studio sourced and created the stunning floral arrangements.
For her dress, Clara looked to her best friend and bridesmaid Jana Haveman—who is one-half of the brand De La Vali—for help. “I drew the dress on a napkin at a restaurant,” Clara says. “Jana hadn’t done bridal before, so we thought let’s find someone who specializes in bridalwear and who complements the style I had my heart set on.”
Savannah Miller Bridal kept popping up whenever the two searched for ideas on Pinterest or Google. “I vaguely knew Savannah, and we have lots of mutual friends,” Clara says. “So I took that as a sign and reached out.” Funnily enough, their first meeting was at the Charlotte Street Hotel restaurant called Oscar. “It felt serendipitous from the get-go,” Savannah says.
“Savannah was so lovely, totally got it, and the three of us got on so well bouncing ideas off of each other and in cahoots the whole time,” Clara says. The mood board included “wild ’80s wonders and interesting sleeve shapes,” but the design ultimately skewed delicate. The waist seam was angled in a “V” shape to accentuate the waist, and the skirt fell into a full mermaid train. “Clara was really clear about the fact that she wanted to look very feminine, pretty, and sculpted—but effortlessly,” Savannah says. She added details like fabric buttons, a delicate lace trim, and a beautiful long veil to elevate it all.
