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When a bride builds her entire wedding wardrobe around the corset — not as an accessory but as an architectural statement — the celebration that follows tends to look like nothing else.
There is a shift happening in bridal fashion – away from the singular gown and toward a wardrobe that tells a story across an entire weekend. Kira Atikova and Steve Blakesley‘s wedding at Château Challain on 6th June is a compelling expression of that moment. Four couture looks, three houses, one unifying thread: sculptural corsetry, each piece a different interpretation of the same architectural idea. The result is a bridal wardrobe that feels less like a costume choice and more like a creative manifesto.
The couple met through mutual friends at Annabel’s in London. Nine days later, they went on their first date. A year and a month after that, Steve proposed at Villa Cora in Florence with a ring he had designed himself — a pear-shaped diamond at its centre. Kira, who had long imagined getting married in France, was the first to fall in love with Château Challain. They chose it together for its elegance, character and old-world romance — and for the way its Neo-Gothic interiors and 72 acres of landscaped grounds felt naturally aligned with the couture-led creative direction they had in mind.
The Setting
Built in 1854 by Madame de la Rochefoucauld following the loss of her husband, Château Challain carries its own love story in its architecture — four towers representing the seasons, twelve turrets marking the lunar months, spiral staircases, hand-painted ceilings and neo-Gothic panelling that has remained largely unchanged since the nineteenth century. It is the kind of venue that doesn’t need embellishment. The creative direction draws on the soft opulence of French Romanticism — expressed not through literal historical reference but through texture, silhouette and atmosphere. Contemporary couture corsetry against neo-Gothic stone and candlelight. The tension between the two is exactly what makes it work.
The Wardrobe
The fashion story is the centre of everything. Kira wore four couture looks across the celebration, each one a different expression of corsetry and sculptural bridal dressing. For the ceremony, she chose Pallas Couture’s Heiress — custom pearl embroidery, lace gloves and a veil that extended the look’s sense of considered ceremony. Rara Couture’s Damiana followed, its sculptural corsetry and sheer layering giving the look an entirely different register — more editorial, more commanding.
For the reception, two Milla Nova looks carried the evening. The Atolla — a corseted silhouette with hand-finished detailing, fluid sheer sleeves and a choker — and the Marella, a crystal-embellished runway look with custom skirt variations. Each Milla Nova corset required months of atelier craftsmanship. Throughout, jewellery by British heritage house Boodles and classic satin Manolo Blahnik heels completed every look with the kind of restraint that allows couture to breathe.
The Detail
Bringing together Kira’s Ukrainian roots and Steve’s English heritage, the celebration was conceived as a meeting of cultural and artistic influences — Australian couture, British jewellery craftsmanship, French romanticism — reflecting the couple’s belief that beauty and creativity naturally transcend borders. Garden roses, peonies and calla lilies in ivory, cream and soft pink moved through every space. The candlelit chateau dinner, the antique interiors, the sculptural draping and pearl embellishment — each detail was chosen to serve the atmosphere rather than compete with it. Planning and coordination throughout was by Cynthia Nicholson of @cicievents_cynthia, whose creative sensitivity to fashion, atmosphere and emotion shaped the weekend from the first meeting to the final hour.
CREDITS
Creative Direction: @kiraatikova in collaboration with @cicievents_cynthia and the Chateau Challain team, Hair and Makeup: @marynaparismakeup, Jewellery: @boodles, Photography: @nikita.zharkov · @irena_balashko · @leoandnick_, Planning and Coordination: @cicievents_cynthia, Shoes: @manoloblahnik, Stationery: @paigenco, Venue: @chateauchallain, Videography: @beautifulday_films, Wedding Fashion: @pallascouture · @rara.couture · @millanova
