Queer Wedding Fashion That Ditches the Suit or Dress

If you’ve ever looked at wedding fashion and thought, “Where’s the stuff for me?” you’re not alone. Tessa from Beyond the Veil Boutique is doing something about it. Their recent styled shoot at The George in Rye is a bold, brilliant rejection of the old rules, mixing drag energy, vintage glam, and queer joy with seafood platters and champagne towers. 

We caught up with Tessa (they/them) to talk about designing outside the binary, where wedding fashion is heading, and why they’re not here for cups in dresses. At all.

Tell us a bit about how this all began. What pushed you to challenge the gender binary in wedding fashion?

It all started in my final year at NUA, when we were asked to choose between designing menswear or womenswear. And our only option for a model was a size 8 woman. 

I said absolutely not. 

I sourced four local drag artists – three of them non-binary – and built my collection around them. It came with challenges. I couldn’t use industry-standard mannequins, fittings had to revolve around real schedules, and one outfit missed its promo shot because the backup model didn’t fit it. But it proved exactly why this work matters. I also wrote my dissertation on heteronormativity in the wedding industry, so I was deep in both the theory and the practice. 

After graduation, I kept seeing how behind the industry was, and I realised – if I want to see something different, I have to be the one to do it.

How do you collaborate with your clients to design outfits that really reflect who they are?

My first appointment is always a long kiki. I want to hear all about their wedding plans, how they want the day to feel, what they usually wear, what makes them feel confident. It’s not just about getting their measurements. It’s about understanding their style, their energy, and creating something that really fits them – not just physically but emotionally, too.

What parts of the shoot at The George in Rye really captured your vision?

The table shots, for sure. They’re messy, unapologetic, totally unconventional. Everything traditional weddings try not to be. The seafood, the textiles, the styling – it all feels like a celebration of doing things your own way. 

Lisa Devlin photographed it and absolutely nailed the vision. I’ve worked with her before and totally trust her eye.

You mentioned mixing “masculine” and “feminine” silhouettes. How does that play out in your designs?

It’s all about breaking down what those words even mean. A tuxedo doesn’t have to be “masculine” and a dress doesn’t have to be “feminine.” I love combining elements that traditionally don’t “go together” – like tailoring with tulle, structure with softness. 

The goal is to offer something beyond the binary “Suit or Dress” dilemma and show there are so many other ways to show up.

What are some queer wedding fashion trends you’re seeing right now?

Colour. Always colour. Sometimes all of them at once. Ditching white is such a simple but powerful move. I also think we’re overdue for a proper reckoning with how limited current “inclusive” wedding fashion actually is. A skirt attached to a blazer is not revolutionary. We need dresses that work for flat chests and suits that actually fit curves and boobs. There’s still so much space for growth.

What advice would you give to someone stepping outside traditional wedding styles for the first time?

Look into queer history. Dive into dandyism, drag, old Hollywood. Oscar Wilde, Marlene Dietrich – there’s so much inspo out there. 

Queer people have always found ways to play with fashion and subvert norms. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re continuing a legacy.

Where can people find you and your work?

You can find me online at www.beyondtheveilboutique.co.uk, or on Instagram and TikTok @beyondtheveilboutique. DMs and emails are the best way to reach out. I’d love to chat.