Wedding

This Scandi bride wore a “quietly rebellious” dress for her Stockholm wedding – and arrived by steamboat

By Rebecca Cope

Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Model, writer and Vogue Scandinavia contributor Hanna Juzon tied the knot with Acne Studios brand manager Pontus Björkman in an intimate ceremony at Stockholm City Hall – arriving by steamboat and wearing a “quietly rebellious” Gabriela Hearst gown from Chloé’s final collection

Model and writer Hanna Juzon doesn’t actually remember the first time she met her future husband, Acne Studios’s brand manager Pontus Björkman. The couple would have crossed paths in their youth, when Hanna modelled in an Acne Studios show in London, but didn’t realise until much later. “We properly connected through a mutual friend, a stylist I worked with in Stockholm, who invited me to a party,” says Hanna. “After that, we began following each other on social media, and the rest unfolded from there.”

The couple always knew that they wanted to get married, after Hanna first broached the subject casually while at the grocery store years ago, but it became an administrative task that they kept postponing. “We’d actually booked a wedding date years ago but kept rescheduling due to time constraints and other priorities,” she explains. “Eventually, after a gentle reminder from the Swedish authorities, we decided to go ahead. Rather than cancel it, we felt drawn to hosting something meaningful in our home, surrounded by our closest family and friends.”

It took just three months to plan their wedding, with their backgrounds in creative industries allowing them to have a clear shared vision for the day. “We knew that an intimate, personal celebration would only feel genuine if it was entirely ours – every detail chosen with care by us, for our closest people,” Hanna explains. The couple invited a friend, internationally acclaimed fashion photographer Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan, to take the photographs, after initially thinking they would go without. “While discussing a future project, she offered to visit us in Stockholm for the wedding,” says Hanna. “She flew in just for us, and we couldn’t have been more grateful to have someone so talented, kind and dear to us document our day.”

Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

For her dress, Hanna knew that she wanted something that felt true to her personality and style, but was torn between her favourite designers. “When I saw the Gabriela Hearst gown for Chloé, I was instantly drawn to it,” she says of her 'Eureka' moment. “It felt majestic, playful and quietly rebellious – not your typical bridal look, which spoke to me, as I wanted a sense of personal anarchy running through an otherwise traditional process.”

As one of the pieces from her final collection for the fashion house, it also felt historic. “I admire her as a woman in fashion and her sense of style resonates deeply with my view on textiles and luxury,” she explains. “The dress appears extremely structured, yet it’s made entirely from silk jersey. It’s both hugging and soft, while carrying an incredibly charged, sculptural aura. I’m heavily drawn to this duality, and the minute I tried it on, I knew I could stop searching.” She matched it with vibrant accessories: an Acne Studios embellished bag and silver pumps from Bottega Veneta.

It felt majestic, playful and quietly rebellious – not your typical bridal look, which spoke to me, as I wanted a sense of personal anarchy running through an otherwise traditional process.

Hanna Juzon

For her jewellery, she turned to friends and family. “My dear friends at Sophie Bille Brahe generously gave me some incredible pieces to wear,” she says. “Among them were 'Promenade de Coeur' earrings and 'Ensemble P' ring, that I wore as a quiet symbol for Pontus.” She paired these pieces with a vintage Cartier ring with a cabochon amethyst, the first ring Pontus had ever given her, and an aquamarine ring loaned to her by her mother, which became her something blue, old and borrowed all at once. “As a final touch, Pontus and I had my grandparents’ wedding bands resized for us, which my mother had carefully kept and prepared,” adds Hanna.

Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

The groom wore a bespoke, made-to-measure Acne Studios three-piece suit. “It was perfect,” says Hanna. “He looked powerful and soft at the same time, with beautifully considered details that turned the suit into a quiet, elegant story of its own. He topped it of with embellished cowboy boots in burgundy and blue.” Guests were invited to interpret the cocktail dress code in any way they chose, which resulted in a real fashion moment. “It was an incredible display of creativity,” laughs Hanna. “One guest wore overalls, another arrived in a white silk Italian suit. There were endless colours, textures, and silhouettes.”

Hanna opted to do her own hair and make-up, which took her about 30 minutes. The ceremony took place in front of just eight people at Stockholm City Hall, in a room Hanna describes as being “almost like a Game of Thrones setting.” “It lasted only five minutes, but those minutes were moving,” she says. “Afterwards, we met the rest of our guests at a harbour in central Stockholm, where an old steamboat was waiting for us. Pontus and I were the last to board, and it was one of the most emotional moments of our lives to be greeted by the people we love. The boat took us across to our house just outside Stockholm. From our deck, we led everyone up a long staircase to our garden, where the celebration began and continued through the night.”

A few weeks later, Hanna is thankful for how perfect it all was. “I never really dreamed of or strived for this kind of moment,” she reflects. “It turned out to be not just a wedding, but a celebration of the partnership we built together and the incredible group of people we’ve gathered in our lives. Taking the time on one day in your life to really listen to what the people you care about have to say about you – it’s rare, and so deeply meaningful.”

Getting ready at Nobis Hotel. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Doing my own make-up. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

The moment we first saw one another at City Hall. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Pontus is the crier of the family. This is him tearing up after he saw his younger daughter, J, crying when she saw me in the wedding dress. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

The happiest day. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Us, right before the ceremony. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Climbing the majestic staircase of Stockholm City Hall. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Arriving hand-in-hand. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Waiting for our turn to be let into City Hall. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Ceremony in the Oval Room at City Hall. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

During the ceremony. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Big smiles!. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Before the harsh wind and weather destroyed my make-up and hair. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Us, right after the ceremony. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

We went from City Hall to the harbour in Stockholm, where a steamboat took us from the city centre to our home. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Us entering the boat and seeing all of our family and friends. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Us on the boat. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

The staircase leading from our deck to our home. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

A newspaper printed by Pontus’s friend Martin, filled with pictures and drawings from his bachelor party. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

This is how I wanted to look throughout the entire party but tears of joy, the Swedish north wind, and all the hugs had other plans. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

We tried to stay close throughout the wedding. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

The cake, which echoes the shape of a sculpture in our garden, sparked some controversy. What does it remind you of?. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Us together with Carl – half of the duo Carl Berglof and Gustav Samuelsson – who prepared an insanely perfect meal. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

The view from our garden. Like every Swede, we’re always chasing the sun. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

I opted for a very simple bouquet, without any additional embellishments. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

There were a lot of hugs. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Against our patchy denim backdrop. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Enjoying a quiet moment together. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

I gave the first speech. Originally, it was 17 minutes long, but some very smart people told me I couldn’t possibly go on that long, so I cut it down massively. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Who doesn’t love all that glitters? The Sophie Bille Brahe Ensemble P ring was a definite eye-catcher. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

The Sophie Bille Brahe Ensemble P, the vintage Cartier ring and an old wedding band that belonged to my granny. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

There was a lot of dancing. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

And singing!. Photo: Aleksandra Modrzejewska-Mitan

Originally published on British Vogue.