When Lady Kitty Spencer married Michael Lewis in the summer of 2021, the internet didn't just look—it stared. People were obsessed. They were skeptical. They were mostly just dazzled by the sheer, unadulterated Italian maximalism of it all.
You’ve probably seen the photos of that lace dress. It was everywhere. But the Lady Kitty Spencer wedding was more than just a fashion show for Dolce & Gabbana, even if it felt like a three-day runway event. It was a weird, beautiful, and slightly controversial moment for the Spencer family.
Honestly, the whole thing felt like a fever dream set in a 16th-century villa.
The Gowns That Took Six Months to Build
We have to talk about the clothes first because, let’s be real, that’s what everyone was there for. Kitty is a global ambassador for Dolce & Gabbana, so she didn't just pick a dress off a rack. She had five.
Actually, some reports say six.
The main event was a Victorian-inspired lace gown that looked like something out of a gothic period drama. It had huge puffed shoulders, a high neck, and a silhouette that screamed "aristocracy." Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana spent six months on it. Six months! That’s longer than some Hollywood marriages.
The detail was insane. It featured:
- A corseted bodice to give that sharp Victorian line.
- Intricate floral lace from head to toe.
- A cathedral-length veil that probably needed its own zip code.
But the "Cinderella" moment happened the night before. She wore a baby-blue tulle gown with a matching cape. It was covered in cross-stitched flowers. It was soft, romantic, and basically the opposite of the structured white lace she wore to say "I do."
Why Was Her Father Missing?
This is where the drama kicks in. If you look at the photos, you’ll notice someone very important is missing from the frame: Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer.
He didn't walk her down the aisle.
Instead, Kitty was escorted by her brother, Louis Spencer, and her half-brother, Samuel Aitken. It was a powerful image, but it sparked a million questions. Why wasn't her dad there?
Some people pointed to a shoulder injury he’d mentioned on social media. Others whispered about family tensions. He was posting videos of deer at Althorp while his eldest daughter was getting married in Italy. It felt... pointed. Whether it was the five-day quarantine rules in place at the time or something deeper, his absence was the elephant in the Villa Aldobrandini.
The 32-Year Age Gap and the Billionaire Groom
Michael Lewis is a billionaire. He’s also 62. At the time of the wedding, Kitty was 30.
People have thoughts about that. They always do.
Lewis is a fashion tycoon—the chairman of the Foschini Group—so he moves in the same circles Kitty does. They met around 2018 and kept things pretty quiet for a while. He’s older than her father, which is the kind of detail tabloids live for. But Kitty has always been fiercely private about her love life.
She once told Town & Country that she feels "less vulnerable" when she doesn't talk about who she loves. Fair enough. If I were marrying a man with a $100 million-plus net worth and a 30-year head start on life, I’d probably keep my mouth shut too.
The Guests (and the Royal No-Shows)
The guest list was a weirdly perfect mix of British "It" girls and international celebrities.
- Pixie Lott was there looking iconic.
- Sabrina Elba (Idris Elba's wife) made an appearance.
- Maye Musk (yes, Elon's mom) was on the list.
- Mark-Francis Vandelli from Made in Chelsea brought the reality TV energy.
But where were William and Harry?
Kitty went to both of their weddings. She was the breakout star of Harry and Meghan’s nuptials back in 2018. But the princes were nowhere to be found in Frascati. Most people figure the logistical nightmare of travel in 2021 combined with the ongoing family rift kept them away. It’s a shame, really. A Spencer wedding without the royal cousins feels a bit like a Sunday roast without the gravy.
No Spencer Tiara?
Every royal nerd expected Kitty to wear the Spencer Tiara. It’s the one Diana wore when she married Charles. It’s a family heirloom.
But Kitty skipped it.
Instead of the diamonds her aunt made famous, she leaned entirely into the Dolce & Gabbana aesthetic. Some think it was a move to establish her own identity. Others think the weight of the history was just too much for a "private" Italian wedding. Whatever the reason, the lack of a tiara was arguably the most surprising part of the whole weekend.
The Actionable Takeaway for Your Own Event
If you're looking at the Lady Kitty Spencer wedding for inspiration, don't try to copy the five dresses unless you have a billionaire’s budget and a team of Italian seamstresses. Instead, look at the thematic consistency.
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She picked a vibe—Victorian romance meets Italian Baroque—and she stuck to it across three days.
If you want to recreate that "Spencer" feel:
- Focus on the Venue: The Villa Aldobrandini provided 90% of the atmosphere. If the background is grand, the rest is easy.
- Embrace Contrast: Her transition from the soft blue "Cinderella" dress to the rigid, structured lace of the ceremony created a narrative arc.
- Privacy is Key: Notice how little we actually know about the ceremony itself? They controlled the narrative by sharing high-quality photos on their own terms.
The real lesson? You don't need a tiara to look like a princess, but a 16th-century Italian villa certainly helps.
What to do next
If you're planning a high-end destination wedding or just obsessed with the Spencer aesthetic, your next move should be researching Villa Aldobrandini for logistics or looking into Alta Moda design principles. Understanding how these historic venues handle large-scale events can give you a blueprint for your own celebration, even if you're only wearing one dress. For those tracking family legacies, keeping an eye on Lady Amelia Spencer’s public appearances offers a modern contrast to Kitty’s more traditional approach.