I create luxurious wedding dresses, combining my skill and your dreams, for adventurous brides who seek the extraordinary in dress form. With bespoke bridal there are no limits to the possibilities, whatever your style or figure.
The creation of each bespoke wedding dress involves a design consultation, perfecting the fit and a couture finish. Prices usually start at £2400 + fabrics but are as varied as the needs of my clients.
Let me use my artistry and expertise to conjure your dress to reality.
Commissions for bridesmaids, children, mother of the bride/groom, occasion-wear and ball gowns are also welcome.
I occasionally accept alterations for style or fit, to vintage or shop bought dresses.
Enquiries for weddings in 2025 and 2026 are welcome.
I start just one dress per month, and each dress takes 6-12 weeks to complete.
At present I have bespoke commission start dates available from May 2025 onwards, suitable for weddings in summer 2025 and beyond.
I take on a limited number of bridal alterations per month. I am now fully booked on alterations until the end of May with spaces for late summer readily available.
A very happy newly-wed…
bespoke bridal with
felicity westmacott
I love reassuring brides who have found off the peg shopping intimidating or disappointing because Bespoke Bridal is the perfect alternative! It’s not like buying on the high street where you join a crowd of brides who identify with the style of a particular wedding dress designer. I do NOT seek to impose my own style on my clients.
Central to my philosophy is being able to distil the essence of each client into dress form. The design and fit will be perfect because the unique dress is an expression of a unique bride.
I encourage brides to shrug off the pressure to conform. See my blog post all about this.
I create dresses that tell a story. The story of this bride on this day. Unique, personal and unforgettable.
bespoke bridal
ensures A perfect Fit
I start by taking extensive measurements and then draft a unique pattern for each bride. You will try on a toile (practice run) and then a series of fittings ensures perfection of fit and comfort.
I love to help brides with unusual figures or who need a plus size wedding dress. Whether you would like your dress to just grace your figure, disguise problem areas or show off your curves, my method will work for you!
Past clients have said I helped them feel confident and glorious on their wedding day.
I have been making bespoke wedding dresses for more than 15 years. My training in Costume for theatre and film, and four years as a bridal alterations seamstress, led me to my specialism.
With an understanding of the different ways of cutting and shaping dresses through the centuries, I can draw on hundreds of years of technical and design knowledge. This means I can use my couture skills to create elegant and contemporary gowns as well as historical and theatrical styles. One of my greatest pleasures is seeing my clients over the moon with happiness as their dress ideas come to life.
True to my background in theatre I approach each wedding dress as I would a costume. A costume tells you about the character and story of someone in a film or play. In the same way, I think the purpose of your wedding dress is to say something special about this woman on this day. A wedding dress tells the story of your past and your hopes for the future. That’s why the dress is so important, special, and unique.
Thanks again!
Look out for my pink front door!
With junction 9 of the M25 just 15 minutes up the hill I'm lucky to meet brides from all over the South East. I've had clients travel from Kent, Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Brighton.
Dorking
RH4 1RTVisit the studio
Parking is easy with a big Pay and Display right behind the shop, off Wathen Road.
Brides often remark what a delightful surprise it is to find me close to home in Surrey, for brides coming from Redhill, Reigate, Caterham, Horley, Dorking, Epsom or Guildford.
But my clients travel too, as access is easy from London by train or car. Dorking is only 40 minutes direct from Waterloo.
Two spacious fitting rooms with large mirrors
Overseas clients are common too as Gatwick airport half an hour away by train, or 20 minutes in a taxi. And Heathrow airport is an easy 40 minutes around the M25 from my studio
Photography Credits on this Page
painted dress in cornfield: dm photography
blush dress in garden: lasting impressions by lucy
floral dress on beach: thomas frost photography
green victorian dress: yn photography
purple dress coat: jessica jill partridge,
red necklace back dress: adam rowley
family with parasol: bristy chowdry
bride on sofa: lex fleming
kissing couple in garden: @neliprahova
Mountain top bride: picture by the groom
Dipdye bride: Andrew Wilkinson
Art deco Bride on a lawn: Debs Ivelja
Felicity Westmacott Headshots: Paola de Paola
Vicki Tyler's Wedding: Vivien Woods
Now Booking (left): Wedding Shooter
(right) Fleur Challis
Perfect Fit: Christelle Photo
For photos with reviews visit the review page for credits
Couple with bicycle: Lasting Impressions by Lucy
Bride in Chinese garden: Terry Li Photography
Couple walking to Teepee tents: alextentersphotography
Scottish couple: Credit not supplied (please get in touch)
Bride against graffiti wall: Jessica Jill Partridge,
Classic bride with orchids: Simon Hooley
Leather jacket bridesmaids: Joanna Bongard
gothic bride: lex fleming
How effortlessly gorgeous is Karah? 😍 she looks like if Wednesday Adams grew up and decided to wear white to her wedding...do you know what I mean?
When Karah approached me, she wanted a layered gown in scrolling ivory floral lace with a corset inspired by the late (and very great) Vivienne Westwood.
There are so many details of this dress I love; the lace up back, the buttons on the sleeves, the high, Victorian-inspired neckline, and of course that big, dramatic veil!
If you would like your dream wedding dress, made to reflect your personality and compliment your body perfectly, then drop me a DM!
~
Photographer: @storyintime
#viviennewestwoodweddingdress #viviennewestwood
#corset #corseted #corsetweddingdress #victoriana
#modernvictorian #victorianweddingdress #bespokeweddingdress #bespokebridal #bespokebride #bespokedressmaker #laceweddingdress #surreydressmaker #londondressmaker #seamstress #dorking #alternativebride
Curious about the steps to take towards getting your wedding dress altered? Here are my tips for making your alteration journey a smooth and pleasant one.
1. Finding options
The shop where you find your dress might have a list of recommendations, or have their own in-house seamstress. You can also ask friends who they have used (and more importantly, liked).
2. Choosing a seamstress you can trust
Check online reviews. You can get a good sense of their professionalism from the look of their website or when you visit their work space. Getting undressed and trusting someone with your wedding dress is an intimate process so it’s important to pick someone you feel comfortable with.
3. Book early
Ideally, as soon as you have bought you dress. Seamstresses usually get booked up months ahead, especially in the busy spring and summer months. I normally recommend alterations are started 6-8 weeks before your wedding day.
4. Have realistic budgets expectations
Most wedding dress alterations with me cost between £300-£500 total, though this depends on the work that needs doing. Don`t assume that alteration costs will be proportional to the cost of your dress. Buying a cheap dress that needs a lot of work can end up costing as much or more than a more expensive dress that needs very little changing.
6. Buy a dress that is close to your size
Choosing a dress as close as possible to your actual size will give the best result. Making a dress smaller is much easier than expanding one.
If you have any more questions about the altering process, pop them in the comments!
There are so many lovely, hand-sewn details to this unique wedding dress, made for a mature bride having a seaside destination wedding.
Sometimes it`s the little details that make all the difference, and when it came to finishing this dress, I felt that the look couldn`t be complete without adding some lace from the dress onto the shoes.
Scroll to the end to see the matching shoes 👠
If you want to see what the dress looked like on the bride, have a look at this week`s earlier post (including the loveliest couples portrait on the beach).
#weddingdress #bespokeweddingdress #customwedding #ukbridalboutique #colourfulwedding dress #laceweddingdress #maturebride
This bride was one of those rare and wonderful creatures in the wedding industry - a repeat customer!
She first came to me for help with her daughter`s wedding outfit, and when her own wedding plans became reality I was flattered that she thought of me again.
We started with one set of designs and got as far as the toile (practice run) but when her wedding plans were deferred (eugh, covid) and with extra time on her hands, she researched ideas more and changed her mind on the style she wanted.
It always makes me happy when a bride feels comfortable enough with me to let me know when the initial design turns out not to be what they want. Then we can work on figuring out the perfect design.
If the idea of working together to make something truly unique to you for your wedding day, then I`d love to hear from you 🥰
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Venue – Boho Cornwall
Photography/Video – Thomas Frost Photography
Hair and Makeup – Ione
Flowers – Jenny Oakley
A call to all Mother of the Brides (to be)!
If you`re struggling to find the perfect outfit for the big day, then getting something completely bespoke, made to fit your body and style, may be the right choice for you.
I have one slot left at the end of April, if you`d rather get going sooner rather than later. After that I have slots available in June, July and August for weddings happening in late summer or autumn.
For this mother of the bride I created this beautiful deep navy silk velvet dress, complete with diamante bows.
It`s always a pleasure to design and create a Mother of the Bride (or Groom) outfit that is not only in keeping with the wedding`s theme, but also reflects the personality of the MOB 💜
Step 1: meet the bride-to-be, and discuss her vision. Shapes, fabrics, themes, colours, all of it!
Step 2: making! With regular fittings to make sure everything is perfect.
Step 3: the big day 💜
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Photographer - Corina Oghina
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#weddingdress #realbride #bespokeweddingdress #surreyseamstress #sussexbridal
