Izzy’s modest guipure lace wedding dress was created to be simple and flattering with pretty lace and butterfly detail. The main dress was cut princess line to float around her figure, lightly boned for support. The square neckline and cap sleeves were modest and feminine. Lace applique highlighted Izzy’s waist and the lace up back gave a detail focus from the back.

official photography by www.abbymoshref.co.uk

additional wedding pictures by Sebastian Lomas

The chapel length train was hand decorated with applique and embroidered butterflies, each made from shapes cut from the guipure lace.

The guipure lace that Izzie chose was from one of my regular suppliers. I keep sample books in my workroom for clients to browse and find their perfect lace. You are also welcome to source your fabrics elsewhere if you prefer.

Colours and fabrics

The colour theme for Izzy’s spring wedding was primrose yellow. We added subtle highlights of hand embroidered yellow silk thread as the body for each butterfly to her modest guipure lace wedding dress.

Thank you letter for modest guipure lace wedding dress

Izzy wrote “Dear Fliss, Thank you so much for making my wedding dress. It is beautiful. Lots of love Izzy xxx

Izzy wore a simple yellow chiffon stole for modesty in the Church and in the cool spring air afterwards.

A close up of one of the hand cut and applique lace butterflies we added to the train. I embroidered the body by hand in yellow Japanese silk thread.

Left: Details of the back of the dress with the lace applique dipping at centre back with the bustle button for the train. And right: the lace-up ribbon fastening.

The bride and her dressmaker

Making Izzy’s modest guipure lace wedding dress

Original design sketch for the modest guipure lace wedding dress. Izzy changed her mind before work began from having a lace bolero to simple cap sleeves.

I buy many lace fabrics as flat fabric from my wonderful suppliers. To make it into a modest guipure lace wedding dress I have to be carefully cut and ease the lace around a curved figure so it lies flatteringly. Guipure lace is distinctive for having no ‘netty’ background. When I carefully cut around the design it leaves a useable edge with no need for further finishing. As you can see above I often cut a few extra motifs to shape and blend the lace panels. Here I have pinned the extra pieces ready to sew down so that the top edge of the lace panel will have an even top edge.

Working on Izzy’s modest guipure lace wedding dress

You can see the pins in this fitting picture, where the lace is being eased and placed for best effect. TI trim the ribbon ends with stiffening tape to help with lacing. Later I remove the tape before collection for your wedding day!

Detail of the lace cap sleeve. The dress back opening, boned and with a line of eyelets inserted on one side, ready for side two.

I made the lace butterflies by carefully cutting round leaf and petal shapes and then arranging them into wings. We made three or four different size and design butterflies so they appear to fly around her train.

The lace is sewn down, ready for the embroidery of yellow silk bodies.

Views of the finished dress on the stand with the train spread out and bustled up for dancing.

I always provide a train wrist loop, as well as the hook-up so that the dress can be easily managed when no one is nearby to help. A pretty ‘something blue’ is a finishing touch.

Where to head next?

To see another wedding with spring yellow and lace head over to this post for Rachel’s bridesmaid dresses

Or see another wedding dress featuring bold guipure lace here