Bespoke Bronze Gold Wedding Dress

bespoke bronze gold wedding dress statement shoulder bow

This bride was looking for a UK seamstress and found me online. She then approached me, asking if I could make her an elegant couture dress with ruching, pleating and a statement bow. The end result is this opulent, bespoke, bronze gold wedding dress. We combined 1950’s and Elizabethan style details to create a modern, dramatic wedding dress no one will forget.

Scroll down for photos from her castle wedding, to learn about the design process, and for more gold wedding dress inspiration.

Photography – Duncan Ireland

I also made two flowergirl dresses for this wedding using scraps of the same silk for handmade flowers.

After her wedding the bride sent me this lovely message:

“Everyone loved the dress. The colour, the bow, the way it moved, I have had so many compliments! ⁠

I knew you would be the right dressmaker for me from the moment I saw your website. You listened to what I wanted, made changes whenever I wanted and never once said something was impossible. ⁠

The dress you created is an absolute work of art. Thank you so much for making my dream dress and turning me into a queen for a day. I am so grateful for all the effort you put in.”⁠

The kind of feedback a seamstress dreams of!

Designing a Bespoke Bronze Gold Wedding Dress

felicity westmacott bespoke wedding dress design

As always, after meeting the bride, I set about sketching the design based on what we had discussed. I designed a sweetheart neckline, with asymmetrical ruching across the front and back. One arm had an off the shoulder strap to support the crisp statement bow.

On one of the front hips, the skirt was designed to have a split which was hidden unless pushed open. You can see in the photos above how fabulous this looks when the wind rustles the skirt, revealing the bride’s gorgeous leg (very Angelina Jolie)! We lined the dress in a contrasting pale buttermilk colour to really highlight the split as well.

A detail that didn’t go beyond this initial design phase was the idea of texture detailing in the form of beading or lace around the neckline, waist and shoulder. You can see below where we experimented with this, but decided the dress made more of a statement without them.

Making The Dress

The first fitting is to check that the toile (the ‘rough draft’ of the dress) fits properly and that the bride is happy with it. A smiling bride is what we’re looking for!

After that, some time is spent in my workshop, getting the shape of the bodice down and carefully placing, pinning and sewing the ruching, in time for the second fitting.

Nearly there. The third fitting included finalising the bow design. As well as experimenting with some lace embellishments that we decided not to opt for in the end.

Before the final fitting, I worked on getting everything perfected. Including the concealed inner corset – fully boned, of course. The dress’ zip might seem obvious here, but it was concealed by two panels of over-crossing ruching that were secured with hidden poppers.

You can also see details of the cartridge-pleating all around the back and side of the skirt. This kind of pleating, along with the light-weight but slightly stiff texture of dupion silk gave a dramatic, full skirt. Cartridge pleating was popular in the first Elizabethan era and always gives a touch of the historical to any garment on which it is included.

The finished dress on the stand. You can see how the long train looks with the bustle hooked up – making dancing the night away a lot easier.

When it came to little extra details, this bride had thought of it all, requesting that I also make her partner’s cravat and pocket square in the same fabric as her dress. A lovely way of ensuring that bride and groom were perfectly coordinated.

If you’re looking for more gold wedding dress inspiration, then here’s another one for you.

I offer my bespoke wedding dress services all year round, so if you’re interested in getting your dress made especially to your design, get in touch.

Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

Felicity Westmacott

I write about all aspects of weddings, dressmaking, fashion history, and the human relation to clothing. I welcome comments and debate.

Recent Portfolio entries

Read More
follow me on instagram@felicitywestmacott

Over Christmas I wanted to make something to combat the darkness of December and add a bit of razzle dazzle to my bridal shop. And so the Poinsettia wedding dress was born!
I love to make dresses for my brides, but once in a while it's very fun to make something from my own imagination and see where I end up. 

The first thing I knew I wanted was sparkle! And lots of it! I wanted to make something dramatic and showstopping. I went with a deep plunging neckline, and a semi-sheer bodice. To compliment the sleek silhouette of the base dress, I also made a big overskirt (removable, of course). But the crowning glory of this dress are these gorgeous oversized flowers! And they match perfectly with the white and silver sequins of the material of the dress and I think they're a stunning feature of the dress.

Although the intention of this dress was to be for a winter bride, I think there's something very Hollywood glam about it. And the fact it's sleeveless means you won't overheat, even in the summer.
What do you think - does this dress suit a winter or a summer vibe?

If you're looking for a bespoke look for your wedding, drop me a DM. I love to create completely unique and beautiful bridal pieces, so let's chat!

#bespokeweddingdress #sparkle #surrey #dorking #weddingdressmaker #seamstress #bridalboutique
As a wedding dress maker, I would say the fitting process is when I need my brides to trust in me the most. It's all well and good showing them beautiful drawings and fabrics, but when it comes to those first fittings, things can look very different to what you imagined. And that's fine!

All art goes through a process, whether it's layering oil paints on a canvas, or refining the clay of a sculpture...but an artist knows, it will all be worth it in the end.

I think the finished result looks absolutely beautiful, and that’s thanks to those fittings, where I could refine, check and double check, and make sure this bride’s dress fitted her perfectly!

If you want to see photos from Laura's wedding day with this dress in action, on a beautiful, snowy day, then have a look at my earlier post.

~
#weddingdress #wedding #bride #bespokeweddingdress #customdress #weddinggown #londonbridaldesigner #surreybridaldesigner #surreydressmaker #londondressmaker
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in
from design to completionbespoke wedding dressesFelicity Westmacott
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in