Danielle wanted a pretty and elegant dress with applique lace and subtle sequin sparkles on a nude base. We were aiming for something lightweight, feminine and figure-hugging. So I designed a dress that was a little soft romantic, a little boho and a little sexy, accentuating Danielle’s hourglass figure.
This bespoke nude lace wedding dress has a fully boned bodice with a deep plunge V neckline. The corseted bodice is sheer, so behind the lace you can see the boning channels, as well as some skin. On the shoulders are sweet shoulder bows, which look so beautiful fluttering in the breeze.
The dress is backless, with some nude illusion tulle to help maintain structure. The back scoops down all the way to the waist, before giving way to an amazing fishtail skirt.
I made the top of the mermaid skirt to fit snugly, starting from Danielle’s natural waistline to mid thigh, leading to the lower skirt. I cut the skirt full to hang in many folds and spread into a wide circular train behind, chapel length. All the dramatic layers of tulle look so dreamy – I love how beautifully they move.
“The dress looked gorgeous! I’m still so in love with it.”
– Danielle (the bride)
Photography – Jessica Piazza
Making a Bespoke Nude Lace Wedding Dress
This dress has a range of different structural elements. I knew there was a lot that I would need to adjust and refine during the fittings. It’s why the fittings are there in the first place!
In this first fitting we focused on placement and fit. My focus was ensuring the bodice held the body correctly, and deciding where would be best for the fishtail skirt to flare out. I did this via the toile – the rough draft of the dress, made from cheaper materials.
During the second fitting I started using the actual fabrics that Danielle and I selected. The materials including this beautiful sand-coloured sequin tulle, as well as pretty floral lace and lots of tulle.
The third fitting was about final details and finishing touches. I had done most of the hand-sewing of the lace on the bodice. I wanted it to blend seamlessly into the lace of the skirt, and then overlap a little between the bodycon part of the skirt, and the big, fluffy layered section. Blending lace like this can really help a dress look like one cohesive look. It especially helps if the lace has an organic, flowing design to work with.
Below are photos from the final fitting, with Danielle looking so ethereal and feminine!
I made sure to include a bustle hook, so that Danielle could hook up all of those gorgeous layers of tulle for a bit of practicality during the reception. You can see the dress hooked up in the final photo.
As a mother of three, I may not have a favourite child, but I certainly have dresses I love a little more than the rest. This bespoke nude lace wedding dress might be one of them.
Looking for more examples of nude illusion backless wedding dresses? Here is another I made, this time on darker skin.
You can also find many more examples of lace dresses in various styles I’ve made here.
