The inspiration for this bespoke regency Bridgerton wedding dress was Daphne’s debutante gown during her presentation to Queen Charlotte in Series 1 of the show.
Although Season 1 Daphne’s colours are blue, in Series 2 she wears a lot more pink. I decided I wanted to work with some beautiful, deep pink satin, so that was the colour I went for.
We wanted to pay homage to the opulence, romance and fashion of this iconic show. As well as trying to re-create the breathtaking romance between Daphne and Simon. The overall colour scheme for this styled wedding photoshoot was white and fuchsia with plenty of gold accents.
Every moment was perfectly captured by Lee Rushby Photography.
Historical and period-inspired design is one of my specialties, so it was my delight to design and create a Regency inspired dress in modern materials, just as the costume designers for Bridgerton do.
What I loved about designing this dress was that there was no such thing as ‘too much’ – a ridiculously long, fuchsia train? Tonnes of gorgeous gold trimmings? It’s all in keeping with the decadence of the show.
Before we get into the details of the dress, let me set the scene for you. Arriving at Rothamsted Manor, you could already believe yourself at the Bridgerton Residence.
You might pass the groom, Kaii, greeting his guests, looking utterly handsome in a Couchman Bespoke suit. Or maybe you would catch a glimpse of the elegant monogrammed wedding cake by Mel’s Cakes and Bakes. Three separate tiers, each crowned with real flowers.
Speaking of flowers. If you are lucky enough to catch the bouquet, you would find yourself holding a beautiful explosion of white and fuchsia flowers; orchids and roses take pride of place, all wrapped in rustic Silk and Purl velvet ribbons. All the flowers, as well as the whole concept for the shoot and much of the styling was done by the multi-talented So Blooming Beautiful, along with the planning and organising skills of Your Wedding Friend.
Option 1: Simple Slip
As with many of my designs, this dress was created with lots of options built in. The first option is the simplest; a pale ivory, empire-line shift dress made of sumptuous duchess satin. But don’t mistake simple for boring. This dress has some gorgeous details, including the filigree frond-like goldwork below the square neckline, or the (removable) oversized bow extending into a train, with gold lace applique.
For our Daphne (Amie), we paired this sleeveless dress with elbow length satin gloves and the glittering Hestia bridal crown from Caped and Crowned.
Option 2: Puff Sleeves
One of the most recognisable elements of Regency-era dresses are the puff sleeves. I made these ones removable and finished them off with a stunning pearl trim which echoed the design of the under bust trim. I also used a jewelled trim over the shoulders, to blend the line between the dress and the sleeves, making it look like they had always been there.
Ema Bridal created a beautiful make up look, that was soft and romantic, as well as the half up-do with a few face-framing curls. And finishing off the look is the understated elegance from Delacroix Jewellery.
Option 3: Presentation Train
The final addition for this bespoke Regency Bridgerton wedding dress was the presentation train, otherwise known as a court train. There aren’t any examples from Bridgerton, but this is a train that would have been worn to court. It would create a dramatic first impression, but could also be removed for dancing. Being optional is essential since they tended to be very heavy, often made of thick velvet, with a lot of beading and embellishment.
For this dramatically long train, I chose a vibrant cerise pink satin, and continued the gold lace applique from the main body of the dress. It looked absolutely stunning when our Daphne walked down the aisle to her Simon.
With all these opulent golden details, the show stopping fuchsia presentation train and the glistening pearls, this is a bridal look that even Queen Charlotte would approve of.
If you’ve realised this bespoke Regency Bridgerton wedding dress is for you, then it’s available, ready to ship, on my Etsy (or you can order it bespoke).
More Bespoke Regency Bridgerton Wedding Dress Inspiration
I’ve made a lot of historically inspired wedding dresses, so here are just a few more for you to find and enjoy. The first is another Bridgerton photoshoot, this time with lilac as the main colour accent. This is one of my favourites.
If you live for the drama, then here is one of the boldest wedding dresses I’ve ever made, with elements of Baroque fashion included.
Or, if you love the puff sleeves and the pink, then this utterly romantic, floral pink wedding dress might be one to add to your mood board.
If you’re curious what other eras I’ve taken inspiration from, you can find this compilation of most of my historically inspired wedding dresses.
Suppliers
Venue – Rothamsted Manor
Concept, Flowers, Styling & Director – So Blooming Beautiful
Planner & Organiser – Your Wedding Friend
Photography: Lee Rushby Photography
Videography – Creative Spark Films
Hair and Make Up Artist – Ema Bridal
Crown – Caped and Crowned
Bridal Dress – Felicity Westmacott
Jewellery – Delacroix Jewellery
Celebrant – Kelly Hawes
Ribbons – Silk and Purl
Cake – Mel’s Cakes and Bakes
Suit – Couchman Bespoke
I had a lovely time working with so many talented suppliers on this shoot.
