Bespoke Wedding Dresses in Brighton

Bespoke wedding dress Brighton pink purple dip dye red sequin

I created two bespoke wedding dresses in Brighton for this fun, campy, Cabaret photoshoot. The goal was to create a vibrant celebration of life and love, full of bright colours and bags of personality. There’s no better way to celebrate than with glitter, confetti and a whole lot of fun! ⁠

I don’t know about you, but this wedding looks like the kind of party I want to be invited to!

So if you’re looking for some inspiration for a wedding that’s a little less ordinary, then step right this way, and dare to be different…

Camp, Queer and Ready to Party

For the location, we chose the iconic Proud Cabaret in Brighton, Sussex. ⁠It’s such a unique indoor wedding venue, and the perfect alternative if a church wedding was never on the agenda for you. Being in Brighton means the whole place oozes queerness, fun and the promise of something a little bit naughty.

And who doesn’t want to get married on an actual stage?

The place was decked out with a fabulous flowers (by Ashdown Events, who also styled the whole shoot), a sparkling streamer backdrop (from Streamadelica) and beautifully decadent three-tier wedding cake made by The Blue Box Cake Company. Nothing was too over the top. Feathers, flowers, sequins, and a little golden cupid all adorned the top table.

Everything was in our colour scheme of pillar box red, bright pink, purple and gold. Something about pink and red together scratches an itch in my brain in a very satisfying way.

You Don’t Have To Ask Me Twice!

Stationery was designed by The Amyverse, using modern calligraphy and bold colours to tie in with our theme.

Two Brides, Two Vibes

For this shoot, we had two stunning brides (real couple Michele and Graziella), so I had to make sure the bespoke wedding dresses I provided were just as beautiful. There was something very cool about seeing the soft, floaty elegance of the full length Aurora dress, matched with the edgy and fun, red Elodie dress (which you can find on my Etsy). A perfect example of femme and masc mixing together in complete queer harmony.

I designed the Elodie dress for a modern, bolder bride in red silk dupion with a glittering sequin bodice. The front has a simple boat neckline, but peak around the corner and there’s a plunging low back featuring a tiered necklace plus a statement sash and bow train.⁠ I also added tulle spilling out from the column of the dress, in contrasting navy and bright fuchsia, for extra drama.

The Aurora dress has a different kind of drama. Made of layers and layers of blush organza and ivory tulle, creating this beautiful, opulent silhouette. The bodice is covered in sparkling metallic lace, with a sweetheart neckline glittering with sequins and beading. Then there are the balloon sleeves, made of featherlight tulle. And finally, the dip dye skirt. Going from lightest pink, through cerise, into deep burgundy. What a stunning colour gradient!

These two dresses show that a colourful wedding dress can mean either a pop of colour (like the crimson pink dip dye) or leaving out the white all together with the bright red sequins of the Elodie dress.

Partying After Dark

Once the ceremony is done, the chairs can be cleared and the dance floor can be claimed. And the treats don’t end there, with little layered desert pots to be enjoyed by the evening guests and cocktails available at the bar. They’ll need the energy if they’re going to dance the night away!

Closing Time

Like all good things, the party has to come to an end. And now the guests stumble to their taxis, holding their heels in their hands and smiling all the way home. That was the feeling we had at the end of this photoshoot anyway!

Want To See More?

Hopefully seeing these bespoke wedding dresses in Brighton has given you plenty of inspiration for your own outfit. You can see more of the Aurora dress in two other photoshoots. This dreamy Marie Antoinette-inspired shoot and this atmospheric Castle photoshoot in Essex.

If you love the Aurora dress, then the original is currently up for sale here. Or if you’d rather have it bespoke and made to your exact measurements and preferences, you can start that process here.

Or if the Elodie dress is speaking to you, then you can find this exact version here. And again, for a completely bespoke experience, you can find the Etsy listing here.

If you’re still trying to find the perfect wedding look for you, you can see a load more colourful and unique looks here.

And if you want to find out more about the other suppliers, this photoshoot was featured on the Unconventional Wedding blog.

felicity westmacott wedding dress maker designer seamstress alchemist dorking surrey

Here I am, working away on the day.

Photoshoot Suppliers

Organiser & hairstylist – Big Hair Energy

Model couple – Michele and Graziella 

Bridal party models – Isabella Posenato, Nastia Photography, Kelly Marie Wheeler

Wedding dress – Felicity Westmacott

Celebrant – Jess May’s Special Days

Stationery – The Amyverse

Photographer – Magpie Eye Weddings

MUA – Joanne Hook

Videographer – Richie Ashwin

Cake  – The Blue Box Cake Company

Accessories – The Lucky Sixpence

Styling/floristry – Ashdown Events

Streamers – Streamadelica

Coordinator – Dani Singam

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felicity westmacott wearing a hat

Felicity Westmacott

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

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When I made this wedding dress in 2017, I wasn't expecting it to be such a success. It's been featured in so many bridal photoshoots (I think four or five so far), and every time the styling has been completely different.

It's so interesting to me how versatile a dress like this can be. All you need is a little imagination. Even though the dress itself was originally designed as a period-inspired piece, it's been used for an Edwardian Downton Abbey inspired photoshoot, a Victorian gypsy photoshoot and a modern outdoor shoot.

Which version do you prefer?

I'm currently have a sample sale on my Etsy, where this beauty is less than ÂŁ700. So if you love this dress, grab her whilst you can!

Photography:
1: @bristy_fairytales
2: @neliprahova
3: @charlymaephotography & @dam.ute
Sometimes I get so carried away with making a bespoke wedding dress I completely forget to record the process for you lovely lot! Filming content is fun, but it doesn't compare to getting lost in the process of a creating.⁠
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My Morticia-inspired wedding dress is one of my most popular designs, and I can see why. Sparkly, sexy, figure-hugging, dramatic. Have a look at my previous post to see the *stunning* photos of this one on its bride, especially if you've got a gothic wedding in mind.⁠
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~⁠
#theaddamsfamily #wednesday #morticaaddams #gothicwedding #gothicbride #blackweddingdress
I love it when a bride runs, not walks, to my shop, ready for their bespoke journey to begin!

Brides who want unconventional, whilst also looking for a wedding dress that's elegantly couture, always manage to find me. 

No idea too unusual or dramatic. No design too ambitious. Bring on the whimsy!

#bespokeweddingdress #customweddingdress #weddingdressshop #2026bride #bridalboutique
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