Butterfly wing wedding dress

Butterfly wing dress with pale blue green edging and hand beading.

Official Wedding pictures by Kate Bellinger Photography

I made Katie a simple ivory satin dress with sweetheart neckline and halter strap. The bias-cut skirt flows from the underbust line with silk georgette ‘wing’ panels laid over the top. I created the wings to extend onto the train at the back. All the beading was applied by hand. I used a mix of Swarovski crystals, natural quartz and turquoise stones, seed beads and sequins. The beading was thickly applied around the neckline, fading away over the bodice and applied in informal scatters on the coloured wing edges.

Katie designed the look and detail of her whole wedding day to perfection. She is a designer herself and knew exactly what she wanted!

Visit Katie’s website to see more of her work. See how she can help with the concept and design of your big day!

couture wedding dress with aqua blue silk trim and edging

Thank you letter

Katie Wrote: I want to thank Felicity for making me the most wonderful wedding dress! I tried on quite a few ready made ones and had an idea of what I wanted but nothing was quite right. It was very easy taking my ideas to Felicity who designed and then made the perfect dress for my special day. I was able to incorporate my colour scheme (Aqua) and theme (Butterflies) by having the dress made specifically for me and of course it also meant that it fitted beautifully. The cost worked out at no more than buying a shop bought one too!
>>>>I had so many compliments on the day itself and am still getting them now when people see the photos- I would highly recommend using Felicity’s services to anyone who is getting married…. Many thanks, Katie.

butterfly and orchid wedding

I was also privileged to make a wedding dress for Katie’s mother who was married the same year. You can see pictures of her tea length wedding dress here.

Menswear for Katie

butterfly wing wedding dress handmade to order

Katie commissioned tie and hankie sets for her groom and the groomsmen. I made them in silk to match the pale green edges of her dress

Photoshoot

photoshoot silver blue and ivory silk ethereal wedding dress

After her wedding Lauren booked a ‘treasure the dress’ photo-shoot. She came back with this (and other) wonderful fashion-spread style images. Similar shoots can be booked via The Image Cella . Packages start at £500

Making Katie’s beaded butterfly wedding dress

fitting picture bespoke wedding dress with blue trim

Pictures from Katie’s last fitting before the beading was applied.

creating applique panels for hand made wedding dress

Working out the wing edge shapes by cutting them out of paper and pinning them to the dress.

I applied all beading by hand. I used a mix of Swarovski crystals, natural quartz and turquoise stones, seed beads and iridescent sequins. The beading is thickly applied around the neckline and fades away over the bodice. Lower down it is applied in informal scatters on the pale green wing edges.

butterfly wing wedding dress train hooked up and down

The train spread out and buttoned up for dancing.

To see another example of a hand embellished butterfly wedding dress visit Karen’s purple wedding dress . And another hand beaded dress here in red gothic fantasy.

Or to talk to me about having your own wedding dress designed and hand beaded head over to my contact page.

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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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Sure, my usual role is a bespoke wedding dress maker, creating beautiful and unique garments for brides looking for something a little different. 

But sometimes I'm also a lighting assistant, a caterer, a last-minute-rush-to-the-shopper. That's the fun of being a creative, working with other creatives. 

This was from a styled photoshoot I organised, based on the iconic 90s film, Strictly Ballroom. I made these dazzling neon bridesmaids outfits based around the stunning costumes of Latin ballroom dancers. Our photographer really wanted the colours to pop in the atmospheric darkness of our location, so of course I volunteered myself as floor level tripod 😂

The photos turned out amazing, so it was definitely worth it!

Have you ever found yourself doing a job you never expected?

Dresses @felicitywestmacott
Photography @jessicajillphoto
Video/content @weddingstorytellerco
Venues @theoldtimberstore_se1 @malt.maltby
Florals @jemimainthewoods
Event Equipment Hire @cohire
Bridesmaid models @Lisaeggy3 @Boobzylou @oleksanacoaching
Choreography @oleksanacoaching
Hair and Make-up lead @melindabridal @melinda_grant
Hair and Make-up @beccibrushes
Jewellery @CatherineMarche
Neon Sign @thisisasignuk
Shoes @shoesbylarisa
"Just a very quick note from Rome to let you know how very admired your dress was. Lots of people said how beautiful it was. It really was the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. I definitely would like to work out how to potentially wear it again - I can’t bear the thought that I’ll never wear it again!

Thank you again - you truly are an alchemist!"

All the quiet hours designing, cutting, sewing and hand-stitching were all worth it, just to hear a bride so happy with her wedding dress. 

Want to see what this dreamy dress looked like on the day? I'll be posting the official wedding shots later this week. You won't want to miss this one, I promise you. This gown has quickly become a new favourite of mine 💙 

#bespokeweddingdress
What do you do with a wedding dress that's too precious to forget, but too beautiful to leave in a box forever?⁠
⁠
Last year I shared a wedding dress transformation I had done. I upcycled a Victorian-inspired dress I'd made fifteen years earlier - something only suited to a wedding - into something infinitely more wearable.⁠
⁠
And people had feelings about it. Big feelings.⁠
⁠
I understand that when you really love how something looks, it can feel criminal to see it changed into something you wouldn't choose for yourself.⁠
⁠
But this is what Eleanor chose for her wedding dress. And she, of all people, is the most attached to how it looked in the first place. But as she said, if she'd just had a new dress made for her anniversary, it wouldn't have been the same. This fabric gently held her as a young adult, making a life long commitment to someone else. It rested against her chest as her heart beat hard and fast when saying "I do". It swirled around her hips as she took her first dance. It pooled around her feet as she finally sat down, exhilarated and tired. Now a wife.⁠
⁠
And now this new dress can be with her through so many more experiences, holding those old memories, whilst also making new ones.⁠
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This is what I do - I help your dress live a second life. Would you ever have yours transformed?
This gorgeous bespoke bronze wedding dress has gained a bit of attention recently, ever since I shared the secrets of how she fastens at the back, so I thought I'd bring her back for you to see in full. ✨

Making this dress was a dream, but nothing beats seeing how beautiful this bride looked on the day, surrounded by old stone, wild forest, and the people she loves.

Your wedding dress is about you, it's you, showing up in something that tells everyone exactly who you are. And I think this dress tells us this bride is opulent, elegant and regal. Basically? She's a queen. 👑

Getting your dress made specifically for you means you get to be really specific about how you want to look and feel on the day. Bright, modern and playful. Wild, dramatic and daring. Whatever your vibe, working with a maker who prioritises your ideas is a must.

If you're ready to take a step towards a truly bespoke bridal experience, drop me a DM. 💌

Photography @duncanireland

#bespokeweddingdress #uniquebride #colourfulweddingdress #rosegoldweddingdress #maturebride
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