Charlotte commissioned an ivory silk crepe and lace wedding dress. I designed her dress in layered silk satin and Georgette with a dramatic low back filled with beaded lace.

Official Wedding Pictures by Sarah McDonnell

Design Details

Charlotte’s dress has a fitted and boned bodice with a sweet heart neckline below a yoke of beaded lace. I designed the back of the main dress to plunge low filled to the neckline with beaded lace, and trimmed with satin covered buttons. I bound the higher boat-neckline of the lace and the armholes in matching satin. The skirt is fitted over the hips before flaring into a gentle fishtail with ivory chiffon layered over ‘Champenoise’ coloured satin. I cut the skirt hem to reveal the layering with the shine of the satin peaking out beneath the matt georgette. The ‘reveal’ is deeper at the back where the skirt flares into a train, which came with a bustle to be hooked up in the evening.

Detail of the back of the silk crepe and lace wedding dress. The main dress cut away in a curved shape below exquisite ivory lace, specially beaded to order in Italy. I sewed on tiny buttons (covered in the same champenoise silk satin as the main under-layer of the dress) to highlight the centre back seam. The dress actually fastens at the side with a concealed zip.

Original Design sketch for a silk crepe and lace wedding dress

I also made Charlotte’s bespoke veil. I used ivory tulle, single layer on a comb. Worn like this veils are sometimes called ‘Spanish or Mantilla Style’.

Charlotte wrote: Thank you so much – I am soooo happy with the dress, cannot tell you. You are truly amazing and thank you for everything. Charlie xx

Thank you so much for everything. The dress is absolutely wonderful and you have you have been amazing. You are so talented and I am so lucky to have found you. I genuinely meant it – if you ever want to borrow the dress for a show, please only ask. Let’s keep in touch and, again, thank you for everything. Lots of love Charlie xx

Charlotte’s train was made with a bustle-up so it could be hooked up for dancing or when she walked outside.

This picture of Charlotte’s pretty shoes also shows off the graduated layers of hem on her skirt.

Making Charlotte’s Dress

The lace that Charlotte chose on the page from my sample books.

The first fitting is always in the ‘toile’ or practice run made up in cheap fabrics to perfect the fit and style before cutting the expensive silks and lace.

First fitting in the ‘real’ fabrics which look very yellow in the electric light. Here the flesh coloured organza which will support the lace back and yoke is being pinned into the main dress to sit as flush as possible. Progress towards her silk crepe and lace wedding dress

To creating the lace yoke front and back meant I carefully cut the lace so the pattern would lie pleasingly and symmetrically in the dress design. I dyed silk organza to match Charlotte’s skin and placed it behind the lace to support the delicate fabric

Buttons covered in silk satin were hand sewn to the back centre seam.

The wrist loop sewn to the underside of the train meant Charlotte could hold up the train easily when she needed to. A hidden ‘something blue’ is always sewn in somewhere on all Felicity Westmacott’s creations.

At Charlotte’s final fitting, detail of the lace back.

At Charlotte’s final fitting, detail of the front lace yoke and neckline.

Close up of the beaded lace on the finished dress

A happy Charlotte at her final fitting in the finished dress and veil.

To see another classic ivory wedding dress with lace head to Rikki’s wedding dress

To book your own appointment to talk about having a dress made head to my contact page