Dearest Gentle Reader,
It has come to this author’s attention that a passionate affair took place at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, that would make even the most confident of rakes blush. Rest assured, a few were in attendance to what was a wonderful day, full of vibrancy, talent and exquisite work. Here are a few portraits to wet your whistle(down), for good things come to those who wait.
Yours truly,
Lady Whistledown (possibly…)
The aim of this wedding photoshoot was to evoke a dreamy and romantic feeling. We used lilac as our main colour, and keeping everything in light, pastel tones. We wanted to pay homage to Bridgerton by taking inspiration from the historical Regency period whilst also including modern elements, just like the show.
Bridgerton was one of those shows that kept me mercifully distracted during lockdown, so it was with delight that I created this custom Bridgerton wedding dress. With my signature dip-dye, of course.
The whole team did an amazing job of capturing the essence of regency, with a modern twist. All expertly planned and styled by Lily Jones Events. Scroll down for more gorgeous photos (captured by Kate Hennessy Photography), and faun over the undeniable chemistry between our Daphne and Simon.
Weak with Anticipation
Our beautiful bride prepares for the day where she gets to form an unbreakable vow with her soulmate. She puts on her historically accurate Regency stays (or corset), also made by me. Having the correct undergarments for a period outfit is important because much of the final silhouette relies on the structure underneath the gown.
Her makeup is applied and her hair is fashioned by SJB Hair & Makeup, with french plaits to frame her face. The coiffure is finished off with an enamelled filigree barrette from Vintage Adornments. Then a feather-light Tulle & Flo veil, embroidered with wisteria flowers, is added. A simple pearl pendant adorns her neck, provided by Varoshe Bespoke Jewellery.
She puts on her House of Elliot ivory lace boots, tying up the soft satin ribbons. And finally, she slips into her bespoke Felicity Westmacott wedding dress. The first part of it, at least…
Upon Arrival
A floral archway, resplendent with a host of purple flowers, welcomes honoured guests. Stepping through, they are transported into an delicately decadent world. The couple greet their friends and family, with the groom looking ruggedly handsome in an aubergine velvet jacket from Couchman Bespoke.
A harpist, Gwenllian Llyr, gently plucks the strings of her harp. The smell of flowers fills the air. Lilacs, lavender, wisteria and roses are arranged in beautiful bouquets and extravagant centrepieces by Coco & Bloom.
Pride of place stands a white, four-tier wedding cake. It is simple, save for the edible sugar flowers expertly sculpted by All Shapes and Slices into life-like fronds of wisteria blossom. The initials of the bride and groom are monogrammed in the centre in silver, with gilded flourishes and pearls to add a bit of understated opulence.
The tables are laid out with luxury linens from Northfields Linen. With polished silver cutlery, vintage crockery and cut glass goblets from A Touch of Vintage. Everything is in keeping with the theme, in shades of lilac, royal purple and white.
The Custom Bridgeton Wedding Dress
For this custom Bridgerton wedding dress, I created a contemporary take on the Regency style, just as Ellen Mirojnick did (the show’s designer). I used modern fabrics, like tulle, beaded lace and shantung, then combined them with authentic period details.
The main dress is sleeveless, save for thick straps. The silhouette is indisputably regency, with an high empire waistline and square neckline. The skirt falls in a straight column, apart from at the back, where there is a small train, made of a 3D floral fabric.
I also made historically accurate lace-up boned ‘stays’ (corset) and petticoat to give lift and shape to the bustline. The heaving bosom is such a staple of this fashion. If your chest is one of your favourite parts of your body, this style may be perfect for you.
Because I love to work with versatility when it comes to my creations, this dress was designed with multiple layers. The main dress had an embroidered tulle bodice and asymmetric beaded lace skirt. A lilac and pink dip-dyed tulle skirt could be added over top. Then, over the floral train of the main dress, a dip-dye train piece could be also used. All this meant our bride could have several different looks throughout the day.
A delicate, lilac silk dupion ‘spencer jacket’ with hand-appliqued beaded lace completes this ensemble. I incorporated the same lace I used for the dress, to make sure everything tied in together perfectly.
More Historically-Inspired Wedding Dresses
If the style of this custom Bridgerton wedding dress is speaking to you, then I’ve got more gorgeous gowns for you to look at. For more dreamy, pastel period wedding dresses, you can find three more from this Marie Antoinette-inspired wedding shoot.
Or, have a look at just a whole range of my historically-inspired wedding dress designs. There are dresses with styles taken from the Elizabethan and Edwardian eras, from the 1940s and 50s, and many more.
Suppliers
To find out more about the different aspects of this shoot, you can check out this blog from Magpie Wedding. This article is a great place to start to learn more about Regency fashion more generally.
VENUE | The Historic Dockyard Chatham
CONCEPT & STATIONERY | Ribbons & Wren
PLANNER & STYLIST | Lily Jones Events
PHOTOGRAPHER | Kate Hennessy Photography
VIDEOGRAPHER | Luke Batchelor Productions
MODELS | Amie Hampsheir-Gill & Kaii Munroe
FLORIST | Coco & Bloom
HAIR & MAKE UP | SJB Hair & Makeup
DRESS | Felicity Westmacott
SUIT | Couchman Bespoke
CAKE & COOKIE FAVOURS | All Shapes and Slices
LACE BOOTS | House of Elliot
VEIL | Tulle & Flo
HAIRPIECES | Vintage Adornments
JEWELLERY | Varoshe Bespoke Jewellery
CROCKERY & GLASSWARE | A Touch of Vintage
LINEN | Northfields Linen
MUSICIAN | Gwenllian Llyr
MUSICIAN’S DRESS | Matchimony
SHOOT ASSISTANT | Shannon Hunt
