Dark Fairytale Feather Wedding Dress

Dark Fairytale Feather Wedding Dress wood stone castle manor mansion queen elegant showstopping stunning bespoke custom

For this styled wedding shoot, the aim was to create an atmosphere that was dark, dramatic and regal. We used royal purple, lavender, deep burgundy and vibrant cerise as our colour palette, with plenty of gilded gold highlights. And no white! This was the inspiration for my dark fairytale feather wedding dress.

My design was inspired by iconic evil queens: the evil queen from Snow White, Regina from Once Up A Time, and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. It was also inspired by haute couture and historical costuming, specifically the Elizabethan period. Using my extensive knowledge of Elizabethan fashion, I went to town making the kind of dress I would create for a live action Disney film with a classic, fabulous villainess.

Dark Fairytale Feather Wedding Dress Details

Are you ready to get a bit nerdy about Elizabethan fashion? The Evil Queen dress features a whole host of yummy historical details:

  • A boned corseted bodice, laced up at the back
  • Hip flanges (the feathered structures sticking out of the bottom of the bodice)
  • Underneath the skirt is an entire wardrobe’s worth of support layers; panniers, 2 hoop skirts, netting and a false petticoat (false because it doesn’t go all the way around)
  • A long train from the shoulder (called either a sacque-back or a Watteau train)
  • And detachable iridescent gold Elizabethan ‘wings’

And then there are the the more modern details:

  • Around 550 feathers (400 in cerise and then 150 in purple, green and gold) all hand-sewn by me
  • Beaded tulle sleeves that look almost like tattoos
  • The hand-appliqued purple lace motifs, taken from the same materials as the sleeves and added to the waist, shoulders and back

The Devil’s in the Detail

I created two different sleeves for my Evil Queen dress.⁠ The first set were purple beaded tulle, fitted to the arm.

The second set I sewed on half way through the shoot. Good thing I’m handy with a needle and thread! My goal was a fuller balloon sleeve, made from the same taffeta fabric as the skirt. You can still see a flash of the beaded sleeves underneath as well. The volume adds to the drama, don’t you think?⁠

I wanted this dress to be a visual feast, and the sleeves really contribute to that. With different colours, textures and shapes to keep giving your brain little bits of dopamine as you notice new, exciting details.⁠

A Cake Fit for a Queen

This three-tiered cake by Mooreish Cakes was a sight to behold. Gilded with gold flourishes, with the middle tier painted artfully with 3D purple flowers. The perfect centre-piece for royalty. Structural elements were also made from coloured sugar, and looked like smoke or waves frozen in time. And the cake was decadence all the way through – made of a chocolate sponge with a raspberry cream filling. It was delicious.

A feast for the eyes, as well as the stomach.

Hair, Makeup and Accessories

The make up design and hair styling by Emma Garrod MUA and Capelli Amalia for this shoot were showstopping. Creative, eccentric, whilst still being beautiful. Not something you would find on a typical wedding day, but then again, these aren’t your typical brides.

The use of gold leaf really elevated these looks to something ethereal and opulent. Whilst flower crowns, golden feathered halos, fascinators and unique pieces of jewellery brought everything together. Those final touches really do make all the difference, taking something from being impressive, to causing a whole room to catch their breath.

Styling the Shoot

The stationery made for this shoot by The Ink Moth was gorgeous. Gilded leather, tassels, wax seals, watercolour, floral illustrations and beautiful calligraphy. It felt like the kind of papercraft that Persephone herself would approve of.

Not the Only Queen of the Castle

My dress was not the only outfit to be featured, and I have to shout out my fellow seamstresses and stylists. The Midnight Garden, Natasha Nicole Studio and stylist extraordinaire Thea Lily Loves for bringing it all together. There were four other brides, each one rocking an amazing darkly sumptuous outfit. From a deep plum suit, to a dramatic coat dress. There was sequins, velvet, tulle and satin, in dark berry shades, along with pops of champagne and purple. These brides look powerful.

Wild Wedding Flowers

And let’s not forget the flowers by The Midnight Garden & Wild Rose and Willow. Just look at that huge centre-piece. It looks like a scene from Sleeping Beauty, where the castle has been over run by greenery; ivy, hydrangeas, moss and pampas grass. A place for a princess to get lost in. Not to mention the bouquet as well!

felicity westmacott bespoke bridal styled wedding shoot uk south of england behind the scenes

And here I am, assisting on the day!

More Dark Fairytale Inspiration

If this kind of haute couture bridal fashion excites you, why not follow me on Facebook or Instagram? I’ve always got new, gorgeous creations to share.

And if you’re enjoying this dark fantasy vibe, then you’re going to love this Labyrinth-inspired wedding dress. Or if you’re interested in wedding dresses that incorporate feathers, have a look at my red masquerade creation.

Suppliers

Venue: Layer Marney Tower
Concept & styling: Thea Lily Loves
Photography: Caroline Horne Suffolk Photography
Headwear: The Milliner Provocateur & Thea Lily Loves
Make up: Emma Garrod MUA
Hair: Capelli Amalia
Feather gown: Felicity Westmacott
Silk coat/skirt/blouse: The Midnight Garden
Gold sequin dress: Jenny Packham 
Velvet trouser suit: Tu Clothing
Embroidered tulle balloon sleeves: Natasha Nicole Studio
Cake: Mooreish Cakes
Stationery: The Ink Moth
Florals: The Midnight Garden & Wild Rose and Willow
Models: Niamh Hornsby, Louise Hartill, Chloe Appleford, Alice Doman, Ruby Ryan
Right hand women: Julia Coppen & Clara

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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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I found this sheet music in my house, and I was so surprised by what it was 🎹🎵

There’s a music stand in my childhood home, and when I was having a look, I found this: “Three Songs composed by Ethel M. Lightfoot”. And my curiosity was peaked. So I sat down at the piano.

When it comes to reading music, I can play piano and sing a little. Nothing outstanding but enough that I could put the music in front of me and have a go at playing it. And I was surprised to discover that I found it was really easy to sightread and sing. Ethel liked the same key signatures, melodies and intervals as me. The things I wrote in my teens (usually quite a bit more angsty) were really similar in terms of structure. Her themes were different, of course, like “Cradle Song”, where a mother sings to her child about their father being away at war.

Ethel, as it turns out, is my great grandmother. Ethel was a musician, and it was so wonderful to find some of her published work, play it and somehow feel connected to her through our similarities. Somewhere in my blood is Ethel’s love for music, and it was so special to find her sheet music flowing so easily from my fingertips.

I love learning about history generally, but there’s something extra special about learning about your own personal history 💜

Is there something from your family history that you’re particularly proud of?
With leaves starting to change to colour, my thoughts have turned to autumn. So I'm sharing my process for this autumn inspired dip dye wedding outfit;
🍁 deciding I wanted to layer a dip dye overskirt on top of the bridal playsuit
🍁choosing lots of warm, rich colours that make me think of autumn leaves carpeting a forest floor
🍁 cutting the tulle of the skirt to the right length 
🍁 gradually blending each layer of colour, using an ombre of yellow, orange, brown and just a little bit of gold at the end
…and then the finished product!

Doesn't this bridal outfit look right at some in the woods?

If you love the idea of an overskirt for your wedding dress, drop me a DM and let’s talk colour palettes!

~
Photographer: @charlymaephotography
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