Bespoke wedding dress Berkshire

couple by the fire formal wedding dress mature bride

I created a bespoke wedding dress Berkshire for Julia’s in a grand stately home. So her dress needed to compliment this and her figure. I designed this elegant dress made in gold silk duchess satin and rose gold lace.

Official photography by sophieduckworthphotography.com

The dress has a fitted and boned bodice with a plunge neckline fading to narrow straps. I added pleated fabric in an asymmetric design to emphasise Julia’s waist. I trimmed the rose gold lace sleeves with beaded scalloped edging. A mixed metallic lace edging is also used inside the neckline

The skirt falls from below more neat pleating over the hips. I placed a motif from the lace edging on the lower hip as the basis for a bold and beautiful hand beaded detail. The shape of the skirt I created had a little fullness at the front, but hangs straight down at the back. And then it flares with simple into a chapel length train at the back. I made sure the back neckline and pleating compliments the front and I added real button and loop fastening. I sewed more buttons all down the centre back seam, as an elegant addition to the very simple skirt. The dress comes with a wrist loops and bustle-up for dancing.

mature bride arrived in car gold wedding dress
matching bride and son's tie gold duchess silk satin
wedding ceremony mature bride vneck dress
wedding dress with lace sleeves
exchange of rings gold silk satin wedding dress

For Sale

A few years after her wedding day Julia brought her wedding dress back to my studio. She hopes it will find a new home and new wedding day to bring joy to. If you would like to consider buying her pre-loved dress you can visit my studio to try it on, or take a look at the listing in my Etsy shop.

button and loop back wedding dress made to measure
older bride coloured wedding dress
button back fastening and three quarter lace sleeves
beaded hip motif detail at hip
in the flowers summer bride gold satin
coloured wedding dress with lace detail
boned bodice and pleats and scalloped lace detail
summer wedding bridal gown made to measure
under the vines train with wrist loop

Holding the train by the wrist loop, a bustle up was also provided for dancing later in the day.

straight skirt custom wedding dress pale gold
mixed metallic lace and silk satin wedding dress
sunset wedding picture with pale gold wedding dress

Making Julia’s Bespoke wedding dress Berkshire

original design sketch by Felicity Westmacott

 Original design sketch for the bespoke wedding dress Berkshire

toile fitting picture practice run dressmaker

Pictures from the ‘toile fitting’ or practice run in cheap fabrics.

pleating and ruching on the stand

Creating the pleating on the bust and waistline, first in practice fabric, then in the gold satin.

dress fitting calico panels
pleats on the bodice and train
cover buttons being sewn on by hand

Tiny cover button detail, all down the back of her bespoke wedding dress Berkshire. These are very labour intensive and so I sewed every one on by hand.

buttons all down the back of a wedding dress progress picture
fitting picture bespoke dressmaker
beaded scalloped lace detail ivory and gold

Detail of the rose gold lace, which I used for the sleeves.

gold silk dupion tie made to measure

I also made a tie in matching fabric for Julia’s son

lace trim before beading in fitting

Here is a detail of the lace motif, before and after I added the hand beading. We used a mix of silver and gold glass seed beads, pearls and Swarovski crystals.

 lace embellishment mixed mettallics wedding dress
hand beading detail silver and gold seed beads

If you would like to see another gold wedding dress for a mature bride, Nicola’s dress is a great example.

If you might like to talk to me about having your wedding dress made to order you can get in touch or visit my bespoke FAQ page for some general information.

 

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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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When I signed up to do this Surrey based wedding photoshoot, I wasn't expecting to find two of my dear theatre friends there as well! In fact, we had been having dinner together a few weeks before, and they mentioned they were modelling for a photoshoot, and I mentioned I was supplying a wedding dress for a shoot, and neither of us realised it was the same one! So it was extra lovely to spend some unexpected time with them.

It was also lovely to connect with other local wedding suppliers. Working in this industry as a wedding dress maker can be quite a solitary existence, so part of the reason I do shoots like these is to network with others, and also to revel in their creativity! There were so many gorgeous little details from this shoot, but those will be in my next post...

Follow along for more pretty wedding dress content!

Photography: @isobelwnphotography⁠
Stylist: @halo_beautiful.xo⁠
Venue: @chaffordpark⁠
Dress: @felicitywestmacott⁠
Celebrant: @madewithlovecelebrations⁠
Food: @vinedinecatering⁠
Cake & macarons: @bluebellkitchen⁠
Jewellery @oliveandedenvintagejewellery⁠
Stationery @simply.laura.calligraphy⁠
Flowers: @baileyandblossom

#weddingdress #ukwedding #ukbride #bride2025 #bridetobe #bespokeweddingdress #surreyweddingdress #sussexweddingdress #englishwedding #barnwedding #surreybride #surreywedding #customweddingdress
I've been nominated for the 2026 Wedding Industry Awards 🥳⁠
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Recently I was looking through my emails, as you do, when I see one that looks a little bit more exciting than the usual spam. It was from the Wedding Industry Awards letting me know that one of my clients has put me forward for the "Independent Dressmaker/Designer" category. It was such a lovely surprise!⁠
⁠
I previously entered these awards in 2016 and 2018. Both times I made it to the regional finals, but I never came away having won. So I thought this year I'd give it another try, spurred on by the kindness of a client 🥰⁠
⁠
Which leads me to asking you all for a favour. If you used my services between Oct 1st 2024 up until now (all that way until Sept 29th 2025) then you are eligible to vote for me. Unfortunately, anyone I've made a wedding outfit for before this can't vote.⁠
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Winning an award voted for by the people I work for is such a gorgeous feeling, so if you have a few minutes to spare, you can find the voting link in my bio 💜⁠
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If you do vote for me, let me know so I can give you a big virtual hug!
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