I made a green and gold waterfall train wedding dress for my own wedding day in 2007. Having worked so much in ivory and white I decided to be bright and colourful. And anyway I don’t think white or ivory suits my very pale skin well at all!
I made my dress with a boned bodice in green silk with a gold lace overlay. The bodice has a pointed waistline, sweetheart neckline, shaped straps and a peplum at the back. I created a fastening at the back with with two rows of cover buttons and loops. The full skirt was made in gold silk with contrast green silk waterfall train at the back. I wore the dress with a hoop for extra fullness as well as the netting underskirts I had sewn in. I also made a gold lace bolero.
Many people comment ‘oh medieval’ but in fact nothing of my dress comes from that historical period. I think it’s just the gold and green colour that makes people think of that style. In fact the dress is absolutely modern, there being no period in history when dresses like this were worn, except bridal in the 2000’s! There are elements which have a Victorian feel to them, the peplum, the boned and fitted bodice shape, the full skirt over a hoop, and the colouring makes people think of Anne Boleyn or and elven Queen; but I could not travel back in time and fit in!
I also made a silk waistcoat for my husband, with 18th century style elements and hand embroidery of fuchsias on the pockets. A gold silk cravat in the same fabric as my dress finished the look.
The back bodice fastened with two rows of real buttons and loops above a flamboyant peplum. The skirt back and train were made in a waterfall of green and gold silk.
The embroidery on my train was all done by hand in Japanese silk thread. Fuchsias on a curling vine with gold lace highlights and a tiny bee to one side. The stamens were highlighted with tiny cerise and gold glass seed beads.
The back waterfall and train all bustled up in the evening to enable me to dance a jive with my new husband.
I also made dresses for my four adult bridesmaids, child bridesmaid and waistcoats for my two pageboys.
I went on a shoemaking course and make my wedding shoes too. The fuchsias are hand embroidered on ivory silk damask. I designed the ‘vine’ to flow across both shoes.
Some views of the dress as a ‘work in progress’.
Waterfall train wedding dress photoshoot
After my wedding I was invited to a ‘treasure the dress’ photo-shoot and came back with this (and other) wonderful fashion-spread style images. Similar shoots can be booked via The Image Cella .
To see another green wedding dress with floral embellishment head over to Janet’s dress. Or to learn even more about me, the maker and wearer of this dress you can visit my about me page.
