Illusion back lace wedding dress for Helen. The bodice was a traditional sweetheart shape, lightly boned but totally cut away at the back. A simple straight skirt and train balanced the drama of the sheer tulle and lace applique back and sleeves.

Official photography by Alex Tenters Photography

The lace on Helen’s dress was bought as flat fabric but highly worked into with hand applique work. Cutting out extra motifs to apply to the main bodice so the pattern appears to fade down the dress, as well as on the invisible mesh of the sleeves and back. The main bodice and skirt were made of light weight ivory satin which flowed and hung beautifully. The hem edge was trimmed with a pretty scalloped lace edging on the plain tulle of the main skirt.

Original design sketch

Helen wrote: The day was lovely and the dress was a bit hit, thank you so much! I had so many people asking me where I had got it from and saying it was stunning! It really was! My mum and I got it on without any issues on the day and I didn’t want to take it off again!?

A wrist loop was provided so that Helen could keep her train off the grass when she wanted to.

A hidden ‘something blue’ sewn next the the wrist loop.

Helen was able to dance the night away in this easy to wear and comfortable bespoke wedding dress.

Making Helen’s Dress

Making Helen’s dress included the making of a ‘toile’ or practice run of the dress in cheap fabrics. As you can see this stage is a world away from the finished product, but without it the fit and finish could never be as good.

First fitting in the real fabrics, mostly still plain.

Working on the lace panels for the bodice.

Here the lace has been tacked to the illusion tulle, to decide on placement but not yet properly sewn down or the excess mesh cut away.

The finished dress shown with the train spread out and hooked up on the bustle button.

All finished and ready to go.