Catherine got married in Guildford Cathedral in December so her coat and dress ensemble worked perfectly for the weather and spectacular venue.

Official photography by?taylormadeimagery

Simple and elegant long wedding coat in ivory silk Mikado with slight lip and plunge v-neckline and criss-cross ribbon waist detail. The long sleeves with bell cuffs had real button and loop detail. The train flared with three box pleats and a back belt and cover buttons to finish. Her dress beneath was just floor length all round and made in layered soft satin and georgette for the plain circle skirt. The boned bodice was duchess satin with a guipure lace over-lay. It had a square neckline and three quarter length sleeves with flared cuffs to finish. A pleated satin sash drew attention to Catherine’s shapely waistline and was ornamented with a real antique gold and pearl brooch and extra hand sewn pearls. The back closed with real buttons and loops. I also helped to restore her mother’s vintage veil and made dresses and bolero’s for her attendants.

Catherine with her beautiful flowers all ready to go

It was a little windy on their arrival to the Cathedral but every effort was taken to get Catherine safely inside with her veil still attached

Nicola helping Catherine with the big ‘reveal’. Having a plan for who will raise the ‘blusher’ of your veil, and perhaps a practice is always a good idea!

Nicola was a perfect bridesmaid, supporting Catherine through the service and always helpful at dress fittings! To see more pictures of her dress and the little bridesmaids click here.

Original design sketches for the dress and coat. In the end the sash tails were left off the dress sash and the knot changed for the antique brooch detail.

Later in the day Catherine removed the coat to reveal the pretty dress.

We used a beautiful antique pearl and gold brooch on the sash as a pretty detail and also Catherine’s ‘something old’. I added more pearls around it so it did not look too small on the wide sash.

Back detail: the button and loop closure

Making Catherine’s Dress

A fitting picture in the ‘toile’ or practice run of the dress

A fitting picture in the ‘toile’ or practice run of the coat

The partly made dress and coat.

A final fitting picture in the finished dress.

Detail of the finished dress with pleated sash, antique brooch and lace applique detail on the sleeves

detail of the lace on Catherine’s dress with ‘daffodil’ motifs around the neckline.

Catherine wore her mother’s veil, the lace applique pieces are original but had been removed and so we replaced them and spaced them to show up beyond the ivory of the coat’s train.

I also made three flowergirl boleros, an adult bridesmaid dress and a going away dress for Catherine. This is the whole ‘collection’ steamed and waiting for her to arrive and take them away! Click here to see more pictures of the bridesmaid and flowergirls.

A hidden detail of the ‘something blue’ rose I sew to all the dresses I make next to the wrist loop on the train.