Lauren’s whole wedding was inspired by the choices Kate Middleton made for her wedding in 2011. I made Lauren’s Kate Middleton inspired wedding dress from matt satin and hand embellished with delicate lace patterns
Wedding pictures by Bumble and Brown
The dress has a very fitted, princess line bodice, lightly boned and fastening with real buttons and loops at the back. We complimented the sweet heart neckline with a ballet-pinch detail creating a little texture over the bust. The skirt flares from mid thigh into a fishtail shape. At the back the train was made from over lapping ‘petal’ panels inspired by Lauren’s love of Kate Middleton’s wedding dress. This was also the inspiration for the lavish quantities of hand lace embellishment all over the bodice, cascading over the train and edging the skirt all round
I also created a matching veil for Lauren, two tiers of ivory tulle with a cotton lace edging
Detail of the join between bodice and skirt showing the pretty scalloped lace edge used to soften the line. I edged Lauren’s veil all round with matching lace edging
Original design sketch: Lauren thought, at first, she would like off the shoulder straps, but at the toile stage (practice run) she decided these were better removed.
Lauren’s dress fastened with real buttons and loops, but a hidden inner corset gave extra structure and support.
Lauren with her five very beautiful bridesmaids, who also all had dresses made by me.
Lauren’s veil was two tier. The shorter tier is called a blusher and designed to hang over your face as you walk up the aisle, but Lauren, like many brides opted to simply wear it down the back. It was all edged in scalloped lace to match the trim on her dress hem.
I sew a wrist loop inside the train of every dress I make, to make carrying the train outside much easier.
The bride with her sister, also wearing a Felicity Westmacott creation.
Photoshoot
After her wedding Lauren booked a ‘treasure the dress’ photo-shoot and came back with this (and other) wonderful fashion-spread style images. Photoshoot by The Image Cella .
Making Lauren’s Kate Middleton inspired wedding dress
Pictures from the toile fitting (practice run). The oval framed picture in the middle shows the originally planned off the shoulder neckline, rejected after this practice in favour of a more classic strapless look.
A picture from at intermediate fitting. Lauren in a partially sewn dress, the hem is pinned up and ready for me to finish.
The hand applique of lace took 110 hours altogether. I bought the lace as fabric with floral motifs spread across a net ground. This was so we could cut it to shape over the dress panels. Then every floral motif could be delicately hand sewn down before I carefully cut away the ‘net’ between. Lauren wanted it to look as though the lace pattern was part of the satin fabric. This was the same technique used to apply lace applique to the ‘Royal’ wedding dress in 2011
I have finished the applique on the front dress panel, so I am ready to sew it into a Kate Middleton inspired wedding dress!
Detail of one hand sewn lace motif
Detail of the button and loop closure at the back of the dress.
The train was also appliquéd all over with lace motifs, and edged with matching cotton lace edging.
Hidden inner lace up back for support and shaping for the Kate Middleton inspired wedding dress.
The finished dress on the stand showing the petalled train and two tier veil.
I sewed a hidden ‘something blue’ under the train next to the wrist loop.
To see another royal wedding inspired bespoke design head over to this 1950’s Grace Kelly interpretation
Or another modern classic dress as here made for bride Sarah Louise
