Modest Guipure Lace Wedding Dress

guipure lace detail bespoke bridal gown

Izzy’s modest guipure lace wedding dress was created to be simple and flattering with pretty lace and butterfly detail. The main dress was cut princess line to float around her figure, lightly boned for support. The square neckline and cap sleeves were modest and feminine. Lace applique highlighted Izzy’s waist and the lace up back gave a detail focus from the back.

official photography by www.abbymoshref.co.uk

additional wedding pictures by Sebastian Lomas

The chapel length train was hand decorated with applique and embroidered butterflies, each made from shapes cut from the guipure lace.

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wedding day with train loop winter march
silk georgette chiffon boned wedding dress with lace cap sleeves

The guipure lace that Izzie chose was from one of my regular suppliers. I keep sample books in my workroom for clients to browse and find their perfect lace. You are also welcome to source your fabrics elsewhere if you prefer.

first dance wedding dress managing the train
butterfly applique embroidery detail on wedding dress hand made to order

Colours and fabrics

The colour theme for Izzy’s spring wedding was primrose yellow. We added subtle highlights of hand embroidered yellow silk thread as the body for each butterfly to her modest guipure lace wedding dress.

spring bride daffodil wedding february march

Thank you letter for modest guipure lace wedding dress

thank you letter from Izzy testimonial

Izzy wrote “Dear Fliss, Thank you so much for making my wedding dress. It is beautiful. Lots of love Izzy xxx

church wedding chapel train butterfly detail and stole cover up

Izzy wore a simple yellow chiffon stole for modesty in the Church and in the cool spring air afterwards.

plus size lace up corset back modest wedding dress

lace wing butterfly detail with yellow body silk embroidery

A close up of one of the hand cut and applique lace butterflies we added to the train. I embroidered the body by hand in yellow Japanese silk thread.

lace up back corset bustle button detail guipure lace

Left: Details of the back of the dress with the lace applique dipping at centre back with the bustle button for the train. And right: the lace-up ribbon fastening.

bride with her dressmaker winter wedding lace and chiffon

The bride and her dressmaker

Making Izzy’s modest guipure lace wedding dress

original design sketch for made to measure wedding dress with lace detail and butterflies by Felicity Westmacott

Original design sketch for the modest guipure lace wedding dress. Izzy changed her mind before work began from having a lace bolero to simple cap sleeves.

guipure lace pinned to ivory silk on a made to measure wedding gown, fitting

I buy many lace fabrics as flat fabric from my wonderful suppliers. To make it into a modest guipure lace wedding dress I have to be carefully cut and ease the lace around a curved figure so it lies flatteringly. Guipure lace is distinctive for having no ‘netty’ background. When I carefully cut around the design it leaves a useable edge with no need for further finishing. As you can see above I often cut a few extra motifs to shape and blend the lace panels. Here I have pinned the extra pieces ready to sew down so that the top edge of the lace panel will have an even top edge.

custom made bridal gown ivory lace detail and sleeves

Working on Izzy’s modest guipure lace wedding dress

You can see the pins in this fitting picture, where the lace is being eased and placed for best effect. TI trim the ribbon ends with stiffening tape to help with lacing. Later I remove the tape before collection for your wedding day!

Detail of the lace cap sleeve. The dress back opening, boned and with a line of eyelets inserted on one side, ready for side two.

I made the lace butterflies by carefully cutting round leaf and petal shapes and then arranging them into wings. We made three or four different size and design butterflies so they appear to fly around her train.

The lace is sewn down, ready for the embroidery of yellow silk bodies.

plussize larger size wedding dress made to order train and bustle, finished on the stand

Views of the finished dress on the stand with the train spread out and bustled up for dancing.

something blue train bustle loop bespoke wedding dress by Felicity Westmacott

I always provide a train wrist loop, as well as the hook-up so that the dress can be easily managed when no one is nearby to help. A pretty ‘something blue’ is a finishing touch.

Where to head next?

To see another wedding with spring yellow and lace head over to this post for Rachel’s bridesmaid dresses

Or see another wedding dress featuring bold guipure lace here

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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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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