I love colour and making ombre wedding dresses for UK brides is one of my favourite types of commission. The first dipdye effect dress I created was for a photoshoot in 2016. Images of that dress went viral but it still took a few years before people began asking me to recreate the effect for their own weddings.
I mostly create the ombre colour using a spray technique but I also occasionally do a true ‘dip-dye’ using wet dyes. It’s a risky and difficult business to manage the sheer quantity of fabric in many wedding dresses. And even slimline or lightweight dresses still carry heavy emotional value and so I always take very great care when creating ombre wedding dresses for UK brides and brides from all over the world.
None of my dip dye techniques are reliably washable but they work well for a wedding day. You can find out more about the risks you must take into account when commissioning a dip dye dress here.
Examples from my archive of dip dye and ombre wedding dress work
This wedding dress is made in layers of soft tulle in pale ivory and blush. For this dip dye, I coloured the hem in an ombre effect using deep burgundy, crimson and pink.
Another example of the ‘Aurora’ dress. The skirt is made from three layers of soft tulle in ivory and blush, with a beautiful gradient from baby pink down to dark cerise.
Photography – Andrew Wilkinson Photography.
I call this particular combination my ‘Phoenix’ colour-way. It’s one of the most popular choices for brides looking to add colour to their wedding dress. It starts off fiery, with yellow, orange and red. Then it transitions into deep crimson and finally purple and blue. These colours together are just such a stunning combination.
Photography – Holly Mills Photography
I made this ombre periwinkle wedding dress from layers of tulle, in graduating shades of blue. I hand dyed some of the tulle to suit the periwinkle theme. The cupped bodice is appliquéd with 3D ribbon flowers cascading onto the skirt, and the train extends from the shoulders in soft drapes creating a beautiful sense of movement.
Photography – Chloe Martin Photography
Sunset dipdye dres for Nicola Two of my favourite things in one commission! I made a modern bespoke wedding dress for Nicola in stretch crepe and chantilly lace. The slim fit fishtail tail skirt has a lower section made in full circle cut tulle. I cut and sewed three layers of soft tulle which I coloured with my famous dipdye spray technique.
Photography – Thomas Frost
I made this Santorini Blue ombre bespoke wedding dress for lovely mature bride Lisa. We perfected the particular shade of blue she wanted to reflect the popular colour for roofs in the sunlit Mediterranean town of Santorini. I used a wet-dye technique for this dress. Meaning big vats of hot liquid dye and dip-dyeing the prepared skirt panels before they were sewn into her made to measure dress.
Photography – Photocreations
This is the Phoenix dipdye dress. The very first one I coloured using the spray technique. I made it for an autumn themed photoshoot called ‘Frost on the leaves’. I make this dress to order in your size. Enquire direct or head to my Etsy shop for current pricing.
Photography:JessicaJillPartridge,
For this bride, I created a Chinese fusion wedding dress with red dip dye. The result was a bold and beautiful bridal look, with lots of eye-catching details.
Photography – Belle Photo Journey
My woodland wedding dress included a dipdye layer in shades of yellow green and gold. The mix and match ensemble included a satin dress, dipdye skirt and a tulle over dress with wildflower embroidery and ethereal sleeves. All these elements are for sale in my Etsy shop. I can make them for you bespoke to order, or the photoshoots samples are still available at a reduced price.
Photography Lucy King Photography
I designed a simple sleeveless ivory tea-length gown. Tea-length dresses, finishing below the knee, were a really popular feature of 1940s and 50s fashion. This navy and pink dip dye overskirt is entirely removable, so you can keep it simple for the ceremony and then add a splash of colour to the first dance.
Photographer: Steve Mulvey
The Aurora dress is made of layers and layers of blush organza and ivory tulle, creating this beautiful silhouette. The bodice is covered in sparkling metallic lace, with a sweetheart neckline glittering with sequins and beading. Then there are the balloon sleeves, made of featherlight tulle. And finally, the dip dye skirt. Going from lightest pink, through cerise, into deep burgundy. What a stunning colour gradient.
Photographer – Magpie Eye Weddings
For this Northern lights ombre colour wedding dress, the bride, Sofz, wanted it to match the beautiful sunsets in Lapland, which was the main inspiration she sent me. We went for my ever-popular Phoenix colourway. The colours start from pale yellow, to bright buttercup, tangerine orange, blending into red, fuchsia, cerise and finally into purple. I think Sofz had a stroke of genius. These vibrant colours stand out perfectly against the pristine white of the snow.
Photography (Lapland) – Hylsy from Mikko
