Keely commissioned a pale blue fairytale wedding dress. I made it in layered blue and ivory tulle over shot taffeta with ruched detailing and subtle sequin highlights.
Official photographs by www.simonhooleyphotography.co.uk
This dress is now for sale as a pre-loved dress as worn for this wedding and now available for re-sale. Details can be seen in this Etsy listing, and the dress is available to see in person and try on at my shop in Dorking.
Keely’s ethereal dress has a fitted and bond bodice with sweetheart neckline and tiny puffed tulle sleeves. The main dress is made from pale blue and gold shot taffeta, over layers and layers of tiff netting and a hoop to create the skirt shape. Layers of pale blue and ivory silk tulle are then draped and ruched over the bodice and skirt softening and blending the colours for this fairytale dress. A layer of sequin covered tulle is hidden beneath the top layers of the bodice and top part of the skirt so the sparkles subtly caught the light as Keely moved without being over powering.
The back of the dress fastened with real buttons and loops, hiding a lace up under bodice to really cinch in Keely’s waist. The skirt extended in a long train with pretty waterfall bustle detailing. More sequin patterned tulle was used at the train tip, just peeking out from under the silk tulle layers.
The original design sketch
Button back and waterfall tulle detail
Keely’s amazing photographer took some very atmospheric photographs that perfectly captured the ethereal and fairytale feel of her dress.
Dressing the bride; lacing the inner bodice and then all those teeny-tiny buttons and loops!
Making the pale blue fairytale wedding dress
Keely’s fitting in the toile (practice run).
Keely’s first fitting in the real fabrics, with the blue taffeta, blue tulle and sequin layers sewn in. The ivory silk tulle has been draped around her for effect in the photograph.
The partly made dress at her second fitting in real fabrics
A close up of the patterned sequin layer, hand appliqued to the end of the train, on the taffeta layer to peek out from under all the tulle on this pale blue fairytale wedding dress.
A picture from an intermediate fitting all the tulle layers are on but the straps and sleeves have yet to be added.
A wrist loop was sewn to the underside of the train to enable Keely to carry all six layers of fabric easily. I added a small piece of applique sequin tulle to make it look pretty when carried and a little ‘something gold’ as we didn’t really need a something blue!
Detail of the finished pale blue fairytale wedding dress.
The finished dress from behind on a stand (for which the dress is too small) before the final fitting
To see another pale blue wedding dress head over to this cute blue cocktail dress. And this historically inspired dress is pale blue as well, made with hand dyed silk.
