Bespoke wedding dress Guildford

Tags: Beading, Bias-cut, Boned, floor length, gold, ivory, Lace, Satin, Scalloped edging, Silk, Straight skirt, Straps, Train, V-neck

beaded ivory wedding dress for mature bride

I made this bespoke wedding dress Guildford for beautiful Nicola. I made a simple and elegant dress in pale gold and buttermilk coloured soft silk satin and ivory beaded lace. The dress has a fitted and softly boned bodice in layered silk and lace with the pretty scalloped edging used to soften the line of the waist. I finished the bodice with v-neckline and integral inch wide straps with a clean edge.

I created the skirt as a soft bias-cut fishtail, hanging in soft folds at the front hem and spreading into a small train at the back. It is pleated into the waist with a half star of ruching emanating from the centre. The back has a godet panel of lace to echo the bodice, the the scalloped edging used on the hem and fading out around to the sides. The dress closes with a concealed zip at centre back and is fully lined.

I also made Nicola’s bridesmaids’ dresses, more pictures can be seen here.

bride and her daughter bespoke dresses

Nicola with her daughter in the dresses I made for both of them.

bespoke wedding dress draped skirt and boned bodice

concealed zip back wedding dress with lace train

For sale

This dress was brought back to me after the wedding as Nicola hopes it might find a new home and another happy wedding to attend. You can visit my Etsy shop to see more details of the pre-loved dress for sale, or contact me directly and visit my studio to try it on.

freeman9 mature bride ceremony aisle chapel train

just married bespoke wedding dress

silk satin pale gold and ivory beaded lace bridal gown

hidden something blue wrist loop for train

Using the wrist loop to keep the train off the grass, practical and pretty!

wedding dress vneck with straps and straight skirt

freeman4

mature bride with her son lace godet train

champagne bride pale gold satin vneck bodice

Making Nicola’s bespoke wedding dress Guildford

original design sketch bias cut wedding dress

Original design sketch for Nicola’s dress

fitting picture finished dress dressmaker

Pictures from Nicola’s final fitting of the bespoke wedding dress Guildford

bridal detail of draped wedding skirt silk crepe satin

Detail of the beaded lace scalloped edging and the pleated skirt into the waist.

beaded ivory lace with scalloped edge godet insert train

Above and below: showing the train spread out and hooked up for dancing

bustle up for train fitting picture

fitting picture something blue tradition train wrist loop

beaded ivory lace bodice and ruched skirt wedding dress

I love making dresses for mature brides. So to see more examples of dresses for brides over 40 see this blog post.

Lace wedding dresses are another speciality of mine. I show lots of examples in this dedicated blog post about lace wedding dress styles.

If you are looking to find a venue near Guildford, the famous West Horsely Place (Button house) is a good place to start.

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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.

Recent Portfolio entries

follow me on instagram@felicitywestmacott

The dress on the stand vs. the dress in action✨

I made the Poinsettia dress last Christmas for my window display. I never would have predicted that it would be spotted by Rosie, who then bought it and wore it for the 2025 Miss Great Britain pageant!

My bespoke designs have been used for all sorts of events. Weddings mainly (obviously), but parties, anniversaries and proms too. But this might be the first time one of my gowns has been seen on the stage of a pageant. And doesn`t Rosie look so serenely glamorous? The perfect model for this sparkly, elegant dress. And she placed in the top 10. Well done Rosie!

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Open post by felicitywestmacott with ID 17845385652615623

The dress on the stand vs. the dress in action✨

I made the Poinsettia dress last Christmas for my window display. I never would have predicted that it would be spotted by Rosie, who then bought it and wore it for the 2025 Miss Great Britain pageant!

My bespoke designs have been used for all sorts of events. Weddings mainly (obviously), but parties, anniversaries and proms too. But this might be the first time one of my gowns has been seen on the stage of a pageant. And doesn't Rosie look so serenely glamorous? The perfect model for this sparkly, elegant dress. And she placed in the top 10. Well done Rosie!

From Design to Destination...⁠
⁠
Isn`t it funny how art has to go through so many strange, messy stages before it emerges as something complete?⁠
⁠
The Poinsettia wedding dress was the first bespoke dress I ever made with the sole intention of using it in my window display. I wanted something sparkly and subtly festive to brighten Dorking High Street, where my shop is. ⁠
⁠
But before that I had to do what I always do - begin the strange dance with fabric, needle and thread. Starting with the very simple base, and slowly but surely building something beautiful. Poinsettia is a flower associated with the Christmas season, so it felt right to draw inspiration from its shape (as opposed to its vibrant red colour) and feature these stunning sequin statement flowers on the bust and hip.⁠
⁠
My dresses often have second and third lives after I`ve made them, whether I plan for it or not. And this one is no exception. After it glistened in my shop window for the winter, it was used, funnily enough, for a summer wedding shoot. And after that for something even more unusual. But more about that in the next post...⁠
⁠
Summer Shoot Photography - @KalaWeddings.UK

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Open post by felicitywestmacott with ID 18098232796649450

From Design to Destination...⁠
⁠
Isn't it funny how art has to go through so many strange, messy stages before it emerges as something complete?⁠
⁠
The Poinsettia wedding dress was the first bespoke dress I ever made with the sole intention of using it in my window display. I wanted something sparkly and subtly festive to brighten Dorking High Street, where my shop is. ⁠
⁠
But before that I had to do what I always do - begin the strange dance with fabric, needle and thread. Starting with the very simple base, and slowly but surely building something beautiful. Poinsettia is a flower associated with the Christmas season, so it felt right to draw inspiration from its shape (as opposed to its vibrant red colour) and feature these stunning sequin statement flowers on the bust and hip.⁠
⁠
My dresses often have second and third lives after I've made them, whether I plan for it or not. And this one is no exception. After it glistened in my shop window for the winter, it was used, funnily enough, for a summer wedding shoot. And after that for something even more unusual. But more about that in the next post...⁠
⁠
Summer Shoot Photography - @KalaWeddings.UK

You might’ve noticed that I can get quite particular about language. I think it’s important, especially when that word can carry a lot of meaning. When words get misused, you as a consumer might get mis-sold something.

An example of this is the word ‘vintage’, which now gets tacked onto the description of any garment, whether or not it actually is vintage. Often the item just looks like it’s from an older period of fashion, and for many sellers now, that’s good enough to warrant the label ‘vintage’ (which it’s not).

‘Bespoke’ is another of those words. The word comes from ‘to bespeak’, which means, to ask for. Like someone walking into carpentry workshop and asking for something completely new to be made to their exact specifications.

Anything can be bespoke, if it has been asked for, to be made especially to your requirements and preferences. You often hear it in the context of bespoke suits, but the term doesn’t belong to any one industry.

When it comes to wedding dresses, you have a few options. Off-the-peg, which is what it sounds like. Then there’s custom or made-to-measure, which both describe when something is adjusted or changed. You might order a dress where there are options to customise the length, the sleeves, the neckline etc.

But true bespoke is something different. It’s a dress that’s been designed and made completely from scratch. Completely to your measurements and your ideas. With several stages of fittings and adjustments, to ensure it’s exactly how you want it. It’s an entirely unique garment, and this is why the price of a bespoke dress can be so much more than something off-the-peg or made-to-measure.

So, next time something online claims to be ‘bespoke’, now you know what to look for to make sure you’re not being tricked into pay more for less.

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Open post by felicitywestmacott with ID 18093465229710412

You might’ve noticed that I can get quite particular about language. I think it’s important, especially when that word can carry a lot of meaning. When words get misused, you as a consumer might get mis-sold something.

An example of this is the word ‘vintage’, which now gets tacked onto the description of any garment, whether or not it actually is vintage. Often the item just looks like it’s from an older period of fashion, and for many sellers now, that’s good enough to warrant the label ‘vintage’ (which it’s not).

‘Bespoke’ is another of those words. The word comes from ‘to bespeak’, which means, to ask for. Like someone walking into carpentry workshop and asking for something completely new to be made to their exact specifications.

Anything can be bespoke, if it has been asked for, to be made especially to your requirements and preferences. You often hear it in the context of bespoke suits, but the term doesn’t belong to any one industry.

When it comes to wedding dresses, you have a few options. Off-the-peg, which is what it sounds like. Then there’s custom or made-to-measure, which both describe when something is adjusted or changed. You might order a dress where there are options to customise the length, the sleeves, the neckline etc.

But true bespoke is something different. It’s a dress that’s been designed and made completely from scratch. Completely to your measurements and your ideas. With several stages of fittings and adjustments, to ensure it’s exactly how you want it. It’s an entirely unique garment, and this is why the price of a bespoke dress can be so much more than something off-the-peg or made-to-measure.

So, next time something online claims to be ‘bespoke’, now you know what to look for to make sure you’re not being tricked into pay more for less.

I won! 🥳🎉🥂⁠
⁠
Last night was the Wedding Industry Awards (as if you didn`t already know) and I was up for two categories: Bespoke Bridal and Bridal Alterations. And I am now the regional winner for the Independent Dressmaker/Designer category!⁠
⁠
I am so so pleased to have gotten this far, and I couldn`t have managed it without the amazing support of all you lovely lot. So thank you thank you thank you! 💜 to those who took the time to vote, to those who sent me beautiful messages, to those who got excited for me. Thank you!⁠
⁠
And thank you to the @twia_official team as well! What a gorgeous night.⁠
⁠
Next step: the National awards. Let`s see what happens...⁠
⁠

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Open post by felicitywestmacott with ID 17909190702266984

I won! 🥳🎉🥂⁠
⁠
Last night was the Wedding Industry Awards (as if you didn't already know) and I was up for two categories: Bespoke Bridal and Bridal Alterations. And I am now the regional winner for the Independent Dressmaker/Designer category!⁠
⁠
I am so so pleased to have gotten this far, and I couldn't have managed it without the amazing support of all you lovely lot. So thank you thank you thank you! 💜 to those who took the time to vote, to those who sent me beautiful messages, to those who got excited for me. Thank you!⁠
⁠
And thank you to the @twia_official team as well! What a gorgeous night.⁠
⁠
Next step: the National awards. Let's see what happens...⁠
⁠

Tonight is the Wedding Industry Awards! I`m in the running for two awards, which is all very exciting! 🏆

Since it`s such a special occasion, I decided to design and make myself a dress. That way, regardless of the outcome, I`ll feel like a winner. I rarely have time to make myself anything, so this felt rather lovely.

I used some gorgeous pink coloured silk chiffon, lined with pale gold silk satin, finished off with velvet ribbon. I started making the dress at 11am yesterday, and I finished it at 3pm today. Now I just have to finish making the bolero to go with it as well. I think we`re gonna make it! 🏃🏻‍♀️

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Open post by felicitywestmacott with ID 17949300540051823

Tonight is the Wedding Industry Awards! I'm in the running for two awards, which is all very exciting! 🏆

Since it's such a special occasion, I decided to design and make myself a dress. That way, regardless of the outcome, I'll feel like a winner. I rarely have time to make myself anything, so this felt rather lovely.

I used some gorgeous pink coloured silk chiffon, lined with pale gold silk satin, finished off with velvet ribbon. I started making the dress at 11am yesterday, and I finished it at 3pm today. Now I just have to finish making the bolero to go with it as well. I think we're gonna make it! 🏃🏻‍♀️

Just to be extra clear 💜

#seamstress #dressmaker #historicalfashion #weddingdressmaker #weddingdressdesigner

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Open post by felicitywestmacott with ID 18069360128457300

Just to be extra clear 💜

#seamstress #dressmaker #historicalfashion #weddingdressmaker #weddingdressdesigner

emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in

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