As seen in.....
"Lauren admits choosing the dress was never going to be easy, given her exacting standards. "I went to about eight boutiques and didn't find anything" she says. "Kate Middleton's dress was my inspiration and I didn't want ruffles, diamantes or anything too big, but I also didn't want anything plain! A local bridal shop gave me details of a dressmaker who lived nearby.
... She drew up a design that I loved, which consisted of a simple top and an amazing train and veil. When I put the dress on, on the morning of the wedding I felt so overwhelmed I burst into tears!"
Article by Paul Travers
From her home studio and workshop in Redhill, Felicity Westmacott makes beautiful bespoke wedding dresses that use every inch of her considerable experience: as a TV and Film costume designer; as a graduate in the history of costume; and as an alterations seamstress with years under her hemline. With an understanding of the different ways of cutting and shaping dresses through the centuries, Felicity can draw on hundreds of years of technical and design knowledge in creating unique and contemporary gowns.
One of Felicity’s pleasures is seeing her clients over the moon with happiness. Her customers generally fall into two main categories: those who have shopped out the stores and simply can’t find the perfect frock (but know the fit they’re looking for), and those who’ve done nothing at all. Felicity sends the second type off to try on a few dresses – some find exactly what they want, and those that don’t come back to begin the design process.
The key advice Felicity has is that every bride must dress to please herself, because no one else could pick the dress meant for her. When someone picks what makes them happy, it will show.
“A wedding dress is a costume,” she says. “It must say something special about this girl on this day, just as a costume tells you about the character and future of someone in a film. The wedding dress tells a story of what a bride wants her future to be. That’s why the dress is important, special, and unique.”
Article by Erin Balfour of Way Out Wedding
“Creating a dress design for a ‘City Burlesque’ theme was fabulous fun. The dress needed to have a vintage, showgirl feel and be really sexy, but still realistic as a bridal dress – not many people actually get married in a leotard and feathers! The wiggle skirt with a boned bodice hit all these marks, showing off our lovely model Vanessa’s curves and cinching her waist. I added a teal net petticoat that would show when the high/low hem moved, and delicate gold lace detail with Swarovski crystals for showgirl glamour!
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“The coat is made in striking Cadbury purple silk dupion, with a vintage 1950s off the shoulder collar neckline. Demure, elegant and still very sexy. The sweeping skirt and train mean that even with a short dress, this bride gets to sweep into the ceremony and swoosh up the aisle. It also means she can do ‘the big reveal’ burlesque style without actually taking off her dress!
See more at wayoutwedding.com
Photography | Jessica Jill Photo Dresses | Felicity Westmacott MUA | Light Up Make-Up Flowers | Muscari Whites Model | Vanessa Asare Shoes | Marsha Hall Hair accessories | Jennifer Levet Millinery
For Zoe`s wedding dress alterations, I lifted the shoulders, reset and narrowed the sleeves, and made the cuffs smaller. I also added bust pads in the front for security and coverage.
It wasn`t that much compared to the work I do on some wedding dresses. Sometimes you just need to change a few things here and there, to feel comfortable and beautiful on your wedding day.
And, as a bonus, after working with Zoe on her alterations, her mum then also booked in for some bespoke work. It always feels especially lovely when I receive work through recommendations 🥰
If your wedding is coming up and your dress needs a little adjustment or a major change, drop me a DM and let me work my magic ✨️
Photography - Richard Galloway
#dressmaking #alterations #weddingdress #bridalalterations #surreybride #weddingdressalterations #bride #alteration #weddingalterations #dressmaker #sussexbride #weddingdressmaker
Come away to an intimate wedding in the countryside...
The wedding we wanted to evoke in this shoot is for a bride and groom who want to keep things simple and small.
The venue, Chafford Park, has just been newly renovated and is available for dry hire. Personally, I love a dry hire because it means you can treat it like a blank canvas, making it into whatever you want.
The wedding dress I provided is made of ivory silk georgette (or chiffon) and lace. The style feels both modern and vintage, with lots of lovely textures and a lace up corset bodice. Simple, yet effortlessly elegant. I also made a lace and tulle overskirt, to give more options when frolicking.
(top tip: make sure you scroll through to the hand-painted macaroons - I`m obsessed!)
Would you use a dry hire for your wedding?
Photography: @isobelwnphotography
Stylist: @halo_beautiful.xo
Venue: @chaffordpark
Dress: @felicitywestmacott
Celebrant: @madewithlovecelebrations
Food: @vinedinecatering
Cake & macarons: @bluebellkitchen
Jewellery @oliveandedenvintagejewellery
Stationery @simply.laura.calligraphy
Flowers: @baileyandblossom
When I signed up to do this Surrey based wedding photoshoot, I wasn`t expecting to find two of my dear theatre friends there as well! In fact, we had been having dinner together a few weeks before, and they mentioned they were modelling for a photoshoot, and I mentioned I was supplying a wedding dress for a shoot, and neither of us realised it was the same one! So it was extra lovely to spend some unexpected time with them.
It was also lovely to connect with other local wedding suppliers. Working in this industry as a wedding dress maker can be quite a solitary existence, so part of the reason I do shoots like these is to network with others, and also to revel in their creativity! There were so many gorgeous little details from this shoot, but those will be in my next post...
Follow along for more pretty wedding dress content!
Photography: @isobelwnphotography
Stylist: @halo_beautiful.xo
Venue: @chaffordpark
Dress: @felicitywestmacott
Celebrant: @madewithlovecelebrations
Food: @vinedinecatering
Cake & macarons: @bluebellkitchen
Jewellery @oliveandedenvintagejewellery
Stationery @simply.laura.calligraphy
Flowers: @baileyandblossom
#weddingdress #ukwedding #ukbride #bride2025 #bridetobe #bespokeweddingdress #surreyweddingdress #sussexweddingdress #englishwedding #barnwedding #surreybride #surreywedding #customweddingdress
I`ve been nominated for the 2026 Wedding Industry Awards 🥳
Recently I was looking through my emails, as you do, when I see one that looks a little bit more exciting than the usual spam. It was from the Wedding Industry Awards letting me know that one of my clients has put me forward for the "Independent Dressmaker/Designer" category. It was such a lovely surprise!
I previously entered these awards in 2016 and 2018. Both times I made it to the regional finals, but I never came away having won. So I thought this year I`d give it another try, spurred on by the kindness of a client 🥰
Which leads me to asking you all for a favour. If you used my services between Oct 1st 2024 up until now (all that way until Sept 29th 2025) then you are eligible to vote for me. Unfortunately, anyone I`ve made a wedding outfit for before this can`t vote.
Winning an award voted for by the people I work for is such a gorgeous feeling, so if you have a few minutes to spare, you can find the voting link in my bio 💜
If you do vote for me, let me know so I can give you a big virtual hug!
The second shoot I`m featuring for this week`s Pride celebrations includes a real queer couple and a dress with a rainbow on it - you can`t get more Pride than that!
Our two brides are looking absolutely gorgeous and absolutely in love in this slightly more subtly rainbow themed shoot. What else can I say? They just look so perfect together.
If you`re looking for a friendly, welcoming and open-minded seamstress for your dress, then look no further. I want to celebrate everything that you are on your big day - including making you the perfect outfit. Just drop me a DM, I`d love to hear from you 💜
Venue - @skitbyhouse
Photographer - @lucyalexandra_photography
Dresses - @felicitywestmacott
Hair & Makeup - @Clairealexandrahairandmakeup
Celebrant & Organiser - @ribeiroceremonies
Hair accessories - @nujewellery_byemma
Butterflies - @flutter2me
Jackets - @niamhdesigns
Florals - @fioredoratoflowers
Ribbons - @_lkdesigns
Model - @missjenaroo
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#lesbianwedding #queerlove #queerwedding #wlw #dipdyeweddingdress #sapphicwedding #rainbowwedding #leatherjacket #bridaljacket #romanticwedding #londonbridaldesigner #surreybridaldesigner #surreydressmaker #londondressmaker
This Pride month I`m featuring real LGBTQ+ couples I`ve had the pleasure of working with over the years 🌈
Nathalie commissioned me to dip dye her wedding dress with this fiery colour scheme and I love how it matches her hair.
This couple, armed with their swords, look like real life battle maidens. Or fantasy book characters...enemies to lovers, anyone?
Plus their cake topper also featured a tiny version of the dip dye dress 😍
Tempted by a dip-dye wedding dress but would rather not have your actual dress coloured? I can create a custom overskirt for you, with up to 5 colours - check out my Etsy page (link in my bio) for more info.
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Photographer: @bubblydeer.studio
