Press articles and photoshoots published.....
"Michael and his company have been a mainstay alongside me through my whole career, spanning the last 20 years. Starting out with dreams of bridal design, fresh from university, I ordered my very first rolls from Michael’s to make bridal samples in 2004. His family run business made me feel like family, too. I got to know everyone one on the phone and, though I wasn’t a big name, they made me feel known and valued, too. The range of fabrics he stocked was exceptional and service always off-the chart. Michael once offered to drive out to meet me at a motorway services on a Sunday to deliver a short-notice emergency order of satin!
since 2004His family run business made me feel like family, too.“... Access to the huge choice of silk, lace, basics and accessories, and with next day delivery, has been central to my ability to serve my brides and help clients feel confident booking their bespoke dress with me. I even had a custom bookcase built to house the red covered sample books! Hearing of his well deserved retirement was a sad day, my stomach flipped at the idea of having to ’go it alone’ without Michael and his team backing me up. We expect great things from his son Barry who is moving forward with a new business, but Michael has left some very big boots to fill!"
Labyrinth dress photos by Lex Fleming
"We wanted to create an overall look of winter without any hint of Christmas.
The Colour palette was sage green with dusky and icy blues."
I made a delicate blue dipdye over skirt for this photoshoot. Worn with my classic art-deco satin dress.
"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!"
"Choosing a wedding dress is probably one of the most important decisions a bride can make and having to have alterations is common. Dorking’s Felicity Westmacott is an expert in this field and has provided some amazing advice.... "
Alterations for Lisa Duffy, Photo by CGP Photography
... 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!"
weddings are for everyonewe featured a mature model, a plus size model and two queer grooms“
I was interviewed by 'Your Surrey Wedding Magazine' with questions like " What can brides expect when they visit your store? " and "What designers do you stock? ". Of course as a bespoke wedding dressmaker I don't fit the mould of their usual questions for a normal bridal boutique. You can read what I did share by heading over to the your surrey wedding website to read the full article
"I stock everything and anything you can imagine, (metaphorically speaking)! As a bespoke dressmaker I don't have a collection you can try on, instead I make a one-off dress just for you from design to completion. My job is to create an expression of your personality in dress-form. So if you have already visited shops and just not found the one I'm your perfect match."
Moving House
My Surrey Wedding also reported on the news when I moved premises in 2022. My new shop/studio on Dorking high street was a big upgrade after working from hoe for 20 years!
Photo by Iris Visuals
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
Jessica Jill Photo MUA: Light Up Make-Up Flowers: Muscari Whites Model: Vanessa Asare Shoes: Marsha Hall Hair accessories | Jennifer Levet Millinery
The Petal Dress 🌸 a modern classic, born from a simple idea: elegance that doesn`t try too hard.
Strapless and sculpted in Duchess satin, this ivory gown is all about clean lines and quiet drama. The neckline unfolds into soft, sculpted petals, and the wrap-over skirt reveals a hint of leg, if the bride dares. And of course, finished with a long, sweeping train, for that unmistakable bridal moment.
Timeless, but never boring.
The Petal Dress is now live on my Etsy page. Tag the bride who`d wear this beautifully. 👇
Hair and makeup @lindsaycloughartistry
Photography @charlymaephotography
Content creation @captured_bygem
Cake @clairelawrencecakedesign
Florist @blossomandgrowflorist
Model @ckm2.6
Dresses @felicitywestmacott
Venue @crondonpark
#modernbride #satinweddingdress #strapleswedding #etsybridal #bridalgown #weddingdressdesigner
Did you guess which colours I dip dyed this custom wedding dress?
#dipdyeweddingdress #bespokeweddingdress #2026bride #colourfulweddingdress
Someone commented how much like Taylor Swift our beautiful bride @alicia.modelling_x looked wearing one of my bespoke wedding dress, and I think she`s absolutely right.
Which Taylor Swift album would you pair this wedding dress with?
A little look into my creative process for making my Swan Lake-inspired wedding dress.
I think feathers are a really underrated embellishment, so I wanted to give them their flowers 🪶💐 this corset style bodice features hundreds of hand-sewn white feathers, all meeting to a point in the middle of the chest, finished off with sparkling sequin lace.
Do you think the result was worth the effort?
And if you`re a bride looking for something full of fantasy and whimsy for your wedding, you`ve come to the right place. Making wedding outfits that look like they come from a story book is my speciality, so drop me a DM with your fairytale wedding ideas 🧚♀️
Cover photography - @snappedbycatx
It`s coming up to five years since I first discovered aerial hoop, and my love for it is still going strong 💜
And now, I`m moving onto something even more exciting...
The next step in my journey is starting teacher training with @mybodyrocksstudio, so I can share my passion for hoop and pass on this amazing sport/art form. It`s not something I would have ever considered a possibility when I was first starting, but I`m so excited to get going!
Maybe one day I`ll be showing you the ropes (well, the hoop) 🤭
And thank you to @impulsivemomentspole for making me look like an absolute superstar 😍
Look at all that gorgeous colour!
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Here are just a few ombre wedding dresses I`ve dyed over the years, both for photoshoots and real brides. I`ve just launched a new page on my website, dedicated to my dip dye creations.
The amazing thing about dip dying is how completely customisable it is. You can go with loads of bold, bright colours, or just one subtle hue. It`s entirely up to you.
And you`re guaranteed to match your wedding`s colour scheme.
I offer two dip dye services:
- Direct dying, straight onto your wedding dress
- Dipdye tulle overskirts, leaving your dress untouched
To see more examples and options, have a look on my website (link in bio).
Which colour combination is your favourite?
Photography:
1 - @costaweddingsuk
2 - @benjaminstuartphotography
3 - @katehennesseyphotography
4 - @Cazholbrook_photography
5 - @sadie_penn_photography
6 - @lucykingphotography
7 - @artweddingphotography
8 - @TanyaFlannaganPhotography
9 - @Photoforrester
10 - @charlymaephotography
