This off the shoulder long sleeve wedding dress was a delight to make. Alison commissioned a soft floaty gown in silk satin and tulle for her wedding in 2008. The dress was cut with simple princess seams and a fitted, lightly boned bodice with invisible zip back closure. I created the soft look through the...
Posts from Felicity Westmacott
This year it has been 20 years since I first started out as a professional bridal dressmaker, and four years since I opened up my bridal shop on Dorking high street.
So many people have crossed my threshold since then; brides, mother-of-the-brides, bridesmaids, artists, friends and more.
I wanted to pick four dresses that each represent something different about my journey since then:
2022 - Laura was the very first bride to have her fittings in the shop, when things were still chaotic and new. She was kind and patient with me, and she represents the real and amazing benefit of having my own space in which to create and collaborate with brides.
2023 - Rachel and I were strangers when we met, but we really connected over our joint love of period fashion, both basking in each other`s historical knowledge. She represents the joy of meeting people you would never usually have the chance to, and finding connection along the way.
2024 - I adored designing a wedding dress for Nicola that showed off her body really beautifully. This process challenged me to apply my usual dip dye methods to a style of dress I wasn`t used to. Nicola represents the constant learning I continue to experience.
2025 - Rebecca`s imagination was a joy to behold, and the result is a pastel rainbow wedding dress straight from a fantasy novel. Rebecca represents the beautiful minds of my brides, who I get to welcome into my own creative space.
Of course, these are just a selection, and as I was choosing I felt pangs of guilt for all the other wonderful brides I`ve worked with who I haven`t mentioned. If I could have included all of you, I would have!
2026 already has so many wedding dresses that I love, with so many more to come!
Has anyone else gone through major life changes in the last four years?
~
Photography
1st and last photo - Iris Visuals
Laura - Mark Shaw
Rachel - Darren Kirwan
Nicola - Thomas Frost
Rebecca - Pesto Wedding Photography
Imagine peeking into a bridal shop and seeing the designer doing a ballet challenge amongst the wedding dresses 🤭
I like to think the kind of bride who gets this, is the kind of bride I would work perfectly with 💖
Sample Sale - reduced from £2400 to £800
I really wanted to show you how beautifully this 1930s inspired wedding dress, the Lady Mary, drapes across the body.
This one-of-a-kind gown draws on the elegance of the Art Deco era, and I love how feather light it looks and feels. Perfect for a bride whose favourite book is The Great Gatsby, and whose comfort TV is Downton Abbey.
This exact piece - a photoshoot sample, UK size 8/10 - is finished and ready to ship.
And if you love the style but need your own fit, colours or tweaks? It can also be made bespoke to your measurements.
Get in touch to make this era of glamour your own or go and discover Lady Mary on my Etsy.
#BridalGown #WeddingInspo #VintageBride #BridalFashion #WeddingDress
The historic Chicheley Hall in Buckinghamshire was the spectacular backdrop for this 1930s wedding dress!
This magnificent venue has previously been used to film Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth and *that* scene) and Enigma with Kate Winstlett.
I featured Lady Mary (the name of this wedding dress) in my previous post as well - I just cannot tire of art deco silhouettes framed by beautiful old buildings.
The Lady Mary dress is elegant and demure, whilst also being full of subtle details that catch the eye and make you want to look a little closer.
If that sounds like the kind of dress you`re dreaming of for your big day, then drop me a DM, and let`s see what magic I can make for you.
~
Venue: @chicheley_hall
Planner, stylist: @sofiaweddingsandevents
Celebrant: @kellyhcelebrant
Florist: @wildrosamund
Decorative lighting hire: @light_my_wedding
Photography: @laura_rachel_photographer
Hair Accessories: @vintageadornments
Model: @genevieve.paganini
Model: @k8yeh
Model Couple: @ceemeandtea
Model: @fionacmodel
Make-up Artist: @sademorlandstudios
Creative Hair Stylist: @triciasluxurymakeupandhair
Wedding dress and coat: @felicitywestmacott
Bridesmaids` dresses: @rewrittenbridesmaids
Engagement and Wedding Rings: @lovers_rock_diamonds On the day assistant: @brienyob
An elegant and carefree bride from the 1930s, but what`s in the suitcases?
Maybe she`s a runaway, or maybe she`s taking in the fresh air before she marries the love of her life...
This wedding dress is heavily art deco inspired; made in satin with fan pleat detailing on the hips, pretty butterfly sleeves and a beaded velvet underbodice.
The showstopper here is the yellow ochre velvet cocoon coat. It`s a perfect way to add colour to a wedding outfit, whilst also keeping warm and looking chic.
To complete the look, I also created the matching diadem with gold, pearls and orange silk dupion.
As a designer, one of my favourite things is taking inspiration from history. And because it`s only inspiration, I can take the elements I love, and leave the ones I`m not as drawn to, creating something beautiful, flattering and completely unique.
This dress is available on my Etsy (link in bio). It`s called the Lady Mary, in honour of Downton Abbey and their incredible period costumes. The coat has already been given a home, so hurry, before you miss this stylish, evocative piece as well.
Venue: @folkingtonmanor
Photographer: @thesoulofmylens_photography
Model & fashion stylist: @dorotagluszekmodel
Vintage car: @beaufordclassicweddingcarhire
Dress designer, orange hair band & coat: @felicitywestmacott
Hair accessories: @vintageadornments
Shoes: @the_new_glass_slipper
White Hair band: @lovelanebridal
"Dear Felicity,
I just wanted to drop you a line to say how wonderful my dress was last weekend.
I honestly cannot thank you enough, I felt so special in it and everyone said how amazing it was.
You are so talented and you completely brought all my dreams to life.
Thank you so much. Mum also loved hers and looked amazing - we were saying how we can’t wait to come back to you for something else.
Lots of love, Meg"
Thank you to both Meg and Lisa for trusting me with making their outfits for this wonderful day.
Not only did I create Meg`s beautiful floaty wedding dress, but I also made a silk ensemble in shades of Green for the mother of the bride, Lisa 🌸🌿
I`m looking forward to seeing what else I make for them in the future!
~
Photography - Kaleido Shoots, @kaleidoweddings
Venue - Sarah Jones Gardens, @sj_gardens
