Custom Wedding Dress Sussex: Karen commissioned a beautiful dress in layers of ivory lace and satin. The dress has a boned and fitted bodice with sweet heart neckline, where the satin underlayer is just revealed inside the pretty, beaded scalloped lace edge. Half-sleeves also made from the beaded lace covered the tops of Karen’s arms....
This was the first styled shoot I ever organised – but certainly not the last. I live on the border between Sussex and Surrey and as a wedding dress designer, it only made sense that I gathered together some local wedding suppliers, chose a stunning location, made some dresses and had some fun! Hence this...
This bride was looking for a UK seamstress and found me online. She then approached me, asking if I could make her an elegant couture dress with ruching, pleating and a statement bow. The end result is this opulent, bespoke, bronze gold wedding dress. We combined 1950’s and Elizabethan style details to create a modern,...
Gorgeous Ellie was married in Vegas on Halloween and her dress was a wonderful mixture of fifties shape, modern styling and subtle Halloween detail.
Some people think wedding dresses are timeless and don’t change as fast as other fashion, but this is not true at all. In all fashion cycles you get the fashion-forward styles, that are breaking new ground and bucking current convention.
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. You can see details...
Gerry commissioned an elegant bespoke wedding dress with sleeves in ivory dupion with ruched bodice and off the shoulder sleeves. Official photographs by www.timelesspictures.co.uk Gerry’s dress was made with a fitted and boned bodice with ruched silk sweeping in a cross over design to one side. The sweetheart neckline flowed into the off the shoulder...
Suzanne commissioned a pretty tea length brown wedding dress and bolero made up in taffeta and chiffon. I made her knee-length dress with a fitted and boned bodice. She wanted a gentle sweet-heart shaped neckline and slim straps. We chose a beautiful shot taffeta (shot pink/green/ivory) with chocolate chiffon on top and I ‘plaited’ the...
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
For Holly`s city wedding, she commissioned this lovely, romantic-yet-modern two piece ensemble in dove grey and blush pink.
There`s something so quietly unique about this wedding look. The subtle yet unusual colour choices, the simplicity of the separates, the inspired choices of details. It all just makes you look twice.
Choosing something different for your wedding dress doesn`t necessarily mean you have to go for something big, dramatic and colourful. You can make choices like Holly did, that stay true to her sense of style and her vision 🕊️
Photography - Andy Wright
#weddingdress #weddingdressmaker #ukbride #2026bride
I found this sheet music in my house, and I was so surprised by what it was 🎹🎵
There’s a music stand in my childhood home, and when I was having a look, I found this: “Three Songs composed by Ethel M. Lightfoot”. And my curiosity was peaked. So I sat down at the piano.
When it comes to reading music, I can play piano and sing a little. Nothing outstanding but enough that I could put the music in front of me and have a go at playing it. And I was surprised to discover that I found it was really easy to sightread and sing. Ethel liked the same key signatures, melodies and intervals as me. The things I wrote in my teens (usually quite a bit more angsty) were really similar in terms of structure. Her themes were different, of course, like “Cradle Song”, where a mother sings to her child about their father being away at war.
Ethel, as it turns out, is my great grandmother. Ethel was a musician, and it was so wonderful to find some of her published work, play it and somehow feel connected to her through our similarities. Somewhere in my blood is Ethel’s love for music, and it was so special to find her sheet music flowing so easily from my fingertips.
I love learning about history generally, but there’s something extra special about learning about your own personal history 💜
Is there something from your family history that you’re particularly proud of?
Off-the-rack wedding dresses rarely fit perfectly on the first try. Which can be tricky if you`ve found something you`ve got your heart set on.
But not to worry! That`s where I come in!
Rochelle had this stunning three piece ensemble for her wedding, consisting of a bra top, a beautiful lace top and a long skirt. But the fit wasn`t quite right. The bra top needed the straps shortened and buttons moving accordingly. And then the shape of the waistband of skirt was changed to fit her body better, the buttons were also moved and the hem was brought up slightly. Finally, we added a bustle hook for good measure.
And voila, a bride who looks like her dress was made exactly for her ✨️
Alteration bookings for 2026 are now open. You can always book in a no-obligation consultation with me, to see if I would be the right fit for you as well as your dress! (link in my bio)
Photography - @nataliacasephotography
With leaves starting to change to colour, my thoughts have turned to autumn. So I`m sharing my process for this autumn inspired dip dye wedding outfit;
🍁 deciding I wanted to layer a dip dye overskirt on top of the bridal playsuit
🍁choosing lots of warm, rich colours that make me think of autumn leaves carpeting a forest floor
🍁 cutting the tulle of the skirt to the right length
🍁 gradually blending each layer of colour, using an ombre of yellow, orange, brown and just a little bit of gold at the end
…and then the finished product!
Doesn`t this bridal outfit look right at some in the woods?
If you love the idea of an overskirt for your wedding dress, drop me a DM and let’s talk colour palettes!
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Photographer: @charlymaephotography
From Design 🪡 to Destination 📷️
For this autumnal-inspired (or fall for those of you on the other side of the pond 👋) bridal look I started off by designing a greige-coloured satin jumpsuit. I went with wide-cut legs for lots of comfort and movement, and pretty cross over back strap details.
When I was researching the kinds of fabrics I might use for this outfit, I came across this stunning sequin lace, covered in gorgeous flowers and stems. I knew I had to use it. So I created a sheer dress layer to go on top of the jumpsuit.
A wedding dress design wouldn`t be mine if I didn`t add a little versatility, so I also created detachable balloon sleeves, for drama during the day and practicality in the evening.
I`ve designed bespoke wedding dresses based around all the seasons, but autumn has got to be one of my favourites. Which season would you use to inspire your wedding?
Photography - @charlymaephotography
Katie wanted some alterations done on her wedding dress before she flew off to Portugal. So after a consultation discussing what she needed, I got to working my wedding dress alchemy.
For her dress, we brought up the hem to make it the right length. Originally Katie wanted to also add sleeves, but as we progressed she realised that she would be too hot and too overwhelmed by them, so instead went in the opposite direction and chose to narrow the shoulder straps. Sometimes less really is more.
To the back of the dress we added a three-point bustle, and the final detail was the cathedral length veil. Almost 400 satin flowers later and I think it`s the perfect accessory for this chic bride.
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Photography - Visual Stories Co
Venue - Monte do Serrinho
Planner - Forever Events Portugal
Florist - Flower Shop Bonita
