Clare wanted something pretty but informal and not too ‘wedding’ for her special day. She knew from the start that a rose pink informal wedding dress was the way forward. She brought a skirt she loved to her design consultation with gorgeous little godet flare inserts at the back which we used as a basis...
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...
Being an older bride does not mean you have to conform to anyone’s idea of how a ‘mature lady’ should dress and I love that Barbara lived her dream! I made an Edwardian lace wedding dress made from duchess satin and beaded Guipure lace. The dress is trimmed with gathered lace flounces and groups of...
Stunning illusion back wedding dress for dark skin in winter white duchess satin and bold guipure lace. The bodice was built on skin coloured illusion tulle netting with an open back and plunging front neckline. A simple fitted fishtail skirt with dramatic round train balanced the detail above. Official photography by Allesandro Della Savia Ayesha’s...
I created a blush illusion back wedding dress in palest blush satin with ivory organza and tulle layered on top. This commission was lots of fun as the bride is a designer herself and really only wanted me for the labour, all the design was her own! Alexandra also did all the lace and beading...
Ailsa commissioned a sky blue bespoke wedding dress in silk satin. I designed it with proportions to flatter her petite figure. Official photographs by www.oxford-photography.co.uk I made the dress with a fitted and boned bodice with gentle sweetheart neckline and integral straps. I added ruching over the bust which is balanced above asymmetric draping on...
A contemporary fusion of 1930’s and Victorian fantasy elements went into the design of Katherine’s wedding dress. Official photography by Debs Ivelja I made Katherine’s art deco wedding dress out of buttermilk coloured silk satin and ivory lace with subtle gold thread running through it. The bustle was made of silk chiffon in five subtle...
I made a 1930’s style bias cut satin bridesmaid dress in soft peppermint satin for each of Katherine’s bridesmaids. I designed flattering criss-cross seaming, cowl necklines and an elegant necklace back detail. The bridesmaid dresses I made perfectly complimented the dress I’d made for the bride and suited the age and figure of both grown-up...
Creating a purple silk wedding coat and a burlesque wedding dress for this fabulous shoot showcases everything I love most about my job. From time to time I collaborate with other wedding professionals on styled wedding photoshoots. This one took place in August 2016 in London with the theme ‘City Burlesque’. Our locations including the...
Alice commissioned three fairytale bespoke flower girl dresses, Surrey. Official Wedding pictures by www.laurencephotography.com I designed the dresses each with a simple bodice in silver silk satin and layered skirts in grey and white chiffon over gathered tulle. The skirt layers were cut and graduated in petals with tiny purple and white organza butterflies sewn...
Posts from Felicity Westmacott
I love it when a bride runs, not walks, to my shop, ready for their bespoke journey to begin!
Brides who want unconventional, whilst also looking for a wedding dress that`s elegantly couture, always manage to find me.
No idea too unusual or dramatic. No design too ambitious. Bring on the whimsy!
#bespokeweddingdress #customweddingdress #weddingdressshop #2026bride #bridalboutique
As well as doing extensive alteration to Bryony`s vintage wedding dress, she also asked me to make her a custom veil in a cowl-back or cascade style (pinned on both sides of the head).
The wonderful thing about getting a bespoke veil is that it can be designed specifically to compliment your dress, your style and your story.
I think this veil is the perfect choice to add even more Hollywood glamour to Bryony`s vintage wedding look.
📸- @georginapiperphotography.co.uk
🏰- @pilgrimsrest_battle
💐- @smallwondersflorals (bridal bouquet)
👗- @bridesdressrevisited
💍- @oliveandedenvintagejewellery
It`s such a lovely feeling when I get to help make a friend`s wedding day all the more special. Bryony and I met through our local theatre, so I was delighted when she asked me to alter her vintage wedding dress.
Bryony sourced her wedding dress second hand from @bridesdressrevisited - sustainability is really important to her, so she was never going to buy it brand new. But it`s very rare for an off-the-rail dress to be the perfect fit, especially if it`s lived a longer life than most other wedding dresses.
As you can see from the early fitting photos, the dress didn`t fit Bryony`s slender frame, and the design of the back and the straps looked a little dated. So my job was to keep, but elevate, the old-time Hollywood style.
The dress underwent quite a lot of work. Firstly I had to take it in substantially to fit Bryony`s waist. Then I worked on the straps; reangling them to make them more off-shoulder, and taking the lining out, to make them less bulky and more sheer. At the back I lowered the neckline and sewed the original covered buttons back on. There were also a few smaller tasks, like fixing the zip and mending a ripped hem.
The final result is gorgeous! You would never have known the journey Bryony`s bridal look had gone through - it just looks like a dress made specifically for her.
If you`ve found your dream wedding dress, but it needs a little adjustment here or there (or a more dramatic change), drop me a DM 💜
📸- @georginapiperphotography.co.uk
🏰- @pilgrimsrest_battle
💐- @smallwondersflorals (bridal bouquet)
👗- @bridesdressrevisited
💍- @oliveandedenvintagejewellery
#weddingdressalteration #alteration #bridalboutique #bride2026 #weddingdressmaker
Here is a selection of some of the techniques I use to create a bespoke wedding dress. Each dress will combine a different set of the skills I have acquired over my 20 years of professional sewing, like puzzles put together from the same pieces each creating a different finished picture!
These include
pattern cutting,
machine sewing,
pressing,
draping and lace work,
cartridge pleating,
inserting eyelets for a lace up back,
`fussy-cutting` lace for applique,
hand beading,
making and sewing on matching cover buttons
....and so many more!
Just tell me someone else can relate 🙃
we can be lil prawns together 🦐
Inspired by @paulosamu.art
#sewist #seamtress #sewinglife
Today is the draw day for the Wed4Pal raffle!
Thank you to everyone who entered - every ticket goes towards a truly worthy cause. 100% of ticket sales (minus mandatory transaction fees) will go towards addressing the genocide in Palestine, with 50% going to Pal Humanity (an organisation providing medical aid, education and lifesaving supplies in Northern Gaza) and 50% going to gorgeous Gazan couple, Sama and Khalil, and their families to help them sustain and rebuild their lives.
And good luck! I can`t wait to find out who is the winner of my prize 👀
Illustrations: @karin_akesson_design
