I created two bespoke wedding dresses in Brighton for this fun, campy, Cabaret photoshoot. The goal was to create a vibrant celebration of life and love, full of bright colours and bags of personality. There’s no better way to celebrate than with glitter, confetti and a whole lot of fun! I don’t know about...
I designed this fairytale look for a bespoke wedding dress photoshoot in Essex. I made the dramatic Aurora gown in layers of fluffy blush organza and pale ivory tulle. Sequins shimmer under the top layer and creep onto the illusion neckline. I trimmed the bodice and waist with mixed metallic beaded lace and I created...
I feel as though bride Alex and I are birds of a feather. I also had a period-inspired, unusually coloured wedding dress for my wedding. Alex wanted to meld 1950’s and Tudor influences to create something unique. Taking inspiration from history, but not being limited by having to be completely accurate, is my ideal design...
I made this couture wedding dress in Surrey for Toni (during the dreaded Covid times). We went for something romantic, feminine and whimsical, in layered silk organza and soft satins. For this design, I chose a boned bodice with a straight neckline that then dips at the back. The top layer of this dress is...
For this made to measure wedding dress in London, bride Karah approached me looking to commission a layered gown in scrolling ivory floral lace, with a corset inspired by the late (and very great) Vivienne Westwood. The base layer is a floor length strapless column dress made of champagne-coloured silk dupion. I made the top...
I made a made to measure Christening Gown Sussex in ivory taffeta and beaded lace applique. I was honoured to be asked to create a mini-me christening dress for Baby M, using fabrics and inspiration from her mother’s beautiful wedding dress. Creating a dress for a growing babe is a tricky business but I have...
For this bespoke wedding dress in Guildford, I used a beautiful beaded antique-silver lace for the body of the dress, with the lower skirt being made in a silk chiffon and a silk lining. It’s the perfect combination of elegant and sexy. Depending on how much skin you want to show, you could choose to...
For this bespoke wedding dress photoshoot in Hertfordshire, we created an autumnal woodland wedding. We chose a colour palette of burnt orange, red, burgundy and pink, with accents of white and gold. Everything was handmade including the bunting, macrame and tablescape, for a truly bespoke feel. This wedding is for the kind of bride who...
I created an elopement wedding dress for this stunning mature bride, made in pale peachy pink silk satin with incredible beaded and applique tulle overlay. Silk chiffon flowers with bold colour print, pearls and glass beads fade from neckline to hem. The shape was simple and flattering, a column dress with round neckline, cap sleeves...
For this bespoke wedding dress photoshoot in Hampshire, we wanted to evoke the feeling of a fairy tale. Of a princess being whisked away by her prince, of magic, whimsy and romance. The colours we wanted to focus on were blush pink, various shades of green and deep burgundy. All inspired by the colours found...
Posts from Felicity Westmacott
It`s time to announce the first of two prizes that I`ll be contributing to the Wed4Pal fundraising raffle 🍉
I`m proud to be part of the Wed4Pal fundraiser, giving you the chance to win a Bridal Alterations Package in a raffle, meaning you could win a package worth up to to £600, for alterations of size or style to your wedding dress or outfit, for as little as £45! This is just one way in which my business is taking a stand against genocide, apartheid and injustice.
This package can include all the usual type of sizing alterations to an off the peg dress. For example, taking in the bust waist and/or hip, taking up the hem and/or shortening the train. Straps or sleeves adjusted, bust pads added and putting in a bustle-up for the train. It can also include changes to the style of the dress such as changing the neckline shape, adding straps or sleeves (fabric not included), changing a back fastening to buttons, lace-up or zip. As well as adding embellishment, lace applique, beading or embroidery.
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.
More of a bargain and far more ethical than any Black Friday deal going, you can now buy tickets for our raffle prize until 14th February. Buy your tickets today and find out on Valentine’s Day if you’ve won!
You can find out more about our amazing prize, check out the terms and conditions and buy your tickets by following the link to the fundraiser in @wed4pal bio or head straight to http://www.amostcuriousweddingfair.co.uk
Photography
1 - Natalia Case Photography
2 - Anna Pumer Photography
3 - Adam Lowndes
4 - Stephanie Kalber
5 - Mira Malovana
6 - I-DoProductions
Illustrations: @karin_akesson_design
Image description: a bride sits on a chaise longue, hand on hip, other hand holding a champagne flute. She is in a daring metallic silver lace wedding dress, perfectly fitted to her body.
Wed4Pal is an amazing fundraising effort, where loads of wedding industry supplier have donated products and services, giving you a chance to win some truly gorgeous prizes. 100% of ticket sales (minus mandatory transaction fees) will go towards addressing the genocide in Palestine, which is a cause I continue to feel extremely passionately about.
I`ve got two very exciting prizes that I`ll be announcing in the coming days, but for now I wanted to share some of the other goodies you could be in the chance of winning, including:
1 - A5 watercolour couple painting by Chloe Sami Live Painter
2 - Bespoke Dried Flower Bouquet and Six Dried Flower and Silk Ribbon button Holes by Sweet Pea Rosa
3 - 2-tiered wedding cake that could feed 100 guests by Cakes by Jazlins
4 - Bee Davies Illustration Custom Painting on Your Jacket
5 - Up to 50 A.R.D Bakery Wedding Favour Chocolate Boxes
There are over 40 raffles running as part of the fundraiser with incredible prizes from cakes to ceremonies to photography, videography, art, flowers and more. There are also some awesome suppliers you can book directly, who will donate a portion of their fees or sales to the fundraiser. You can check them out on the @wed4pal Instagram page.
Illustrations: @karin_akesson_design
Image description: Felicity Westmacott sits, smiling at the camera. Behind her are twinkling lights and pink flowers. There is a graphic overlaid on the image with reads "with my raffle prize wed4pal raffles".
When you have two bespoke wedding dresses on your sample rail that are perfect for both Elphaba and Glinda, and with Wicked For Good having come out, it felt rude not to!
Wicked has done an amazing job of bringing bright, bold fashion back to our attention, which is so exciting. But I`ve had many Elphaba and Glinda brides way before they came to the big screen. Brides who are up for going on an adventure with me to conjure up their perfect wedding look.
I might not be the Wizard of Oz, but I am the Dress Alchemist after all 😉
(shout out to my social media manager, Elodie, for stepping in and being the Elphaba to my Glinda. If you`re looking for your own magical media witch, you can find them at www.brightbeemedia.co.uk)
The dress on the stand vs. the dress in action✨
I made the Poinsettia dress last Christmas for my window display. I never would have predicted that it would be spotted by Rosie, who then bought it and wore it for the 2025 Miss Great Britain pageant!
My bespoke designs have been used for all sorts of events. Weddings mainly (obviously), but parties, anniversaries and proms too. But this might be the first time one of my gowns has been seen on the stage of a pageant. And doesn`t Rosie look so serenely glamorous? The perfect model for this sparkly, elegant dress. And she placed in the top 10. Well done Rosie!
From Design to Destination...
Isn`t it funny how art has to go through so many strange, messy stages before it emerges as something complete?
The Poinsettia wedding dress was the first bespoke dress I ever made with the sole intention of using it in my window display. I wanted something sparkly and subtly festive to brighten Dorking High Street, where my shop is.
But before that I had to do what I always do - begin the strange dance with fabric, needle and thread. Starting with the very simple base, and slowly but surely building something beautiful. Poinsettia is a flower associated with the Christmas season, so it felt right to draw inspiration from its shape (as opposed to its vibrant red colour) and feature these stunning sequin statement flowers on the bust and hip.
My dresses often have second and third lives after I`ve made them, whether I plan for it or not. And this one is no exception. After it glistened in my shop window for the winter, it was used, funnily enough, for a summer wedding shoot. And after that for something even more unusual. But more about that in the next post...
Summer Shoot Photography - @KalaWeddings.UK
You might’ve noticed that I can get quite particular about language. I think it’s important, especially when that word can carry a lot of meaning. When words get misused, you as a consumer might get mis-sold something.
An example of this is the word ‘vintage’, which now gets tacked onto the description of any garment, whether or not it actually is vintage. Often the item just looks like it’s from an older period of fashion, and for many sellers now, that’s good enough to warrant the label ‘vintage’ (which it’s not).
‘Bespoke’ is another of those words. The word comes from ‘to bespeak’, which means, to ask for. Like someone walking into carpentry workshop and asking for something completely new to be made to their exact specifications.
Anything can be bespoke, if it has been asked for, to be made especially to your requirements and preferences. You often hear it in the context of bespoke suits, but the term doesn’t belong to any one industry.
When it comes to wedding dresses, you have a few options. Off-the-peg, which is what it sounds like. Then there’s custom or made-to-measure, which both describe when something is adjusted or changed. You might order a dress where there are options to customise the length, the sleeves, the neckline etc.
But true bespoke is something different. It’s a dress that’s been designed and made completely from scratch. Completely to your measurements and your ideas. With several stages of fittings and adjustments, to ensure it’s exactly how you want it. It’s an entirely unique garment, and this is why the price of a bespoke dress can be so much more than something off-the-peg or made-to-measure.
So, next time something online claims to be ‘bespoke’, now you know what to look for to make sure you’re not being tricked into pay more for less.
