Blog - Musings from the mind of a bespoke dressmaker.

Wedding advice, fashion, history, photoshoots and behind the scenes.

 

See lots of pictures of previous clients on my portfolio pages

Read More

Wedding Dress and Veil for Harriet

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash

A boned bodice with sweetheart neckline covered with delicate French Chantilly lace . The lace layer has a boat neckline and elbow length sleeves. The a-line skirt is layered satin and silk organza with a small train and slate grey silk-satin sash. The back closed with a concealed zip and feature cover buttons.

Photography by?www.barryholder.co.uk

Harriet’s ensemble was finished with a short two-tier veil trimmed with the pretty scalloped lace edging to match her bodice.

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash, original design sketch

Original design sketch

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash, hidden lacing behind the zip

Harriet’s dress fastened with a concealed zip at the back but inside a hidden lace up corset created shape and provided support.

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash, elbow length veil in ivory tulle

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash, back view with veil

Harriet’s sash was made using the matt side of the satin outwards, and covered with the bodice lace on the waistline part. The bow at the back was pre-tied so it would sit perfectly. The back of the dress fastened with a concealed zip and silk covered buttons were sewn on to finish the look.

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash, lace tipped veil

The back of Harriet’s dress came with a bustle-up for the train so it could be hooked out of the way for dancing or walking outside.

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash, train hooked up

Making Harriet’s Dress
Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash, toile fitting in practice fabrics

A picture from the ‘toile’ or practice run fitting. The dress is made from cheap fabrics to check fit and style before cutting into silks and expensive lace.

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash, fitting pictures

Harriet in the finished dress at her final fitting. The picture on the right shows the train hooked up as if for dancing.

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash fitting pictures

Harriet in the finished dress at her final fitting. Wearing the matching veil as well and a detail of the back fastening with concealed zip, cover buttons and sash.

Wedding Dress by Felicity Westmacott: French lace and silk organza with ribbon sash, hidden something blue on the train wrist loop

The dress came with a wrist loop so the train can be picked up and carried away from the dust when that is helpful. A hidden ‘something blue’ was sewn on to peek out when the train is lifted up.

follow me on instagram@felicitywestmacott

As a wedding dress maker, I would say the fitting process is when I need my brides to trust in me the most. It's all well and good showing them beautiful drawings and fabrics, but when it comes to those first fittings, things can look very different to what you imagined. And that's fine!

All art goes through a process, whether it's layering oil paints on a canvas, or refining the clay of a sculpture...but an artist knows, it will all be worth it in the end.

I think the finished result looks absolutely beautiful, and that’s thanks to those fittings, where I could refine, check and double check, and make sure this bride’s dress fitted her perfectly!

If you want to see photos from Laura's wedding day with this dress in action, on a beautiful, snowy day, then have a look at my earlier post.

~
#weddingdress #wedding #bride #bespokeweddingdress #customdress #weddinggown #londonbridaldesigner #surreybridaldesigner #surreydressmaker #londondressmaker
Watch til the end to see this beautifully ethereal dip-dyed wedding dress 👗 

I did 4 rounds of dyeing to get the perfect, dusk to midnight blue ombre, but it was so worth it!

I do a lot of custom dip dying, and I've noticed that blue is really on trend at the moment. But what's wonderful, is that there's still so much variety that can be had. My dip dying service comes entirely customisable, with up to five possible colours in the gradient. Some brides choose blues, but include purples and even black into their colour choices. Other brides stick with paler hues, whilst others go for the deeper, darker shades. It's always exciting to see my brides' imaginations running wild!

What colours would you add to your wedding dress?

If you want to see the bride looking like a fairy getting married in the woods, have a look at the post before this one.
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in
from design to completionbespoke wedding dressesFelicity Westmacott
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in