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Wedding dresses for Black and dark skin brides

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just married bride and groom illusion guipure lace bodice

I have had the privilege of working with many brides who come from black heritage or have darker skin tones. When wearing western wedding dress styles, a fashion first evolved to suit white skin women, different choices can be made to ensure the dresses flatter darker skin tones. Often this includes ensuring any sheer or skin-tone matching elements are created to match the bride’s actual skin. I hand dye tulle for illusion neckline dresses, usually with two or three samples so a bride can decide which is the best and most invisible choice.

Being sensitive to and interested in different cultures comes naturally to me. I love learning about wedding customs and traditions that are new to me. I really enjoy designing dresses for brides who are planning a wedding from their own background, or a fusion blended celebration.

destination wedding confetti shot illusion back wedding dress for dark skin
dressing the bride beaded lace wedding dress plunge neckline
low illusion back wedding dress for dark skin buttons and loops

Creating a bespoke wedding dress for Ayesha included hand dyeing her tulle for the illusion back and plunge front necklines. I really enjoy this aspect of making wedding dresses for black or dark skin brides.

Official photography by DSVisuals

angela 7 alternative wedding dress portrait neckline collar and dress

Angela wanted a subtle oyster pink dress and jacket for her white-tie wedding day. The opulent duchess satin and delicate chantilly lace combined to give a sophisticated and pretty look. You can see more pictures of Angela’s wedding ensemble here.

Photography bywww.christellephoto.com

Cultural Fusion Wedding

Custom bespoke make to measure uk london surrey sussex Asian Fusion Wedding Trousers top
low back wedding top dress south east asian gold latkan ties

Iram’s London wedding was planned a cultural fusion vibe. She wanted to wear a modern wedding ensemble in Western white colours, but with a big nod to her Indian background. My ‘Evie’ set was the perfect match, created custom for her with the latkan and belt details chosen to match her colour scheme. You can see more designs for cultural fusion weddings on this page.

You can see this set for sale in my Etsy shop, or contact me directly to discuss your custom order.

Photography – Rohit Gautam

tossing the bouquet black wedding traditional
final fitting in finished illusion wedding dress black bride
black bride ivory wedding dress silk dupion and lace

I made Vanessa’s wedding dress with a very full silk dupion skirt pleated to her waist. Corded lace was used for the illuion bodice with tulle dyed to match her skintone as the support.

custom wedding dress in silk satin by Felicity Westmacott
bespoke bias cut wedding dress on the lawn

Safiya ordered a bespoke bias cut wedding dress in white silk satin. Cutting a dress ‘on the bias’ create a beautiful drape and close fit. Metallic embroidery was created for the dress by ‘Hand and Lock‘

Official Wedding pictures by Indigo Images

custom wedding dress alteration restyle new skirt

Hannah brought me a wedding dress she had found elsewhere to have the skirt section remade with more flaboyance. I created a stunning waterfall skirt in cascades of organza with lace applique to blend it into the main dress above. You can click here to find out more about booking wedding dress alterations with me.

Wedding with another Religious element.

bride and groom civil marriage ceremony Surrey
Sikh wedding father and bride bespoke wedding dress
modern low back wedding dress surrey

Reeta’s wedding dress was made in buttermilk coloured silk satin and ivory lace to compliment her beautiful mid skintone. Official photographs by www.photofactorysite.com

open cutaway peekaboo back scalloped detail covered buttons long train sleeveless wedding dress with straps
Bespoke custom UK muslim interfaith couple Gold lace satin Hijab wedding dress
bespoke custom unique one of a kind scalloped fit and flare skirt sleeveless gold wedding dress

This bride wanted a dress made in African lace. I cut and sewed her beautiful lace fabric using the scalloped edges to trim the hem and full train. We also used more lace to create her hijab for the Muslim part of her wedding ceremony. It is always such an honour to make wedding dresses for black brides, especially when I am given such exquisite materials to work with.

Photoshoot wedding dresses for black brides

vneck wedding dress full skirt cadbury purple silk

This photoshoot in London featured the beautiful Vanessa as our model. I designed a cadbury purple silk dress coat and an ivory short wedding dress.

Photography: Jessica Jill Partridge,

beautiful black bride groom london RSA house wedding dress cleopatra queen regal elegant

I designed an asymmetric wedding dress with a gold corset to wear over the top for a photoshoot in London’s  RSA House. The stunning  Dom and Yana were our models.

Photographer – Jamie Edward

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Felicity Westmacott

I write about all aspects of weddings, dressmaking, fashion history, and the human relation to clothing. I welcome comments and debate.

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follow me on instagram@felicitywestmacott

As a seamstress there are certain things that give me the ick. Usually they`re pretty specific and unless you`re also a dressmaker it might be something you`re completely unaware of.

I`ve always had a ‘thing’ about language generally. I find it really interesting. I`ve noticed how strong a reaction I can have to people using language differently to what I’m used to. And when I notice that I often go on a bit of a deep dive to understand where that difference stems from. I think coming from a historical costuming background also means I love to know the history of things (and despite my instinctive language-conservative leanings, I do actively work on being accepting and open minded, trying celebrate the differences).

That said, please don’t say your dress has a trail!

Snails have trails - dresses have trains! 🐌

2 1
Open post by felicitywestmacott with ID 18080555521985787
As a seamstress there are certain things that give me the ick. Usually they're pretty specific and unless you're also a dressmaker it might be something you're completely unaware of. I've always had a ‘thing’ about language generally. I find it really interesting. I've noticed how strong a reaction I can have to people using language differently to what I’m used to. And when I notice that I often go on a bit of a deep dive to understand where that difference stems from. I think coming from a historical costuming background also means I love to know the history of things (and despite my instinctive language-conservative leanings, I do actively work on being accepting and open minded, trying celebrate the differences). That said, please don’t say your dress has a trail! Snails have trails - dresses have trains! 🐌

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?

8 0
Open post by felicitywestmacott with ID 18076696958118026
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?

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!

~
Photographer: @charlymaephotography

18 0
Open post by felicitywestmacott with ID 17922309360118326
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! ~ Photographer: @charlymaephotography
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in
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Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in