Wedding dresses for Mature Brides

I have been privileged to create many wedding dresses for mature brides. Itโ€™s lovely to be trusted with the task so central to anyoneโ€™s wedding day whatever someoneโ€™s age. I do feel that older brides have lived life a little more and โ€˜know what they likeโ€™ in a different way to those younger women planning a wedding day their twenties or thirties. It is thrilling to be chosen by older brides who see in me and my work something that aligns with their values. I love to create unique bespoke wedding dresses and I feel a particular connection to mature brides.

A selection of wedding dresses for mature brides

bespoke bronze gold wedding dress statement shoulder bow

Castle Wedding

Bronze shot silk wedding dress for a mature bride. This dress was made for a castle wedding and needed to have drama and elegance. I drew on inspiration from historical periods including Elizabethan construction techniques and the 1950โ€™s glamour to create a theatrical dress worthy of the occasion.

Photography โ€“ย Duncan Ireland

shell pink silk satin jacket with portrait collar bespoke wedding dressmaker surrey

Vintage Glamour

Angelaโ€™s shell pink silk jacket and dress was designed to flatter an older bride with vintage touches. Working with a beautiful duchess silk satin was a dream and I added delicate chantilly lace as a feminine touch. This colour is so perfect for a black bride.

Photography by www.christellephoto.com

candler 10 1950's knee short midi tea length wedding dress bespoke

Autumn colour silk

Rebeccaโ€™s wedding dress for a mature bride was made in autumnal orange silk dupion with delicate chantilly lace over the top. I designed her a 1950โ€™s style with a cross over bodice and collar a nd a full tea length skirt.

Photography by Gregg Brownย www.greggbrownweddings.comย 

long sleeve made to measure silk mikado wedding coat with cuffs

Cathedral Wedding

Itโ€™s not everyday one is approached by the daughter of a Bishop to design for her wedding day in a Cathedral! So the designโ€™s for Catherineโ€™s wedding dress and coat needed to be appropriately grand and traditional. I also made a dress for her grown-up bridesmaid and boleros for a flower girls.

Official photography byย taylormadeimagery

boned bodice and pleats and scalloped lace detail bespoke wedding dress Berkshire
lace embellishment mixed mettallics wedding dress

Corn gold silk

Juliaโ€™s wedding dress for a mature bride was as grand as her wedding venue! I created her dress in corn coloured gold silk duchess satin. The bodice was made with pleated panels and the skirt had button all down the train. I added hand beaded lace applique to highlight her neckline and hip.

Official photography byย sophieduckworthphotography.com

wedding dress with train

Seaside wedding

Alisonโ€™s wedding dress has long off the shoulder sleeves in gathered silk tulle. Many mature brides opt for long sleeves and itโ€™s a fun design task making each brideโ€™s perfect sleeve shape.

uk surrey sussex kent london south england dorking bespoke custom seamstress

Floral tulle wedding dress

I made a wedding dress for Wendy during the covid lockdowns. Her elopement micro wedding on the beautiful Cornish coast line was a breath of happiness in a dark time. Her dress was made with embellished tulle in floral appliquรฉ and beading over a plain silk satin underdress.

Photography โ€“ย Tom Frost

mature bride wedding dress short with sleeves

Dress and bolero

Suzanne was one of those rare creatures in the bridal industry โ€“ a repeat customer. She had first approached me to help with her daughterโ€™s wedding dress and then when her own wedding came round she came back to me. A wonderful compliment. Her wedding dress comprised a dress in layered shot-taffeta and brown chiffon with a matching bolero. Everything was hand beaded with Swarovski pearls.

alternative unusual unique custom colourful wedding dress overdress long train

Green silk and applique

Rae came to me with a vision for her green wedding ensemble in two layers. I made her a stunning sage green silk coat-dress with hand applique. And then also a full skirted dancing dress with florset green beaded lace on the bodice.

Photography โ€“ย Smiling Tiger Studios

1950's tea length wedding dress orange satin and lace bespoke

Disneyland wedding

Clare got married in Disneyland in Florida and her fairytale bespoke wedding dress was perfect for the setting. I made her an orange satin dress overlaid with delicate floral lace and sequin tulle. The 1950โ€™s tea length skirt and fully boned bodice were very flattering for her curves while also being feminine and elegant.

Official wedding photographs byย www.gingermidgett.com

Santorini greek grecian sky sea bright cerulean Blue Dipdye Wedding Dress
bespoke satin silk chiffon elegant greek goddess blue gold white inspired wedding dress

Santorini Blue

Lisaโ€™s Santorini blue dipdye wedding dress was a dream to make. I design a dress in textured silk chiffon and soft satin layers with the striking dipdye blue fading up from the hem. We added sleeves to give Lisa confidence. Many oder brides prefer to cover their arms and I have a wealth of classic and unconventional sleeve design ideas to suggest.

Photography โ€“ย Photocreations

dark bottle green teal period boned corset wedding dress

Victorian Bustle Dress

Rebeccaโ€™s wedding dress is a feast for my heart! She wanted a Victorian inspired dress with all the frills and trims! With a fuller figure we decided to create a proper Victorian corset to wear underneath the dress. I worked with my specialist colleague, Beth from Moody Corsetry.

Photography โ€“ย Yuriy Nutsa Photograhyย andย Babb Photo

Red Feather Masquerade Wedding Dress gothic vampy bridesmaids cloaks masks black bouquet

Masquerade wedding dress

Catherineโ€™s wedding dress was a spectacular gothic masquerade dream. I made the dress in three parts with a feathered and beaded bodice, a long white tulle skirt with a train and a red tutu style skirt that could be worn alone as a shorter style for the evening.

Photography:ย Georgina Piper Photography

beaded ivory wedding dress for mature bride

Lace and Drape

Nicola was a mature bride who wanted a unique and understated wedding dress. I loved creating this silk satin dress for her with lace detail on the bodice and train.

I also made Nicolaโ€™s bridesmaidsโ€™ dresses, more pictures can beย seen here.

teal wedding dress bespoke for mature bride

Flamenco inspired wedding dress

Liz commissioned a flamenco inspired wedding dress in beautiful teal silk dupion. I made the dress with a many layered waterfall frill skirt and a ruched off the shoulder bodice. I added hand beading and lace appliquรฉ detail.

blue halter neck wedding dress with gloves

Blue halter and lace

Angieโ€™s blue lace wedding dress was so much fun to design and make. I love when a mature bride isnโ€™t afraid to live all her fantasy fairytale wedding dress dreams. I made Angieโ€™s dress in layers of lace, satin and hand-dyed cotton muslin.

champagne with the groom rose pink informal wedding dress

Pink Registry Office wedding

Clareโ€™s bespoke wedding dress was made in pale pink duchess satin and delicate lace. It was perfect for her informal registry office wedding. Many mature brides choose to wear a colour instead of traditional white or ivory and this rose pink was a flattering and feminine choice.

lace bolero bodice with collar

Edwardian lace

Barbaraโ€™s Edwardian inspired wedding dress is a dream of Miss Havisham! At last she got her groom and her wedding! But literary references aside making this dress for Barbara brought me so much joy. Not only do I love making historical styles but knowing that Barbara was allowing her self all the sparkles, pink rose buds and lace, no matter her age, makes everything wonderful in the world.

lou 1 informal kimono inspired short pale gold silk wedding dress

Simple satin wedding dress

I made a simple kimono style wedding dress for mature bride, Lou. We used buttermilk colour silk crepe-back satin.

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felicity westmacott wearing a hat

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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This Bridgerton-inspired wedding dress is so versatile!

Of course, underneath everything there first needs to be the proper shapewear to give that Regency pillar silhouette, in the form of stays and a petticoat.
Then along comes this beautiful white and gold duchess satin dress.
And this is where the fun begins...

I created some many different accessories and options for this outfit:

You can add something deeply dramatic, with a period-accurate presentation train. This one is super long and gilded in gold lace.
Or you could go for some detachable puff sleeves, finished with an ornate pearl trim.
Then there's the bow, which can be added on top of the train, or just straight onto the dress, with the long sash-tends working as a sort of mini train.

And of course, the final, and most essential accessory for a look like this: fun, whimsy and a love for the dramatic. It also helps if you're obsessed with this current season of Bridgerton, of course...

Which Bridgerton character can you imagine wearing this bridal look?

If you think this might be the dress for you, it's currently for sale on my Etsy page (๐Ÿ”— in bio) - it's heavily discounted compared to my usual bespoke orders, so claim her whilst you can!
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in
from design to completionbespoke wedding dressesFelicity Westmacott
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Streetโ€ขย Visit the Studioย โ€ข
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Streetโ€ขย Visit the Studioย โ€ข
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in