A Magnificent Country Estate Wedding

As a bespoke wedding dress designer I get to know my clients very well though our meetings and communications. I am your wing-woman, your personal stylist and sounding board, not limited only to all things bridal.

For Jessica, we had already been through the heartbreaking uncertainty of the pandemic that shall not be named. The journey to Jessica’s ”lockdown” Chelsea town hall ceremony was emotional, and her dress phenomenal, a 1940’s style bridal dress seen here. The smaller than planned event was beautiful and perfect, so now - the challenge was on, to exceed what came before.

The bespoke design ideas for Jessica’s grand wedding ceremony dress didn’t falter; a white wedding dress with a discernible regalty fitting of the venue, but with a whimsical and soft approach. The dress was to have a personalised bespoke embroidery capturing florals from the families ancestral birthplaces, and places of meaning. Motifs included the scotch thistle, the fleur de lis iris, and English rose, the Protea as well as leafy vines reflective of the antique tiara, a family heirloom.

The Silk chiffon dress has an internal corselet and subtly modern elements in the waist cutouts masked in a basket weave style lace, and the iff-shoulder placement of the embroidery. Each panel of lace intricately designed and hand-embroidered by myself to the exact measurements of the dress. And finished with a delicate row of Pearl and crystal cabochons at the neckline.

Now this is where I have to tell you the true value, luxury and possibilities of commissioning a bespoke wedding gown.
Because of the pandemic, our communications about the embroidery design had been shared photos by email and phone. Something wasn’t right, and 3 weeks before the wedding, we changed the embroidery design almost entirely and I designed and embroidered it all again from scratch until it was perfect.
The motif elements and direction remained, but we removed a lot of the excess, less beads, less fuss. Simply beautiful was the goal. Focussing on silk thread embroidery, with a few accents of Swarovski pearl cabochons and silver facetted crystals.

Instead of a veil, Jessica requested a cape, with all the drama of a veil, but to reflect as a piece of bridal armour. Sculptural and protective, but soft and delicate.
The embroidery panels became like military epaulettes on the shoulders, and were designed to be placed seamlessly over the bridal dress and sleeves as though it were one piece, with the addition of puffed shoulders and a standing collar, with cascading and flowing fine tulle.

Jessica wore the bridal shoes from her Chelsea Old Town Hall ceremony, from Rainbow Club, worn with a shoe clip that was customised to match the embroidery of her town hall dress with metallic silver motifs, beaded peyote flowers and vintage crystal elements.

The dress is a triumph, gliding from formality into relaxed reception drinks. We also created a dancing dress, to be revealed in an additional feature.


Get in touch if you’d like to create an equally personal and exquisite bespoke wedding dress.