Backless Lace Wedding Dress

I met Ellie about a year before her wedding day, and I remember the first thing that captured my attention about the design she wanted - the diamond-shaped cut-out at the back, which I thought was such a pretty idea.
I invited Ellie to come meet me at my workshop, and we really clicked, so I was very keen to make a dress for her.
Ellie was marrying a military man at Ramster Hall, and so her dress needed to suit the prestige of the day, as well as being the dress that she wanted.
Ellie wanted the overall dress to be pretty, with a hint of sexiness but not too overtly. The bodice and skirt was very fitted, with a more dramatic flare from just above the knee, enhanced with layers of stiff tulle creating a semi-fishtail silhouette, and flowing into a long train. The neckline was modest, but plunging at the back with the addition of the keyhole for extra interest.
The bodice and sleeves are made from a fine lace, which is overlaid onto the skirt also. We found a matching lace in the same design, but which has a chord stitched around the lace flower motifs and scalloped edging which I cut out and embroidered around the cuffs, neckline and hem. I cut out lots of other floral pieces too, which were embroidered cascading from the bodice onto the hips and skirt.
Ellie found a beautiful crystal belt motif which was stitched to the waistline of the dress, and I made a crystal clasp with a blue swarovski stone which fastened the keyhole at the back of the dress.

Ellie’s beautiful photographs were taken by Matt Penberthy http://www.mattpenberthy.com