Rhiannon Hendricks
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller and has been described as a really solid fashion statement. The dress reportedly cost $265,000 and took 3,900 hours to design. The dress was first seen at her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. For those who missed the star-studded royal wedding, the dress is available for public viewing. Markle also wore a second dress to the reception, a halter-neck sheath gown designed by Stella McCartney.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Cost | $265,000 |
| Veil Design Hours | 3,900 |
| Number of Fittings | 8 |
| Number of Gowns | 2 |
| Reception Gown Designer | Stella McCartney |
| Reception Gown Style | High-neck, halter dress |
| Reception Gown Silhouette | Slinky |
| Reception Gown Neckline | High halter |
| Gown Contoured by Seams | 6 |
| Train Length | 16 feet |
| Underside | Triple-silk organza |
| Fabric | Double-bonded silk cady |
| Fabric Finish | Soft matte, gracefully luminous |
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What You'll Learn
Meghan Markle's wedding dress designer
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. Markle chose Waight Keller because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent and because of the designer's elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers and was made of double-bonded silk cady with a soft matte but gracefully luminous effect. The gown featured six meticulously placed seams, an open boat neckline, structured three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a 16-foot-long train with a triple-silk organza underskirt. The dress was estimated to cost $265,000, which the bride paid for herself.
In addition to her wedding ceremony gown, Markle also wore two other dresses on her wedding day. The first was a high-neck, halter-neck sheath gown designed by Stella McCartney, which she wore to the evening reception hosted by King Charles III at Frogmore House. The second was a surprise to the world, as Markle switched into a modern take on traditional royal aesthetics with a high-neck, halter dress also designed by Stella McCartney for the wedding reception.
Unfortunately, I cannot confirm whether it is possible to see Meghan Markle's wedding dress in person. However, the dress was put on display in October 2018 at the "A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex" exhibit at Windsor Castle.
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The dress's Hollywood influence
The wedding dress of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been described as a ""stark departure from previous royal looks"" and a nod to Hollywood and American royalty. Markle's dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, who was the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses: Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy.
Markle chose Waight Keller because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent and because of the designer's elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour. The design process for the veil alone took 3,900 hours, with eight fittings and five months of clandestine communication. The dress was made from double-bonded silk cady, which the designer sourced from fabric mills across Europe to achieve a soft matte but gracefully luminous effect. The gown's contoured silhouette was constructed with six meticulously placed seams, culminating in a majestic 16-foot-long train and a triple-silk organza underskirt.
Markle's wedding dress was estimated to cost $265,000 and was paid for by the former Suits star herself. The dress was inspired by the simple style of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's 1996 wedding gown, marking a departure from the usual royal wedding style. The media also noted similarities between Markle's dress and those worn by Angela Brown at her wedding to Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein in 2000 and Mary Donaldson at her wedding to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark in 2004.
Markle surprised many by changing into a second dress, a Stella McCartney halter-neck sheath gown, for the evening royal reception hosted by King Charles III at Frogmore House. This modern touch to traditional royal aesthetics further emphasised the Hollywood influence on Markle's wedding day looks.
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The dress's cost
The cost of Meghan Markle's wedding dress has been estimated to be $265,000, which was paid for by the former Suits star herself. The gown was designed by acclaimed British designer Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director at the historic French fashion house, Givenchy. The dress was designed over 3,900 hours, with eight fittings and five months of clandestine communication. The designer scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop a double-bonded silk cady for a soft matte, but gracefully luminous effect. The gown's contoured silhouette was constructed with six meticulously placed seams, culminating in a majestic 16-foot-long train, intensified with a triple-silk organza underskirt.
The Duchess of Sussex's choice of wedding dress designer was influenced by her desire to highlight the success of a leading British talent. She chose Waight Keller for her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour." Markle also revealed that she wanted a "delicate" look and trusted the designer to bring her vision to life. The dress made a "solid fashion statement," and Prince Harry was reportedly very grateful for how beautiful his bride looked.
Markle's wedding dress was not the only meaningful part of her overall look. Her five-metre-long veil, made of silk tulle, was carefully embroidered with 53 individual flowers, representing each of the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. The designer spent a lot of time researching the flora specific to each country, ensuring that every bloom was unique. This detail was especially significant as Markle became a new member of the extended Royal Family.
Following the ceremony, Markle changed into a second wedding dress for the evening reception hosted by King Charles III at Frogmore House. This gown was a high-neck, halter-style dress designed by Stella McCartney, bringing a modern touch to traditional royal aesthetics.
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The dress's design process
The design process of Meghan Markle's wedding dress was a collaborative effort between the bride and the designer, Waight Keller. The process entailed 3,900 hours of work for the veil alone, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication.
Markle chose Waight Keller because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent, and she admired the designer's elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour. The two worked closely together, with the designer stating that the process flowed through many conversations over sketches and mockups.
The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. Waight Keller scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop a double-bonded silk cady for a soft matte but gracefully luminous effect. The gown's contoured silhouette was constructed with six meticulously placed seams, culminating in a majestic 16-foot-long train, intensified with a triple-silk organza underskirt.
The veil, which was 16.5 feet long and made of silk tulle, was also a significant part of the design. It featured embroidered flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. A piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry was also stitched into the veil.
Markle's wedding dress stood out for its simplicity and timeless minimal elegance, departing from the usual royal wedding style. It featured an open bateau neckline, a sculpted waist, and three-quarter-length sleeves. The design sought to convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house, where Waight Keller served as artistic director.
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The dress's similarities to other royal wedding dresses
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Waight Keller, who was chosen for her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". The dress featured a 16-foot-long train and a triple-silk organza underskirt, with a sleek and refined silhouette.
Markle's wedding dress stood out for departing from the usual royal wedding style. However, some similarities have been noted between her dress and those worn by other royal brides. For instance, Princess Eugenie's second wedding dress and Markle's second dress were both designed by Stella McCartney and shared a similar aesthetic, with a preference for simplicity and a crisp, bright white colour. Markle's dress also drew comparisons to the gowns worn by Angela Brown at her wedding to Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein in 2000 and Mary Donaldson at her wedding to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark in 2004.
In terms of design, there were some speculations that Markle's dress resembled the designs of British fashion designer Emilia Wickstead, who frequently dresses Kate Middleton. Markle's choice of a sleek, modern silhouette with a high neck and halter-style also brought comparisons to Princess Kate Middleton's lace wedding dress by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and Princess Diana's voluminous and ruffled gown by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
Overall, while Markle's wedding dress was noted for its unique departure from traditional royal aesthetics, it shared similarities with other royal wedding dresses in terms of colour, silhouette, and designer choices.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Meghan Markle's wedding dress is available for public viewing along with a copy of Prince Harry's wedding ensemble and the diamond and platinum bandeau tiara lent to her by the Queen.
The dress is on display in England, so you would have to fly there to see it in person.
The boat-neck style, silk dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for the main ceremony. The dress is said to have a "classic and simple" aesthetic with a modern twist".
Yes, Meghan Markle wore a
