Rhiannon Hendricks
Kate Middleton's wedding dress is one of the most famous royal wedding dresses in history. Designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, the dress featured a nine-foot train, a deep V neckline, and a mix of ivory and white satin gazar. The dress was noted for its design, symbolism, and expected influence on bridal gown trends. However, lesser known is that Middleton wore a second wedding dress to her reception, also designed by Sarah Burton. This second dress was a white strapless satin gown with a glittering silver belt and a fitted white cardigan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer of the first wedding dress | Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Designer of the second wedding dress | Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Colour of the first wedding dress | Ivory and white |
| Colour of the second wedding dress | White |
| Details of the first wedding dress | Hand-cut lace roses, daffodils, thistles, and shamrocks woven into the sleeves; 58 gazar and organza-covered buttons; silk tulle underskirt; 9-foot train |
| Details of the second wedding dress | Strapless; satin; detailing around the waist; accessorised with a white cardigan and a white shrug; sweetheart neckline; glittering silver belt |
| Cost of the first wedding dress | $434,000 |
| Cost of the second wedding dress | Not mentioned |
| Reception venue | Buckingham Palace |
| Number of guests at the reception | 650 |
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What You'll Learn
Kate Middleton's second wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton
Kate Middleton wore two dresses on her wedding day. The first, which she wore to the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Burton was also behind the Duchess of Cambridge's second dress, worn at the evening reception at Buckingham Palace.
Burton's work came to Middleton's attention in 2005 when she attended the wedding of Tom Parker Bowles, the son of the Duchess of Cornwall. Burton had designed the bridal gown for Bowles' bride, fashion journalist Sara Buys.
The designer and the Duchess worked closely together to bring Middleton's design vision to life. The Palace said in a statement on the day of the wedding: "Miss Middleton chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing."
The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media. Fashion experts noted that the design was largely traditional and inspired by dresses from the 1950s. Replicas of the dress were produced and sold, and the original dress was put on display at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 until 3 October 2011 during the annual summer exhibition.
Middleton's second dress was a white strapless satin gown with detailing around the waist. She wore a white shrug over the top. Burton also designed a third outfit for the Duchess: the dress she wore to the evening festivities of Bowles' wedding.
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The dress was made by the fashion house Alexander McQueen
Kate Middleton wore two dresses on her wedding day. The dress that launched a thousand lookalikes, Kate's wedding gown, was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. The Duchess of Cambridge's second dress, worn at the reception that evening, has served as creative fodder for dress designers looking to capture a more relaxed, yet elegant, silhouette.
The fashion house Alexander McQueen was founded by designer Lee Alexander McQueen in 1992. The house's early collections developed its reputation for controversy and shock tactics, earning the designer the title "l'enfant terrible" and "the hooligan". The choice of a dress from the fashion house of Alexander McQueen, who had died by suicide in 2010, was unexpected for a royal wedding. However, according to the palace, Kate opted for the label because of "the beauty of its craftsmanship", adding that she wanted her dress to "combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen's work".
The dress featured Victorian-inspired corsetry, a lace bodice, and an 8-foot train. The main body of the dress was made of a combination of white and ivory satin gazar, which was both smooth and stiff enough to hold the iconic shape often associated with McQueen creations. The dress featured 58 gazar and organza-covered buttons on the back, each one fastened by rouleau loops. The lace flowers were then added onto ivory silk tulle. The dressmakers used the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. To ensure the highest quality possible, dressmakers had to wash their hands every 30 minutes and use new needles every three hours.
The Duchess chose a white strapless satin gown with detailing around the waist for the evening wedding reception, which was held at Buckingham Palace. This dress was actually the third look created by Burton for the royal wedding day. Burton and her team at Alexander McQueen designed not only the bride's two ensembles but also Pippa Middleton's maid of honour gown.
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It was a white strapless satin gown
Kate Middleton wore two dresses on her wedding day. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a strapless white satin gown designed by Sarah Burton for the evening reception at Buckingham Palace. The dress was the third look created by Burton for the royal wedding, with the designer also crafting the bride's first ensemble and Pippa Middleton's maid-of-honour gown.
The satin gown was a floor-length ivory dress with a diamante-encrusted belt and a circle skirt. It featured a sweetheart neckline and a romantic, voluminous A-line skirt. The Duchess wore her hair down and topped her bridal look with a white shrug or bolero.
The dress was described as having a "playful complexity" by Vogue, with the satin sheen contrasting the soft, tactile texture. The Guardian commented that the cardigan was likely worn for decorum in front of the television cameras.
The Duchess of Cambridge's second dress has been praised for its relaxed yet elegant silhouette, serving as inspiration for dress designers. The gown has been credited with influencing bridal trends, with its strapless design marking a departure from the traditional long-sleeved wedding gowns.
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The dress was worn at the reception at Buckingham Palace
Kate Middleton wore not one but two wedding dresses designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen on her wedding day. The second dress was worn at the reception at Buckingham Palace, which was hosted by Queen Elizabeth, with 650 guests in attendance.
The second dress was a white strapless satin gown with a fitted bodice, slim A-line cut, and detailing around the waist. It was accessorised with a white shrug and a glittering silver belt. The satin gown was a sleeker look compared to her main ensemble, with a more relaxed but elegant silhouette.
The second dress was actually the third look created by Burton for the royal wedding day, with the designer and her team also creating the maid of honour gown for Pippa Middleton. The second dress was not widely photographed, with photographers only capturing images of the couple leaving Clarence House, King Charles' then-home, on their way to the reception. However, in 2022, a TikTok video of the Duchess descending the stairs in the dress brought it newfound attention.
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The second dress was kept under wraps and rarely photographed
Kate Middleton wore two dresses on her wedding day. The second dress, also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, was kept under wraps and rarely photographed.
The first dress was a fairytale gown with a billowing ivory silk tulle skirt, two types of lace, a fitted bodice, a deep V neckline, and a nine-foot train. It was designed by Sarah Burton for the British fashion house Alexander McQueen and was worn by Kate Middleton when she wed Prince William in an elaborate ceremony at Westminster Abbey in 2011. The dress became iconic, with replicas being produced and sold.
The second dress, on the other hand, was rarely photographed. Photographers were prohibited from taking pictures of the dress, and only captured images of the royal couple leaving Prince Charles' London home, Clarence House, on their way to the reception at Buckingham Palace. The dress was a white strapless satin gown with a sweetheart neckline, a glittering silver belt, and detailing around the waist. It was accessorized with a fitted white cardigan or shrug.
The second dress has recently gained attention, with a TikTok video of the Duchess descending the stairs at Clarence House in the ensemble going viral. The dress has been described as "sleeker" than the main ensemble, with a fitted bodice and a slim A-line cut. It was the third look created by Burton for the royal wedding day, as she also designed Pippa Middleton's maid-of-honor gown.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kate Middleton wore a second wedding dress to her wedding reception at Buckingham Palace.
The second dress was also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. It was the third look created by Burton for the wedding, with the first being the main wedding dress and the second being Pippa Middleton's maid of honour gown.
The second dress was a white strapless satin gown with a sweetheart neckline, a glittering silver belt, and detailing around the waist. It was accessorised with a fitted white cardigan or shrug.
Photographers were prohibited from taking photographs of the second dress, and were only able to capture images of the Duchess leaving Prince Charles' home en route to the Palace. The media was also very focused on the main wedding dress, which has since become iconic.
