Rhiannon Hendricks
Meghan Markle wore two wedding dresses on her wedding day. The first, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, was a simple silk crepe gown with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The dress, which cost an estimated $265,000, was paid for by the former Suits actress herself and took 3,900 hours to design. The second, a custom Stella McCartney halter-neck sheath gown, was worn to the evening reception hosted by King Charles III at Frogmore House.
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What You'll Learn
Meghan Markle's wedding dress designer
Meghan Markle wore two wedding dresses on her wedding day. The first dress, worn for the ceremony, was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady with a pure white sheen and a soft matte, yet luminous effect. The dress had a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a 16-foot-long train made of triple silk organza. The dress was designed in collaboration with Markle, who wanted to highlight the success of a leading British female talent. The dress was estimated to cost $265,000 and took 3,900 hours of design for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of collaboration between Markle and the design team.
The second dress, worn for the evening reception, was a high-neck, halter-neck dress designed by Stella McCartney. This dress had a modern silhouette and was chosen by Markle because McCartney is a quintessential British designer who promotes eco-friendly fashion, vegan leathers, and sustainability.
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The dress's design and style
Meghan Markle wore two wedding dresses on her wedding day. The first, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, was a simple, pure white silk gown with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a 16-foot-long train made of triple silk organza. The dress was designed to convey "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts" and featured six meticulously placed seams to construct its contoured silhouette. The dress was also notable for what it lacked: it had no lace, embroidery, or other decorations, which was unusual for a royal wedding dress. Markle's veil, which was 25 feet long, was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace.
Markle's second dress, worn to the evening reception, was a high-neck, halter-neck sheath gown designed by Stella McCartney. This dress had a modern, sexy silhouette and was described as "wholly modern and totally Meghan."
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The dress's cost
Meghan Markle wore two wedding dresses on her wedding day. The dress she wore for the ceremony was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director of the French fashion house Givenchy. The dress epitomised "timeless minimal elegance", with a pure white sheen, an open boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a 16-foot-long train. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a triple silk organza underskirt. It is estimated to have cost $265,000 and was paid for by Markle herself.
The design process for the dress took 3,900 hours and included eight fittings. The veil, which was five metres long, was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy and wintersweet, which grows outside Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, where the couple lived. Waight Keller scoured fabric mills across Europe to find the perfect fabric for the dress.
For the evening reception, Markle changed into a high-neck, halter-neck dress designed by Stella McCartney. The dress had a modern silhouette and was chosen for its alignment with Markle's aesthetic and McCartney's commitment to eco-friendly and sustainable fashion.
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The dress's similarities to other royal wedding dresses
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, was simple, sleek, and chic. It featured an open boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The dress was made of silk and had a pure white sheen, evoking a sense of modernity.
Markle's wedding dress was notably different from the lace and ruffles of Princess Diana's dress and the lace wedding dress of Catherine, Princess of Wales. Markle's dress had no lace, embroidery, or decorations, making it unique compared to traditional royal wedding styles. However, it did have some similarities to other royal wedding dresses.
The dress has been compared to Princess Margaret's Norman Hartnell silk organza dress, as well as a Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film Funny Face. Markle's reception dress, a halter-neck sheath gown by Stella McCartney, has been likened to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's classic wedding gown.
In terms of style, Markle's wedding dress has been described as having a "timeless minimal elegance," reflecting the codes of the House of Givenchy. This minimalist design has also been characterised as more reflective of American fashion, which tends to be more practical and less adorned than European styles.
Overall, while Markle's wedding dress had some similarities to other royal wedding dresses, it stood out for its simplicity and modern aesthetic, showcasing the bride's personal style and paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house.
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The dress's 'something blue' detail
Meghan Markle wore two wedding dresses on her wedding day. The first dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was made of pure white silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The dress was designed to convey a sense of modernity and had a contemporary and progressive feel while still respecting tradition.
The "something blue" detail in Meghan Markle's first wedding dress was a piece of fabric from the blue dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry. This unique twist was secretly incorporated into the dress and was only revealed by Markle in a documentary, "Queen of the World," which aired on HBO on October 1, 2018. In the documentary, Markle points out the blue fabric stitched inside the dress, saying, "Somewhere in here, there's a piece... Did you see it? The piece of blue fabric that's stitched inside."
Markle's second dress, worn to the evening reception, was a high-neck, halter-neck sheath gown designed by Stella McCartney. This dress had a modern silhouette and a refined glamour, perfectly capturing the bride's aesthetic and her commitment to eco-friendly and sustainable fashion.
Markle's wedding dresses were a departure from traditional royal bridal fashion, with their minimalist and classic style. The choice of designers and the incorporation of meaningful details, such as the "something blue," made the dresses unique and memorable.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Meghan Markle wore two wedding dresses on her wedding day. She wore a custom Givenchy gown for the ceremony and changed into a Stella McCartney halter-neck dress for the reception.
Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony gown was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. Her reception dress was designed by Stella McCartney.
Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony gown was pure white, with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline. The dress had a 16-foot-long train and was made of double-bonded silk cady. The reception dress was a high-neck, halter-neck sheath gown with a Slinky silhouette and refined glamour.
Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony gown is estimated to have cost $265,000. The cost of her reception dress is not publicly known.
