Junior Rasmussen
Meghan Markle's wedding dress has been one of the most celebrated royal fashion moments in history. The Duchess of Sussex wore an off-the-shoulder silk gown designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy for her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. The dress was designed in Paris by a small team and featured an open boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The designer was chosen because of her elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour. The dress was also notable for its simplicity, which was a departure from previous royal wedding gowns. Markle also wore a second dress, designed by Stella McCartney, for her wedding reception.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding date | 19 May 2018 |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
| Wedding venue | St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |
| Wedding dress designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Dress label | Givenchy |
| Dress style | Simple, white, off-the-shoulder, silk, bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, structured, sculpted waistline, train with built-in triple silk organza underskirt |
| Veil | 16-foot, 5-metre-long, hand-embroidered flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, California poppy, wintersweet |
| Tiara | Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara |
| Earrings and bracelet | Cartier earrings and a bracelet by a French jeweler |
| Second wedding dress designer | Stella McCartney |
| Second wedding dress style | Halter-neck sheath gown, high halter neckline, sleeveless, modern |
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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 for Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The dress was designed in collaboration with Markle, who sought a timeless minimal elegance. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers in just five months, with eight fittings.
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. Markle commented that she wanted a female designer, and a British designer to "embrace my new home in that way". The two formed a close bond, with Waight Keller commenting that it was a pleasure to create in this very, very private way and that the pair had a very personal girlfriend relationship.
Waight Keller became the first female artistic director of the historic French fashion house in 2017. She has served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses: Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy.
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The dress's design and style
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. It featured an off-the-shoulder neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The dress was made of silk and had a simple, elegant design. It is estimated to have cost around $265,000.
The choice of designer was an unexpected one, as London-based brands Ralph & Russo and Erdem were considered the favourites for the royal's wedding dress. Markle chose Waight Keller because she admired the designer's elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour. She also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent and to embrace her new home in the UK.
The dress was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, specifically Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress from the 1957 movie Funny Face. Markle's dress also drew comparisons to a Givenchy dress worn by Hepburn in the 1957 film Funny Face. Additionally, the dress was influenced by the style of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who Markle had long admired. Markle's minimal wedding dress was a departure from previous royal looks, which tended to be more opulent and embellished.
Markle's veil was also designed by Waight Keller and featured hand-embroidered flowers representing the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country. The veil was made of five-metre-long silk tulle and was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, which was lent to Markle by the Queen. The bandeau, made of diamonds and platinum, was complemented by Cartier earrings and a bracelet by a French jeweller.
For her reception, Markle changed into a second wedding dress: a stunning Stella McCartney halter-neck sheath gown. This ensemble was wholly modern and totally reflective of Markle's personal style. The designer of the gown, Stella McCartney, is known for her commitment to eco-friendly fashion, vegan leathers, and sustainability, which aligned with the philanthropic values of the Duchess of Sussex.
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The veil's design and style
The veil Meghan Markle wore with her wedding dress was designed by Givenchy's then-creative director Clare Waight Keller. The veil was made from five-metre-long silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza. It was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to Markle by the Queen.
The veil was designed to represent the distinctive flora of all 53 Commonwealth countries united in one spectacular composition. It featured the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state of California, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace.
The veil took 3,900 hours to design and was manufactured in just five months, alongside the wedding dress. Markle and Waight Keller met for eight fittings. The designer described the process as relaxed, stating that "it all started out, in a way, quite relaxed. We just talked a lot about her personal style".
The veil was 16 feet long, with a triple-silk organza underskirt. It was lace-lined and contrasted with the simple, modern cut of Markle's wedding gown. The veil's delicate floral beauty was a shared vision between the designer and Markle, who wanted to embrace the commonwealth flora.
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The dress's cost
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, is estimated to have cost $265,000. The designer is known for her work with fashion houses like Pringle of Scotland and Chloé, and Markle chose her for her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". The dress was simple and elegant, without lace, embellishments, or embroidery. It featured a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, and was made of double-bonded silk cady for a soft matte, yet luminous effect. The gown had a 16-foot-long train, intensified with a triple-silk organza underskirt.
Markle's veil, which was designed by Waight Keller as well, took 3,900 hours to make. It was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth. The Duchess of Sussex paired her veil with the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara, a Cartier bracelet, and a pair of earrings.
For the reception, Markle changed into a high-neck, halter dress designed by Stella McCartney. This dress had a slinky silhouette and a refined glamour.
Markle's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 was a highly anticipated event, with over 2 billion viewers worldwide. The dress was one of the most talked-about elements of the wedding, with people commenting on its departure from traditional royal wedding styles.
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The dress's reception
The dress that Meghan Markle wore to her wedding reception was designed by Stella McCartney. It was a bespoke lily-white, high-neck gown made of silk crepe and featured a bold backless design. Markle paired the dress with a pair of diamond earrings and an aquamarine ring that previously belonged to Princess Diana. She also wore a sleek blue-and-white pair of satin Aquazzura pumps, which were custom-dyed to match the colour of her dress.
Markle's wedding reception dress was a stark departure from her wedding ceremony dress, which was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The pure white silk dress featured an open bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The dress was made with double-bonded silk cady and was described as having a ""timeless minimal elegance". The designer was chosen by Markle because of her ""timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour".
The ceremony dress was kept a closely guarded secret before the wedding and was only revealed when Markle stepped out of her car at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The veil, which was almost five metres long, was hand-embroidered with a variety of flowers, including the California poppy, which is the state flower of Markle's birthplace, and wintersweet, which grows outside her home with Prince Harry. The veil also featured sprays of wheat and flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.
Markle's wedding shoes were also designed by Givenchy and were made of silk duchess satin. The entire ensemble, from the dress to the veil, was designed with attention to detail and symbolism, making it a true reflection of Markle's personal style and values.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
The dress was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The dress was described as having a "timeless minimal elegance".
The veil was designed to represent the flora of each Commonwealth country. It was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Markle's home state of California and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace.
