Franklin Dean
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, took five months to make. The dress was manufactured in Paris by a small team of ateliers, and Keller and Markle met for eight fittings. The veil alone took 3,900 hours to make. The dress was first revealed when Markle stepped out of the car at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where she married Prince Harry on 19 May 2018.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of wedding | 19 May 2018 |
| Wedding designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Dress designer | Givenchy |
| Dress style | Minimalist, classic, timeless, modern |
| Veil design time | 3,900 hours |
| Veil embroidery | Flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, the California poppy, wintersweet |
| Number of fittings | 8 |
| Time taken to make dress and veil | 5 months |
| Cost of dress | $265,000 |
| Number of seams | 6 |
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What You'll Learn
The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. It took five months to manufacture the dress and veil, and Waight Keller and Markle met for eight fittings. The two communicated discreetly via text and phone calls, with Waight Keller unable to tell anyone that she had been chosen to design the dress.
Waight Keller was chosen by Markle due to her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour." The dress was designed to showcase a timeless minimal elegance. Waight Keller stated that the dress sought to convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. The designer scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop a double-bonded silk cady for a soft matte, yet luminous effect. The dress featured six meticulously placed seams, an open bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and an A-frame silk organza skirt with a sculpted waist.
The veil, which took longer to create than the dress itself, was hand-embroidered with a variety of flowers, including the California poppy and wintersweet, representing Markle's home state of California and Kensington Palace, respectively. It also featured symbolic sprays of wheat. The veil was approximately 5 metres (16 feet) long and 3 metres wide, and the embroiderers spent 500 hours completing it, washing their hands every 30 minutes to ensure its immaculate state.
Waight Keller's relationship with the Duchess of Sussex extended beyond the wedding day. She dressed Markle for Ascot, the trooping of the colour ceremony, and Remembrance Sunday. The designer has also created other notable looks for the Duchess, including a black off-the-shoulder Givenchy dress that Markle wore when presenting Waight Keller with the British Designer of the Year award in 2018.
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The veil took 500 hours to make
The veil that Meghan Markle wore with her wedding dress took 500 hours to make. The veil was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy, and was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, along with two of Markle's favourite flowers: wintersweet, which grows outside Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, and the California poppy, from her home state.
The veil was a significant part of Markle's wedding ensemble, adding a delicate floral touch to the otherwise minimalist design of the dress. The dress itself was also a collaborative effort between Markle and Waight Keller, who worked closely together to create a timeless and elegant look. The dress featured a bateau neckline, a fitted bodice, and three-quarter sleeves, embodying Markle's "effortless American style."
The process of designing the veil involved 3,900 hours of work, including the hand embroidery of the flowers. The veil was five metres long and made of silk tulle, with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza. It took a total of five months to manufacture both the veil and the dress, during which time Waight Keller and Markle met for eight fittings.
The wedding dress and veil were first revealed when Markle stepped out of the car at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on her wedding day, 19 May 2018. The veil was a trailing headpiece that paid tribute to the occasion and the Commonwealth. The entire ensemble, including the veil, received mixed reviews from the public and fashion critics, with some praising its timeless elegance and others finding it underwhelming.
The veil played a significant role in Markle's wedding day look, adding a touch of intricacy and symbolism to her simple and elegant wedding dress. The 500 hours spent crafting the veil contributed to the overall impact and significance of Markle's bridal ensemble, making it one of the most celebrated royal fashion moments in history.
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The dress was made in Paris
The dress was made in five months, with eight fittings. The veil alone took 3,900 hours to design. Waight Keller and Markle communicated discreetly through text and phone calls, with Waight Keller unable to tell anyone that she had been selected to design the dress.
The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a soft matte but gracefully luminous effect. It featured an open neckline, a small, rounded, neat shoulder, and a sculptural silhouette. The gown's contoured silhouette culminated in a majestic 16-foot-long train, intensified with a triple-silk organza underskirt.
The dress was one of two that Markle wore on her wedding day. The second was a halter-neck sheath gown designed by Stella McCartney, which she wore to the evening reception.
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The dress was simple and elegant
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. Markle chose Keller to create her wedding dress due to the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour".
The design of the dress was kept a closely guarded secret until the bride arrived at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding service. The dress was simple and classic, a departure from past royal bridal fashion trends of opulent lace and crystal embellishments. It was inspired by Markle's personal style and her affinity for Audrey Hepburn, as well as her desire to embrace her new home in Britain. The dress was also a nod to Hollywood and American royalty, with its minimalist design reflecting the traits of the United States, where the Sussexes now reside.
The veil, which was estimated to cost $265,000, took 3,900 hours to design and featured flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy and wintersweet, a flower that grows outside Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace. The dress and veil were manufactured in just five months, with eight fittings.
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The dress was a rebellious choice
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers in just five months, with Markle and Waight Keller meeting for eight fittings.
The dress itself was also a departure from the opulent lace and crystal embellishments that had been typical of past royal bridal fashion. Markle's gown was characterised by its simplicity and minimalism, with a sleek, sculptural silhouette. The dress featured an open boat neckline, which was on the risqué side of conservative for the buttoned-up Windsors, and three-quarter-length "bracelet" sleeves. The pure white sheen of the dress was chosen to evoke modernity, and the fabric was a double-bonded silk cady with a soft matte, yet luminous effect.
The veil was also a meaningful accessory, embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy and wintersweet, which grew outside the couple's home at Kensington Palace. The veil took 3,900 hours to create and was a significant part of Markle's wedding day ensemble, with a length of five metres.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress took five months to make.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress is estimated to have cost $265,000.
Meghan Markle had eight fittings for her wedding dress.
