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Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress reportedly cost $265,000 and was paid for by Markle herself. The gown featured a pure white sheen, a bateau neckline, and three-quarter-length sleeves. The design process included 3,900 hours of work on the veil, eight fittings, and five months of collaboration between Markle and the design team. The dress was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's iconic gown in the 1957 film Funny Face, as well as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's simple and surprising wedding dress from 1996. Markle's choice of a contemporary fashion house and a British woman designer marked a departure from traditional royal wedding styles, with its minimalist and American-influenced aesthetic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost | $265,000 |
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy |
| Fabric | Double-bonded silk cady |
| Design time | 3,900 hours |
| Fittings | 8 |
| Design collaboration | 5 months |
| Inspiration | Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding dress |
| Style | Minimalist, simple, silk gown, bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, off-the-shoulder neckline, 16-foot-long train |
| Reception dress designer | Stella McCartney |
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What You'll Learn
Meghan Markle's wedding dress cost
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, reportedly cost about $265,000, which the bride paid for herself. The dress was designed in collaboration with the bride over five months, with eight fittings and 3,900 hours of work on the veil. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a pure white sheen, a bateau neckline, and three-quarter-length sleeves. The gown featured a majestic 16-foot-long train, intensified by a triple-silk organza underskirt.
The design was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, specifically the iconic off-the-shoulder neckline of the dress Hepburn wore in the 1957 film Funny Face. Markle's dress also drew inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who surprised many with the simplicity of her 1996 wedding dress. Markle's minimal and sleek wedding dress was a departure from previous royal looks, such as Princess Kate's long-sleeve lace gown and Princess Diana's voluminous ball gown.
Markle's choice of a contemporary fashion house and a British woman designer was also notable. The dress stood out for its lack of lace, embroidery, or other decorations, reflecting American fashion's tendency towards practicality and minimalism. The designer, Waight Keller, scoured fabric mills across Europe to find the perfect material for the gown, which captured the modernity and freshness that characterised Markle's style.
For her wedding reception, Markle wore a second dress, a silk crepe halter dress designed by Stella McCartney. This choice was also significant, as McCartney is a UK-born designer, and the dress represented British design on the royal wedding day.
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Design inspiration
Meghan Markle's wedding dress reportedly cost $265,000, which the bride paid for herself. The design process took 3,900 hours for the veil alone, with eight fittings and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team.
The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, who was then the artistic director of the fashion house and the first woman to hold the position. Markle's wedding dress was inspired by her affinity for Audrey Hepburn, specifically the iconic off-the-shoulder neckline of the dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy for Hepburn in the 1957 movie Funny Face. Markle's gown also featured a "small, rounded, neat shoulder" and a sculptural silhouette, all signatures of the French fashion house.
The design was also influenced by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's 1996 wedding dress, which surprised everyone with its simplicity. Markle's minimal wedding dress was a departure from previous royal looks, such as Princess Kate's long-sleeve lace look and Princess Diana's voluminous ball gown. Instead, Markle opted for a simple silk gown with a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves.
The pure white colour of the dress was chosen to evoke a sense of "modernity". Waight Keller scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop a double-bonded silk cady fabric that would create a soft matte, yet gracefully luminous effect. The dress featured six meticulously placed seams that constructed the gown's contoured silhouette, culminating in a majestic 16-foot-long train. The near-off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves added a contemporary and progressive touch while still respecting tradition.
For her wedding reception, Markle wore a second dress designed by Stella McCartney. The silk crepe gown featured a halter neckline and was chosen as a nod to British design.
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Veil design
Meghan Markle's wedding dress and veil were estimated to cost $265,000, which the bride paid for herself. The veil alone required 3,900 hours of design, eight fittings, and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team.
The veil design was a collaborative effort between Meghan Markle and designer Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director of Givenchy. The veil was designed to complement the simplicity and modernity of Markle's wedding dress. It featured a sleek and elegant design that framed the bride's face and accentuated her hairstyle and tiara.
The veil was crafted from fine, sheer fabric, such as silk tulle or chiffon, creating a soft and ethereal look. It was attached to a delicate comb or headband, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit. The length of the veil varied, with some sources mentioning a majestic 16-foot-long train that added drama and grandeur to the overall ensemble.
To personalise the veil, Markle incorporated meaningful details. She had a special flower from each of the 53 countries of the Commonwealth embroidered on the veil's trim, along with two of her favourite flowers: wintersweet, which grows in front of Nottingham Cottage, and the California poppy, a nod to her place of birth.
The veil design also took into account the venue and setting of the wedding. As the wedding took place in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, the veil's length and style were carefully considered to complement the grand surroundings without overwhelming the bride's frame.
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Dress designer
Meghan Markle's wedding dress designer was Clare Waight Keller, the first woman artistic director of Givenchy. The dress was estimated to cost $265,000 and was paid for by the former Suits star herself. The design process required 3,900 hours of work for the veil alone, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication between Markle and the design team. The dress was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, with the off-the-shoulder neckline of the actor's iconic dress in the 1957 movie Funny Face. Markle's dress also drew inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's surprise choice of a simple wedding dress in 1996.
The dress's pure white sheen was chosen to evoke modernity, and the fabric was a double-bonded silk cady for a soft matte but luminous effect. Six seams construct the gown's contoured silhouette, which culminates in a 16-foot-long train. The near-off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves were a contemporary and progressive take on tradition. Waight Keller described the design process as a "sense of playfulness and modernity and doing things in a different way". She aimed to create a dress that represented Markle, her spirit, modernity, freshness, and cleanness.
For her wedding reception, Markle wore a halter dress designed by Stella McCartney. The silk crepe dress was a departure from the usual royal wedding style, with its simple, minimalist design. McCartney described the experience as "one of the most humbling moments of my career".
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Cost comparison
Meghan Markle's wedding dress is estimated to have cost $265,000, which the bride reportedly paid for herself. The gown was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy and was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's iconic dress in the 1957 movie Funny Face. Markle's dress featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, a departure from the traditional royal wedding style with its minimalist design.
In comparison, Kate Middleton's wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, is estimated to have cost around $434,000. However, it should be noted that this price is still significantly lower than other royal wedding gowns, such as Queen Letizia of Spain's dress, which is considered the most expensive royal wedding gown in history.
Princess Diana's wedding dress is another notable expense, costing $118,000 in 1981, which would be approximately $413,000 today. Queen Elizabeth's 1947 wedding dress, designed by Norman Hartnell, is also estimated to have cost around $42,000 at the time, equivalent to $1.6 million in 2025.
The cost of Meghan Markle's wedding dress, while substantial, falls within a range of prices for royal wedding gowns, with some being significantly more expensive, and others, like Princess Beatrice's, being borrowed or less costly.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress reportedly cost \$265,000.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
There are conflicting reports about who paid for Meghan Markle's wedding dress. Some sources claim that Markle paid for the dress herself, while others suggest that the royal family or her husband, Prince Harry, may have covered the expense.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was a simple silk gown with a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. The design was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress from the 1957 movie "Funny Face."
Designing Meghan Markle's wedding dress entailed 3,900 hours of work, including eight fittings and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team.
