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Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, reportedly cost $265,000, making it one of the most expensive royal wedding gowns in history. The dress, which featured a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, was a departure from traditional royal wedding styles with its minimalist design. The creation of the dress involved 3,900 hours of design for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost | $265,000 |
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy |
| Style | Boat-neck, open neckline, small rounded neat shoulder, sculptural silhouette, minimalist |
| Inspiration | Audrey Hepburn's dress in Funny Face, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding dress |
| Veil | Blue fabric stitched inside, from the dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry |
| Reception dress | Custom Stella McCartney gown, silk crepe, halter neck |
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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. The bride paid for the dress herself. The design process required 3,900 hours of work for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of collaboration between Markle and the design team. The dress was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, specifically the iconic off-the-shoulder neckline from the 1957 movie Funny Face. The dress also drew inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's 1996 wedding dress, which surprised everyone with its simplicity.
Markle's wedding dress stood out for its departure from the usual royal wedding style, with no lace, embroidery, or other decorations. Its minimalist design reflected American fashion, which is often more practical and less adorned than European styles. The pure white sheen of the dress was chosen to evoke modernity, and the fabric was a double-bonded silk cady that created a soft matte, yet luminous effect. The gown featured a bateau neckline, a small, rounded, neat shoulder, and a sculptural silhouette. The dress had a majestic 16-foot-long train, intensified with a triple-silk organza underskirt.
For her wedding reception, Markle wore a second dress, a silk crepe halter dress designed by Stella McCartney. This dress was a nod to British design, as McCartney is a UK-born designer.
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The dress designer
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director of the historic French fashion house Givenchy. Markle chose Waight Keller for her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". The designer's "timeless minimal elegance" also aligned with Markle's desire for a wedding dress that was "modern, elegant, timeless and appropriate".
Markle and Waight Keller worked closely together to design the dress, with the Duchess of Sussex citing that she wanted a dress that "felt reflective of the world". 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 gown was also inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, with the off-the-shoulder neckline inspired by Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress in the 1957 film Funny Face.
The veil, which was 16 feet long, was also designed by Waight Keller and held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to Markle by the Queen. The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, along with Markle's two favourite flowers—wintersweet, which grows outside the couple's home at Kensington Palace, and the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state.
The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, with only five months to manufacture the dress and veil. Markle and Waight Keller met for eight fittings, and the designer described the experience as "a pleasure to create in this very, very private way". The two formed a close bond, with the designer stating that it was a "very personal girlfriend relationship".
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The dress's design and style
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The pure white gown was made from double-bonded silk cady, which created a soft matte, luminous effect. The dress featured an off-the-shoulder neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a bateau neckline. The design was a departure from traditional royal wedding gowns, with its minimalist, contemporary style. It had a 16-foot-long train, enhanced by a triple-silk organza underskirt. The dress was estimated to cost $265,000, paid for by the bride herself.
The design process for the dress took five months and involved eight fittings. Markle and Waight Keller collaborated closely to create a gown that reflected the bride's personal style and spirit. The designer drew inspiration from classic Old Hollywood gowns, particularly the iconic dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film "Funny Face." The simple, sleek aesthetic of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's 1996 wedding dress also influenced the design.
For her wedding reception, Markle changed into a second dress, a silk crepe halter dress designed by Stella McCartney. This choice continued the theme of contemporary British design, with McCartney calling it "an honour" to be chosen by the Duchess of Sussex.
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The dress's sentimental details
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was simple, sleek, and minimal, departing from the usual royal wedding style. It featured an off-the-shoulder neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a majestic 16-foot-long train. The pure white silk gown was designed to evoke a sense of modernity and freshness.
The design process for the dress took five months and included eight fittings. Markle and Waight Keller collaborated closely to create a gown that represented Markle's personal style and spirit. The designer revealed that Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn inspired the off-the-shoulder neckline, reminiscent of Hepburn's iconic dress in the 1957 movie "Funny Face." Markle also drew inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who surprised everyone with the simplicity of her 1996 wedding dress.
The dress is estimated to have cost around $265,000, making it one of the most expensive royal wedding gowns. Markle reportedly paid for the dress herself. The high price tag can be attributed to the extensive design process, the use of luxurious fabrics, and the collaboration with a renowned designer.
For her wedding reception, Markle changed into a second dress, a silk crepe halter dress designed by Stella McCartney. This choice continued the theme of simplicity and elegance, showcasing Markle's personal style and her support for British design.
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The reception dress
For her wedding reception, Meghan Markle changed into a custom halter-neck gown by Stella McCartney. The dress, described as "rebellious" by Hello Magazine, was a 1990s-style design featuring an open back and a halterneck that exposed Markle's "sculpted shoulders". The Duchess of Sussex paired the dress with custom Aquazurra heels, which featured a pale blue sole, and her late mother-in-law's aquamarine ring.
The dress was a departure from the traditional royal wedding style, as it was more modern and simple, without any lace, embroidery, or decorations. It is estimated to be worth £3,500. However, as the shoes were custom-made, their value is estimated to be higher, at £650,000.
Markle's reception dress has been compared to the now-classic wedding gown worn by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy at her 1996 wedding to John F. Kennedy Jr.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress is estimated to have cost \$265,000.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
There are conflicting reports on who paid for the dress. Some sources claim that Markle paid for the dress herself, while others suggest that the royal family paid for it.
The dress was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, specifically the iconic Givenchy dress from the 1957 movie "Funny Face". The designer also noted that Markle and herself were inspired by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's 1996 wedding dress, which surprised everyone with its simplicity.
Markle's wedding dress featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. The dress was made of pure white double-bonded silk cady with a soft matte and luminous effect. It had a 16-foot-long train and a triple-silk organza underskirt. The dress stood out from traditional royal wedding styles with its minimalist and contemporary design, lacking lace, embroidery, or other decorations.
