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Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. It reportedly cost $265,000 and took 3,900 hours to design. The dress was paid for by Markle herself and featured a pure white sheen, a bateau neckline, and three-quarter-length sleeves. The design was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's iconic dress in the 1957 film Funny Face. Markle also wore a Stella McCartney halter dress for her wedding reception.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost | $265,000 |
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy |
| Fabric | Double-bonded silk cady |
| Design time | 3,900 hours |
| Fittings | 8 |
| Collaboration time | 5 months |
| Neckline | Bateau/boat-neck |
| Sleeves | Three-quarter-length |
| Train | 16-foot-long |
| Inspiration | Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding dress |
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Meghan Markle's wedding dress cost
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, reportedly cost $265,000. The bride paid for the dress herself. The design process took 3,900 hours for the veil alone, with 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 of the dress Hepburn wore in the 1957 film Funny Face. Markle's dress also took inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's 1996 wedding dress, which surprised everyone with its simplicity.
Markle's dress was markedly different from previous royal wedding gowns, such as Princess Kate's long-sleeve lace look and Princess Diana's voluminous ball gown. Markle's dress was characterised by its simplicity and minimalism, with no lace, embroidery, or other decorations. The pure white dress featured a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a majestic 16-foot-long train. The fabric was a double-bonded silk cady, creating a soft matte yet luminous effect.
The dress was also a departure from the usual royal wedding style, with its contemporary and progressive features while still respecting tradition. The designer, Waight Keller, scoured fabric mills across Europe to find the perfect fabric and create a unique silhouette. The dress was a reflection of Markle's spirit, modernity, freshness, and cleanness.
In addition to the Givenchy dress, Markle also wore a Stella McCartney halter dress for her wedding reception. The silk crepe dress was a nod to her California roots, with its simple and elegant style.
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Who designed it
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was estimated to cost around $265,000, and the bride paid for it herself. The design process took 3,900 hours for the veil alone, with 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, specifically the iconic off-the-shoulder neckline of the dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy for Hepburn in the 1957 film Funny Face. Markle's dress also took inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's 1996 wedding dress, which surprised many with its simplicity. Markle's gown stood out from previous royal wedding styles, with its lack of lace, embroidery, or other decorations.
The pure white sheen of the dress was chosen to evoke modernity, and the fabric was a double-bonded silk cady, providing a soft matte yet luminous effect. The dress featured a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a majestic 16-foot-long train.
For her wedding reception, Markle wore a second dress designed by Stella McCartney. This silk crepe halter dress was a departure from the traditional white, with a more relaxed and contemporary style.
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How it differed from other royal wedding dresses
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, is estimated to have cost $265,000. The dress was paid for by the former Suits star herself and required 3,900 hours of design for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication between the designer and the royal.
Markle's wedding dress was notably different from other royal wedding dresses. Firstly, it was a stark departure from previous royal looks, such as Princess Kate's long-sleeve lace look and Princess Diana's voluminous ball gown, both of which featured intricate details like lace and ruffles. Instead, Markle's dress was minimalist and classic, with a simple silhouette and no lace, embroidery, or other decorations. This simplicity reflected American fashion, which is often more practical and less adorned than European styles. The dress also had a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, which gave it a contemporary and progressive feel while still respecting tradition.
Another unique aspect of Markle's dress was its colour. There had been speculation that Markle would not wear a white wedding dress since she had been married previously. However, she chose a pure white sheen to evoke modernity. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, which gave it a soft matte but gracefully luminous effect. The train was an impressive 16 feet long and was intensified with a triple-silk organza underskirt.
The veil also had special details, including flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, the California poppy in honour of Markle's home state, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. A piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry was also stitched into the veil. These personal touches made the veil a meaningful part of the wedding ensemble.
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Her second wedding dress
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was estimated to cost $265,000, which the bride paid for herself. The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. Markle's simple boat-neck ceremony dress was a stark departure from previous royal looks, with no lace, embroidery, or any decorations. The design was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, specifically the iconic off-the-shoulder dress worn by Hepburn in the 1957 movie Funny Face.
For her second wedding dress, Markle wore a halter dress designed by Stella McCartney. The silk crepe dress was a departure from the usual royal wedding style, with a contemporary and progressive feel. The designer, McCartney, said she was "so proud and honoured to have been chosen by the Duchess of Sussex to make her evening gown and represent British design". The dress featured a boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, reflecting Markle's individualistic style and American roots.
Markle's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 was a worldwide phenomenon, drawing in over 2 billion viewers. The royal nuptials broke traditions, with the bride's dress almost serving as an allegory for the new journey the Sussexes were about to embark on. The gown's pure white sheen and luminous effect, along with its contemporary design, captured the world's attention and marked a departure from the usual royal wedding style.
The Duchess of Sussex's choice to wear a dress by British designer Stella McCartney for her wedding reception was a nod to her new home country. The simple yet elegant design, with its graceful silhouette, showcased Markle's modern and fresh sense of style. The dress also paid tribute to American fashion, known for its practical and less adorned aesthetic. Markle's second wedding dress, like her first, made a statement about her unique fashion sense and her new role as a royal.
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Who paid for it
Meghan Markle's wedding dress is estimated to have cost between £110,000 and £387,000, or $265,000. The exact amount remains undisclosed, but it is known that Meghan Markle personally paid for her wedding dress. This aligns with royal tradition, as the Duchess of Cambridge also paid for her own wedding dress.
The gown's substantial cost was due to several factors, including the use of premium fabrics, such as double-bonded silk cady and triple silk organza. The dress was crafted from these luxurious materials, with an underskirt made of triple silk organza, creating a soft matte, yet gracefully luminous effect. The design also featured a majestic 16-foot-long train, adding to the overall grandeur of the bridal ensemble.
The handcrafted details of the dress further contributed to its cost. The veil, in particular, required an extensive 3,900 hours of hand embroidery. This intricate work involved embroidering flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, honouring Meghan's home state. The veil also included wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace, where the couple resided.
The bespoke nature of the gown also played a role in its cost. The dress was tailored specifically for Meghan, involving multiple fittings and personalised design elements. The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, who was chosen by Meghan for her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". Keller, as the first woman artistic director of Givenchy, created a minimalist design featuring a boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, reflecting Meghan's desire for a simple and timeless look.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress is estimated to have cost $265,000, which she paid for herself.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was a simple silk gown with a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. The dress was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's iconic dress in the 1957 movie Funny Face.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress is one of the most expensive royal wedding gowns in history. It is estimated to have cost 18 times more than Kate Middleton's wedding dress, which would have cost $434,000 in today's money. However, Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress in 1947 would be the priciest among the British royals, costing $1.6 million in 2025 dollars.
