George Boyle
Meghan Markle's wedding dress is one of the most talked-about looks in royal fashion history. The Duchess of Sussex's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. The dress was simple and elegant, with a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train. The royal bride also wore a Stella McCartney halter dress to her reception, bringing a modern touch to traditional royal aesthetics. With an estimated cost of $265,000, the world has been captivated by Markle's wedding day looks, and many brides-to-be are inspired by her minimal and classic style.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Wedding | 19 May 2018 |
| Bride | Meghan Markle |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
| Wedding Dress Designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Wedding Dress Brand | Givenchy |
| Wedding Dress Style | Minimalist, simple, sleek lines, sharp cuts, pure white sheen, triple silk organza underskirt, bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves |
| Wedding Veil | Embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, California poppy, wintersweet |
| Wedding Reception Dress Designer | Stella McCartney |
| Wedding Reception Dress Style | Halter-neck, sheath gown, high halter neckline, sleeveless, modern |
| Wedding Reception Location | Frogmore House |
| Wedding Ceremony Location | St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |
| Wedding Guests | 600, including Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, David and Victoria Beckham, and the cast of Suits |
| Wedding Viewers | Approximately 2 billion worldwide |
| Wedding Choir | The Kingdom Choir |
| Wedding Preacher | Michael Curry, the first Black presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church |
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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 the French fashion house Givenchy. Waight Keller was the first woman to hold the role of artistic director at Givenchy. Markle chose Waight Keller because she wanted to work with a female British designer, and admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour".
The dress was made of pure white double-bonded silk cady with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The gown was designed to convey "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts", with a simple and timeless look. It was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, with only five months to manufacture the dress and veil.
The veil was designed to represent the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country, with 53 flowers embroidered in silk threads and organza. It was made from five-metre-long silk tulle and was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to Markle by the Queen. The veil also included a piece of the blue dress that Markle wore on her first date with Prince Harry.
The dress was estimated to cost about $265,000, which the bride paid for herself. The design required 3,900 hours of work and eight fittings.
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The dress' unique features
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, was a simple, white silk gown with a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers and featured an open boat neckline, a sculptural silhouette, and a majestic 16-foot-long train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt.
The dress was designed to convey a sense of "timeless minimal elegance", with sleek lines and sharp cuts that paid homage to the history of the Givenchy house. Waight Keller worked closely with Markle, who chose the designer for her elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour, to create a gown that reflected the bride's personal style and stood out from traditional royal bridal fashion.
One of the most unique features of the dress was the veil, which was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Markle's home state of California and Kensington Palace, where she and Prince Harry lived. The veil also included a piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry, stitched into it.
Markle's second dress of the day, worn to the evening reception, was a high-neck, halter-style gown designed by Stella McCartney. This dress also featured a modern silhouette and embodied the bride's aesthetic and values, promoting eco-friendly fashion and sustainability.
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The dress' similarities to other royal dresses
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress featured a bateau neckline, also known as a boat neckline, which gracefully framed the Duchess of Sussex's shoulders and emphasised her slender waist. This feature drew comparisons to the wedding dress of Princess Angela of Liechtenstein, who wore a similar boat neck gown for her wedding in 2000. Both dresses also shared the same clean, modern aesthetic and were accessorised with tiaras.
Markle's dress was also reminiscent of Princess Margaret's Norman Hartnell silk organza dress, with its simple yet trendsetting design. The Duchess of Sussex's choice to embrace her personal style, veering from past royal bridal fashion trends of opulent lace and crystal embellishments, may have been influenced by Princess Margaret's elegant and understated look.
Additionally, Markle's reception dress, a sleek halter-neck gown designed by Stella McCartney, brought a modern touch to traditional royal aesthetics. The high halter neckline and sleeveless design were wholly contemporary and reflective of Markle's personal style. This ensemble also drew comparisons to Les Reveries's silk-charmeuse dress, a classic halter shape that softly wraps around the neck, creating a beautiful silhouette.
Overall, Meghan Markle's wedding dresses combined timeless elegance with modern touches, drawing inspiration from past royal brides while also incorporating the Duchess's unique style and personality.
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The dress' 'something blue'
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was simple and classic, with a sleek silhouette, an open bateau neckline, and three-quarter-length sleeves. It was made of silk and had a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The designer worked closely with Markle to create a dress that reflected the bride's personal style and paid homage to the history of the Givenchy house. The dress was estimated to cost $265,000 and took 3,900 hours of design for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication.
For her "something blue", Markle included a piece of the blue dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry. The fabric was secretly stitched into the hem of the wedding dress, known only to the bride. The designer, Waight Keller, described it as "a little blue gingham check" and "the perfect personal memento". This detail was only revealed after the wedding, when Markle alluded to it in the 2018 documentary "Queen of the World".
Markle's wedding dress also included other personal touches, such as her choice of two favourite flowers embroidered on her veil: wintersweet, which grows outside Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace where the couple lived, and the California poppy, from her home state. The veil also featured hand-embroidered flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.
The dress has been compared to those worn by other royal brides, including Princess Margaret's simple silk dress and Audrey Hepburn's bateau-neck wedding dress in the 1957 film "Funny Face". Markle's dress has been described as unique among royal wedding dresses for its lack of lace, embroidery, or other decorations, reflecting a more minimalist and practical American fashion style.
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Meghan Markle's second dress
Meghan Markle's second wedding dress, worn to her reception, was a custom silk crepe halter-neck gown designed by Stella McCartney. The dress was described as sexy, glamorous, and elegant, with a high neckline and sophisticated Hollywood glamour. Markle paired the dress with satin Aquazzura shoes with baby blue soles, perhaps as a nod to the old wedding tradition.
The dress was a surprise to fans, who got a brief glimpse of it as the newlyweds climbed into a vintage Jaguar that transported them to the exclusive party hosted by Prince Charles. The dress generated so much attention that a month later, McCartney produced an evening gown collection called "Made With Love" that included a limited-edition piece resembling Markle's reception dress.
Markle's first wedding dress, worn during her royal wedding ceremony to Prince Harry, was designed by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller. It was a simple, classic and timeless silk gown with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress in the 1957 movie *Funny Face*. Markle also took inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding gown, which she described as "everything goals".
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was a simple, elegant, and timeless design with a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline. The dress was made of double-bonded silk crepe and featured a 25-foot lace-lined veil.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was estimated to cost around $265,000, which the bride paid for herself.
