
Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 was a highly anticipated event, with much speculation about the dress she would wear. Markle wore two dresses on her wedding day. The first was a Givenchy Haute couture gown, featuring an off-the-shoulder neckline and long sleeves. The second was a backless halter-neck gown designed by Stella McCartney, made from silk crepe with a dramatic fluted skirt. This dress allowed the Duchess of Sussex to showcase her toned back and shoulders. Markle's hair was styled in a loose bun with wisps of hair framing her face, complementing the backless design.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Stella McCartney |
| Fabric | Silk crepe |
| Neckline | Halter |
| Silhouette | Backless |
| Skirt | Dramatic fluted |
| Accessories | Aquazurra heels with satin, nude mesh, and baby blue soles |
| Jewellery | Aquamarine ring belonging to Princess Diana |
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What You'll Learn
- Meghan's second wedding dress was a halter-neck design by Stella McCartney
- The backless dress featured a high halter neckline and a dramatic fluted skirt
- The dress was sleeveless, made of silk crepe, and had a smaller train than her first gown
- Meghan's hair was styled in a loose bun with face-framing layers
- Meghan's first dress was a Givenchy Haute couture gown

Meghan's second wedding dress was a halter-neck design by Stella McCartney
Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 was a highly anticipated event, with much speculation over her wedding dress. Markle's first wedding gown was a Givenchy Haute couture dress, designed by Givenchy's then creative director, Clare Waight Keller. The dress was described as having a "graphic open bateau neckline" and "slim three-quarter sleeves".
Markle's second wedding dress, worn to an evening reception at Frogmore House, was a halter-neck design by Stella McCartney. The floor-length, sleeveless dress was backless, with a dramatic fluted skirt. The silk crepe gown was pure white, and Markle paired it with heels by Aquazurra, made with silky satin and nude mesh. Her hair was styled in a loose bun with face-framing layers, complementing the backless silhouette of the dress.
McCartney expressed her pride in being chosen by the Duchess of Sussex to design her evening gown, stating that it was "one of the most humbling moments" of her career. The halter-neck style is a popular choice for brides, allowing them to showcase their necks and shoulders while also making a fashion statement.
Markle's second wedding dress was well-received, described as "striking" and "breath-taking", and is remembered as one of the most daring royal bridal dresses of all time.
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The backless dress featured a high halter neckline and a dramatic fluted skirt
Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 was a highly anticipated event, with much speculation over the bride's dress. Markle wore two dresses on her wedding day. The first was a traditional and elegant gown, and the second was a glamorous, backless halter-neck dress.
McCartney expressed her pride and honour at being chosen by the Duchess of Sussex to make her evening gown, stating that it was "one of the most humbling moments" of her career. The dress was a modern and relaxed halter style, with a high neckline, carved-out shoulders, and a backless silhouette.
The halter neckline of the dress covered Markle's neck, so she accessorised with statement earrings and bracelets. Her hair was styled by George Northwood and pulled up into a loose bun with wisps of hair framing her face. This style perfectly suited the less formal evening occasion.
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The dress was sleeveless, made of silk crepe, and had a smaller train than her first gown
Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 was a highly anticipated event, with much speculation about her wedding dress. Markle wore two dresses on her wedding day. The first was a Givenchy Haute couture gown, which she wore for the ceremony. The second was a Stella McCartney halter dress, which she wore for the evening reception at Frogmore House.
The evening gown was sleeveless, made of silk crepe, and had a smaller train than her first gown. It was a halter-neck design, with a high neckline and a backless silhouette. The dress was floor-length and pure white, with a dramatic fluted skirt. Markle paired the dress with Aquazurra heels made of silky satin with nude mesh and soles painted in baby blue. Her hair was styled in a loose bun with wisps of hair framing her face.
The Stella McCartney gown was described as having a "sexier silhouette" than the first dress, with a sculptural high neckline and carved-out shoulders. The designer herself said she was "proud and honoured" to have been chosen by the Duchess of Sussex to make her evening gown. The dress generated so much attention that a month later, the label produced an evening gown collection called "Made With Love", which included a limited-edition piece resembling Markle's reception dress.
Markle's first dress, worn for the ceremony, was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. It featured a bateau neckline, long sleeves, and a train made of triple silk organza. The dress was simple and elegant, without any lace, embellishments, or embroidered details. It embodied Markle's "effortless American style".
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Meghan's hair was styled in a loose bun with face-framing layers
Meghan Markle's wedding hair was styled in a loose bun with face-framing layers. The style was created by celebrity hairstylist George Northwood and perfectly complemented her halter-neck evening gown. The loose bun is a classic choice for brides, and Meghan's face-framing layers added a soft and romantic touch to the overall look.
The loose bun is a versatile hairstyle that can be dressed up or down, making it a popular choice for brides who want a style that will take them from ceremony to reception with ease. Meghan's choice to wear her hair up also drew attention to her stunning Givenchy Haute couture gown, which featured an open bateau neckline, slender sculpted waist, and dramatic 16-foot veil.
The face-framing layers added a touch of softness and romance to Meghan's overall look. These wispy tendrils accentuated her features and complemented the elegant silhouette of her evening gown. The hairstyle also allowed her to showcase her statement earrings and bracelets, which were visible due to the halter neckline of her dress.
Meghan's hair and makeup looked effortlessly chic and elegant, reflecting her personal style. The loose bun with face-framing layers is a timeless and versatile hairstyle that can be adapted to suit a variety of wedding themes and styles. It is a popular choice for brides who want to feel both classic and modern on their special day.
Overall, Meghan's choice of hairstyle for her wedding reception was a beautiful and sophisticated look that complemented her dress and accessories perfectly. The loose bun with face-framing layers is a style that many brides can draw inspiration from, and it is sure to remain a classic choice for years to come.
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Meghan's first dress was a Givenchy Haute couture gown
Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 was a highly anticipated event, with much speculation about the bride's dress. The Duchess of Sussex chose a Givenchy Haute couture gown, designed by Givenchy's then-creative director Clare Waight Keller. The dress was an unexpected choice, with a focus on a graphic open bateau neckline that gracefully framed the shoulders and emphasised the slender sculpted waist. The slim three-quarter sleeves added a modern touch, while the dress itself was created out of double-bonded silk cady with six meticulously placed seams.
The gown was pure white silk cady, a luxurious fabric known for its smoothness and structure. It featured a fitted bodice that skimmed her frame without clinging and a sweeping train made of double silk organza. The dress was an example of minimalism, elegance and modernity, with clean lines and a sculptural silhouette. It was also a significant feminist statement, as Waight Keller was the first female artistic director of the historic French fashion house.
The dress reportedly took 3,900 hours to complete, with teams of artisans working to ensure absolute precision. It was a bold departure from the tradition of royal wedding gowns, with no lace, embellishment or intricate embroidery. Markle's iconic Givenchy wedding dress held deep layers of meaning, reflecting her new role as Duchess of Sussex and paying homage to the Commonwealth of Nations.
For the evening reception, Meghan changed into a backless halter-neck gown by Stella McCartney. The silk crepe dress featured a dramatic fluted skirt and allowed the Duchess to show off her toned shoulders and back.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Meghan Markle's second wedding dress, worn to her evening reception, was backless.
Meghan Markle's second wedding dress was designed by Stella McCartney.
Meghan Markle's second wedding dress was a halter-neck, silk crepe, sleeveless, backless, pure white gown. It featured a high halter neckline, a dramatic fluted skirt, and a smaller train.











































