Franklin Dean
Kate Middleton's wedding dress is one of the most memorable royal wedding looks of all time. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a custom-made Alexander McQueen gown to marry Prince William at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011. The dress, designed by Sarah Burton, was a combination of white and ivory satin gazar, with a nearly 9-foot-long train. The dress featured hand-cut lace flowers, including roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, which were added onto ivory silk tulle. The lace design was hand-engineered using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. The dress is believed to have cost £250,000 and was paid for by Middleton's parents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Designer | Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Colour | White and ivory |
| Details | Handmade lace, flowers, long sleeves, V-neck, long train |
| Cost | £250,000 or $434,000 |
| Something old/borrowed | Cartier Halo tiara |
| Something new | Robinson Pelham earrings |
| Something blue | Blue ribbon sewn inside |
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What You'll Learn
Kate Middleton's wedding dress designer
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of the luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen. The dress was a white fitted V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay and a nearly 9-foot-long train. The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique that originated in Ireland in the 1820s. The lace designs included roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, representing the national flowers of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, respectively. Burton and her team at Alexander McQueen also designed the bride's second ensemble for the evening wedding reception, as well as Pippa Middleton's maid-of-honor gown.
The choice of designer was kept under wraps until the morning of the wedding, with Kate wanting to keep the dress a secret from her bridegroom, Prince William. Burton was chosen for her exceptional craftsmanship and respect for traditional workmanship and technical construction. In a statement, Kate said she wanted her dress to "combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen's work." The final product, which is rumored to have cost $434,000, did not disappoint and has gone down as one of the best dresses in royal wedding history.
The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media for its design, symbolism, and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends. Replicas of the dress were produced and sold, and the original dress was on display at Buckingham Palace from July 22 to October 3, 2011, attracting more than 600,000 visitors.
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The dress's colour palette
The colour palette of Kate Middleton's wedding dress was predominantly white and ivory. The dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and featured a fitted, white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay. The main body of the dress was made of a combination of white and ivory satin gazar, with the skirt mimicking an opening flower through the use of white satin gazar arches and pleats. The ivory silk tulle underskirt, trimmed with lace, was revealed when Kate's sister and maid of honour, Pippa Middleton, adjusted the dress.
The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice of the dress featured hand-cut lace flowers, including roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, which were created individually and sewn onto the ivory silk tulle. The lace design was hand-engineered using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. The lace flowers symbolised England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Kate's second wedding dress, worn at the evening reception, was also designed by Sarah Burton. It was a white strapless satin gown with a matching shrug. This dress also featured ivory satin, as it was paired with an ivory satin-based crepe gown worn by her sister, Pippa Middleton.
The colour palette of Kate Middleton's wedding dress and its associated attire was predominantly white and ivory, with subtle hints of colour in the lace flowers and other hidden details.
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The dress's 'something blue'
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for British brand Alexander McQueen. The dress was a combination of tradition and modernity, with an ivory and white satin gazar skirt, a lengthy train, and a fitted bodice with long lace sleeves. The dress also featured hand-cut lace flowers, including roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, which were symbolic of the four nations of the United Kingdom.
The dress's "something blue" was a blue ribbon sewn into the interior of the dress by Sarah Burton. This is in keeping with the tradition of a bride wearing "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue" on her wedding day. For her "something borrowed," Kate wore the Queen's Cartier Halo tiara, which featured 888 diamonds. Her "something new" was a pair of Robinson Pelham diamond earrings, a gift from her parents, which were designed to look like the Middleton family's coat of arms.
Kate's wedding dress became an iconic symbol of bridal fashion, inspiring brides worldwide. The dress was displayed at Buckingham Palace shortly after the wedding, attracting over 600,000 visitors. It is believed to have cost £250,000 and was paid for by the bride's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
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The dress's cost
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress was a white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay and a nearly 9-foot-long train. The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique. The dress also featured hidden details requested by Middleton, including a "something blue" sewn into the gown. The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with fashion experts noting its traditional style and expected influence on bridal gown trends.
The cost of Kate Middleton's wedding dress is estimated to be £250,000, which is approximately $434,000 or $617,000 when adjusted for inflation. The dress was paid for by Middleton's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. While this amount is substantial, it is not the most expensive royal wedding gown in history. That title goes to Queen Letizia of Spain, whose wedding dress cost a whopping $8 million.
The dress was on display at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 until 3 October 2011 during the annual summer exhibition. Replicas of the dress were also produced and sold, with one British firm creating a replica in less than five hours. The dress continues to be a source of inspiration for brides and has been named one of the most popular wedding dresses of the decade.
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The dress's flowers
The flowers on the dress held symbolic meanings and represented a tribute to the United Kingdom. The rose, as the floral emblem of England, has long been associated with love and beauty. The thistle, a spiky and sturdy flower, is the national flower of Scotland and symbolises courage, determination, and nobility. The daffodil, with its bright and cheerful colour, is the national flower of Wales and represents new beginnings and rebirth. Finally, the shamrock, a small clover-like plant, is often associated with Ireland and is said to bring good luck and fortune.
The combination of these four flowers on the wedding dress represented a unification of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The intricate lacework and symbolic choice of flowers showcased the craftsmanship and attention to detail that Alexander McQueen is known for.
In addition to the lace flowers on her dress, Kate Middleton's bouquet also included flowers with special meanings. Designed by Shane Connolly, the bouquet featured hyacinth flowers for love, lily-of-the-valley for happiness, myrtle for love and marriage, and sweet William for gallantry and a tribute to her groom, Prince William. The myrtle sprig was taken from the same plant used in Queen Elizabeth's 1947 wedding bouquet, following a royal tradition started by Queen Victoria.
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Frequently asked questions
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was a mixture of white and ivory. The main body of the dress was made of a combination of white and ivory satin gazar.
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
Kate Middleton's wedding dress featured hand-cut lace roses, daffodils, thistles, and shamrocks woven into the sleeves to symbolize England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The dress also had a nearly 9-foot-long train.
