Junior Rasmussen
Royal wedding dresses are known for their grandeur and elegance. They are often deeply romantic, with symbolic embroidery and lush skirts. Royal brides are expected to make a fairytale entrance, with their gowns meticulously crafted as they will be photographed and filmed from every angle. From Queen Victoria's white wedding dress to Princess Diana's long train, royal wedding dresses have set trends and captured the public imagination. These dresses are made with high-quality materials, tailored to perfection, and can feature sparkly gems, sequins, and dramatic trains. They are also known for their use of traditional fabrics like satin and silk, and intricate details such as lace and floral motifs. Royal wedding dresses are a combination of classic elegance and modern touches, reflecting the unique style and personality of each royal bride.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Satin, lace, silk, tulle, organza, taffeta, crepe, feathers, fur, brocade, gazar, net, chiffon |
| Colour | White, ivory, blue, silver |
| Embellishments | Sequins, gems, crystals, pearls, diamonds, feathers, fur, seed pearls |
| Style | Long-sleeved, short-sleeved, sleeveless, high-neck, low-neck, off-the-shoulder, sweetheart neckline, square-neck, Tudor-style, Medieval-style |
| Length | Floor-length, long train, short train |
| Symbolism | Orange blossom, myrtle, family jewels |
| Designer | Norman Hartnell, Helen Rose, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Bruce Robbins, Maureen Baker, Samantha Keswick, Jasper Conran, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
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What You'll Learn
Royal wedding dress design and style
Royal wedding dresses are often deeply romantic, using plenty of symbolism in their embroidery and fabrication, and are extremely well-constructed. They are usually made with high-quality materials, tailored to perfection, and look very expensive. A royal wedding dress is expected to be unique and make a statement, as it is sure to be photographed or filmed from every angle.
A royal wedding dress usually has a lush skirt, a long train, and is embroidered with sparkly gems and sequins. Royal brides often opt for long-sleeved silhouettes, with a focus on British design and tradition. For instance, Princess Margaret wore a sleek, unembellished silk organza gown by Norman Hartnell, which sparked a trend for similarly minimal, long-sleeved silhouettes. Similarly, Princess Mary of Teck, the bride of the future King George V, wore a simple, elegant white and silver dress with a train embroidered with roses, thistles, and shamrocks.
Some royal wedding dresses have featured heavy beadwork, depicting symbols that were personally significant to the couple. For example, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson's dress, designed by Lindka Cierach, featured symbols such as hearts, anchors, thistles, and bumblebees. Princess Alexandra's dress was designed for a future Queen and was made of white silk garlanded with orange blossom and trimmed with Honiton lace in a patriotic pattern of roses, shamrocks, and thistles.
Other royal wedding dresses have been designed with a focus on the bride's intention and personality. For instance, Meghan Markle's veil was embroidered with the flowers of the Commonwealth, and Princess Eugenie chose a style that highlighted her scoliosis scars.
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Royal wedding dress fabrics and materials
The choice of fabric for a wedding dress is critical, as it influences the bride's overall appearance and experience. While the style and silhouette of a gown can be influenced by the fabric used, the fabric chosen is often influenced by the season in which the wedding is taking place. For example, a heavy satin bridal gown could make a bride uncomfortable during summer nuptials, while an airy silk sheath might not be warm enough for a winter wedding.
Various materials are used for royal wedding dresses, depending on the desired style and season. Silk, satin, polyester, chiffon, tulle, organza, and lace are all popular fabrics for wedding dresses. Silk, with its soft drape, is often used for flowing styles, while satin is a popular choice for its glossy sheen and matte finish. Polyester is a more affordable option that can be woven to create a range of looks, and chiffon, a lightweight and sheer fabric made from silk or rayon, adds a floaty and ethereal vibe. Tulle, a net-like fabric often used in ball gowns, can add volume to a skirt, and organza, a sheer and lightweight silk fabric, adds fullness to a gown without adding weight. Lace, a delicate fabric made from synthetic fibres or silk, is often used for its romantic and elegant appearance.
Other fabrics used for wedding dresses include cotton, damask, dotted Swiss, and crepe. Cotton is a natural fibre that is soft, breathable, and comfortable, making it a good choice for summer weddings or warm climates. Damask is a lightweight fabric with raised designs, often used for structured silhouettes and more formal wedding styles. Dotted Swiss is a lightweight and breathable muslin fabric with dotted motifs, perfect for spring or summer outdoor weddings. Crepe, a gauzy and crinkled fabric, is perfect for creating flowing silhouettes and is well-suited for autumn weddings.
Ultimately, the choice of fabric for a royal wedding dress depends on the bride's personal style, the desired look and silhouette of the gown, the season, and other practical considerations.
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Royal wedding dress embroidery and embellishments
Royal wedding dresses are often embellished with intricate embroidery and other embellishments. Honiton lace, a type of bobbin lace made in Honiton, Devon, has been a prominent feature in several royal wedding dresses. Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, wore a dress made of white Moiré Antique, decorated with three flounces of Honiton lace and embellished with wreaths of orange and myrtle blossom. Similarly, Princess Alice's wedding dress in 1862 featured a deep flounce of Honiton lace, a veil, and a wreath of orange blossom and myrtle, reflecting the muted nature of the occasion following the recent death of Prince Albert.
Queen Victoria's wedding dress, which included Honiton lace, was passed down to her daughter Beatrice, who wore it for her wedding to Prince Louis of Hesse. Beatrice's dress was trimmed with orange blossom and white heather, reflecting her love of lace. Princess Mary of Teck, the bride of the future King George V, wore a simple and elegant white and silver dress with a train embroidered with roses, thistles, and shamrocks. The dress was designed by Arthur Silver, known for his Art Nouveau designs influenced by Japanese art.
Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, wore a dress designed by Norman Hartnell for her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947. The dress was made of satin with tulle and featured embroidered diamante flowers and pearls. Hartnell also designed the bridesmaids' dresses, which were mainly made of tulle with little satin flowers. Princess Elizabeth's granddaughter, Princess Beatrice, wore a Norman Hartnell dress for her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020, showcasing the enduring legacy of royal wedding dress designers.
Embroidered details can include floral emblems, garlands of roses, and ears of wheat, often created with gold and silver threads, pastel silks, seed pearls, sequins, and crystals. These embellishments add a regal touch to the bridal ensemble, enhancing the overall elegance and grandeur of the occasion. Royal wedding dress embroidery and embellishments are carefully chosen to reflect the heritage and symbolism associated with the royal family, while also showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into creating these one-of-a-kind gowns.
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Royal wedding dress trains and veils
Wedding dress trains and veils are an essential part of a royal wedding. The longer the train, the higher the bride's status in medieval times. Commoner women did not have trains, as they were reserved for noblewomen.
Royal wedding dress trains are fit for royalty and are the epitome of extravagance and opulence. Extending ten feet and beyond, they are reserved for the most formal and lavish affairs. The length and volume create a majestic aura around the bride, making her the centre of attention. The train adds scope and majesty to what would otherwise be an ordinary gown, filling out the empty space in enormous cathedrals or churches.
When choosing the train length, consider the venue, the formality of the event, and personal comfort. A longer train is breathtaking but could be challenging to move around in smaller areas. A shorter train allows for more comfortable movement but may not fulfil a grand fairy-tale vision.
The veil is also an important consideration. A long veil can be easier to pull off than a long train as it is lighter and less overwhelming. A veil can add a fashionable and dramatic air to the bridal style, with some royal brides choosing to have a veil longer than the train, creating a delicate and angelic look.
Some notable royal wedding dress trains and veils include Princess Diana's 25-foot train and 154-yard veil, Queen Elizabeth's train, and Meghan Markle's 16-foot veil.
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Royal wedding dress designers and makers
Royal wedding dresses are often designed by well-known and prestigious designers. The choice of designer may depend on various factors, such as the bride's personal preference, the style of the dress, and the availability of the designer. Here are some notable examples of royal wedding dress designers and makers:
Sir Norman Hartnell
Norman Hartnell designed the wedding dress of Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) for her marriage to Philip Mountbatten in 1947. The dress was made from ivory silk and adorned with over 10,000 hand-embroidered pearls and crystals. Hartnell cited Botticelli's "Primavera" as his inspiration for the design, which featured a fitted bodice and a spreading skirt of ivory Duchesse satin. The train, made of silk tulle, was fan-shaped and decorated with roses and wheat motifs. Hartnell also designed the wedding dress of Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II, in 1960.
David and Elizabeth Emanuel
David and Elizabeth Emanuel are the husband-and-wife duo who designed the iconic wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer for her marriage to the Prince of Wales in 1981. The dress featured a wide skirt, balloon sleeves, a frilly neckline, cuffs, and a 25-foot train. It was made of ivory silk taffeta and hand-embroidered with mother-of-pearl sequins and an estimated 10,000 pearls. The lace used on the dress and the veil belonged to Queen Mary.
Samantha Shaw
Samantha Shaw designed the wedding dress of Sophie Rhys Jones for her marriage to Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex. The dress was made of hand-dyed silk organza and silk crepe and featured a pearl-encrusted V-neck.
Arthur Silver
Arthur Silver, of the Silver Studio, designed the wedding dress of Princess Mary of Teck, who later became Queen Mary. She married the future King George V in July 1893. The dress was simple and elegant, featuring a white and silver design with a train embroidered with roses, thistles, and shamrocks.
Clare Waight Keller
Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director of Givenchy, designed the wedding dress of Meghan Markle. Markle's gown was a simple and unique creation, with a long veil that paid homage to Princess Diana's ensemble.
Sarah Burton
Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen, designed the wedding dress of Kate Middleton when she married Prince William in 2011. The dress featured an ivory satin bodice covered with intricate lace and a full skirt with a train incorporating lace applique detail.
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Frequently asked questions
Some of the most iconic royal wedding dresses include those of Princess Diana, Grace Kelly, Queen Victoria, Duchess Wallis, Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle, and Kate Middleton.
Royal wedding dresses are often white, embroidered with sparkly gems and sequins, and have long, lush skirts. They are usually deeply romantic, with plenty of symbolism in their embroidery and fabrication.
Some examples of British royal wedding dresses include Princess Margaret's sleek 1960s-style silk organza gown, Princess Beatrice's vintage Peau de Soie taffeta gown, and Kate Middleton's embroidered Alexander McQueen design.
