George Boyle
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director at Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady and featured a graphic open bateau neckline, slim three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waist. Markle's choice of designer was influenced by her desire to highlight the success of a leading British talent, and her admiration for Waight Keller's elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour. The dress made headlines worldwide and became one of the most celebrated royal fashion moments in history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding date | 19 May 2018 |
| Wedding location | St George's Chapel, Windsor |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
| Wedding dress designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Wedding dress brand | Givenchy |
| Fabric | Double-bonded silk |
| Neckline | Bateau |
| Sleeves | Three-quarter length |
| Waist | Sculpted |
| Veil | 16-foot-long, silk and organza |
| Veil embroidery | Flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, California poppy, wintersweet |
| Second wedding dress designer | Stella McCartney |
| Second wedding dress neckline | Halter |
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What You'll Learn
The dress designer
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. Markle chose Waight Keller because she admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". The Duchess of Sussex also wanted to highlight Waight Keller's success as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses: Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy.
Waight Keller described the opportunity to work with Markle as an "honour", and the two worked closely together on the design. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, with only five months to manufacture the dress and veil. Markle and Waight Keller met for eight fittings. The gown was made of double-bonded silk cady, with six meticulously placed seams. The dress's focus was its graphic open bateau neckline, which gracefully framed the shoulders and emphasised the slender sculpted waist. The slim three-quarter sleeves added a note of refined modernity.
The designer also revealed that the dress was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, noting that Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress from the 1957 movie Funny Face inspired the off-the-shoulder neckline. Markle's gown also took inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding dress, which similarly surprised everyone with its simplicity.
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The neckline style
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady and featured an open bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline. The neckline gracefully framed Markle's shoulders and emphasised her slender waist. The dress had a simple and elegant aesthetic, without any lace, embellishments, or embroidered details.
The bateau, or boat, neckline is characterised by a wide, curved shape that runs horizontally across the collarbone, resembling the shape of a boat. It is often used in wedding gowns to create a timeless and elegant look, as it draws attention to the bride's face and shoulders while providing a comfortable and secure fit.
Markle's second wedding dress of the day, worn to the evening reception, was designed by Stella McCartney. This gown featured a high halter neckline, a sleeveless silhouette, and a modern aesthetic. A halter neckline is a style where the fabric of the dress extends up to cover the neck, often forming a V-shape or high neck design. This type of neckline can provide a secure and flattering fit, and it is often paired with a sleeveless or backless design to create a modern and sophisticated look.
In addition to the two gowns worn by Markle, there were also speculations and predictions about other neckline styles that she might choose. Some commentators suggested that Markle would not wear a traditional white dress, as she had been married previously. There were also predictions about the designer she would choose, with names like Ralph & Russo, Erdem, and Alexander McQueen being mentioned. However, the choice of Clare Waight Keller and the Givenchy label was unexpected and created a timeless and elegant look for the royal bride.
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The fabric and material
The dress featured three-quarter-length sleeves and an open boat neckline, also known as a bateau neckline. It had a simple, elegant, and timeless design without any lace or embellishments, a departure from traditional royal wedding dresses, which Markle and Waight Keller wanted to avoid. The dress was constructed with only six seams, showcasing the expertise of the Givenchy atelier. Markle's personal style and desire for a minimal and classic aesthetic were reflected in the clean lines and simplicity of the gown.
The train of the dress, five metres long, was made of triple silk organza, adding volume and structure to the ensemble. The silk organza underskirt, along with the sculpted waist, created a flattering silhouette that accentuated Meghan's figure. The veil, a prominent feature of the wedding ensemble, was made of silk tulle and took longer to create than the dress itself. It was hand-embroidered with intricate floral motifs representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, along with wheat to symbolise love and charity. The veil was 3 metres wide and 5 metres long, fanning out behind Meghan as she walked up and down the chapel steps.
The choice of fabric and material played a significant role in creating the iconic, timeless, and elegant look of Meghan Markle's wedding dress, reflecting her personal style and making a statement about her modern sensibilities. The dress, with its simple silhouette and luxurious fabrics, became one of the most celebrated royal fashion moments in history.
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The veil
Meghan Markle's wedding veil was an exquisite silk tulle creation, measuring 16 feet in length. The veil was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the then-creative director of Givenchy, who also designed Markle's wedding gown. The veil featured a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, representing the distinctive flora of each of the 53 Commonwealth countries. The flowers were meticulously crafted, with each one being unique, and the workers spent hundreds of hours sewing and washing their hands every 30 minutes to keep the tulle and threads pristine.
Markle's veil was certainly a statement piece, adding a touch of fairytale drama to her otherwise simple and elegant wedding ensemble. It contrasted with the plainness of her wedding dress, with its hand-embroidered floral details along the edges. The veil was a thoughtful and meaningful addition to her bridal look, paying homage to the Commonwealth and all its countries.
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The dress's cost
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first female Artistic Director at the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. Markle chose Waight Keller because she admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour".
The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with six meticulously placed seams. The focus of the dress was its graphic open bateau neckline, which framed the shoulders and emphasised the slender sculpted waist. The dress extended towards the back, with the train flowing in soft round folds cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. The slim three-quarter sleeves added a note of refined modernity.
The dress was estimated to cost about $265,000, which the bride, Meghan Markle, paid for herself. The process required 3,900 hours of work on the veil, eight fittings, and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team.
For the reception, Markle changed into a second dress: a stunning Stella McCartney halter-neck sheath gown, which she wore to the evening reception hosted by King Charles III at Frogmore House.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress had a graphic open bateau neckline. The dress was designed by Givenchy's creative director, Clare Waight Keller.
The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady and had a purity that was achieved using six meticulously placed seams. The dress was designed to have a "relaxed" and "timeless" aesthetic.
Meghan's veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth. It also featured wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace, and the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state.
