Junior Rasmussen
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. Markle chose Waight Keller because she admired her elegant aesthetic and wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent. The dress was made in Paris and featured a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train. It was made of double-bonded silk and had a simple, timeless design. The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Markle's home state of California.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding date | 19 May 2018 |
| Bride | Meghan Markle |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
| Dress designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Dress label | Givenchy |
| Dress type | Silk gown with bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves |
| Veil | 16-foot lace-lined veil with floral embroidery |
| Shoes | Givenchy refined pointed couture design made of silk duchesse satin |
| Second dress designer | Stella McCartney |
| Second dress type | High-neck, halter-neck sheath gown |
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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 Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The dress was simple and elegant, without any lace, embellishments, or embroidered details.
Waight Keller was the first female artistic director of the historic French fashion house, Givenchy, and Markle chose to work with her for her "timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanor." Markle also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent, as Waight Keller had served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses: Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy.
The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, and there were only five months to have the dress and the veil manufactured. Waight Keller and Markle met for eight fittings to perfect the design. The veil, which was 16 feet long, was also designed by Waight Keller and featured flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Markle's favourite flowers, wintersweet and the California poppy.
The choice of designer and style of the dress were kept a closely guarded secret until the day of the wedding, with Waight Keller unable to tell anyone that she had been selected. The dress was estimated to cost about $265,000, which the bride paid for herself.
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The dress's silhouette and style
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. The gown was made of double-bonded silk with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The dress was simple and elegant, without any lace, embellishments, or embroidered details.
The bateau neckline is a signature of the House of Givenchy, with its "graphic open" style gracefully framing the shoulders and emphasising the slender sculpted waist. The off-the-shoulder neckline lent itself to a sophisticated mermaid silhouette, with the train adding movement and the buttons lining the back of the dress. The dress was also noted for its "pure lines," achieved through six meticulously placed seams, extending towards the back where the train flows in soft, round folds.
The choice of designer was an unexpected one, as Markle's dress defied royal wedding fashion trends. The gown's simplicity and lack of embellishments were a departure from previous royal looks, such as Princess Kate's long-sleeved lace gown or Princess Diana's voluminous ball gown. Markle's admiration for Audrey Hepburn and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding gowns may have influenced her choice of a simpler, more timeless aesthetic.
The dress was estimated to cost about $265,000, and the design process required 3,900 hours for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of collaboration between Markle and the design team. The veil, made of five-metre-long silk tulle, was embroidered with flowers representing the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country. It was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, loaned to Markle by the Queen.
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The veil's design and significance
The veil Meghan Markle wore at her wedding to Prince Harry was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the designer of her wedding dress. The veil was made of silk tulle, with flowers embroidered in silk and organza. It was 16.5 feet long and required 3,900 hours of design work.
The veil incorporated flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Meghan's two favourite flowers: wintersweet, which grows outside the home she shared with Harry, and the California poppy, the state flower of her birthplace. The veil also included crops of wheat, symbolising love and charity.
The design of the veil was a surprise to the royal family and was a thoughtful touch that incorporated many meaningful elements. The flora on the veil was the result of "significant time spent researching" by the design team, and each flower was unique. The veil was secured with the Queen Mary Bandeau Tiara.
The veil was a dramatic and powerful statement, especially when paired with Meghan's simple dress. It carried a special meaning, with the flowers representing the Commonwealth countries and Meghan's personal favourites. The veil was also a nod to Meghan's interest in the work of the Commonwealth, which Prince Harry was reportedly touched by.
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Meghan's second dress
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers and was comprised of a simple silk crepe, a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The dress was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, as well as her admiration for Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding gown.
For her second dress, Markle wore a high-neck, halter dress designed by Stella McCartney. This dress brought a modern touch to traditional royal aesthetics with its Slinky silhouette and refined glamour. The reception gown had a high halter neckline and no sleeves, embodying a wholly modern and elegant style.
Markle's choice to wear two dresses was a break from royal wedding fashion trends, as was the simplicity of her first gown, which did not include lace, embellishments, or embroidered details. The designer, Waight Keller, noted that the dress aimed to create a timeless piece that emphasised the iconic codes of Givenchy while conveying modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts.
The Duchess of Sussex's wedding ensemble became one of the most celebrated royal fashion moments in history, with her choice of gowns surprising the world and setting trends for years to come.
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The dress's cost and construction time
The wedding dress worn by Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, on May 19, 2018, when she married Prince Harry, was designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open bateau neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, with only five months to manufacture the dress and veil.
There is no official information on how much the dress cost, but there has been much speculation. The Daily Mail reported that the dress cost 100,000 pounds, or about $135,000, while other sources have placed the cost at "hundreds of thousands of dollars". It has also been estimated to cost about $265,000, which Meghan Markle paid for herself. The dress is expected to stand the test of time as it will be featured in the history books.
The cost of Meghan Markle's wedding dress is also relative to the average cost of wedding dresses in the US, which is $1,564, and the typical cost of royal wedding gowns. Princess Diana's wedding dress, for example, was estimated to cost $115,000, while Kate Middleton's Alexander McQueen gown reportedly cost $434,000.
The construction of Meghan Markle's wedding dress and veil required 3,900 hours of design, eight fittings, and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team. The dress was made of silk, with only six seams, and featured a simple, elegant design with a bateau neckline and structured three-quarter sleeves. The waistline was sculpted and fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The back of the dress was just as simple as the front and was covered by a 25-foot lace-lined veil.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle wore a simple, pure silk crepe gown with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
Meghan chose to work with Waight Keller for her "timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour". She also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent.
Meghan wore a 16-foot veil with her wedding dress. The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, the California poppy, and wintersweet.
For her reception, Meghan wore a classic and relaxed halter gown by Stella McCartney.
