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Meghan Markle wore two dresses on her wedding day to Prince Harry on 19 May 2018. The first, worn for the ceremony and reception, was a simple white silk dress with a boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a train. It was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. Markle's second dress, worn for the evening reception, was a bespoke lily white halter-neck gown made of silk crepe, designed by Stella McCartney.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for 2 dresses | To have different looks for the first and second portions of her wedding |
| First dress designer | Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller |
| First dress style | Simple, timeless, modern, white, silk, 3/4-length sleeves, open boat neckline, train with built-in triple silk organza underskirt |
| First dress accessories | Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara, Cartier bracelet, earrings, 16.5-foot silk tulle veil with embroidered flowers |
| Second dress designer | Stella McCartney |
| Second dress style | Lily white, high halter neck, sleeveless, backless, modern, glamorous, sophisticated |
| Second dress accessories | Aquazurra heels |
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What You'll Learn
Meghan Markle wore two dresses to follow royal tradition
Meghan Markle wore two dresses on her wedding day to follow royal tradition. Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, married Prince Harry on the 19th of May 2018.
Markle's wedding dress was designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The designer described the dress as having "'sleek lines and sharp cuts' while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, with Markle and Keller meeting for eight fittings.
Markle's veil, also designed by Waight Keller, was 16.5 feet long and made of silk tulle. It featured embroidered flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state, and wintersweet, which grows at Kensington Palace. A piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry was also stitched into the veil.
For the evening reception at Frogmore House, Markle changed into a second dress, designed by Stella McCartney. This gown was a bespoke lily white high-neck halter-neck sheath dress made of silk crepe, with an open back and a train. The reception dress was more revealing and modern, highlighting Markle's toned arms and reflecting her spirit and style.
Markle's choice to wear two dresses followed in the footsteps of Kate Middleton, who also wore a wedding gown during the day and an evening gown. It is a royal tradition for the bride's dress to remain a secret until she steps out of the car at the chapel, which Markle respected.
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The dresses were designed by Givenchy and Stella McCartney
Meghan Markle wore two dresses on her wedding day. The dresses were designed by Givenchy and Stella McCartney, respectively. The first dress, worn for the ceremony, was an off-the-shoulder gown designed by Givenchy's then-creative director, Clare Waight Keller. Markle chose Keller because she admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour", and wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady with a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train. It was designed to convey "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts" while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house.
The second dress, designed by Stella McCartney, was worn to the evening reception hosted by King Charles III at Frogmore House. It was a bespoke lily white high-neck gown made of silk crepe, with a halter neck, an open back, and a train. The modern silhouette and refined glamour of the dress were wholly reflective of Markle's personal style.
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The first dress was timeless minimal elegance
Meghan Markle wore two wedding dresses on her wedding day. The first dress, worn for the ceremony, was designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy.
Markle chose Waight Keller for her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers and featured a simple, timeless, and minimal design. According to a Kensington Palace announcement, the dress showed a "timeless minimal elegance". It was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt.
The dress was designed to convey "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts" while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. The media noted similarities between Markle's dress and those worn by Angela Brown at her wedding to Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein in 2000 and Mary Donaldson at her wedding to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark in 2004. It was also compared to a Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film *Funny Face*.
Markle's veil, also designed by Waight Keller, was 16.5 feet long and made of silk tulle. It featured embroidered flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. A piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry was also stitched into the veil.
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The second dress was more revealing and modern
Meghan Markle wore two dresses on her wedding day. The second dress, designed by Stella McCartney, was a bespoke lily white high-neck gown made of silk crepe. The dress featured a halter neckline, an open back, and no sleeves, creating a modern and glamorous look. This ensemble was a bold choice for a royal wedding, highlighting Markle's toned arms and showcasing her well-known sense of style and fashion-forward appeal.
The choice to have two dresses is not uncommon for royal brides, as seen with Kate Middleton, who also wore two gowns on her wedding day. Markle's decision to wear a more modern and revealing dress for the evening reception showcases her fashion-forward sense of style and her desire to make a statement. The dress was also a perfect representation of her spirit and personality, known for being unapologetically herself, a strong feminist, and a liberal.
The second dress, with its sleek silhouette and refined glamour, was a stunning choice for the evening reception. It is reported that Markle wanted to surprise everyone, especially her husband, Prince Harry, with her dress choices, and she certainly succeeded in creating a memorable and fashionable moment in royal history. The dress also paid homage to the history of the Givenchy house, with its sleek lines and sharp cuts, while still remaining true to Markle's timeless and minimalist aesthetic.
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The veil paid homage to the Commonwealth countries
Meghan Markle wore two dresses on her wedding day. The first was a traditional bridal gown for the ceremony and reception, and the second was a glamorous, sophisticated dress for the evening. The designer of the first dress was kept a secret until the bride got out of the car and entered St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding service.
The veil of the first dress was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state of California, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace, where she and Harry lived. The veil was designed by Ms Waight Keller, who created a "spectacular floral composition" representing the distinctive flora of all 53 Commonwealth countries. The veil was held in place by the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara, lent to Ms Markle by the Queen, which was created in 1932 with a centre brooch dating from 1893.
The second dress, designed by Stella McCartney, was a bespoke lily white high-neck gown made of silk crepe, with a halter neck, an open back, and a train. Markle's second dress was more revealing and modern, with a Slinky silhouette and refined glamour.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle wore two dresses on her wedding day to Prince Harry because she wanted different looks for the ceremony and the evening reception.
Meghan Markle's first wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label.
Meghan Markle's second wedding dress was a bespoke lily white high-neck gown made of silk crepe, designed by Stella McCartney.
