Made in teal shot silk Liz’s dress has a boned bodice with ruching to the hip and a wide off the shoulder neckline. The skirt falls in graduated tiers of waterfall frills. Hand applique of teal lace adds sparkle and texture to the neckline and skirt.

Liz had shoes dyed and embellished with matching lace by Marsha hall

Liz wrote:“My dress is stunning and I love it – you have done me proud – I can’t wait until November to wear it, I want to wear it now!! lol. I think you can tell by the smiles on my face in the photoshow pleased I am with it. Thank you just doesn’t seem enough so for now I will say in French – Merci mille fois or a thousand thankyous!”

Motifs of sequinned lace were carefully cut and sewn to the dress along the edges of the skirt tiers. A lace motif cut and appliqued to the dress was hand beaded with Swarovski crystals, seed beads and diamante stones to create a ‘brooch’ highlight on one hip.

The original design sketch.

I also made a bow-tie for Andy, the groom, in silk to match Liz’s dress.

Making Liz’s Dress

A picture from the ‘toile’ or practice run fitting. The dress is made from cheap fabrics to check fit and style before cutting into silks and expensive lace

An intermediate fitting during the making process

The back of the dress closed with a concealed zip over an inner lace up layer that provided shape and support.

Detail of the tiny Swarovski crystals sewn as a scattering along the roll-hems of the waterfall frills that fell from her front hip. I usually sew in a hidden ‘something blue’, but her Liz’s whole dress was already blue I sewed in a red rose for ‘love’ instead.

The finished dress on the stand