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Pre-wedding speculation
Many people have been wondering about Meghan Markle’s wedding dress – and they’re not just pondering what she’ll be wearing. They’re also curious about her hair, makeup, and accessories. Despite having been married before, some commentators suggested that Markle might not choose to wear a traditional white wedding dress.
In December 2017, Israeli designer Inbal Dror was contacted to submit designs for Meghan Markle’s wedding dress. It was rumored that Erdem, Ralph & Russo, and many other famous designers were also contenders. However, British designer Stewart Parvin was the bookmakers’ favorite. Betting was suspended when British fashion designer Alexander McQueen attracted the attention of many gamblers.
It’s not surprising that Meghan’s taste in wedding dresses would be influenced by her character in Suits. She admitted on the show back in 2016 that she prefers simple styles because they’re more elegant and comfortable. Markle, a vocal supporter of the style of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, described her wedding gown as “everything goals.”
Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress Designer
Meghan Markle has been wearing a different designer for every single one of her appearances. But when it came to the royal wedding, she decided to wear a dress designed by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller.
Markle was reportedly spotted at the Givenchy show in Paris earlier this year and had also worn their clothes on other occasions. So, it is not clear if she is a friend of the designer or if she has an eye for fashion – but either way, it seems that her decision to wear one of their dresses must have been very personal.
The Duchess of Sussex wore a stunning ivory lace Givenchy dress with a beaded veil and an expression-baring tiara with diamond drops.
“Meghan Markle’s wedding dress is unique in every way,” Givenchy’s expert dressmakers explained. “To uphold the house’s heritage, the wedding dress needed six small seams. As a result, the world-renowned dress features an intricate open neckline that beautifully frames the shoulders to highlight a slender shape. The dress exudes effortless elegance because of its design with pure fabrics and versatile styling. This dress’s elegant lines extend to the back, flowing gently into a train. The garment is made from a shimmering underlay in triple silk organza with the slim three-quarter sleeve adding a note of refinement.”
Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress Cost
Meghan Markle’s wedding dress might appear simple. However, the fabric chosen for this gown is not just any material. There are no embellishments or lace on the original design, but it’s made from a totally bespoke fabric that’s speculated to have cost around £200,000.
After extensive research in Europe’s fabric mills, artistic Director Clare Waight Keller developed this cady, which is double-bonded and made of silk. The cost of the fabric is estimated to be £78,000 alone, with the fittings costing another £4,000. Considering the details of the dress and the shoes, the total cost of the outfit is justifiable.
The Duchess of Sussex broke boundaries when she reportedly bought her own wedding dress.
Meghan Markle’s Wedding Veil
The veil of Meghan Markle’s wedding dress was made of silk tulle with trim in hand-embroidered silk flowers. Meghan wanted it to represent the 53 countries that are part of the Commonwealth, so she could turn to them during her procession on her wedding day as she walked down the aisle.
To honor each of the Commonwealth countries, Meghan wanted to design one veil representing their distinctive flora. This was her way to show gratitude for being such an essential part of The Commonwealth – and with this simple gesture, she shone a light on causes and organizations that have the power to bring a change to the lives of the less fortunate throughout the region.
Meghan wanted to include two of her favorite flowers, the Poppy and Wintersweet. The former is found in front of Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, while the latter is native to her home state, California.
Making Meghan Markle’s wedding dress veil was very long and thorough. The workers had to keep their hands clean by taking regular breaks. This is because the tulle is so delicate that even minor dirt would ruin it.
Meghan Markle’s Wedding Tiara
The bride kept her veil in place with Queen Mary’s diamond tiara, which she borrowed from The Queen. The diamond bandeau is a family heirloom. It was made in 1932, making it the perfect addition to any royal-inspired wedding dress.
Kensington Palace announced, “The bandeau, made of diamonds and platinum, is formed as a flexible band of eleven sections. It has ovals with pavé set with both large and small, brilliant diamonds.” The center has a detachable diamond cluster.
County of Lincolnshire presented the center brooch to then Princess Mary in 1893 on her marriage to Prince George, Duke of York. Queen Elizabeth’s mother left her with the brooch and bandeau when she ascended the throne in 1953 that was bequeathed by Queen Mary.
The bride’s Cartier-made earrings and bracelet had everyone “in awe.”
Why Didn’t Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress Fit?
You know, in a way, I’m kind of “sad” that Meghan Markle’s wedding dress doesn’t fit her. However, it has been speculated by Harper’s Bazaar’s former digital editor, Mahalia Chang, that the reason why Givenchy designer Claire Waight Keller and bride Meghan Markle have chosen a design of cut that would permit the bride to carry around freely without being burdened by the stiff fabric of the dress may be due to an unfortunate incident that occurred during an earlier photo shoot.
The editor says that the “fabric, as well as the triple silk organza used to make the underskirt, is extremely stiff and does not allow for many stretches. If I had to guess, I would say that Keller and Markle deliberately made the bodice and sleeves more conservative so she could move around easier.”
Meghan Markle Evening Wedding Dress
Kate Middleton changed into her ballgown after the wedding breakfast—which was also designed by Sarah Burton (Kate’s first wedding dress designer) and featured a jewel-encrusted belt. The Duchess, of course, had to cover up in the chilly weather with a cashmere cardigan.
The Duchess of Sussex wore a bespoke Stella McCartney gown as her second wedding dress. The dress was made with a lily-white palette, and she complemented it with silky satin nude mesh shoes from Aquazurra with the soles painted in baby blue.
Previous entries to the prestigious event had only been exclusively open to invited members of the world’s press, but this year, Stella McCartney told WWD: “It has truly been one of the most humbling moments of my career, and I am so proud that all the team on this stunning sunny royal day.”