Freda Bennet, Custom Made

This custom dress was inspired by the elegant looks of Grace Kelly and Kate Middleton's wedding dresses among others timeless brides. I knew early on that I wanted a combination of a 3/4 length lace top with a silky/satin skirt but looked at a lot of fabrics along the way to create a unique combination that balanced each other.

I originally thought I wanted a silk or satin skirt but many fabrics I found seemed to fall flat and the fabric I ended up choosing has a beautiful glowy nature to it while the texture of the fabric had more body and movement than traditional silk/satin. I was hesitant to create something that was too heavy or ballgown-y but this dress struck the perfect balance between princess at the ball and mobile, sleek sophistication. The top is semi-structures and has an internal band to help the dress stay up as well as a bustle system to manage train.

The lace was the other important element as I wanted something that evoked french style lace with intricate detailing. The raised stitching and edges caught my eye and the detailed lace really suited the simplicity of the skirt. The top also with coverage and keeping the dress up but was breathable for a July wedding.

I love this dress but recognize the process and experience was enough for me and I would love this dress to provide someone else with the same magical feeling I had while wearing it for my wedding. It is emotional to part with your wedding dress but I hope it goes on to see many more beautiful celebrations of love, family, and friendship.

Base dress fabric: https://www.joyceyoungcollections.co.uk/collections/brides/denver-wedding-dress/
Lace for top: https://www.joyceyoungcollections.co.uk/collections/brides/bardot-lace-top-2/