Every bespoke wedding dress begins with a vision.
For Imogen, that vision was beautifully clear from the very beginning. She knew she wanted a gown that felt feminine, dramatic and unmistakably bridal a full ball gown with a classic scoop neckline, statement puff sleeves and a beautifully defined waist.
At the back, the gown would feature a train finished with one of its most distinctive details: a large, detachable bow.
The sleeves and bow were always going to be the main features of Imogen’s wedding dress.
But creating a gown with such a strong silhouette is about much more than the finished design. Behind every beautiful couture gown is a process of careful construction, fitting and refinement, ensuring that the dress not only looks extraordinary but feels completely right for the bride wearing it.
Imogen’s bespoke wedding dress was created over 12 months at my bridal atelier in Acton, West London, giving us the time to develop every element of her gown through a relaxed and considered series of fittings.
Bringing Imogen’s Wedding Dress Vision to Life
From our very first conversations, Imogen had a strong sense of the shape she wanted her wedding dress to have.
The full ball gown silhouette was central to the design. We wanted to create a beautifully sculpted bodice with a defined waist before opening into a full, elegant skirt.
To achieve this, the bodice was constructed with an internal corset and extensive boning, providing the structure and support needed to create the silhouette.
The emphasis was very much on shape.
I wanted the gown to feel beautifully structured while still retaining the elegance and femininity of a traditional ball gown. The internal construction allowed us to create definition through the waist and a strong, sculptural bodice, while the skirt provided the volume and movement that Imogen had envisioned.
For me, the construction underneath a wedding dress is just as important as what you see on the outside. A bespoke gown needs to be engineered around the bride, creating support and structure in exactly the right places while allowing her to move comfortably and enjoy her wedding day.
The Statement Puff Sleeves
The statement puff sleeves were one of the defining elements of Imogen’s gown.
They brought drama and personality to an otherwise timeless silhouette, creating a beautiful contrast between the structured bodice and the softer volume of the sleeves.
Getting statement sleeves right is all about proportion.
They needed to feel dramatic enough to make an impact, while remaining balanced with the proportions of the gown and, most importantly, with Imogen herself.
Throughout the fitting process, we refined the shape and proportions of the sleeves until they felt completely harmonious with the rest of the dress.
They became one of those details that immediately gave the gown its personality.
The Detachable Bow and Mikado Silk Train
At the back of the gown, we created another major statement: a large detachable bow positioned over the train.
The bow was designed to become a focal point from behind, adding drama and a sense of occasion to the silhouette.
Making the bow detachable also gave Imogen the option of changing the look of her gown throughout her wedding day. It was a beautiful way to create a second feeling to the dress without changing the gown itself.
The train was created in luxurious Mikado silk, chosen for its beautiful structure, weight and finish.
Mikado was particularly suited to Imogen’s gown because of the way it holds its shape. It allowed us to create the sculptural qualities of the ball gown while giving the train the presence and elegance that the design required.
Together, the bow and train created a dramatic back view that complemented the simplicity of the scoop neckline and beautifully structured bodice.
A Year of Bespoke Wedding Dress Fittings
Imogen’s wedding dress was developed and fitted over the course of approximately 12 months.
Having this time allowed us to approach the bespoke process in a relaxed and considered way.
Rather than rushing through a handful of appointments, we had the opportunity to watch the gown evolve. Each fitting allowed us to refine another element from the proportions of the bodice and definition of the waist to the fullness of the skirt, the shape of the sleeves and the positioning of the bow.
This is one of the things I love most about creating a bespoke wedding dress.
A gown isn't simply made once.
It is developed with the bride.
As Imogen came back for each fitting, we could see the dress gradually becoming more refined and more personal to her. Small adjustments to fit and proportion can make such a significant difference to how a finished wedding dress looks and feels.
Over the course of that year, Imogen’s gown evolved from an initial idea into something completely her own.
Designing a Bespoke Wedding Dress for Imogen
As a plus-size bride, it was particularly important to me that Imogen’s gown was designed around her vision, her proportions and her personal style.
For me, bespoke bridalwear is about creating the dress the bride has imagined herself wearing not asking her to compromise her vision because of her size.
The structure of Imogen’s gown was carefully considered to complement her figure and create the silhouette she wanted.
The internal corsetry and boning gave the bodice beautiful definition and support, while the full skirt created the dramatic ball gown shape that had been part of her vision from the very beginning.
Every element was there for a reason.
The result was a gown that felt glamorous, feminine and completely Imogen.
And, most importantly, it fitted her beautifully.
From First Sketch to Finished Wedding Gown
One of my favourite things about the bespoke process is looking back at the journey.
What begins with a conversation, an idea and a sketch gradually becomes something tangible.
Fabric is cut. Seams are constructed. Corsetry is developed. Sleeves are shaped. Proportions are adjusted. Details are refined.
Then eventually, after months of work, the bride steps into her finished gown.
I documented Imogen’s fittings throughout the year, capturing the different stages of her dress as it developed.
Looking back through these photographs, you can really see the transformation from the early construction and fitting stages through to the finished wedding gown.
And then came the moment we had been working towards for the entire year.
Imogen’s wedding day.
A Little Sneak Peek
