Harriet Phillips’s wedding dress designer reveals gown took 140 hours to make as key details released




Harriet Phillips’s bespoke Emilia Wickstead wedding dress required 140 hours of meticulous craftsmanship to complete.The NHS nurse married Peter Phillips during an intimate ceremony at All Saints Church in Kemble on Saturday, wearing a gown the designer described as featuring “an intentional dialogue between tradition and modernity.”The dress was developed from initial sketch through to final fitting at the brand’s private Sloane Street salon, with every element crafted by the in-house team at their West London atelier.Emilia Wickstead shared details of the creation via Instagram following the weekend nuptials.Harriet Phillips’s bespoke Emilia Wickstead wedding dress required 140 hours of meticulous craftsmanship to complete. | GETTYThe gown’s foundation comprises a square-neck column underdress paired with a delicately cropped over-jacket positioned just above the waist.Drawing inspiration from early 19th-century design, a three-metre train with a flat, linear silhouette extends from beneath a square cut-out back.Italian ivory crêpe forms the base fabric, overlaid with exceptionally fine French Leavers lace adorned with an all-over prairie flower motif that extends to the veil’s edge.The lace, hand-applied throughout, traces its heritage to the early 1900s following the British invention of the revolutionary Leavers loom.Emilia Wickstead shared details of the creation via Instagram following the weekend nuptials. | GETTYScalloped lace appliqué accentuates the architectural lines across the neckline and cuffs, while dome buttons ensure precise alignment along the centre back.Harriet Phillips accessorised with the historic Pragnell family tiara, a piece worn by multiple generations of the British jewellery dynasty.The tiara has appeared at significant royal occasions, including the coronations of both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.Blending Edwardian and Art Deco influences, the design showcases a festoon of glittering leaves interspersed with floral motifs.Harriet Phillips accessorised with the historic Pragnell family tiara, a piece worn by multiple generations of the British jewellery dynasty. | GETTYThe piece bears a striking resemblance to a tiara belonging to the Princess Royal, which she wore in official photographs marking her 50th birthday in 2000.The bride styled her hair in an elegant bun to display the shimmering headpiece to full effect.Harriet Phillips completed her bridal ensemble with Jimmy Choo shoes and earrings from Pragnell, complementing the family tiara.Renowned floral artist Millie Richardson designed the bridal bouquet, incorporating sweet peas, lily of the valley, and myrtle.