BBC NEWS
BBCiCATEGORIES  TV  RADIO  COMMUNICATE  WHERE I LIVE  INDEX   SEARCH 

BBC News UK Edition
 You are in: Special Report: 1999: 06/99: royal wedding 
News imageNews image
News Front PageNews image
WorldNews image
UKNews image
EnglandNews image
N IrelandNews image
ScotlandNews image
WalesNews image
UK PoliticsNews image
BusinessNews image
EntertainmentNews image
Science/NatureNews image
TechnologyNews image
HealthNews image
EducationNews image
-------------
Talking PointNews image
-------------
Country ProfilesNews image
In DepthNews image
-------------
ProgrammesNews image
-------------
News image
BBC Sport
News image
BBC Weather
News image
CBBC News
News image
SERVICES
-------------
EDITIONS
royal weddingSunday, 20 June, 1999, 07:48 GMT 08:48 UK
Sophie stunning in ivory silk
Sophie
The bridal gown was in the dress-coat style
Royal bride Sophie Rhys-Jones wore a simple ivory silk and organza dress-coat with a long train, and carried a bouquet of ivory roses.

Royal WeddingNews image
The dress, by designer Samantha Shaw, was made of hand-dyed silk organza and hand-dyed silk crepe. It was full-length, with long sleeves.

The detail on the dress consisted of rows of pearls and crystal beading around the neck, sleeves and train, with further beading down the back and front of the dress-coat.

In total, 325,000 cut-glass and pearl beads were sewn on the dress, which was corseted, with a v-neck.

Sophie
The veil was one inch longer than the train
The full-length veil was one inch longer than the train. It was made of hand-dyed silk tulle, and hand-finished with spotted crystal detail.

Sophie wore three-inch heel court shoes made of silk crepe by Gina.

The bride also wore a black-and-white pearl necklace, interspersed with white gold rondels, and a matching pair of black-and-white pearl drop earrings, designed by Prince Edward and made by Asprey and Garrard as a wedding gift from Edward.

Sophie wore a diamond tiara, from the Queen's private collection, consisting of three open-work scroll motifs, designed and remodelled by the Crown Jeweller, David Thomas, at Asprey and Garrard.

She carried a small, informal shower bouquet of blown ivory garden roses, scented stephanotis, clustered lily of the valley and ivory freesia.

Fashion surprise

News image
The pages wore velvet tunics
Elizabeth Emanuel, who designed the Princess of Wales' wedding dress, said she thought Sophie's dress was beautifully soft and feminine.

"It was a very soft and romantic look I thought. Her make up was very natural and she looked radiant.

"The dress was a bit of a surprise for me, I thought she would go for something more tailored or A-line but it was very flowing and soft.

"It was very much a personal choice of dress."

Pages in knickerbockers

The two bridesmaids' and two pages' outfits were also designed by Samantha Shaw.

The girls wore silk taffeta long-sleeved fitted tops gathered at the waist, with covered buttons down the back and ruched chiffon sashes in ivory.

They wore silk velvet tunics in navy blue over dresses with silk crepe lining, and piping around the edges, and with gold braid frogging with a tassel finish, with plain white tights and ballet shoes.

The bridesmaids carried tied bunches of heavily-perfumed flowers, gathered together in an informal design with ivory ribbon.

The two boys wore ivory silk taffeta long-sleeved shirts with covered-buttons down the front, navy velvet knickerbockers with brass-button details and taffeta cummerbunds.

They also wore velvet tunics, similar to the girls' tunics except with Nehru collars, white tights and black buckled patent shoes.

All buttonholes were simple ivory rosebuds.

Prince Edward wore formal morning dress with a waistcoat specially-made for the wedding by John Kent.

The groom also wore an 18 carat yellow-gold Hunter pocket watch on an 18 carat yellow-gold chain, which was a personal wedding gift from Sophie.

See also:

15 Jun 99 | royal wedding
19 Jun 99 | royal wedding
19 Jun 99 | royal wedding
19 Jun 99 | royal wedding
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more royal wedding stories are at the foot of the page.


News image
News imageE-mail this story to a friend
News image

Links to more royal wedding stories

News imageNews imageNews image
News image
© BBCNews image^^ Back to top

News image
News Front Page | World | UK | England | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales |
UK Politics | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology |
Health | Education | Talking Point | Country Profiles | In Depth |
Programmes