Katie Julia Bespoke Bridal Story: The Making of a British Couture Wedding Dress
The wedding dress, for the majority of brides, is the most important dress they will ever wear. It represents not only the bride’s individual style but is also deeply rooted in meaning and tradition. Wearing white symbolizes purity and a rebirth into the next chapter of life. For the modern bride, it is a chance to shine a light on her personality while remaining a focal point of the wedding. The expectation and excitement of the bride’s entrance transcend time.
For Katie Julia, it was also about creating art. The dress was conceived as a conceptual piece, referencing the artistry woven throughout the wedding celebration, while intentionally maintaining an old-world aesthetic. It was important that the dress felt as though it had stepped out of an Impressionist painting, reflecting the painterly atmosphere of her wedding in Provence.
For those who love storytelling and symbolism, bespoke bridal couture offers the perfect opportunity to combine a personal love story with individual style. Katie Julia worked with British bridal couturier Sally Bean to bring her vision to life. Their collaboration involved studying Dior archives, floral reference books, Impressionist artwork, and Katie Julia’s personal journey of recovery from illness. Each element was threaded, both literally and metaphorically, through the dress, creating a gown that speaks from the heart and tells a deeply personal story. It is not just about how the dress looks, but how it feels, it is a commitment to art and longevity.
Every element is intentional. Each piece of vintage lace was individually sourced, carrying a deep connection to nature and history. The lace also symbolizes a connection to the women who wore it before Katie Julia, each in their own iconic moment. The many layers of the dress reflect the many layers of her story. Most importantly, the dress represents stepping into a new chapter while honoring the past. References to Paris are woven throughout, particularly to the Musée d’Orsay and the Dior exhibition where her proposal took place. Botanicals used in her healing journey are also embedded within the lace, as though her story can be read in every layer.
The process of creating the dress was long and incredibly detailed, spanning eighteen months, though discussions began nearly two years before construction started. It was not designed in a single moment but revealed itself gradually over time through each appointment. This process gave Katie Julia a creative focus during her recovery, with each fitting offering an opportunity to reconnect with her artistry. Documentation and history are intrinsic to her, so she brought her camera and vlogging equipment to every appointment to capture the journey. Having always viewed fashion as art, she felt it was important to honor the process, which would later become the foundation of a film.
Katie Julia has always admired the haute couture process and wanted to use this opportunity to shine a spotlight on British couture. Sally Bean has a deep appreciation for the savoir-faire of true couture craftsmanship, building her brand on skill and refined techniques that underpin every garment. Each piece is handcrafted in her London atelier. Known for her figure-enhancing internal corsetry and one-of-a-kind elevated wedding dresses, she was the perfect choice for Katie Julia. Sally recalls that when envisioning the dress, she “wanted a true piece of art, built on her story and designed to flatter her from every angle.”
The foundation of the gown was an ultra-flattering internal sheer corsetry, delicately layered while sculpting the body perfectly. The corset extended over the hips to support the many delicate layers built upon it. For the bodice, they sourced a fine French beaded lace with tiny matte beads that shimmered softly. It gathered over the bust and formed gentle billowing sleeves.
For the torso, Katie Julia discovered a beautiful Edwardian handmade lace collar adorned with roses, which Sally carefully treated to match the gown. It was sewn with invisible stitches, featuring a large English rose at the center to frame the dress and create its emotional core. This detail is steeped in meaning. Roses played an important role in the wedding, not only for their beauty but for their symbolism. Long associated with love and romance, they also held particular significance for the Impressionists, who used them to capture light and celebrate fleeting, everyday moments. The British rose at the center of the bodice became one of the most meaningful elements for Katie Julia. “It sat exactly over my chest and felt symbolic of both resilience and love. The British rose holds its ground, even in harsher environments, yet remains delicate and beautiful. That duality felt very true to me.”
The skirt was a masterpiece composed of more than 300 meters of French silk tulle, inspired by Dior. Each layer was hand-stitched and edged with French corded and beaded lace. Rather than striving for perfection, each layer was intentionally asymmetrical, balancing Katie Julia’s frame while adding drama and movement. Around the hips and top tier, delicate shimmering lace was hand-embroidered, catching the light unexpectedly.
The tone of the dress was equally important. Its soft coloring was carefully chosen to evoke a timeless work of art, reminiscent of the golden age of couture in the 1950s.
With each fitting, the gown was refined into a truly otherworldly piece. Sally emphasizes, “It is so important to me to work closely with each bride to ensure her vision is translated into a truly beautiful, individual, one-of-a-kind dress.”
Another beautiful aspect of the process was that Katie Julia was able to share it with her mother. It was especially important that her mother, Julia, felt special and looked extraordinary on the wedding day. Her gown was created alongside Katie Julia’s, making it a meaningful mother-daughter experience.
Sally sourced the perfect shade of green silk taffeta to complement her mother’s skin tone while harmonizing with the wedding color palette. Movement was essential, as Julia loves to dance, she wanted a dress that allowed freedom while remaining elegant from every angle.
Katie Julia recalls that when she first put on her dress, “it was honestly quite surreal. It felt old-world and painterly, like something from an Impressionist painting, yet at the same time, very modern.”
What is remarkable about Sally’s construction is how beautifully it holds everything in place. Despite its scale, the gown does not feel heavy as one might expect. Instead, it feels both regal and soft.
After visiting the atelier, the team went to Kew Gardens, conveniently located next door. It was a privilege to return, especially as a previous shoot there had inspired this moment. As an iconic British location, Kew echoes themes of natural beauty and modern femininity. They moved through the gardens by buggy, transitioning between locations.
For this portion, Katie Julia’s hair was styled by Sally of By Duboux, completing the look, while her makeup was softly refreshed. Tammy Shun also joined the team, creating a trusted and supportive environment. Her bouquet an abundance of silk blooms by Fleur de La Couture added to the beauty and connection to her wedding in Provence.
They began shooting in the Palm House, filled with warm, diffused light, capturing everything on film to maintain a soft, timeless quality. They then moved into the Temperate House, where the scale and light allowed the dress to fully come into its own.
The experience felt deeply intentional. As a work of art, the dress deserved its own moment. Katie Julia wanted to photograph it outside the context of the wedding day, allowing it to be seen in its entirety without pressure. This created space to appreciate the back of the dress, its movement, and its intricate details, elements that might otherwise be rushed.
This became a “first look,” not for the groom, but for her close-knit team of trusted women. Katie Julia reflects that it “felt calm, almost like a pause before everything began. We moved slowly through the spaces, allowing the dress to be seen rather than forcing anything.”
In many ways, that day at Kew marked the first time the dress was truly witnessed in full. It became one of the most meaningful moments of the entire journey.
Katie Julia Bespoke Bridal Story: The Making of a British Couture Wedding Dress Credits:
Wedding couture Dress: @sallybeancouture | Film: @zadefilmco | Photography: Produced in-house by @katiejulia_ |Dress Fitting photographed by @joannabriggsphoto & @tammyshun | Making of dress (appointments) shot by @katiejulia_ | Makeup: @haylieclarkey_makeup | Hair: @hair_by_duboux | Venue: @kewevents | Silk Bouquet: @fleurdelacouture | Content: @pelosifilm | Shoes : @jimmychoo | Jewellery : Vintage @Chanel
