Rachel Lamb Design

I got sent this lovely clip from @terencejosephphotography the other day. Captions struggled so I removed them, but this is the important bit: “Oh my goodness me Dee, that’s one of the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever seen. You look absolutely beautiful, you look radiant…” Congratulations Dee & Martin 🥂🤩 . . . #bespokeweddingdress #bespokebridaldesigner #weddingdressmaker #custombridalgown #customweddingdress #pinkfloralweddingdress #pinkweddingdress #maturebride #laceappliqueweddingdress #handmadeweddingdress #oneoffweddingdress #madeincambridgeshire #rachellambdesign #rachellambbridaldesign

I’m delighted to share this lovely 2023 bride’s June wedding dress with you. A slightly overdue Happy 1st wedding anniversary to Giorgia and Simon! 🥂. Giorgia won’t mind me saying that she approached me with a bespoke enquiry because she felt she would need a dress to accommodate her curvy figure, mainly her generous bust. I’m so glad she did! It was a joy working with her and fun creating her wedding dress together. Giorgia’s dress was made from satin with silk organza overlays and hand appliquéd lace. If you are interested in exploring having a bespoke dress created, for whatever reason, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Very few of us are ‘standard’ sizes (whatever that is) & I enjoy the challenge of working out how to make a design fit and work well for each client. I am now taking bookings for 2025 and beyond. Images: @jamesdavidsonphoto . . . #bespokeweddingdress #customweddingdress #bespokebridalwear #bespokebridalgown #madetomeasureweddingdress #weddingdressdesigner #weddingdressmaker #madeincambridgeshire #handmadeweddingdress #madetoorderweddingdress #realbride #realwedding #curvybride #petitebride #slowbridal #shoplocal

Bespoke, custom made, slow bridal, wedding dresses, dressmaking, bridal design, call it what you will and it’s all of those things. I have always made my wedding or occasion dresses to order and they have always been ‘slow’ as in slow-fashion, not mass produced and in most cases one offs. My dresses incorporate lots of hand sewing and finishing and each piece is cut and made for each client individually with patience and attention to detail, using many techniques used in couture. Bespoke can be as simple or as complex as you like, and it should be exactly what you want in terms of design and perfect fit. You can contact me about my services by clicking on the link in my bio above. 👆 I’m looking forward to hearing from you and discussing your ideas. 😊 1st 📷 @andyandszerdi 3rd 📷 @gomez.photographer 4th 📷 @damien_vickers_photography . . . . . #bespokebridalwear #bespokeweddingdresses #bridalcouture #handmadeweddingdresses #weddingdressmaker #weddingdressdesigner #madetomeasure #madetoorder #custombridalgown #custommadeweddingdress #uniquebride #weddingfashion #yourdressyourway #realwedding #realbride #slowbridal #madeincambridgeshire #handmadeincambridgeshire #rachellambdesign #rachellambbridaldesign #dressmaker

I also make dresses for Mothers of the Bride & Groom. For years I shied away from creating dresses for MoBs & MoGs as I found the potential fabric sourcing overwhelming, but then I had a change of heart, and these days if I don’t have what’s wanted fabric wise I send my Mums on fabric shopping trips to London or elsewhere. Often people also come along with some fabric they have had for years & want something special made with it and weddings can be the ideal opportunity. Blues and greens seem to be very popular colours with my Mums! However this year I have some nice dusky pinks coming along too. I create dresses for Mothers of the Bride & Groom in the same way I create bridal gowns. So prototype toiles first to get the fit and design right, followed by several fittings in the chosen fabric. My availability is also the same as for brides. So I’m taking bookings for 2025 now and for this year I only have a few spaces left for winter 2024, whether that’s for wedding dresses or Mothers of the Bride or Groom. If you’re interested in this service please do get in touch. Email is always the best way to reach me and you’ll find my contact details by clicking the link in my bio above.👆 . . . . . #motherofthebride #motherofthegroom #bespokemotherofthebride #bespokemotherofthegroom #custommotherofthebride #custommotherofthegroomdress #madetomeasure #madetoorder #weddingdressmaker #bridaldesigner #dressmaker #realweddings #realmotherofthebride #realmotherofthegroom #madeincambridgeshire #handmadeweddingdress #slowbridal #artizandressmaker #rachellambdesign #rachellambbridaldesign

Hello 👋🏻. It’s been a week with lots of new wedding dress work starting so I thought I’d talk a bit about pattern-cutting as it’s what happens before dress fittings begin. Something I’m often asked is if I use commercial patterns? The answer is no - I cut all my own patterns and always have done. Even if someone has found a pattern, I will always make my own using their measurements - I prefer working this way, it’s what I trained to do, is much quicker & the fit will be far more precise. Making patterns is the bit often forgotten in the process of making any clothes, and creating wedding dresses/clothes from scratch is more than sewing alone. I’m quite an old school pattern cutter by today’s standards I think, definitely by modern industry standards anyway. I do all of it using detailed measurements of my client, paper & pencil, a calculator & lots of talking to myself! My go-to reference if I ever get stuck for a formula is Metric Pattern Cutting by Winifred Aldrich which was first published in 1976 by Mills & Boon Ltd! 💝 I have the 1987 version bought back when I was a teenager thinking about how to create a career that wasn’t what my girl’s school thought appropriate or was interested in. One of the things my clients say is that they love that their dress/outfit actually fits them. 😊 So having something created for your specific measurements is great if you don’t feel like you fit a standard shape, & few of us do. I appreciate it is a luxury having something made to fit, which is why I tend to work mainly with brides & for weddings & celebrations. I’m now fully booked for weddings & events with dates up to November 2024. So do enquire if your date is from November onwards, I’d love to hear from you. Have a good weekend! . . . . . #bespokedressmaker #bespokedressmaking #madetomeasure #madetoorder #bespokeweddi gdress #customweddingdress #bespokebridaldesign #weddingdressmaker #weddingdressdesigner #bridalweardesigner

Happy Christmas & seasons greetings everyone! And special greetings to my past, present & future brides & mums - thank you for all your patience with me this year. 🥰🎄 After a rocky start to 2023 with the loss of my mum, it feels like I’ve been on catch up for most of the year. I’m now looking forward 2024 & getting to know my new brides & mothers of the bride/grooms. I’m also excited to introduce some new ideas that were originally planned for a year ago but were put on hold, so bear with me on that one. I have a few spaces left for bespoke wedding dresses or outfits in the later part of 2024 -autumn/winter dates and beyond - so if you’re considering going the bespoke route for your wedding dress or celebration outfit, please do get in touch, I’d love to hear from you. (You can message me on here or email me - link in bio). In the meantime here are a small selection of wintery weddings old & new & best wishes for a Happy Christmas & a peaceful New Year to everyone, everywhere. I look forward to catching up with you again in the New Year. Xx 🎄❄️⛄️🍷 . . . #seasonsgreetings #weddingdressmaker #weddingdressdesigner #bespokeweddingdresses #bespokemotherofthebride #motherofthegroom #handmadeincambridgeshire #bridalweardesigner #realweddings #shoplocal #customweddingdress #custombridaldesign #bridaldesignerelycambs #bridaldesignercambridgeshire #madetomeasureweddingdresses #rachellambbridaldesign #rachellambdesign

It was such a pleasure to create this bespoke wedding dress for bride Jess for her wedding with husband Jonathon this time last year. Jessica’s wedding dress was made from ivory duchesse satin with just a tiny hint of a silver lace trim at the neckline. It fitted like a glove and she looked amazing in it! 😍 Congratulations to you both on your 1 year & 3 days wedding anniversary! 2024 is booking up nicely so if you’re considering a bespoke wedding dress or outfit for next year, please feel free to message me for availability. I’m looking forward to hearing from you. 😊 📷 @rebeccaparsonsphotography . . . #bespokeweddingdress #bespokebridalgown #madetomeasure #madetoorder #shoplocal #indiebridal #weddingdressmaker #weddingdressdesigner #madetomeasure #madetoorder #customweddingdresses #slowbridal #slowwedding #satinweddingdress #ivorysatinweddingdress #simpleweddingdress #realbride #realwedding #madeincambridgeshire #weddingdressesely #weddingdressescambridge #rachellambbridaldesign #rachellambdesign #handmadeweddingdress

Here’s a little preview I made for bride Claire who featured in my last post. I made this to show her her wedding dress just before her final fitting. It’s often fun to send a little film or some images just before the end of the process. Especially when, like Claire’s dress, it evolved significantly after each fitting and with each new lace appliqué. (Forgive the flickering light, I have light panels which don’t translate well on my phone.) Claire‘s wedding dress was made with multiple layers of champagne/latte toned tulle. I forget the amount of layers - around 20 maybe 🤔, with an organza & tulle bodice & puffed sleeves on which 3 or 4 different ivory laces were combined & appliquéd. I’m now taking bookings for weddings in the autumn/winter of 2023 and beyond, so if you’re curious about my bespoke service & would like to explore the possibilities of a bespoke wedding dress, please do get in touch - I’d love to hear from you. 💕 You can DM on here, or see my link in bio for email. . . . #bespokeweddingdress #bespokebridaldesigner #customweddingdress #weddingdressmaker #bridalseamstress #handmadeweddingdress #madetomeasure #madetoorder #slowbridal #winterwedding #winterweddingdress #weddingdressinspiration #weddingdresswithsleeves #weddingdresswithpuffsleeves #puffysleeves #madeincambridgeshire #lovelace #rachellambdesign #rachellambbridaldesign

This post has been a long time coming & I’m so excited to show you this gorgeous pair - Claire & Joe, who married just after Christmas 2021. I have lots to show for this wedding so this won’t be my only post this week! Perhaps it’s a Christmas miracle! 😅 On that note, apologies for lack of posts. I have been MIA these past weeks because my old mum has been very poorly. She’s still with us thankfully, but some things have to give at times like these & social media is one of those. ❤️ I’ve still been beavering away finishing this year’s weddings though and am going to have a few weeks off now before the New Year weddings start - apart from these posts of course! Happy almost 1st wedding anniversary Claire & Joe! ### 🥰🥂 All 📷 @jennyappletonphotoandfilm #christmaswedding #bespokeweddingdress #weddingdressdesigner #weddingdressmaker #madetomeasure #madetoorder #weddingdresswithpuffsleeves #laceapplique #laceweddingdress #weddingdresswithtulleskirt #winterwedding #lovelace #rachellambdesign #rachellambbridaldesign #madeincambridgeshire #handmadeweddingdress

I hope you’re all well? Myself & family have all had covid this half term week so it’s not been the best time. We’re all feeling much better now though, thank goodness. Here’s a little film of bride Laura’s appliqué lace wedding dress from last year (& my last post). I filmed this for Laura to see before her final fitting. Laura also asked me to make her a bright blue underskirt to wear under her dress for her something blue! I still have spaces available for weddings next year, so do get in touch if you’d like to find out more. . . . #laceweddingdress #laceappliqué #weddingdresswithsleeves #laceandorganzaweddingdress #weddingdressmaker #bespokeweddingdress #bespokeweddingdressmaker #weddingdressdesigner #madetomeasure #madetoorder #ivorylacebridal #madeincambridgeshire #shoplocal #indiebusiness #indiebridal #realbride #realwedding #rachellambdesign #rachellambbridaldesign

Bride Hattie’s green wedding dress, almost but not quite finished, on the stand in my fitting room back in the early summer. If you’re thinking of a wedding dress or outfit in a colour, do get in touch, I’d love to hear from you. . . . #greenweddingdress #greensilkweddingdress #bespokeweddingdress #bespokebridalwear #weddingdressdesigner #weddingdressmaker #custombridalgown #madetomeasure #madetoorder #madeincambridgeshire #weddingseamstress #handmadeweddingdress #yourdressyourway #smallbusiness #shoplocal #supportsmallbusiness #realwedding #petitebride #colourfulweddingdress

Morning! I hope you had a good weekend?It’s a beautiful day here today, the sky crystal clear & everything washed & cleansed after overnight rain. NEWS 📣: After many years, I have decided to sell off ALL my wedding dress samples! So that’s EVERYTHING must go at bargain prices & all reduced to clear! BIG reductions too! Since we moved house (& therefore my work) over a year ago now, I have been slowly going through storage & unearthed lots of samples going back to when I first started making wedding dresses - that’s now over 20 years ago so we’re talking almost vintage for some of them! So alongside more recent samples, I’m selling the lot! And veils and accessories. As a bespoke wedding designer-dressmaker, I don’t have an annual turnover of samples like a shop but I have been wanting to clear all the samples I do have for some time now, & lacked the courage to do so. When you make everything you sell it can feel a bit odd to say goodbye to some old faves that have served me and my brides well over the years, but the time has now come! Mental & physical space is needed for new weddingy ideas & plans going forward! 🤩 So. Some samples are very wearable & have only been tried on once or twice, others could be cleaned, or upcycled into a new version of themselves, or used for fabric to make a new dress or garment. If you’re interested in coming to have a look, please DM me & we can set up an appointment. I’ll also be thinking of some other ways to sell the samples but for now, this is the way forward. Most of my samples are roughly sizes 10-16, with a few slightly bigger & smaller. I shall feature a few in stories as my thinking on all this progresses. That’s it for now. More as I get my act together! Have a good week 😀 . . . #weddingdresssale #samplesale #everythingmustgo #weddingdresssamplesale #reducedtoclearweddingdresses #cambridgeshirebride #madeincambridgeshire #ecobride #recycledweddingdress #upcycledweddingdress #shoplocal #r

Beautiful bride Amanda knew exactly what she wanted to wear for her summer wedding in Greece this year. Here she is having a swish at one of her final fittings! Amanda’s wedding was rescheduled from 2020 and all her initial appointments were on Zoom. When we finally met in person it felt like we’d known each other for ages! Amanda was kind enough to write me an epic review, which I’ll be sharing shortly along with more images of her mirrored wedding dress. Do you have an idea of what you’d like to wear for your wedding day but not sure where to find it or if it exists? Do get in touch, I’d love to hear from you & help realise your vision. 🥰 . . . #summerwedding #sparklyweddingdress #goldweddingdress #goldsequins #shishamirrors #mirrorweddingdress #mirrorapplique #weddingdresswithmirrors #bespokeweddingdress #weddingdressmaker #bespokebridaldesign #weddingdressdesigner #curvybride #realbride #weddingdressfitting #madeincambridgeshire #madetomeasure #madetoorder #rachellambdesign #alternativebride

Hand sewing. One of my favourite ways to spend the day is hand sewing and listening to audiobooks. A good murder mystery is my fave! Today I have fitted a colourful silk wedding dress and said goodbye to another completed wedding dress and this afternoon I’ll be making a 2nd toile for an autumn wedding dress. I’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in enquiring about a bespoke wedding dress or outfit. Email is always best for enquiries but you can DM me on here too if that’s easier.

Ingredients for yesterday's wedding dress toile now cut out and ready to go. This one is a sample for the made to order range. . . . #awardwinning #bridalcouture #bridalgown #bridalgown #Aline #princessline #strapless #ivory #silk #bespoke #madetomeasure #weddinginspiration #weddingdress #weddingdressdesigner #weddingdressmaker #weddingdressshop #byappointment #Ely #Cambridge #Cambridgeshire #4cwa #4CWC #gsd

Kat & Colin 17

Congratulations Kat & Colin! Kat combined both my bespoke service for the long-sleeved lace top half of her October wedding outfit, and chose one of my made to order embroidered skirts from the Rachel Lamb bridal collection to go with, so she swished in separates on her wedding day!

Woop!!! So proud & happy to have won the wedding designer - dressmaker category at the Four Counties Wedding Awards last night!!! 😍😀 Huge thanks to all my brides who voted for me, the judges for their recognition, @applebyevents for organising it all & my husband for driving!!! It means a lot to me and is a lovely end of year treat!!! Thank you!!! ### (Here I am in silhouette form! Thank you Kirsty Hazlewood for the video ### 😘)