Caroline Arthur Bridal

16/01/2025

Swipe to design your own wedding dress with my dress designer app CoutureKit!

Link in bio to my website where you’ll find “Begin Designing” on the menu and off you set 💕

At my bridal studio you’ll find fabric swatches and samples of all the elements on the app to try on if you’re thinking of having a bespoke bridal gown.

Be creative! Have some fun! Dabble!

Check out the YouTube video just released on my channel showing how it all works xx

15/01/2025

Have your dress tailored to perfection and you’ll feel just TOO glamorous on your wedding day ❤️

My breathtakingly stylish bride Lucy on her wedding day in “the other dress”

… you are an inspiration for styling, posture and pulling together the perfect team of creatives to enhance your idyllic day 😍.

“… Caroline got what I wanted from the get go and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful experience, with two STUNNING dresses at the end of it…”

Thank you Lucy for your kind words and
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ xx

Creative team:




Do get in touch if you are looking for alterations for your wedding dress. xx

08/01/2025

Hello and welcome to Caroline Arthur Couture!

This is me, grinning by the entrance to my studio and waiting to welcome you!

2025 has started with a busy week of fittings and design consultation appointments with brides-to-be who are thinking about having their dress custom made.

If you’re getting married this year or next and would like to find out more about how it works to have a bespoke dress made, or altered, do get in touch soon! The diary is filling up but I still have a few spaces.

DM me or email [email protected]

I can’t wait to hear more about your ideas for YOUR dress xx

05/01/2025

Featured today in … my fabulous REAL BRIDE in a photography article about the very wonderful

Check out my stories for the link 💕

This BESPOKE BEAUTY was sustainably made from an old bodice sample and a couple of metres of gorgeous white crepe overstock, retrieved from the corner of my bridal studio. Unloved and forgotten, these materials burst back to dazzling life.

Felicity and I worked together to design the most glamorous corseted gown that nipped in at all the right places and perfectly showcased the best legs I’ve ever seen.

Those shoes!!!

I’m almost fully booked for summer 2025 so do get in touch soon if you have a pre-loved, sample or heirloom gown you’d like re-modelled for your wedding, or you’d like to have something new made from my plentiful supply of sustainably-sourced and recycled fabrics.

Check out these brilliant suppliers and thank you to for the wonderful images and newly wed star

Dress
Venue:
Reception:
Planner:
Flowers: .wild.flowers.uk
Band:
Hair:
Shoes
Make up
veil

01/01/2025

Congratulations if you are getting married this year! If your thoughts have turned to your dress and whether to have a bespoke gown made for you, here’s a little peek at what lies beneath one of my couture bridal gowns…all the magic of the perfect fit 💕

Some lovely words from my REAL BRIDE Jennifer, about her wedding dress experience...

“...The perfect wedding dress experience! Caroline created my dream dress, effortlessly and calmly adapting fittings and design to allow to allow for the news that I would be 6 months pregnant with twins at the time of the wedding. The dress was beautiful, the dream gown I had initially imagined with every couture detail, but adapted to safely encompass my bump and stay miraculously comfortable on the day. Fittings were a highlight of the year, both the fittings at her beautiful studio and the hilarious zoom sessions in between. I can’t thank Caroline enough...”

Thank you Jen, for such a lovely google review.

This graceful bride married Dan in early December, wearing a breathtaking restyled dress which we deconstructed and customised from an original preloved couture gown.

Thank you so much, Phillipa for your kind help in providing the magic interlinings I needed to make this special bride so happy. It was a pleasure to dissect such a beautifully made dress...it was as gorgeous on the inside as it was on the outside!

Thank you to Warren at for the images, beautifully edited by , captured in the stunning scenery of the Lake District.

Those gorgeous blooms were by

Jen’s stunning hair accessories were by

Dan’s bespoke suit was by

The blue ribbon was from

30/12/2024

Looking for a classic, elegant silk and lace bridal gown?

You maybe find it’s harder to find than it sounds!

Congratulations if you’re recently engaged and perhaps getting married in the coming year. I have two spaces left for bespoke commissions in 2025 so do get in touch soon if you’d like to chat about your ideas for your custom wedding dress.

Enjoy some inspiration from my beautiful real bride Paige, who designed her wedding dress herself, and had it made to measure by yours truly in the finest silk zibeline.

Working together, we achieved the perfect silhouette and support for this poised and elegant bride - creating effortless style and a timeless heirloom.

Thank you Andrew Hind of for these fabulous images.
Hair and make up by
Silk zibeline by

23/12/2024

It’s arrived!!!

The Best Christmas card ever 💕.

Thank you to my wonderful talented sister who creates just the most beautiful and unique hand-drawn / painted /linocut designs each year.

Peace and love ###

23/12/2024

Coming for a bridal fitting after Christmas? Have a virtual tour of my bespoke boutique and find out more about what to expect xx
https://carolinearthur.com/2024/12/23/bridal-boutique-tour/

21/12/2024

Today, I'd love to show you how I turned an old silk wedding dress sample from my own collection, into something even more spectacular, using just some old tea bags and a few bits of leftover lace applique.

Enjoy the video attached and enjoy my first attempts at weaning myself off iMovie and onto CapCut ...😂

The first step was to do some test swatches, so I used some old scraps of ivory fabrics, filled a big pot of water and added some tea bags. You’re supposed to let them steep in the water for a while, take them out, and then put your fabric in. But I was too excited to see how it would go, so I put the fabric in with the tea bags. Not unsurprisingly, some of the tea bags burst, so you’ll have to excuse a few stray tea leaves!

What I found fascinating was the different colours I got from tea on the different kinds of fabric. You can see the tulle and netting picked up the colour very intensely and went almost an orange colour, even though it’s synthetic.

I hung the swatches on a drying rack and saw how the polyester picked up some of the colour but not much, and the silk, which is the fabric of the dress I wanted to dye, looked gorgeous – a very strong amber colour.
When it was time to dye my sample wedding dress, I put on my shorts, dismantled the mannequin and then took the dye bath and the dress out in the garden.

I wanted an ombre effect where the lower part of the skirt is much lighter than the top part, and then the darker shade continues into the bodice.
So I dunked the whole thing in with the tea, along with a bit of salt as a fixative, but pulled the lower section of the skirt out almost straight away, and kept on lifting it out so only the top part remained for longer than a couple of minutes.

It was so exciting to see how the colour came out. If you give this a try and want a darker effect, you can just leave your dress in the dye bath for longer.

I used the garden hose to wash the excess dye out, and then hung the bodice and skirt on the washing line.

Once it had dried, and I’d ironed it, and then put it back on the mannequin.
I added an ivory tulle sample skirt over the top of the dyed skirt, just to soften it a little, and then one-by-one, I added little lace applique flowers so they drifted down the bodice and onto the skirt.

I’d love to know what you think, so please leave a comment and let me know what you would like to dye with your old leftover tea bags! I quite fancy trying with hibiscus tea next time, as this should give a lovely pink colour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqTut7YbEZ0

Thanks for watching and see you next time!

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

In this video, I show you how I turned this old silk wedding dress sample from my own collection, into something even more spectacular, using just some old t...

20/12/2024

Fancy dyeing your old wedding dress with your leftover tea bags?!

Find out how in my latest video just published on YouTube…find me there ( ) or check out my stories tonight for the link.

19/12/2024

My beautiful REAL BRIDE Ellie, brought her gorgeous lace and georgette ivory gown to me for a little TLC.

We took up the hem, re-shaped the bodice, sleeves and neckline, and added some strategically placed lace applique, to blend seamlessly into the existing design.

Do get in touch if you have a dress which needs altering, tweaking, customising or re-styling. My 2025 diary is filling up so let’s get your fitting booked in. xx

Thank you Ellie for sharing your beautiful images by Simon from at Invogue.
The venue was called Hedingham Castle.
Florist: Sam wildpoppies_flowers
Hair: Lucy
Makeup was done by the bride herself
Grooms outfit was from Kashmir
Photographer: Simon

18/12/2024

Thinking about having your wedding dress custom made?

Here’s how it works…

The first stage is for me to sketch some ideas based on the images you show me of bits of dresses you like. You may just have a rough silhouette and a couple of details…a fragment of a photograph, or a glimpse of the perfect bow.

You might have done a bit of trying on and seen some skirt shapes you like, or have discovered a particular fabric you like.

Perhaps you’ve found the perfect top in one dress and the perfect skirt in another.

Whatever your starting point, just drop me a line - you’ll find the email on carolinearthur.com along with heaps of inspiration and information about how the process works.

I’ve been making, restyling and altering wedding dresses for over 20 years and would LOVE to know what ideas you have in mind for your gown.

Once I hear from you, I’ll get in touch and we can start chatting with no obligation to see if you’d like to come to my boutique so we can have a look at potential fabrics and get some clear ideas down on paper so I can give you a quote. I get booked up between 4 and 8 months in advance so if you’re getting married in 2025, don’t delay- chat soon!

Caroline x

12/12/2024

Thanks for the lovely feature Matrimony Magazine xx

Have you ever wondered what to do with your wedding dress once the 'big day'is over?

In her stunning new coffee table book, 'Relovable' wedding gown designer Caroline Arthur dispels the idea that a wedding dress is just for the big day itself. Bursting with inspirational ideas that centre on sustainability, join Caroline on an exciting journey in which she shares how to transform your gown from hanging at the back of the bedroom door, to one of your go-to and favourite wardrobe pieces.

Published on 9th September (just as the bridal season is closing), the premise of Relovable is very much in tune with the current zeitgeist of circularity, community and creativity and the book highlights both Caroline’s design and creative expertise. With step-by-step advice on transforming your gown - whether by dyeing, repurposing, or taking scissors in hand to create a unique memento from your dress - readers will be inspired to unpack their wedding dress and delight in her beauty once again. Practical advice for dyeing, painting, restyling or crafting, whether or not the reader can sew, means this book with its fascinating insights into the bridal industry is ready to lead you on a journey that will take you back down memory lane and forward into the future, as you create new memories of your cherished gown.

Featuring stories from celebrities such as HRH Princess Beatrice, Livia Firth and Amelia Murs, the book is packed with quotes from real brides and includes a ground-breaking wedding dress upcycling project with the London College of Fashion. Sharing insider tips from industry experts, and contributions from many designers and bridal brands, Relovable lifts the veil on how the bridal industry works and gives the reader a peek behind the scenes. Filled with stunning photography and illustrations, the book also explains how bridal gowns are made and why they cost what they do, all the while demonstrating ways they can shed their reputation for only being worn once.

The author says:

“The question most of the brides I see ask at some point is “What do people do with their wedding dress after the wedding?” and this is what sparked the making of this book. They sometimes ask out of curiosity, often because the bride feels a sense of waste at only wearing it once, and sometimes because they’ve overspent and are wondering if they can sell or rent it afterwards. Many wouldn’t DREAM of parting with it, but they WOULD like to store it properly and to know what the other options are, and this book covers the topic from every angle.“

Why buy Relovable?

Relovable makes a perfect and considered wedding gift for any bride-to-be, or those who are keen to embrace the fun world of upcycling. Sustainably produced, for every sale of Relovable, 10% of the cover price will be donated to the Fashion and Textile Children’s Trust.

Samantha Jones, Course leader Fashion and Textiles, Farnborough College of Technology says:

“Caroline has been working with fashion students from Farnborough College of Technology on a project where they take an old wedding dress and make it into a new outfit, exploring the concept of bridal wear being sustainable. She is interested in each student individually and has offered 1:1 guidance, support and feedback. She is generous with both her knowledge and time and encouraging the next generation of fashion.”



Published by Wildacre Press, Relovable is published on 9th September 2024, in hardcover (ISBN No: 9781399986304). Priced £55.00 on Amazon and also available from the author’s website.

About the Author

Caroline Arthur is a couture bridal gown designer and maker, based near Guildford, Surrey, who has been hand-making and remodelling sustainable bespoke wedding dresses for over 20 years. She studied Couture Bridal wear at the London College of Fashion and grew up in a family of dressmakers. She has a degree in Italian from Lancaster University, spent a year in Florence, enjoyed 10 years working for Monsoon as an area manager in the 1990s, and lives with her young family near Guildford in Surrey.

An accomplished speaker and YouTuber, Caroline supports and mentors fashion design students and aspiring wedding dress designers and works closely with fashion colleges. She loves nothing better than scrabbling around on the floor, pins in mouth, adjusting bridal gowns and sewing into the evening, listening to anything country, soul and 1980s pop.

Book Caroline to speak at your event or podcast via [email protected] or visit www.carolinearthur.com/press/

11/12/2024

Looking for someone to alter your wedding dress?

“…Thank you so much for everything you did for me and my incredible dress. I felt amazing in it! The dress absolutely exceeded my dreams. I loved every minute of wearing it…it made me feel like a princess xx”

Such a lovely message from my gorgeous REAL BRIDE Kerrie, captured here by the fabulous photography team

There is nothing I love better than when a bride’s expectations are exceeded❤️.

My diary is filling up for 2025 so do get in touch soon if you’d like your dress made, customised, tweaked or altered and let’s get you booked in!

Contact [email protected]

Wedding dress fitting and alterations
Dress
Boutique
Wedding planners
Decor and floristry
Bride
Images

10/12/2024

The bridal industry is built on knowledge, innovation, and expertise, and this year, I’m thrilled to have joined the Bridal Buyer panel of expert writers who have provided invaluable insights to guide businesses. That’s you… , , and Ella O’Keefe ❤️

In this month’s round-up, celebrates our top highlights, and looks ahead at our predictions and recommendations for the bridal sector in the coming months.

Thank you to and the whole team at BB for supporting the release of my book RELOVABLE, and sharing ideas and inspiration about what to do with your old wedding dress, across the bridal industry.

I’m so thankful to all the bridal boutique owners who have bought the book and are sharing the ideas in it… you’re the best!! Xx

05/12/2024

New video just landed on my YouTube channel... This tells the story of my beautiful real bride Tash who wore her Grandmother's dress on her wedding day.

Thank you to Dan Higginson of Moment Photography Ltd for the use of the stunning image of Tash and Jake on their wedding day.

True story of a real bride who wanted to wear her Grandmother's lace wedding dress from the 1950s for her own wedding. Follow the revival of this beautiful g...

03/12/2024

My stunning REAL BRIDE Helen’s bespoke bridal gown featured closely fitted pleating around the bodice, covered silk buttons at the back, statement cuffs on those elegant sleeves, and a long dramatic train.

“ ...Working with Caroline to create my fabulous wedding dress was an absolute joy. She is is an incredibly talented and creative designer and dress maker but also just completely lovely! In a few short moments in her studio (which was an oasis of happiness during lockdown!) she magically translated all the ideas in my head into a beautiful drawing and then made it come to life. Nothing was too much trouble and she is endlessly patient and will ‘tweak’ until you are totally content (which you will be!!). Also a total font of wedding knowledge and top tips. Many thanks Caroline, I love my dress beyond words, it is everything I wanted and so much more...”

Thank you Helen for your kind words - it was an absolute pleasure to make your dress!

Do get in touch if you would like to find out more about having your dress made for you. [email protected]. I am almost fully booked for 2025, but still have a couple of spaces xx

Bespoke wedding dress - Moi
Bridesmaid dress -
Embroidered bespoke veil-
Groom’s suit-
Reception –
Church – St Mary the Virgin Martham
Catering –
Flowers – k
Photographer –
Cake -
HMUA – Sean Butt
Stationery / Signs –
Guard of Honour - T.S. Fearless 901 Troop Marine Cadets

29/11/2024

Happy folks xx