10 Things You May Have Missed About Meghan's Wedding Dresses

Meghan Markle a.k.a. the brand-new Duchess of Sussex stunned everyone in not one but two gorgeous wedding dresses this weekend at her nuptials to Prince Harry. Clare Waight Keller, Artistic Director at Givenchy, designed the first look worn at the ceremony in St. George's Chapel and subsequent reception in St. George's Hall. The simple yet stunning ensemble of course wowed the groom—"She just looked absolutely exquisite," he told Waight Keller afterwards—but admittedly underwhelmed some viewers looking for more sparkle and a tighter fit.

A second glamorous look by Stella McCartney fit right in with the vibes of the second reception at Frogmore House. (Prince Harry himself changed into a snappy tux!) While it's nearly impossible to pick a favorite, here's what even the most devoted royal fans may have missed about these gorgeous gowns during all of the hubbub of the big day.

Her first dress had only six seams.

Markle surprised everyone by picking the historic French fashion house for her wedding gown instead of a British label, but the choice clearly reflected her own simple yet chic style.

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"The dress epitomises a timeless minimal elegance referencing the codes of the iconic House of Givenchy and showcasing the expert craftsmanship of its world-renowned Parisian couture atelier," the palace revealed in a statement.

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Audrey Hepburn likely inspired the style.

Not only was the late actress a muse for Givenchy, but she often wore similar cuts. The shoulder-framing bateau neckline and sculpted waist seen on Markle's dress could have easily appeared on the movie star decades ago.

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The lack of embellishment broke with royal tradition.

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The wedding dresses of Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Duchess of Cambridge all featured elaborate beading, lace, and other details. Given its simplicity, Markle's likely cost less than the £250,000 price tag for Kate Middleton's, but still likely fell in the six-figure range.

Waight Keller and Markle picked a pure white double bonded silk cady to bring a "fresh modernity" to her look instead. "Perfect for the round sculptural look required, the silk cady has a soft matt lustre," the palace revealed.
Workers washed their hands every 30 minutes while making her veil.

While the dress remained plain, the 16-foot-long veil did not. Markle requested that her wedding look represent all 53 Commonwealth countries, and the elaborate embroidery on her headpiece did the trick. Following significant research, the design team picked a distinctive flower for each nation. Then the textile artists spent hundreds of hours meticulously sewing them in three dimensions onto the tulle. The frequent handwashing kept the threads pristine and perfectly white.

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The embroidery also included three other messages.

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Besides the honoring of the Commonwealth, Markle included several other important symbols as well. A California poppy pays homage to her birthplace. Wintersweet, a type of shrub, grows in front of the couple's cottage at Kensington Palace. Finally, the design incorporated crops of wheat interspersed among the flowers to symbolize love and charity.
The train actually measured longer than you think.

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With all that veil it's easy to miss how long the dress actually stretched. The hem itself doesn't look too far off Kate Middleton's 9-foot-long train, but of course both measure far short of Princess Diana's 25-foot behemoth.
Her shoes also came from Givenchy.

The couture helm used silk duchess satin instead of the dress's silk cady. This fabric holds its shape well because of its high thread count; it's actually the most common material used for bridal gowns, royal or not.

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The tiara is customizable.

Queen Mary's diamond bandeau features a detachable brooch of 10 brilliant diamonds in the centre, which King George V's wife sometimes swapped out for other gems. The circa-1893 pin Meghan wore actually only became an element of the tiara with the creation of the frame in 1932. The 11 sections of the pavé set band feature interlaced ovals, an Art Deco motif more in tune with Meghan's personal style than some of the other floral options floated about. The piece hadn't appeared in public for decades, but Markle had worn her Cartier earrings at least three times before the wedding, meaning she'll probably bring them out again in the future.

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Her Aquazzura shoes included a something blue.

Markle turned to one of her favorite brands for the nude mesh stilettos she wore with her Stella McCartney dress to the second reception. They had a sweet detail hidden inside; the soles were painted a baby blue.

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She also wore Princess Diana's aquamarine ring.

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The bride wore another pair of Cartier earrings (they appear to match the bracelet she had on in the morning!) but she also added a little extra sparkle on her right hand. The emerald-cut aquamarine gem once belonged to her late mother-in-law. What a sweet way to honor her on the couple's wedding day!