It’s still a mystery who is designing Kate’s wedding dress but until the moment we see Kate in her dress I had a quick chat with Elizabeth Emanuel about Diana and Kate. As it all began with a phone call I phoned Elizabeth …..

What was your first reaction after you said “yes” to Diana on the
phone?

We were very excited to be asked to the do wedding dress because we didn’t think we would be asked. We weren’t experienced and did not expect to be asked.

How much say did Diana’s mother and sisters have over the design of the dress?

It was just her mother who came, David, Diana and myself. We all sat and went through the sketches and at the end of the day it was very much Diana’s decision.

Did Anna Harvey of British Vogue have any input Diana’s dress as she introduced Diana to you?

No, she wasn’t involved in any way. We didn’t have any sketches. At the end of the day Diana choose a sample hanging that was hanging up which we used as a template.

Did you find the commission of the dress to be daunting?

It was a very, very important dress we knew that it had to go down in history and that we had to get it right.

You actually designed two dresses for Diana this must have been very challenging as each dress had to be as spectacular.

We did the wedding dress and there was another dress hanging there just in case somebody discovered the secret. We had hoped that we wouldn’t have had to use that. We did it as a precaution really.

When you were designing the dress did you visualize the wedding scene in St Paul’s Cathedral first or was it the dress first?

That was all the thinking behind it, knowing it was going to be Saint Paul’s Cathedral. As it was so big, it really influenced our choice. Taking all of those factors into consideration and that’s why we all decided it was the best design.

The train was 25 feet long. Did you add the train because the wedding was taking place in St Paul’s Cathedral?

We added the train because we thought it needed a train as it was a very grand dress and we thought that it would finish it off very nicely.

Diana was totally graceful and at ease walking down the aisle with her super long train. Did Diana have a practice dress?

Yes there was a rehearsal and Diana did practice with the dress. It was important as the bridesmaids had to know how to straighten it out.

When Diana stepped out of the carriage the dress became the manifestation of the mood of the wedding day. Reflecting back how did you feel at the moment?

We didn’t see it at the time as we were already in the Cathedral. Looking back on the footage we were very excited. It looked really fantastic in the footage. It looked very dramatic, that was what we wanted.

There was so much excitement around the design of Diana’s dress unlike Princess Anne’s dress did you realize at that time you would be the catalyst for future wedding dresses?

We did not really think about that, we did what we did. Yes it was the 80’s and it was the kind of the feeling at that time. Our designs were very dramatic and theatrical. We were noted for that and it was the feeling the time.

Did you feel at some point after designing the dress you maybe labeled for “ fairy princess wedding dresses “?  Or did it not cross your mind?

We were known for that. Those were the dresses we did, theatrical and dramatic. It was lovely for us to be associated with a dress like that.

Kate has her own style unlike Diana who was growing into her style how much influence do think Kate will have over the design of her wedding dress?

Oh, I am sure she will be a lot more involved. She’s a bit older than Diana. She knows what suits her and she is a lot more savvy about fashion.  I am sure she will have a great influence on what she is going to wear.

Now knowing the impact and life of the dress how would you design Kate’s dress? To the style of today, design the dress to be more timeless or to suit Kate’s style.

It’s not important to what I would do really. It’s more about what the new designer is going to be doing. It’s something we are very excited about and will be seeing on the day itself.

Do you think if Kate does not wear a tiara it may indicate how Will views his role as a future king? Or is it just not Kate’s style?

I just think it’s a personal choice if she chooses not to wear a tiara really.

A client of mine, Sally O’Brien thinks that Kate will arrive with flowers in her hair and leave in a tiara?  In as a commoner out as a Princess.

Sarah Ferguson did that when she married Prince Edward. There are no rules and regulations about this. It is something Kate and her designer will decide between themselves.

Diana’s dress was a no expenses spared dress. Do you think that Kate’s dress will be the same no expenses dress considering the current economy?

Well, you know it’s a royal wedding dress. A very important dress. I am sure whatever it takes to make it perfect. That is what it will be.

Do you feel that the economy of today has had an impact on the bride’s spending on her  dress?

I doubt it, no. It’s always when they don’t spend very much during the year the wedding dress is the one dress they will spend more on.

How has the excitement of the wedding impacted your business, Art of being Elizabeth Emanuel?

I have had ups and downs. I am still hereafter thirty years that’s something.It’s brought the public’s attention again. I’ve got a fantastic audience now because of all the media attention. Hopefully there’s a lot of interest. It’s been all very good.

It must be a role reversal moment for you as you designed Diana’s dress and now you are like the rest of us in suspense. How do you feel?

It’s nice because at the time we could not talk about what we were doing. Now we are on the outside looking inside. We know the process in what goes on in making a dress like that and of what goes on.  We can talk about it.  It kind of nice to give people the idea what’s involved in making a dress like that.

Do you think Kate’s designers are going through the stress you went through?

Probably not because no one knows who it is. They don’t have the media waiting outside their door like we did.

Who will be with you and what will you be doing on the wedding day, as it will be bringing back so many memories for you?

I am going to be down for doing media all day because there has been so much interest.  It’s all very exciting!

If you were to chat with Kate and Will about the day what would you day say to them?

Well really the day whole day was so special for us. It was all very special. It was a fantastic time for both of us. It was a very unique part of our lives. It was great. We took a lot of pictures and put into a book for our children.

I can’t wait for the moment Kate alights from her car to see her wedding dress.

Elizabeth Emanuel’s photo, screen shot from CNN