Meghan Markle has ‘chosen’ Ralph & Russo for her big day…inside the brand where dresses cost £30k and take 3,500 HOURS to make
SINCE Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement last year, there's been one question on our minds - what will Meghan wear on her big day?
The rumours of who will design her gown have been circling for months, and it looks like her choice could be Australian designer house Ralph & Russo.
A royal insider told the that Meghan had "chosen Ralph & Russo" just last week.
Meghan hinted at her love for the brand last year in her engagement photos, where she wore a ruffled dress by the designers.
But who is behind Ralph & Russo? And why is the brand a popular choice?
Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo are an Australian designer duo currently living in London, who create bespoke and couture dresses.
Their prices start at £30,000, with customers admitted by appointment only.
The brand was founded in 2007 and seems perfect for the bride-to-be, who is expected to combine a classic style with elements of modern glamour when she ties the knot.
Ralph and Russo also have a love story of their own, after Michael - an Australian banker working in London - met Tamara, a graduate from the Whitehouse Institute of Design in Melbourne.
They fell in love and founded their brand together, which creates gorgeous couture dresses worn by names such as Beyonce and Rihanna.
Since building their empire, Ralph and Russo base themselves in a seven-storey Mayfair salon overlooking the gardens of Buckingham Palace.
Beyonce stepped out on the stage of her Mrs. Carter world tour wearing a white bodysuit by Ralph and Russo, which designer Michael admitted was out of their normal creative comfort zone.
Fellow popstar Rihanna also wore a daring Ralph and Russo look with a dramatic black mini dress and an exaggerated train last month at her annual Diamond ball.
Although the designers declined to comment on whether they would be involved in the upcoming Royal wedding, they have revealed other details of their fashion house.
In an interview with the , the pair proudly stated that they have employed more than 100 skilled women; compared to huge brand Chanel which has about 70.
The team includes embroiderers, tailors, fitters, designers and people who specialise in certain materials such as silk.
Thousands of tiny Swarovski crystals are carefully stitched into their gowns in painstaking craftsmanship, with a single dress taking at least 30-odd pairs of hands.
The brand makes around 600 couture dresses a year, with a large percentage being bridal.
It seems that the brand's designs are indeed good enough for Royal eyes, as Angelina Jolie met Queen Elizabeth while wearing one of their creations.
Ralph and Russo showcased their Spring 2018 couture collection earlier this year, which features bespoke gowns that took upwards of 3,500 hours to make.
Previous designers lined up for the role of Meghan's dress included fashion house Alexander McQueen, whose creative director Sarah Burton styled Kate Middleton for her big day.
Although the odds for the brand designing the gown has increased, we are yet to know for certain what Meghan Markle will walk down the aisle in.
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For more details of the upcoming royal wedding, take a look at why Prince William may give Meghan Markle away at her wedding.
And if you want to achieve the same look Meghan, check out what make-up brands she loves most.