Bride Pippa Middleton stuns in bespoke Giles Deacon lace gown that has a high-neck, corseted bodice and a heart-shaped cut-out at the back

• Giles Deacon was spotted in November leaving Pippa's house in west London carrying a garment bag, but had refused to confirm if he was making her wedding dress.
• A royal favourite, Giles' designs have formerly been worn by Princess Beatrice, as well as other A-list celebrities Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, Agyness Deyn, Thandie Newton and Victoria Beckham.
• In 2011, Abbey Clancy, who had previously modelled for Giles, wore a wedding dress by the designer when she married footballer Peter Crouch.
• Giles' collections are described as having a "couture" feel, and his catwalk shows have previously attracted supermodel fans Linda Evangelista and Karolina Kurkova.
• Born in Darlington, Country Durham, the designer was raised near the Lake District and wanted to become a marine biologist but, after failing his chemistry A-Level, ended up on an art foundation course.
• He went on to study at Central St Martins in 1992, going on to win Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2006.
• Fashion Model Daisy Lowe, who was the face of his high-street collaboration collection with Debenham's, said of the designer: "Giles Deacon is a genius".

• The lace is a big hit

"It's simple and pretty," says David Emanuel, host and creative director of Say Yes to the Dress UK, who also designed Princess Diana's wedding dress. "I predicted it would be soft and pretty and very English, which it is."

"I love the lace, it looks so clean, so pristine, she looked immaculate," agrees couture designer Edwing D'Angelo.

• It's a little bit sexy - but not too much

"I think the capped sleeves and delicate v-back show her arms, without being too over the top. It really emphasizes her waist," says Peta Hunt, editor-at-large, You & Your Wedding Magazine.

"She's got the key hole back detail which is how to show a bit of skin without being too much," agrees bridalwear designer Charlotte Balbier. "I believe if you're going to show off the back detail then you must go high at the front, and she's done that. I love the high neck, that's my favourite part."

• The dress totally suits the setting

"Because it's an English country wedding, she went for soft and pretty," explains Emanuel.

"It's a very English girl's dress, for the classic English wedding," agrees Hunt. "It's a really appropriate dress for that venue and the fact she's having a country garden reception."

Hunt thought that the pearl-embellished tulle veil, which was designed by legendary milliner Stephen Jones, flowed beautifully.

"It's Britishness at its best, which is what we needed. She didn't want loads of sparkle, I'm glad she stuck to her roots."

• Giles Deacon was an excellent choice

"Looking at the dress, she was obviously looking for a romantic feel and I think [Giles Deacon] gave her that with this dress. I absolutely love his work, it was a great choice," D'Angelo says.

Emanuel thinks that the choice of a fashion-forward designer like Deacon over more mainstream or traditional names means Pippa is showing off her fashion credentials.

"In his past, he's worked for big fashion houses and then he went into ready to wear and now he's doing couture...he's relatively new on the scene."

• Pippa is going to be a trend-setter

"I'm sure we're going to get lots of girls following her lead with this dress," Hunt says. "It's an easy look for us all to emulate. It is what most girls dream of looking like, I feel."