Why Princess Diana’s wedding dress designer was so upset on the big day

When Princess Diana arrived at the church on her wedding day, there was one detail about her gorgeous gown that designer Elizabeth Emanuel wasn’t happy about: the pleats. “We knew it would crease a bit, but when I saw it coming to St Paul and we saw the crease, I actually felt weak,” Emanuel said (per Express). “I was horrified, really, because there were a lot of creases. It was a lot more than we thought.”

Fortunately, Emanuel had prepared for the crease ahead of time and was able to smooth out the dress before Diana walked down the aisle. “It was such an awesome, goosebumps moment to see Diana in the splendor of the dress,” she told British Vogue. “I remember Judith Chalmers talking about the anticipation surrounding the dress on television as the crowd cheered. Diana kept everyone calm as she sang the jingles. There was so much joy.” Emanuel mentioned that this changed when Diana got in the car, as no one was talking after that time.

According to Kate Halfpenny, who is currently the bridal wear designer for British brand Halfpenny London, the popularity of Diana’s dress is enjoying a resurgence. “We’ve seen an increase in brides looking to add drama with indulgent trains, huge veils and gorgeous statement sleeves. I also see a growing demand for the ball gown,” she said at the Toronto Star.