Spoiler Alert: Downton Abbey Costume Designer Explains the Do's and Don'ts of '20s Vintage Wedding Gowns

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We might be sitting on the wrong side of the Atlantic seething over the Brits' sneak preview at Downton Abbey's third season, but distance makes the heart grow fonder, right? Or is it distance makes us scour the internets for any tidbits of information and pictures of the Crawley family's daily doings? First up, two weddings! Elle UK interviewed costume designer Caroline McCall about creating both Lady Edith and Lady Mary's nuptial-ready dresses, a feat that took $6,500 for just the latter's drop-waist number (making it the most expensive piece yet on set). Besides having deep pockets for an exact replica, find the do's and don'ts of creating a vintage wedding gown á la Lady Mary's and Lady Edith's after the jump.

Don't go costume-y: "When you think of the fashions of the 1920s, you immediately think of the Jazz Age and flapper girls. I think we will see a lot of that in The Great Gatsby remake, but the 1920s of Downton Abbey has a very different mood. It's much more ethereal and romantic; a soft, draped silhouette that actually lends itself very well to weddings."

Do pay attention to detail: "The tabard sits quite high on the front of the neck, but then drops into a V shape at the back with tiny buttons positioned at the waist, before it falls into a long train at the back," and it's also trimmed with "scallops of lace and edged in tiny rice pearls and Swarovski crystal beads."

Do do the subtle shimmer: "I knew how the light would come through the window and where her father would be standing as he gazed up at her. I wanted her twinkle in the light, so I infused the lace with a delicate silver thread to create a subtle iridescence. My goal was to make her look really ethereal and romantic."

Don't forget the tiara: For Lady Edith's look, "we managed to source a beautiful wedding tiara with a motif that perfectly echoed the embroidery on the train."

Don't use heavy fabrics: "Often the fabric used to make wedding dresses can be quite heavy, which in turn can make the dress feel very stiff and structured. The key to both Lady Mary's and Lady Edith's wedding dresses is that they are so soft, they drape so beautifully."
· Downton Abbey Wedding Dresses [Elle UK]
· Marc Jacobs Watches Downton Abbey Just Like Regular Folks and Other Stuff We Learned From Lady Mary's Emmys Dress [Racked]
· Michelle Dockery Talks Downton Style and Small Animal Toys [Racked]