For many brides, their wedding dress is the pinnacle of their big day as it is a unique opportunity to wear a dress more spectacular and special than they have ever worn before. There are many things to consider when deciding upon a wedding dress; color, fabric, style, detailing, but what is the likelihood of finding everything you are looking for in an off-the-rail dress?
Wedding dresses can easily cost more than $1,000 and can often look very similar, with little to differentiate one from another. Having your wedding dress made for you will not only work out cheaper than buying it ready made, but it is also a great opportunity to have an input in the design of your dress, creating something truly unique.
Find a seamstress
For many of us, our sowing skills wouldn’t be up to making a wedding dress; however, there are many talented seamstresses out there who would do an excellent job. Many freelance seamstresses have their own websites, so Googling seamstresses in your local area is a good place to start.
Once you have found one you like you should arrange to meet them (or at least phone them) to discuss your requirements. This is important as you need to make sure your seamstress is confident in making your dress, as well as available to deliver it on time. It is also a great opportunity to see some of their previous work in order to ensure you’re happy to hire them.
Choose your gown material
Another way to save money and ensure you’re getting the exact dress you want is to buy your own material. If you have already engaged a seamstress they should be able to give you a good idea of how much material you need to buy then locate your nearest fabric store as they should be able to offer a good selection of material.
Choose your dress pattern
A pattern is a brilliant technique for making a wedding dress as it means you and your seamstress have a clear idea of how the dress is going to look. A pattern can be adapted, so you will still get your unique dress, but it gives a solid start for your seamstress to work from.
For my wedding dress, I found an elegant 1960s wedding dress pattern on eBay for just a few dollars. I then designed my own lace jacket to go over the top ensuring that the dress not only fitted me perfectly, but also reflected my own unique style.
DIY Wedding Dress
If you are looking for a truly unique dress you can design your own. Before you begin designing your own dress, you need to check that your seamstress is happy to make a dress from scratch without using a pattern. It is also important to maintain excellent communication with your seamstress throughout the dress making process as if they are just working from a drawing, it is easy for them to misinterpret your design.
This article was written exclusively for STL Weddings by Olivier Laudus. Olivier is an expert in the field of weddings and knows all the tricks in the book when it comes to making your day extra special with wedding accessories.
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