Saturday 18 August 2012

Our perfect day


The time has finally come... drum roll please... to reveal the "official" photos from our wedding 3 weeks ago!

It was such a perfect day - the sun came out for us (this may not sound like such a big thing for my non-UK readers but believe us, we were so lucky) and every single detail went to plan. We were able to just really enjoy ourselves throughout the whole day. 

Now the dresses. For those who have been following my blog in the past year, I made both my wedding dress and my bridesmaid's dress. 

My wedding dress

Yep, it was a huge project, especially as I wasn't that experienced at sewing when I started it. Two full toiles and countless adjustments later, we got there! 

Fabric(s)
The dress has 7 layers:
1) silk dupion pleats and drape, 
2) silk organza underlining for the pleats, 
3) silk dupion for dress layer, 
4) silk organza underlining, 
5) silk habotai lining, 
6) cotton corselette with spiral steel boning, and
7) silk dupion corselette lining. 



Pattern(s)

I used Simplicity 2959 as a starting point, not because of pictures on the pattern envelope, but the clean princess lines and the pleats. I made lots and lots of adjustments - to name a few:
  • I added lots of layers including a corselette which extends to below my hips (see the corselette here);
  • I changed the bodice to a sweetheart neckline - I didn't like how pointy the neckline was from 2959 and preferred a softer shape. I used Simplicity 4070 for the neckline instead - 4070 is also what I used for my BM dress as we thought it would be cute to have the same neckline;
  • I changed the overall shape of the design - I found the skirt to be too full, and preferred a fitted dropped waist bodice and a more A-line skirt. I reduced the width significantly for the whole length, but more so around the hip area;
  • I added a lace-up back and omitted the bow (see here for the lace-up back and here for a tutorial);
  • I lengthened the train to a chapel length; 
  • I ignored the pattern pieces for the pleats and made them to include a diagonal drape by trial and error with tissue paper (see here);
  • I added a waist stay; 
  • I added a one-tier French bustle (see here); and
  • I dissected a bra and added them to the corselette (see here). 


The process
Would you believe me when I say that I think of the whole process fondly?? OK, there were a couple of times when all that hand sewing got too much and/or I doubted myself, and not to mention that horrific spider incident (read about it here - ewww) but overall it went smoothly! Who'd have known that I had this much patience? 

No doubt it was a steep learning curve, and I feel so much more experienced at sewing after the process. And almost a year's labour was absolutely worth it! 

More photos
Quick word of warning - there are a lot of photos (but haven't I done well narrowing down from 900+ photos??) 









The dress with the bustle done up in the evening:


  

21 comments:

  1. I've follow your progress on this dress for months. You looked stunning and the dress is gorgeous! I plan to mine for my 25th anniversary when we renew.

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    1. Thank you Erica for your kind words :) Wow that's so great about your upcoming 25th anniversary - congratulations!

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  2. I love your photos. Your dress is outstanding. Beautiful. Great job, and thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you Christine, not just for your lovely words today, but also for all the help you've given me during the process from your blog (it was such a useful source), on PR and here! I really couldn't have done it without helpful bloggers like you :)

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  3. Absolutely beautiful dress and beautiful couple! Congratulations and
    best wishes for a long and happy life together!

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  4. Beautiful dress and photographs - I too am making my wedding dress and 6 bridesmaid dresses for my May wedding, so I guess I haven't got long.

    Congratulations on your wedding and your beautiful dress.

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    1. Thank you.

      Wow 6 bridesmaid dresses!! That must be quite a challenge especially if you're making your own wedding dress too! Best of luck!

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  5. The dress is stunning!!!!! You look perfect in it!
    And congratulations for your wedding! I'm so happy for you! :)

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    1. Thank you RobyGuip! By the way I checked out the progress of your dress - and it's looking really great! I love the second toile of the bodice :) Can't wait to see how it turns out x

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  6. Congratulations on the wedding and the dresses. Well done! You have every reason to be proud of yourself and what you have sewn. I have been checking back regularly for updates to the blog. Beautiful pictures...............

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    1. Thank you Susan! I'm so pleased with the pictures too - they've certainly done the dress justice :)

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  7. Gorgeous! Great job with the dress, and congrats! You guys make such a cute couple!

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  8. You are really phenomenal to make your own wedding dress and your bridesmaid's!!!!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words. I actually rather enjoyed the project :)

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  9. Gorgeous dress and fantastic photos, too!! It's our 2nd anniversary next week and I also look back fondly on making of my dress, so I know what you mean about all the handstitching and the odd stressful moment here and there! you've done such a beautiful job on the fit and finish of this, you'll be proud of this forever!

    (Now go sew something quick and easy for yourself, okay??)

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    1. Aw thank you Melissa! It's always nice to meet people who have made their wedding dresses too and can share the experience :D

      I have really enjoyed sewing much quicker projects too, though I'm also looking forward to making a couple of formal boleros for my mother in law's wedding soon, and a bridesmaid dress for myself this time! Watch this space ;-)

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  10. I can't believe you made this it's amazing. I tried that pattern and it didn't fit me so I gave up. Your an amazing seamstress well done! Your photos look stunning too. Very inspirational to all us sewers out there!

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    1. Aw thank you for your kind words! I must admit that I didn't think the fit on Simplicity 2959 was that great - the whole dress was supposed to be quite full so I had to take the whole thing in a rather lot. 2 toiles did the trick though. That said, it was a really useful starting point so I'm gald that I used this pattern :)

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  11. Last 2 month ago, my sister bought her wedding dress from an online store and now she wants to know how to sell a wedding dress at good cost. Please recommend us any shop or store where we can sell it.


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