Wedding dress ideas
5 August 2008, 13:29We visited our venue (and totally geeked-out at the museum!) on Saturday and met with the wedding coordinator there so we now have a date – the rather auspicious 19 September 2009. Or to put it another way, 19.09.09 (09/19/09 for the Americans)!
Good thing we have over a year though, because we’re going to need every single day of that to save up and prepare for it. Oh my, the grand total was an eye opener, and we’re not being frivolous in the slightest with our plans!
Luckily, then, my grandmother has given me her gown from her wedding in 1949. She’s insisted I use it and NOT be afraid to cut it up, saying she’ll cut it herself if I don’t, or donate it to goodwill or sell it on eBay. I think it’s her way of not letting me get too scared about changing it or treating it like a relic or something. In any case, I’ve seen photos of it, but I’m going to make you all wait until it’s shipped over to me, cleaned, and pressed before I document its “before” state properly.
Until then, here’s my rough sketch based on the photos and my mom’s eyewitness account:
It’s got a high neck of mesh fabric, leading down to an off the shoulder collar (affixed with a beautiful brooch in the centre front), very long sleeves with a pointed, mid-hand hem, fitted princess-seamed bodice, back peplum, and full skirt leading to a three foot train. It’s made entirely of silk satin, is unlined, has a tied waist stay, and the only closures are a side zipper and five self-satin covered buttons at the back neck in the mesh area.
Now, for the dealbreakers – the measurements. The waist is 27 inches, which is doable for me to get down to in a year’s time, but the bust is a very scary 30 inches! BZZZZZ! Nope, I’m afraid you’ll have to console yourself with the at-home game, m’am… My ribcage at my absolute leanest was 32 inches, so there’s absolutely no way I could fit into the bust without surgically removing a few ribs. My mom (bless her!) even measured the seam allowances, which are all 1/2 inch, so I’d only gain an inch or so at the most by letting those out a bit.
So with the bust measurement being completely unworkable, I’m now in the fun territory of refashioning the vintage wedding gown to suit my body and my style. Luckily, the fabric in the bodice, arms, and train should be enough to work with, though there will of course be a thousand muslins before I wield the tailor’s shears…
Vogue happened to have a sale a few weeks ago so I put an order through the US site for all the wedding possibilities I’ve had my eye on, and it still turned out cheaper than buying two Vogue patterns here in the UK.
I thought Vogue 8191 might be a good basic dress pattern for mixing and matching and generally checking sizes and fit, but there’s nothing here I’m completely in love with. Vogue 2237 is a gorgeous gown, but a bit vampy for a wedding if you ask me. The bolero, on the other hand, looks fantastic and will more than likely come in handy for a mid-September reception on the patio, so I’m keeping that just in case. The big pattern to run away with my heart, however, is Vogue 2965. Oh, I still sigh when I look at it! The cowl neck top, the deeeeeeeeep V back, the detachable chiffon train. Oh yes!
So right now my plan is to morph the top half of 2965 into the bottom half of the vintage gown. Just eyeballing it, I reckon I can get the back and side panels from the material in the long sleeves, and the cowl (plus a waist piece) from shortening the train. And then I can add on the suggested detachable train if I feel I need it.
I’ll also be making the two bridesmaid dresses (my Man of Honour will be bringing his own suit!), so I bought a few patterns with them in mind, too:
I wasn’t necessarily thinking straight when I bought them, though, and so it wasn’t until afterwards that we hammered out the requirements:
- length: above the knee or floor-length
- FBA issues – both are curvy, busty girls, unlike myself!
- I demands knits only for my pre-wedding sanity
- They’ll wear the same dress, but with colours of their choice
Vogue 7488 is a men’s waistcoat pattern I bought with my Man of Honour in mind when I thought perhaps he should match the bridesmaids, but I am just so unbelievably sick of people asking me “what are your colours?” that I’m not going with colours at all now. Vogue 2091 got nixed by Bridesmaid #1 for being a really bad style for full busts, resulting in a “shelf effect”, as did Vogue 2879 for the same reason. But I am just as in love with 2879 as I am with 2965 above that I think I might make it for myself in a shorter length for a reception dress. Vogue 1027 got the go-ahead, but in a different hem length, so that’s still an option.
Also proposed was Vogue 8381 and the bodice B of Vogue 8386, but the search continues, and Bridesmaid #2 still needs to get her vote in. Once again, I’m very glad there’s plenty of time!
We still have a big stack of BWOF archives to go through yet, too, but I can think of few evenings more enjoyable than leafing through pictures of pretty dresses with a good friend and a nice bottle of wine!
Tags: dress, vintage, wedding
OMG, that’s quite a few decisions you will have to make! I love the fact that your grandmother is making ABSOLUTELY clear that you can do whatever you want with her weddingdress, pfew! I’d be very nervous to cut up a wedding dress, especially one that was worn by a family member! The patterns you chose are fabulous, it’ll be great to see how you will combine them into your dream dress! Enjoy all your preparations and don’t let the stress get to you. Good luck and lots of fun in the great year to come, I look forward to seeing your updates on these projects every now and then!
— Houkje Aug 5, 04:50 PM #
Wow, you have your work cut out for you. I made the groom’s vests for our wedding and just barely finished in time. Good luck!!!!
— dawn Aug 5, 05:50 PM #
How exciting! I’m getting married in October of this year, and I’m making my dress too. It’s so special that you have your grandmother’s to work from as well.
— Emily Aug 5, 05:58 PM #
As I am starting to take up sewing here in the States I am appreciating the cheap patterns — the first few beginners’ projects I picked up were $3-$6. (Though the $6 skirt was missing a vital step — sew the sides together…)
For what it’s worth as you look through designs, I think your neckline looks quite lovely in the mock frock and your pattern contest entry. The cowl neck is also quite nice.
Good luck!
— Sharon Aug 5, 10:41 PM #
LOL. I just made my dd a bridesmaid dress that was not curvy girl friendly and all 3 girls were curvy! and boy was that a pain to get it to look good. It is lovely that you are actually listening to your friends. My dd’s friend, the bride did not. The DKNY dress is a great choice for full busted women. I made that and love it.(I am a DD) The others, while lovely, would be hard to do an fba on without spoiling the lines.
— Nancy K Aug 5, 11:46 PM #
I love the cowl neck vogue! The back is gorgeous!
Even if your bridesmaid’s can’t decide on what to wear now, I bet you could find something in a WOF magazine!
— stacysews Aug 6, 05:05 AM #
I can’t wait to see the original dress and follow your progress on it and your bridesmaid’s dresses.
— AllisonC Aug 6, 05:51 AM #
Wow what a big project…and I bet it will look fantastic…If you don´t mind, I will link you on my blog?!
Bathina
— Daniela-Bathina Aug 6, 12:49 PM #
I don’t know whether this is a help or just makes it more complicated, but I have a couple of older Vogue patterns that have some similar shapings to the wedding dress patterns you showed. 1944 – Vera Wang (my own wedding dress pattern) and 9400. Let me know if you want to borrow either. You can always borrow the patrones back again if you want to flick through.
The whole thing sounds a lot of fun. Good luck.
— Zoe Aug 6, 01:23 PM #
The cowl-necked pattern really jumped out at me, it’s loooooooooovely! I’m just making a reminder on my phone to bring the book to lend you tomorrow.
— Anwen Aug 6, 02:34 PM #
Wow, you’re ambitious! I’ve wanted to make my own wedding dress for years, but to do the bridesmaid ones too, on top of planning for a wedding… good luck with that. Also, I love that your grandmother is encouraging you to cut up her wedding dress!
— Becky Aug 7, 01:51 PM #
You know – you must, surely – that 19 September is International Talk Like A Pirate Day?!
I smell a theme wedding!!
— livebird Aug 8, 10:24 AM #
I’m positive that your wedding dress will be a wonderful work of hear and will contribute to make that special day even more memorable! You have plenty of time to decide and make all the arrangements, including the dresses! It sounds like lots of fun!!
— Tany Aug 11, 03:59 PM #
Sorry for the typo! I meant “work of art” and mixed wit with “work from the heart”, still missing a letter, LOL!
— Tany Aug 11, 04:02 PM #
I too love the cowl neck dress. It is lovely! Is it on the bias though? If so, is your grandma’s dress? I don’t think the dress would turn out nearly as stunning if the fabric wasn’t on the bias-it would hang completely differently and not drape. I found bias makes my hips look huge and they aren’t that bad (39 inches). Best of luck! I know what ever you make will be perfect for you!!! You are so brave when it comes to sewing!!!
— JenL Aug 13, 11:31 PM #
I’ve loved the elegant, simple style of V2965 since they brought it out. The cowl neck, deep plunging back, & simple, classy lines would make this a winner! As I said, keep us posted, especially on the process of designing/making muslins if you can. Looking forward to all your creations for a spectacular wedding!
— Rosalind Clayton Sep 26, 03:41 AM #