Burda Style For people who sew
Description
I got married recently. When I got engaged six months earlier, I decided to make my own wedding dress. I had a few reasons for doing this, most importantly it was something that I’d always secretly wanted to do, but it also meant that my fiance & I save a lot of money. Finally, I found that most dress stores in Melbourne were telling me that they were too busy & couldn’t get a dress ready for my in time (I was giving them 4-5 months notice).
I think it’s pretty clear that I was heavily inspired by Grace Kelly’s wedding dress. I did swap the heavy Chantilly lace for a lighter embroidered tulle, as I got married in early March & there was a possibility that the temperature would be 35+C. The corset was made using Simplicity pattern, 5006 & the rest of the dress was made using an altered version of a vogue pattern, V2979. I was really happy with how it turned out. I learnt a lot about dress making in the process & I really enjoyed making it. It’s not perfect & there are a few (well hidden) flaws, but on the day I felt REALLY proud walking down the aisle in it. It’s something that I’ll always treasure.
I dedicated a few posts to the construction of this dress on my blog, http://orchidsinmay.typepad.com/orchids-in-may/
P.S I also made the veil, but that was pretty easy by comparison…
Update: I’ve had so many lovely comments about the quality of the photos I thought I should add a credit for my super star photographer, Tatiana from Red Butterfly photography. Her website is www.redbutterfly.com.au
Update Number 2: I’ve added the details of how I made this dress to the instructions section. I’ve tried to make it as detailed as possible, however, a intermediate knowledge of sewing is assumed. One word of warning if you are attempting to make a wedding dress yourself. Remember that it’s white, & probably silk & that if it gets dirty it will probably stain. You will need to clean EVERYTHING. Even then you’ll need to be careful, on some occasions I put down clean white cotton sheets to protect the dress from surfaces.
For more details please visit my blog, Orchids In May.
Material Notes
Corset Front Facing: Silk Dupion
Corset Interfacing: Heavyweight white sew in interfacing
Corset Lining: Silk Dupion
Corset Boning: White sew in boning
Sash: Silk Dupion
Skirt Front Facing: Silk Dupion
Skirt Lining: Rayon
Lace: Embroidered Tulle
Difficulty
Advanced
Related Terms
Categories
Credits
- V2979
Vogue Patterns
- 5006
Simplicity Patterns
- www.redbutterfly.com.au
My photographer
- Mum
Mum for helping with all the fittings…
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May 2, 2011, 04.28 PMby Sara McKillop
So gorgeous! What a great job you did! And now, not only like Grace Kelly’s dress but like Princess Kate Middleton’s as she married Prince William!! Well done!!
Apr 21, 2011, 04.34 PMby Crystal Fashionsbycj Jordan
was it hard…. to do
Dec 1, 2010, 04.53 PMby miasu
Wow, wow, wow! That’s one of the most beautiful dresses I’ve seen! I love the lace and the buttons. Also, the last picture is so perfect! It looks like it captures absolutely everything I’d want out of a wedding!
Nov 14, 2010, 11.47 AMby janul
Oh, this is so beautiful! I love Grace Kelly´s dress… this was so much work, I can´t imagine being so patient :). Such a pity I´m married already… :)
Aug 29, 2010, 08.59 PMby cface23
Beautiful dress! You really pulled it off!
Aug 27, 2010, 08.59 PMby easbrooke
Wow! That is a beautiful dress! I bet you felt wonderful on your wedding day. Congratulations!
Aug 22, 2010, 02.42 PMby mema79
wow! this is fantastic!
Aug 21, 2010, 08.06 PMby lubynite
Oh my god!! it’s perfect!! A really wonderful wedding dress and it was perfect on you on your Big Day!!
Aug 20, 2010, 10.59 AMby laura oprea
Wow! Gorgeous! Great job!!!
May 28, 2010, 12.44 AMby Elisabeth Snider
Stunning! You did a great job! It’s it an amazing feeling to walk down the aisle in something you made yourself?
1 Reply
May 28, 2010, 02.18 AMby roarah
Thanks! I was positively ecstatic when I finally got to walk down the aisle and show my husband (to be) what I’d spent so many weeks toiling away on.
May 6, 2010, 10.58 PMby kaiju
awesome!
May 2, 2010, 01.26 AMby fashionjaz1
oh it’s gorgeous! beautifully made! :)
Apr 21, 2010, 01.31 PMby nanooch
J’adoooooooooooooooooooooooooooore
Apr 20, 2010, 08.06 PMby ailuj
great. I like this dress.
Apr 19, 2010, 07.31 PMby purplejb99
Wow, I can’t believe you made that! It turned out great, you look stunning. Congratulations! <3
Apr 19, 2010, 09.36 AMby assets
Wonderful Dress my first thought was Grace kelly or sure. You look wonderful
Apr 18, 2010, 09.54 PMby daisybisley
This is so beautiful! Stunning
Apr 15, 2010, 02.33 PMby sunnilj9
This is seriously on of the most amazing creations I’ve seen! And I love the lace, oh its so gorgeous. You did an amazing job. Really really beautiful.
Apr 15, 2010, 02.28 PMby lambert12
wow.. i can’t help but to add another comment… you really look wonderful on your wedding gown.. I wish I could also create a wedding gown for a client…You really did a Great Job and made you Wedding Extra Special…Congratulations!!!!
Apr 15, 2010, 02.22 PMby lambert12
wow you look gorgeous!!!
Apr 15, 2010, 09.11 AMby costurerasindedal
Really beautiful!!! – Congratulations.
Apr 15, 2010, 12.13 AMby gracel
beautiful! Congratulations both on the amazing dress and on your marriage!
Apr 14, 2010, 09.51 PMby lepetithoot
Wow, stunning! Congratulations!
Apr 14, 2010, 09.46 PMby dilshadburman
This just made me cry!
Its been my secret dream too, and I don’t even know if I want to get married or if I’ll have a white wedding! :)
Gorgeous, gorgeous job and beautiful photos!
Apr 14, 2010, 09.18 PMby mlssfshn
Congrats on your wedding and you’re success in constructing such a beautiful dress
Apr 14, 2010, 08.48 PMby marloncosta
What a amazing job! You are real talented! Congrats on the wedding!
Apr 14, 2010, 08.22 PMby mitmit
Congrats on your wedding! What a beautiful dress! Love that you’ve made it yourself! To me, all the work and dedication you put into making the dress, symbolizes just how much “it all” means to you! (hope you get what I’m trying to say. My english isn’t always super :-) ) And as Adriana, I wish you and your husband a long, healthy and happy life together! <3
2 Replies
Apr 15, 2010, 08.37 AMby roarah
Thank-you so much. You’re absolutely right about the how much more it means when you’ve put the hard work in. I don’t think I would have felt anything like the way I did on the day if somebody else had made my dress. I know it sounds really corny & a little cliche, but it’s hard to put that feeling into words, I think you did a better job than me!
Apr 15, 2010, 09.50 AMby mitmit
;-) Glad you got what I meant! And nothing is ever too corny or cliche, when it comes to the ove of ones life or the wedding of ones dreams! ;-)
Apr 14, 2010, 07.38 PMby Brumby Ramsay
The dress is just beautiful, you are very brave making such an ambitious and emotionally attached project. I also love the fabric of the bridesmaids dresses!
2 Replies
Apr 15, 2010, 08.39 AMby roarah
Thanks, I also made the bridesmaids dresses. The girls & I didn’t want a flat colour & spent a bit of time looking for a pattern. We all loved this one & were really happy when we found it on sale for $3/m! I might put a post up with their dresses too.
Apr 15, 2010, 09.01 PMby Brumby Ramsay
Please do! And what a bargain price!
Apr 13, 2010, 03.42 AMby kelepso
Very vintage and hollywood-s’que! It’s one of the best wedding dresses I’ve seen on Burda. And the pictures are fantastic too.
Apr 12, 2010, 04.49 PMby momsgotanewhobby
What a beautiful dress and congratulations on your marriage! The dress is lovely and you looked perfect in it. So maybe a tutorial on making your own wedding dress is forthcoming (please!)?
1 Reply
Apr 15, 2010, 08.43 AMby roarah
Thanks, I took a heap of photos during the construction, but not quite enough to explain it in a tutorial properly. I just got the dress back from the cleaners so I’ll take some more & this weekend try to put together a tutorial/instructions. It might be a long one so I might split it over a few sections.