Did any of you make your own wedding dress?

[SomethingBlue]

I'm thinking about it -- I know what I want, and I made a very similar evening dress a few years ago, so I think it's within my capabilities. But I'm also really afraid of it looking crap, or of stressing myself out. I love the idea of it, but at the same time I'd like to feel confident that I'll look nice! If any of you did this, I'd love to hear about it.

PS I also agree the back raining adjustment won't be straight forward - its gathered & full, so if you simply raise the back as is you will end up with a smocked effect at the back at the point you raise it to - IMO this won't work on that style & could affect the fit

raising - not raining

If I were choosing between the two of those I would go for the sequin one (although i wouldn't make it with sequins necessarily). This is because I think that the flat front panel is very flattering - but not quite so potentially revealing as the bias cut one of the low-back version - which is actually quite different from the evening dress front that you've laready made up (by the look of it). I know its going to be lined... however, I would be paranoid about eg being able to see where my tummybutton was through the fabric - whilst I don't think the button back one would have that effect.

I'd also be worried about the cowl neckline - is it going to be too revealing if I lean over at dinner or to sign the register, is it going to sit right or am I going to be paranoid about having to make it look right for the photos....

On the otherone, I really like how the contrast material comes across underneath the bust - I'm not totally convinced at how the 'bikini top' bits attach to the contrast at the front - but then perhaps with a different contrast material that would not be quite the same anyway. I love the back of that one too - although you'd have to think about underwear carefully for that (and potentially the other) dress too.

Isn't it difficult!

Oh, I didn't mean I wanted strapless - rather that I wanted more coverage. Strapless bias would be way too scary!

I'm a bit confused re the back alteration being difficult, though. The gathered train bit is extra, and underneath the back pieces go straight into the waist. Couldn't I add some more depth to them and use a longer zip? I don't want the extra train bit, I'm pretty sure.

Excellent tips re choosing toile fabric though. Thanks so much, I can't believe the wisdom I'm gleaning on this thread!

mistle, you are articulating the contents of my brain so much better than I am! You are quite right re the cowl, and also about the potentially unflattering front. My evening dress isn't really an empire line, more of a slightly raised waist, and it's flattering because it's quite securely structured across the lower ribs and then drops straight down from there. The cowl neck pattern is all a bit loose, potentially -- the red version of it looks a bit rubbish in the picture, and in the bridal picture the model has her bouquet strategically placed .

That is exactly my concern about that front!!! And I also thought that the bouquet was very strategically placed.

Compare that to the 2nd picture of the sequin one where the whole of the front is shown clearly.

I made mine and I was another one finishing it the morning of the wedding!

For the record, this is the one I already have: Monsoon frock.

That's very pretty... interesting that you're drawn to a more tailored, sleeker look though

Re the pattern you've already made up as an evening dress - could you find a bolero pattern or something that might pop over the top, give you that little bit more coverage that you want?

Hippy - i feel almost guilty saying I finished it days before!
but then, i spent 3 days thinking I was missing something.

the only thing I couldn't do was attach a loop in the train, because i had no way of working out how long it would be before I had it on!
So my friend sewed one in for me on the day. and then one part of it untangled (i used bias binding instead of ribbon ), so i had to use safety pins to hold it together! in the end, I gave up and just walked around with it hanging off my arm!

the Monsoon one is lovely too.

My Mum made her own wedding dress and it's beautiful :o I also think it's lovely that she's kept it and I'll be inheriting it at somepoint. My DD will also inherit it from me too. I think it's a lovely thing to do and if i had an ounce of talent in that sort of thing I'd have made mine :o

Oh and don't forget it's good luck for the Mother of the Bride to sew the final stitch into a wedding dress :o

mistlethrush, I need to try the Monsoon one again before discounting it. I realised when I tried it on that I loved the top and the lace (which is much nicer than it looks in the picture), but there was something about the skirt that felt a bit too nightie-like, and then when I thought about my much-loved evening dress I concluded that I had a bias cut craving. I know my DP loves me in that dress too and I know he'd like a bias cut frock. I may get over it though, once I start thinking about the hassle factor, because I don't have long. I'd be v. happy to find something off the peg, but I've trawled everywhere and it doesn't seem to be available.

I think both of the patterns are 'elegant' whilst the monsoon one is more 'pretty' ifyswim.... However, its so much easier for a dress like that to 'fit' someone compared to the type of dress you're contemplating - which, undoubtedly, is why they do them like that.

When I chose a patter I went for a style that I knew I could make and that would suit me because I had made similar dresses in the past.

You've hit the nail on the head, mistle. Those are the exact words I used when describing my thoughts to a friend. I think perhaps I feel a bit silly doing 'pretty' (and quite likely a bit too old).

You need to try it on again - but it sounds to me as though its not going to be what you really want - and its the one day where probably you might want to get closer to your ideal.

But if you look through any wedding dress sites they're mainly all rather meranguey - if that's what you want, fine - but if you want elegant, you can't buy it off the peg.

Alas! I really didn't want The Dress to become a massive deal, but it seems I'm too picky for my own sanity. I've considered this other Monsoon one but the bugle beads might be a bit blingy and the sleeves are rather flouncy.

What about something like this to go over a dress that you make using your tried and proven pattern that you know DP likes too....

Yes, good thinking! Actually, if I could get something with nice (non scratchy) lace, I could make the dress very plain and simple. I like that idea a lot.

I couldn't get out to day, so I'll have to do a retry to dismiss the Monsoon dress for good, then a serious dressmaking outing to try and reach a decision. I've also make tentative contact with a friend of a friend dressmaker, so it may be that I feel happier getting someone else to do it. Phew.

oooh, i like that Niagara one - it's pretty but also elegant :)

If you've done it before though, I'd have thought you shouldn't have an issue - hope it goes well though!!!

If you like the style etc you could even make the dress with the intention of dying it a different colour so that you can continue wearing it for an evening dress....

i don't like bolero jackets [bleurgh]

what about a fancy shawl instead?
like this