The Mister and I had a long engagement. When we did set a date for the big day, I knew that I just had to make my wedding dress. My friends and coworkers in the theatre costume shop attempted to dissuade me. It would be too hard, they said. You’ll be too busy. It will stress you out.
Fine, then. I’ll make the bridesmaid dresses. I’ll show them. Never mind I’d made Elizabethan gowns, sewn a 1940s style women’s suite from a hand drafted pattern, and can put in a fly zipper in 20 minutes flat. Never mind I just designed and sewed my good friend’s wedding dress a few months prior.
I’m not sure why I listened to them in the first place. So instead of making the wedding dress I designed in my head, I ordered one from Vietnam. I wanted to honor my Vietnamese heritage but with my own spin. The dress from Vietnam was cheap looking (but not inexpensive for a theatre person’s income). I didn’t want to look like a cheap Vietnamese hooker from Miss Saigon on my wedding day.
With less than six weeks before our wedding day, a good friend and I drove to the garment district in New York City. After walking many blocks, I had my heart set on the a red brocade. I know I could have bargained for a lower price but it was already a good deal. I even bought the brocade in a gold colorway. For the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
For the next six weeks as I cut and sewed like a mad woman. Since the Mister and I were living in sin, I had to wait until he was out of the apartment to work on my dress. I even made matching vests for the Mister and the groomsmen. We were still sewing on buttons the day before the wedding! I even managed to make all the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres for everyone plus jewelry and hair sticks for us girls.
Everything came together and we all looked good in our wedding finery. That was over 11 years ago but I would totally do it all over again. I would just give myself more than six weeks to make everything.
This post was inspired by this month’s From Left to Write book club selection, The Funeral Dress. No one has ever entrusted impoverished Emmalee with anything important but she takes it upon herself to sew her mentor’s resting garment in The Funeral Dress by Susan Gregg Gilmore. Join From Left to Write on October 19 as we discuss The Funeral Dress. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
That is AMAZING!!! You are very talented! It's gorgeous!!!
Beautiful…and what memories you sewed into this gown. I wore my grandmother's wedding dress, and never regretted it for a second. The delight on her face when I wore it was priceless.
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I'm glad you were able to honor your grandmother in this way! There was no way I would have fit into my mother's wedding dress. She was a size 0. Yes, zero.
You're so incredibly talented! Despite the stress, your gown and the things that you made for your wedding day will have so much more meaning than those things you would have bought and worn on your special day!
It was totally worth it! I hope that Sophia will want me to sew her wedding dress for her.
I didn't know you made your wedding dress, lovely! And if you can put in a zipper fly in 20 minutes I'm truly impressed.
Well, I USED to be able to put in a zipper fly in 20 minutes. I haven't sewn a fly in years. I'm sure it would come back to me, like riding a bike.
What a wonderful story, and the dresses are beautiful!
Wow! Inspiring. I've always wanted to learn to sew….
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I like your spunk!
I am also envious of your ability to sew. My mother tried to get me to learn how to quilt, but it never captured my interest like painting or drawing, so I stuck with those arts.
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You should take classes! My mother is an amazing seamstress but refused to teach me how to sew. Here's the story: https://www.imnotthenanny.com/2011/10/never-good-e…
They're all beautiful! At one time, I wanted to sew my own wedding dress (made a few prom dresses in high school), but when the time came, I didn't have the time to do so. I'm glad you made it happen!
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The outfits are just gorgeous!
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Beautiful post and dresses!
A childhood friend made my wedding dress and my mother-in-law sewed on all the pearls and my mother made the veil.
You look gorgeous! And the dress is beautiful too! I wish I could sew the way you can. I'm still trying to figure out how to finish sewing couch cushions for my living room!
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