design your own wedding dress logo

Design Your Own Wedding Dress

If you ask most little girls what their perfect wedding dress would entail the words ‘princess’ and ‘pink’ are likely to come up in the answer. And although most of us have been fantasising about our wedding dress from a young age our tastes will undoubtedly mature and develop as we get older (Thank Goodness!). Many women’s idea of their perfect wedding dress is now more Chanel than Cinderella. But in real life locating the dream dress, which is often so vivid in one’s mind, can be trickier than you think.

So the search begins. But unlike the usual shopping trips where you set out with the ideal outfit in mind and either come back with something completely different or collapse on the changing room floor through sheer frustration, the purchase of your wedding dress is, in all probability, the most important and memorable garment you will ever shop for. It is imperative you get it spot on.

However, if despite trailing websites and shops and trying on a variety of dress styles, colours and textures; you still feel that something is missing or not right, you may want to design your own wedding dress.

It might sound scary to start with, but it is a great way of combining everything you love into one dress. You can have the dress of your dreams without having to make any compromises; and it’s often cheaper too.

First Things Firstwedding dress design

The first thing every DIY bride-to-be needs is a dress notebook. In here you can put everything from measurements and fabric swatches to sketches and photographs.

Tour the fabric warehouses in your area, amalgamate samples of the fabrics and trimmings you like and later you can price up your favourite(s).

Next, if you don’t know already, you need to identify your body shape; then you can research the kind of styles recommended for your physique. For example the Empire Line dress is good for Pear shapes as it accentuates a small bust and makes you look taller. Once you are confident on the kind of dress style that compliments your physique grab a friend or family member and hit the shops. Try on plenty of wedding dresses and get your friend to take lots of photos; you can refer back to these photos later and put the ones you like in your notebook. These images will be helpful when reviewing which waist and necklines look good on you and which colours compliment your skin tone.

Find a Seamstress

Once you have compiled your notebook with all your favourite styles and details you need to find a seamstress. If you’re lucky you might have a seamstress amongst your friends and family who would be willing to help you design your pattern and even make your dress. However it is just as easy to find a good local seamstress; search online, in the local phone directory or pop into local fabric shops; they often have business cards for local dress makers.

If you are on a budget another option is to check out student designers. Go along to your nearest university and speak to the textile department; there are often very talented final year students out there who would be willing to help you for a reduced cost. You never know you might hit on “the next big thing.” If you get your timing right you may be able to attend an end of year fashion showcase. This is a great way of spotting a designer that you think will compliment your ideas.

Once you’ve chosen your seamstress set up a meeting and take along your notebook. Make sure the seamstress takes all your necessary measurements and be prepared to attend plenty of fittings; although they can be tedious ultimately you want the perfect fit on your wedding day. These fittings also give you the opportunity to voice any worries or dislikes to the seamstress. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind; it’s your big day after all.

Experiment with Design Online

If all this seems a little daunting you can experiment with styles and colours in the comfort of your own home using your computer. There are a number of nifty wedding tools out there; the most popular ones include Wedding Dress Creator and iVillage Wedding Dress Designer. There are also companies that will provide you with a unique pattern for a fee.

Finally consider buying a second hand dress and redesigning it to get your perfect dress. Second hand dresses are also a good source for fabric, especially the Fairytale/Ballgown styles as their full skirts contain plenty of material.

Ultimately designing your own wedding dress should be a happy and exciting challenge which reflects your own personal style.

Bookmark and Share