Weddingbee Blog

We’ve come a long way. From our completed mock-up to pre-dress jitters to an unholy stain-induced meltdown, we’ve seen it all.

And I have a confession - we actually finished the dress a week ago. However, I wanted to wait until Mother’s Day to try on the whole ensemble. Since Sewing-Mom wasn’t able to experience the whole mother-daughter dress-search bonding like you see on Say Yes to the Dress, I at least wanted her to be the first to lay eyes on our finished project.

It’s no easy matter to photograph a white girl in a white dress, it seems. But not impossible, thanks to my patient father who sat through my incoherent diva-demands. So with no further rambling, here is our $300, 5 week-long project. Our labor of love: my dress.

The bridal portrait glamour shot!

A little back action. (There’s actually a sheet tucked under the hem, keeping the dress away from the grass stains!)

Practicing with a bouquet made of roses (that we later gave to my grandmother for Mother’s Day).

A cluster of fabric flowers crawling up the shoulder. Interestingly, the strap can go on either side of the dress, and is also removable!

A little angle to show off those pick-ups!

We didn’t change too much from the first mock-up. Although (to my delight), Mr. Sew did take it in several inches! There is really no room for weight gain now, so I’ve got to stay active in the couple months remaining!

Under the skirt is a crinoline I bought for about $30, to give the skirt some fullness. I haven’t added any fabric flowers to the back of the skirt yet - and I’m not sure if I will. I couldn’t figure out where to place them so they looked like part of the dress. They might have to stay out. Maybe I’ll use the extras to decorate my hard hat instead!

Later that day we went to visit my grandmother, and I tried the dress on once more.

Mr. Sew, standing by anxiously as Sewing-Grandmother checks his work!

She gave us the thumbs up, much to our satisfaction!

Team Sewing, for the win!

Oh - and am I happy about my dress? I think this goofy face says it all:

What am I doing? Scratching my bum? How awkward.

How’d it feel to finally put your perfect and fitted dress on? Did it give you tears of joy? Jumping jacks of exuberance? Shimmy-ing of sassiness? Karate kicks of pure adrenaline? Or an itchy bum*?

*Just kidding, I’m really just holding my train off the floor—there’s no bustle in place yet.