Meegan’s Green & Grey Bridesmaids 12.5.09 SLC, UT

Eight.

You read it. Eight bridesmaids.

Cream, green and grey dresses. Washed silk charmeuse, grey suiting material and removable silk sashes. A dress that truly can be worn again. Each girl got to pick her own skirt design. How fun! Thanks for posting the pics, Annaliese!

Meegan 12.5.2009 SLC, UT

Every dress that I make is special to me, but this one was extra special… my beautiful sister Meegan.

It was such an honor to make her gown, and to be a part of her wedding day.  These are some photos I took for her bridal portraits. I’ll post some of her actual wedding day as soon as her photographer gets them to me!!! She had awesome green and gray bridesmaid dresses as well!

Meegan’s dress was a silk /cotton blend with silk gauze  and origami pleated details on the train. Sweetheart neckline, empire waist, mermaid cut skirt. Large clear and antique rhinestones on the neckline and train, and bustline pleating detail. (Which was lovingly referred to as “the spirit fingers” through-out the design process – can you see it? Cross your hands in front of your chest and wiggle your fingers…)

She also had an elbow length, cut-edge half-width veil, and wore fabulous green shoes from ninashoes.com.

Meegan, you couldn’t possibly be more beautiful. Congratulations!

Monica: Bridesmaid 11.7.09

Champagne knee-length taffeta bridesmaid dress. Slight drop waist, gathered skirt, double scoop neckline and very minimal over-the-shoulder cap sleeve. Covered buttons, and a surprise dark brown lining.

Kassi 10.8.09 Atlanta, GA (dress #2)

Kassi had a few items made for a trip to NYC, and a photo shoot for her head shots. This dress is a replica of one of her Grandmother’s dresses. Navy chiffon sheer overlay. Hand stitched bias bound neckline and sleeves. Ruching on waist and full gathered skirt.

Kassi 10.8.09 Atlanta, GA

Another dress for a model photo shoot.  Chiffon print. A-line bias cut, gathered neckline with side tie and side zipper.

Laurie

Laurie’s dress in silk charmeuse, four hand applied laces including chantilly and alencon, in asymmetrical patterns. Sweetheart base neckline, with Queen-ann neck in lace overlay, and keyhole back with covered buttons.  Gathered flutter sleeves, natural waistline, sheath cut with asymmetrical chantilly lace applied at the hem.
It was blustery, cold and dark when we tried to take a few pictures, so there are a few indoor-on-the-hanger photos. I can’t wait to get pics from her actual wedding day, in sunny California.

Katrina on her wedding day 10.17.09 Boston, MA

I love, love, love it when brides send me pictures from their wedding day! There’s just something more special about photos from the actual “day”.  Thanks to Lorie Burningham of Forever Photos for these awesome bridals taken in Massachusetts.

Katrina

Whew! What a whirlwind. Trina flew in and saw me for her first appointment on the 23rd. We took these photos on the 28th.  Whew. I need a nap!

Her dress is an ivory charmuese on the bias, with gathered bodice and gobs of intricate bead work. Keyhole neck with rhinestone button. Birdcage veil in ivory with flower.

On a side note, Trina is sister to the fabulous Monica. When I delivered Mo’s dress to her, we gave it a name – something I don’t normally do. We called her dress the ‘Isadora’. So, when Mo came with Trina to pick up her dress, we all decided it needed a name. None of us could think of one, but later, when I was looking at her photos it came to me: Valentina. I texted Trina, and she texted back Valen-trina. Cute!

Rachel’s Homecoming Dress 9.21.09

Navy and silver seersucker taffeta with gunmetal taffeta skirt and sash.

Merrily’s Going-Away Dress 7.29.2009

Merrily brought me her mother’s dress, and had me duplicate it for her in another color, to wear as a going-away dress on her wedding day.  Green taffeta, covered buttons, and a fabulous bow. The bow totally reminds me of hard ribbon candy. Yum!

I’m in love!

Here’s some quick pics off my phone of dresses I’m currently working on…

Courtney’s Bridesmaids 5.30.2009 Potomac, MD

Here’s another view of Courtney’s dress bustled. Her bridesmaids were a bright yellow tafetta, with matching handmade flowers.

Amazing photos by Jonathan Canlas. I wish he could photograph all my dresses!

Featured

Courtney’s gown was featured on Snippet & Ink.

Courtney 5.30.2009

Here’s some snapshots of Courtney’s dress in my almost finished renovation!

Her dress is an off-white tafetta, with beaded bodice, a modified sweetheart neckline,  pleated waistline, full gathered skirt, rhinestone buttons and pockets.

Yes! Pockets! The bride also had two veils, one long and formal, and a shorter cage veil for fun!

To see some REALLY amazing photos of Courtney and her Groom, please click on the photo below, by the ever fabulous … Jonathan Canlas.

Curious

If you’re curious to know why posting has been light, here’s a link to my also sparse personal blog…

New FAQ page

Check out my new frequently asked questions page!

Where are you located?

Do you work with out of state clients? Will you make & mail me a dress?

What exactly does custom mean?

How much is the “……” dress?

How do you design a dress?

How long does it take to design and construct my gown?

Can you do my dress in time for my “….” date wedding?

Julia 11.24.08

Off white silk duppioni gown. Sweetheart neckline, puff cap sleeves and cross-over gathered bodice. Drop waist, pick-ups, bubble hem skirt and pearl buttons. Calf-length tulle rolled edge veil.

Julia was such a treat! She also has pink silk duppioni bridesmaids dresses made – I’m waiting on pics of those!

Photos courtesy of Jessica Law

Makenna

Makenna brought me her mother’s gown. Here it is completely redesigned, with new neckline, waistline, new buttons, sleeve length and two silk duppioni sashes. Her veil is cut out of the original dress as well. Makenna’s mom wins the award for BEST Mother of the Bride. Seriously, I can’t even believe how calm she was about letting Makenna completely redesign her gown. It started off as an empire waist, baby-doll style with long sleeves, high neck, and gathered train coming out of the empire seam in the back. (Mom says she’ll bring me photos!) Thanks to Makenna and Mom for an enjoyable, non-stressful experience!

Photos by Jessica Law. For more photos, see here, or here.

Miriam

Champagne colored Taffeta Bridal Gown with hand dyed lace overlay. Sweet heart neckline with scallop trim, Pinched cap sleeve with scallop trim. Star burst gathers on bodice (in lace overlay). Asymmetrical pickups on skirt front and pickups on skirt back. Champagne Shantung sash with brooch. Fingertip length ivory veil with hand cut scallop edge.

Some sleeve and neckline detail.

Lace scallop on the hemline.

Bodice gathers and sash detail.

For more photos, see here.

LeAnna

White Satin pleated scoop neckline, Alencon Lace on bodice, star-burst gathers on upper skirt, Mermaid with asymmetrical godet flairs on skirt front and centered on train. Removable sash and bow on train. Single layer veil and jewelry provided by Jessica May Bridal.

We also hand stitched some ribbons on her stilleto mary jane shoes!

A close-up of the lace.

Stitched-edge veil.

Star-burst gather above mermaid godet flair.

Photos Courtesy of Jessica Law

Haley

Hand dyed lace over white charmuese, removable white and honey colored sashes and pearl buttons.

Photos courtesy of Stott Photography.

Crystal

Ivory tafetta with champagne colored accents. Ruffles, a wrap and pick-ups.

Photos by Jessica Law

Meghan

 

Ribbed Silk with Silk Gauze embroidered skirt

Photos by Jessica Law

Digital Paperwork

So recently, I’ve had new client requests that the blog have direct links to bride’s names instead of categories to search by. So, the digital blog paperwork begins. See the new direct links on the bottom right, organized by the bride’s name. More links coming soon!

Bridal Shoes

The bridal season has begun and is in full swing! I am busy busy busy with 11 dresses right now, but no photos until after the weddings occur. (Sorry Grooms – no spoilers here!) In the meantime, here’s a post about shoes. I have lots of clients struggle finding the perfect shoes to go with their gowns. Hands down, my number one recommedation for where to get bridal shoes is Zappos.com. They have an amazing return policy, and an easy-peasy search system for finding your perfect shoe. I wasn’t much of an online shopper until I found Zappos, and now I’m hooked. I have war-torn competitive figure skating feet, and I was able to find the perfect pair of -gasp- comfortable bridal shoes. The best way to search their site (in my humble opinion) is in the general dress shoe area, narrowed down by color. I find the “bridal” shoe section they have to be a little narrow minded for the fashion forward bride. Select your shoe size, heel height preference and then color selection. Try White, Beige, Bone, Gold, Khaki, Metallic, Neutral, Silver, Tan, Taupe and of course, White. Their price range from around $40.00 to $90.00 for most of their shoes, and there is even a designer section as well.