HOW TO CUSTOMIZE A WEDDING DRESS

How is customizing a wedding dress different than a custom made?  A custom wedding dress is made from scratch, that is, you and the designer working with a pattern and raw cuts of fabric to create it from the ground up.  Customizing a ready-made dress is different.  It involves remodeling and/or embellishing one already put together. It can be store bought, sewn or inherited as long as it’s fairly basic and free of mass adornment.  Customizing a wedding dress is one way of fusing your individual stamp so that design is all yours.  Take a very simple sheath or A-line, add a detachable train or overskirt and adorn it with embroidered ribbons and handmade florals.  Viola! You have a customized gown.  This isn't the only route to customizing.  You can go for a removable shrug that adds sleeves, a capelet that looks like part of the gown or a lightweight overdress you doff come reception time.  Believe me, your possibilities are endless here. Some brides opt for the most basic gown like I described then take it to the dressmaker or designer to get it personally customized.  

Above: A basic sheath in the image to the right is unadorned except for a wide sash added to the waist. Image on the left shows the same sheath with a detachable over skirt converting the dress into a ball gown. Next image has a detachable train with handmade flowers and leaves of ivy embellishing the sash//Photos by Strotz Photography //Header photo by Lirette Photography