CUSTOMIZING 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 images have a detachable train with handmade flowers and leaves of ivy embellishing the sash.

THE EMBELLISHMENTS AND ALL THOSE DESIGN DETAILS

Finding how to integrate all the design details you want isn’t all that difficult.  If you’re going through one of those decision dilemmas just log onto Etsy and shop for ideas.  Their designers have developed some of the most beautiful accessory and design attachments beyond anything you’ll ever run across in any salon or boutique.  On Etsy you’ll find boleros, shoulder swags, lace collars, detachable over skirts, blouses, garlands of flowers and just about

    

CREDITS

All Dresses and head chic by Amy-Jo Tatum

Photo 1 by Pixamage

Photo 2 by  Shona Nystrom of Studio 7teen //Photo 3 and 4 by Strotz Photography