A girl dreams about what dress she will wear from the time she is little, and I was no different. Growing up having a mother who's a wedding florist, put me in the wedding mindset from the time I was very young. I modeled as a flower girl in many wedding expos, wedding dress sketches lined my elementary school notebooks, and a bride to me was like the most beautiful princess on earth. As I grew up, I've never liked the dresses sold in stores and knew I would want a custom dress. So when I was engaged (lets be honest, from the moment Logan and I became serious) I started designing my perfect dress.
My mom wanted me to go to a few bridal shops and just see if they had anything similar to my designs before embarking a custom design. Well, after days and many discouraging trips to stores (including getting nervously sick and throwing up all over one Bridal store - probably the most embarrassing moment ever) nobody had what I liked. My dream dress was still in my head.
So I refined my idea and completed some final sketches. I knew just the person who I'd love to make my dress. My aunt has made many wedding dresses in the past, including my mothers dress, so I knew it would be special to have her make my dress as well. While looking at patterns with her, I chose one for the base that fit my design. She looked at the pattern and started laughing. I figured it was because the pattern was obviously over 20 years old, then she looked at me and said, "you're never going to believe this, but this is the exact pattern I used when making your mom's dress"
I couldn't believe it. My mom said rather than make an entirely new dress, she would love it if I used her dress as my base, and remake it to fit my designs. At home, I dug her old dress from the back of her closet and tried it on. But not only was the body the right shape, but it was the perfect fit. Not a seam would have to be altered. Of course, since it was from the 80's it had giant poof sleeves and a lace turtleneck inset, but my mom was happy to let me take them off and replace them with my own sleeves and neckline.
Once we had the base, I went to a fabric boutique and found the most incredible italian lace for the skirt overlay and sleeves. We also covered the existing lace on the bodice with another layer of very fine sheer lace to give a subtle shadow effect. We then added trim for the neckline, buttons to go down the back and pretty bow. My aunt was absolutely wonderful at putting it together, and even making the sleeves so the decal on the lace was lined up with the outside of my arm. She also tirelessly hand stitched lace flowers along the top of my sleeve to cover my shoulder, rather than just having a strait line of white fabric underneath like so many other mormon wedding dresses.
On my wedding day I topped off the dress with some victorian style "Mary Poppins" shoes, lace gloves, and a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set that my mom surprised me with as a gift a few days before the wedding. The dress was honestly perfect and fit so well with my victorian wedding theme.
The dress was more than I could ever ask for. Not only was it my dream design, but I got to use my mom's dress, which is something I never even imagined would happen. I know that dress and the memories with it are something I will cherish for the rest of my life. Maybe one day I can pass it on to a daughter of my own.
