Pictures of the wedding dress....

The wedding veil

I wanted a vintage style veil, but I was struggling with it not looking like a shower cap. Finally I found the solution, to have the tule come from under my hairstyle instead of over it and it solved the problem.
In the image here, I am testing my hair and make up. I made my veil with creating a headband from silk organza overlaid with lace, and then hand sewn flowers and trims from different types of silks. Then I created snaps for the tule to attach below and be able to snap off so that I was free to dance after the ceremony.

I finally got married! A breakdown of the gown...

I really won't go into much wording on this, what I want to do is show pictures and progress of how things turned out. First off, to see a beautiful photo summary of the day go to this link: Andrew and Joui's Wedding

First things first, let's start off with my wedding dress. First, I tried on some dresses and each dress got me in a different mood. Here are some images...I was very tempted by some gowns that I mentioned before that I was convinced not to buy, but rather make something myself, so I started draping at my friends studio. Here were some of the e the dresses the drapes that resulted. They were nice but they felt too old fashioned, even though I liked the feel of vintage, what was coming out of me wasn't quite right. I also realized that I didn't have time or energy to make the entire dress, and what would end up taking me a long time would be creating the silhouette.

So I decided I would find a vintage dress and then embellish it and make it my own (which is the part I love most of all.) The first dress with the bedazzlements is what I almost bought as my dress.
The second dress in a true white, was a 1920's inspired silk charmeuse with a four foot train. I was so excited by the train, since I had envisioned it for my wedding!

These next pics are of the dress with the first drape of the embellishments. I copied the Lazaro dress I loved so much because I realized it would help me keep on target, yet because it was me copying it, it would inherently be different and unique. And it was.
In the image to the right, I have sewn on I can't tell you how many pounds of hand pleated silk organza ruffles. Then most of them had to be hand sewn as well. With the long train, at moments I had to hang the dress from my chandelier while I sewed!
In this next image I have added a lot more of the fun, funky stuff. Trims and laces from fancy donations, lace from friends grandmothers, lace from designers etc. All my years of collecting fabric came to use! The dress to the right is the final version.
Here I am in the final dress. Next post will talk about the veil!

More Fabulous Wedding Dresses

Looking up images of Grace Kelly's wedding dress had a site appear with the images in this blog. I especially love the use by this designer with veils.

Since my dress is almost done....I am thinking about veils.

So many ideas and possibilities.

Will start posting photos of the dress except my photos are so bad...they don't do it justice.

Bridal party colors coming together!

Exciting... as I finally put together whole 'vision' of the bridal party. Color, it is so important. For me, without the color scheme handled I can't get anything done!!!

As you see to the left, the bridesmaids will be wearing unique and different shades of pinks/reds.

As you can see from this image, we have hot pinks to dusty rose to red.

Marc J. is doing a great job of linking together uniformity without conformity.

That is the theme of the wedding....

My hope is that everything

goes together yet feels alive and unique.

For the family; mom, dad, mom-in-law, dad-in-law and sister-in-law I want them to wear shades of purple. Ideally deeper shades of purple, but I also open to mixing and matching.

Here are inspirational ideas for the men to incorporate purple into their look.

This next image shows off how the purple

will 'pop' against green and yellow of the natural landscape that we are to be married against. In other

words, we are getting married on a hill looking over the valley in Calistoga.

My florist and I are discussing the possibility of yellow

s in the bouquets, and we already chose green and orange table linens!

This last image represents Andrew and I. Bride and Groom.

Amongst all the color we will remain in a classic white and black with only our bouquets and boutonnieres to tie us into the rest of the bridal party.

When I Grow Up.

This Video shows what the world would look like if I were God. Sometimes it takes getting old to finally free yourself to have fun with fashion. I am trying to do it now, while I still can pull off anything ;-).

Advanced Style: Age and Beauty on Nowness.com.

Wedding Decoration ideas from St. Louis

I recently got back from St. Louis, MO and came across this amazing store/workshop called SKIF. In their window displays were the most inventive, whimsical and lovely paper and found object decorations. I was inspired immediately by the works for my wedding. I particularly love the mish-mash of elements. The way the twigs and paper and lights create instant texture. I love the hand-made feel of the decorations too, it creates easy comfort.
I also love how accessible this will be to make. All I have to do is get paper and friends together to make lots of flowers, papelito, and other fun designs we will probably come up with on our own.

More Wedding Dress Inspiration

Today was the third day of trying on more gowns. Yesterday, my friend Linda and I went and tried on much more expensive gowns than my first trial run.
The image with the purple background is a Lazaro dress that I absolutely fell in love with, except the price!
However, what I got clearer on was that I want something that shows off my figure (you're only young once!) and yet has a vintage feel and is long with a train.
We decided after the 5K dress experience to go to some fancy vintage stores and see what we could come up with....I am a designer and I specialize in reworking things, why can't I do that for my own gown?
I just can't justify spending thousands of dollars on a dress that I will only wear once especially when that money could go for other things like -- travel!
So, I think we found a wonderful embroidered dress that fits like a glove. It needs some length and shoulder straps (I refuse to wear a strapless...a girl has to eat!)
and some more pizazz. But other than that, this vintage dress really fits the bill, and my budget!

These other gowns I am displaying are by Maria Karin and I think they are fabulous! I am inspired to add similar elements to the vintage dress in the way Karina uses texture and form.

Inspirations for the Wedding Dress

A lot changed since I first started putting together my inspirations for the wedding dress. I have since gone out and tried some on which has altered my mindset on everything.
Which is making me think I may need two dresses. The ceremonial dress feels like I want it to be more virginal, Mary-like. More soft, more like my princess Ozma fantasy. Perhaps the reception dress will be more vixen, more queen-like and fun. The dresses I have put here fall into each category. Still not sure if I will design the dress entirely or if I will alter a dress now. Decisions!!!