Weddings are fun when you do it right. When it comes to preparing for your wedding, you always want it to go perfectly, but at the same time, a lot of things could go wrong. And when starting to think about wedding planning, the first essential element that comes to the bride’s mind is THE dress. Because the wedding gown is one of the most important, if not the most important, component of your love day. It is that final piece of the puzzle that brings it all together, so it is vital to get it right.
The perfect wedding dress is comfortable, stunning, stylish, and up to the bride’s taste, which means you have to love your wedding dress. Sometimes finding the perfect wedding dress could seem like an impossible task; it might feel like nothing seems right; nothing seems to be the perfect fit. Also, there are so many options for dresses that you can choose from that the endless search is often overwhelming and draining.
But if you decided to develop something extraordinary and unique, you could choose to sew your own dress.
Yes, you read that correctly; there are so many advantages when creating the dress yourself, and we are going to share all the tips on how to make your own wedding gown. While getting your wedding dress at a boutique or bridal shop is often the go-to option, getting your dress made yourself increases your chances of getting the perfect dress.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Admittedly, it can be genuinely difficult to design and sew a dress from scratch, but we got you. The basics we will share will just require patience, time and a little sewing experience.
Getting the perfect wedding dress made all by yourself might seem like a challenging task to pull off. While it is not exactly the easiest of steps you might face in the planning phase of your wedding, if you have the perfect guide and the right tools, it surely might top as one of your most memorable.
Now when we say the perfect dress, it doesn’t mean a billion-dollar wedding gown or something right out of the best boutique in the country, but just the perfect fit for the ride, and who else knows that better than the bride herself.
Getting the perfect wedding dress means taking the right steps at the right time, which sounds a bit delicate. But not to worry, in this article, we will be taking you through the best guide to making your very own wedding gown. Whatever it is you have in mind, knowing just what to do and when to do it is what we are here to help you with, so if you would like to make your wedding gown all by yourself, then keep reading!
If you plan to hit that perfect wedding gown you have in mind then you can follow these steps to bring that perfection to reality.
If you have never sewed before, your willingness and perseverance to make an unforgettable wedding gown just for you are just enough. Keep in mind to relax and enjoy the process to the fullest. And don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it. So, let’s get started!
Choose Your Gown Style
Before learning how to make your wedding gown you have to choose a style. This first step is all about picturing the perfect dress in mind before getting right to the task. This way, you have a blueprint of what the wedding gown will look like and the necessary materials or tools needed to bring it to life. Picturing your wedding gown in advance will help you stay on track and save you the frustration of not knowing what to buy for the gown or the next step to take.
When picturing your wedding gown, a lot of things have to be taken into consideration. The first thing is the theme of the wedding. It will be of great help to pick the colors and know what materials should be used. Here is also where you picture the silhouette of the dress. A forest wedding will surely demand more creativity compared to the usual hall wedding.
Next is to picture how you would like to look at on a special day. A shorter hem? A longer hem? What type of neckline or bodice would you prefer? All these come together to piece up the perfect wedding gown. Some special embroidery, or maybe even something entirely out of the norm; picturing it first will help you on your way to making the perfect wedding gown.
Hint: consider beyond just looks and comfort when picturing the perfect wedding gown for your special day
Start with the fundamentals, remember what little you have always pictured a dream dress to be like and initiate the creation process. Start drawing the details, or maybe find the inspiration online and start compiling everything little by little. You can even ask a designer or a friend to help you visualize your gown. Don’t be afraid to dream on and perfect the dress to the maximum.
There are various options to choose from; you can go with a fishtailed gown or a bodycon classic with an open back. Maybe you are looking for a loose dress that won’t limit your movement. Everything is possible to create if you have the time and patience.
Once you have planned some key elements, proceed to a more detailed preparation of the dress. Start thinking about what makes the dress so unusual, except you wearing it, of course. Imagine the waist, the back, the material, the seams, the hems and everything that creates your dress.
Waist
Let’s start with the waistline. Decide how you would feel the most comfortable wearing the dress during your wedding ceremony. Do you want it tight or loose? Do you want a belt or an accessory added to your waist? When you start to have your answers little by little, it is easy to begin creating.
Neckline
The next essential wedding gown element is the neck. Not only does it change the whole appearance of your dress, but also it sets the base for your accessories, makeup and hair. Again, there are numerous neckline possibilities to choose from. Don’t forget to take into account both the front and the back.
Sleeves or No Sleeves?
Here comes another design decision for you to make about your wedding gown; the sleeves. Will there be short sleeves, long sleeves or maybe no sleeves at all? Select all the components in accordance with your style and make it a perfect dress. There are several types of wedding dress sleeves that you can choose from. And you can always experiment! Overall, plan each detail according to your style and wedding theme.
Measurements and Fittings
Dress fittings are essential. Not just because they sound like a fancy thing (also because it is every bride’s dream), every bride must do but because they determine how that outfit will look when it gets to your day. A wedding gown certainly does not score a point if it doesn’t sit properly. Since you are making your dress yourself, you have to come to realize that the “perfect dress” you seem to have in mind might not look so great on you, and that could ruin your special day.
Going for fittings allow you to try on the wedding gown models you have in mind and see if it looks perfect on you. This will let you know as soon as possible if you should make certain modifications to some or all of the planned design. The chances are that you could even find something much better.
Get the Perfect Draping
Draping is very important to make the perfect wedding dress, and no mannequin could work it better than a replica of yourself. It would mean making a custom dress of yourself. Don’t worry, It will come in handy, even after the wedding. With a well-made custom model, you can see exactly how the dress will look every step of the way and make the necessary adjustments. This will save you the last minute alterations.
Choose a Fabric
The fabric store is the first place to go for getting acquainted with your choices. It’s wonderful to feel the fabrics that are going to comprise your gown. Get to know chiffon, satin, silk, lace, organza, dupioni and a lot more. Don’t be afraid to experiment and show your unique style in your wedding gown. After all, it is your day!
Now that we’ve discussed all the necessary details and components of the gown, let’s learn some tricks for the sewing process itself. You are going to need some supplies for this step like; scissors, pattern paper, pen, french curves, ruler and seam gauge. Keep in mind that this is a long process that requires patience and hard work.
Make a Mockup
When making your wedding dress, you must surely want to avoid big, unforeseen mistakes that could have you making corrections and alterations for most of the process or starting all over again (considering the expense of new materials, the stress, and the frustration you most likely want to avoid this). Having a sketch of the wedding dress will make this step a whole lot easier.
For mockup, you’ll need a cheap fabric to work with, chalk for alterations, thread, scissors, zipper and safety pins. It is a very important step to consider, as the mockup gives you plenty of room for alterations. The point is to start working on the cheap version to find all the necessary changes that need to be done. In this way, you can make all your mistakes, alterations, and trials before moving to that loving, most likely expensive material.
You can draw the sketch yourself or use apps like this one. Making a mockup dress might seem dull in your excitement to make the perfect wedding gown but trust me, it is not. A mockup dress of your wedding gown puts you in the safe zone.
Create a pattern
After getting the mockup exactly where you want it to be, you can go ahead to creating the perfect pattern for the perfect wedding gown. This pattern will give you a much clearer idea of how your gown will look and the necessary materials to acquire.
Let’s now dive into the patterns of your future wedding gown. Firstly, you can make a visit to a fabric store to better see your options. If you are a beginner, ask for recommendations and look for simpler fabrics to work with. Most of the design shops have special books with numerous fabrics to choose from. Select the one that most suits your wedding gown idea and go with it.
Start with cutting the pieces of the pattern you have decided to go with. Make the components that you are going to work with and adjust them to the mock-up of your dress. Pay attention to the back and the stitches that keep everything together.
Go to Shopping!
Even though, you intend to sew the dress yourself, a visit to a bridal shop is necessary for any bride. Not only is it a pure joy to try on different styles of dresses, but also you see yourself in every kind of dress while trying them on. This way it will be definitely easier for you to visualize the dress initially and making it a wonderful piece you’ll enjoy wearing.
A wedding day is one of the most important days in woman’s life. People are willing to go the extra mile to make everything perfect on their wedding day. That’s why we are providing the guide to making your wedding gown stunning, special and meaningful at the same time. Enjoy your wedding day to the fullest!
Also, with the first steps, you can make a list of all the things needed to bring your wedding dress to life. Next is to go shopping and get just that. Getting the right materials for the different parts of the gown is vital to piecing it together. Every wedding down has a different style and requirement. The first five steps will take you a long way in figuring out what that is and what is needed to make it happen.
Sew your dress
Now you have the image, the materials, the measurements, the patterns, and the mockup; all that’s left is to bring that dress to life. Sewing a wedding dress would mean putting together a ton of delicate materials, so it will be advisable to pin the pieces together before sewing it.
If you follow these easy, simple steps, then you are well on your way to making the perfect wedding dress!
Final Alterations
After you try on your dress, it is time to make the final alterations and better see the final picture. Cut the unnecessary elements, sew everything together and voila! You have the dress of your dreams made by your hands! Isn’t it amazing?
The Gown is Ready!
Your hard work and patience paid off, you now have made a wonderful wedding gown all on your own. Wear it proudly with confidence and walk to your love!
