Make Your Own Wedding Dress

by Lynn
(Poughkeepsie, NY)

A great way for you as a bride to save money is to make your own wedding dress if you sew. If you do not sew, you can find a great seamstress who works cheap in your area. My grandmother was one such seamstress. After my grandfather passed away, she needed a way to support herself. She sewed beautiful clothes so that is what she did. Through word of mouth, she got more and more clients and made many beautiful wedding gowns and bridesmaid's dresses. She made them for less than half price of what it would cost in a bridal shop. The bride bought the pattern and the cloth and she would make the dresses and they were incredible! What you want is to find a home-based seamstress who does not have to pay employees or store rent so she/he can keep the costs down. Ask your friends and relatives. Chances are that someone has an excellent seamstress in your neighborhood.

If you sew and want to make your own wedding dress, there are easy, medium, and complicated patterns for wedding dresses available. Go to a cloth store and look at the pattern books such as Butterick, McCalls, Vogue, and Simplicity. Choose one you love, buy the cloth and thread and any embellishments and get busy. Allow yourself several months just in case something goes wrong and you need help from a seamstress. Don't wait until the last minute to try to make your own wedding dress. That is too much pressure and no bride needs anymore pressure on her than she already has. Good luck!