Get ready for some heartwarming tales from real brides who’ve found their dream dresses. Grab a cocktail (or mocktail) and enjoy these delightful stories of love, laughter, lace and….fish?! Let me explain.
Jasmine’s In-Law Heirloom
Photos: @tricemcneal.photo
Jasmine brought us a wedding dress that came from her fiance’s family. She told us that four other women had remade the dress and worn it for their weddings. She also confessed that the family wasn’t happy with the sewing work of the last iteration. After a design consultation, a little fabric tea-dying, and some savvy alterations, the moment came for Jasmine’s big reveal. The remade version of the dress reflected her personal style with a new bodice and a sassy slit. While in Vegas, she and her husband posed for some pics with an early 1960’s Cadillac Eldorado and little ‘attitude’ to compliment the custom look.
Mallory’s Viral V-neck
Photos: @megan.niger
Mallory came to us looking to improve the fit of her Justin Alexander wedding dress and bring up the V-front bodice for more modesty. Of course we had a huge problem: ordering new materials on a tight timeline was going to be extremely expensive due to the nearing deadline. So we got creative instead – recreating the base materials out of scraps and stealing motifs from the sides of the dress. This made for a seamless alteration and a solution that didn’t cost as much as attempting to rush-deliver more materials.
We posted this transformation to Instagram and TikTok and 11.1 million people apparently agreed – Mallory got quite the kick out of being a viral sensation!
Dipped in Milk
Photos: @isabellestowikphoto
Sarah found her Anne Barge dress after a wonderful shopping experience at Kleinfeld in New York City. While her gown had the base elements for what she envisioned, she came to us looking to raise the waist and neckline and she needed some good structure built into the top. As we finished up our first fitting she said, “I’d also like to line the top of the dress” and after a pause she smiled and continued, “Ya know, so that I look like I was dipped in milk.” After the two of us had a giggle at the comparison, it became the comedic touchpoint of the rest of our fittings. When she came in for her last appointment, my first words to her were, “Did somebody ask to be dipped in milk today?” To which we both laughed and shared a smile with the rest of the alterations team. We sent Sarah on her way to her Hudson River Valley wedding at Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa in June and let’s just say, this milk did not spoil!
Of All the Fish in the Sea
Photos: @megpetersen_
Meg came to us after finding her dream dress at the Connecticut bridal boutique, the White Dress By the Shore. As I began marking her hemline she said, “Do you see the fish?” I had no idea what she was talking about and yet as I stared at her Kelly Faetanini dress, the Sinclair, there it was, hidden in a beautiful modern lace pattern: a koi-type fish. We continued our fitting and later Meg asked about our ability to create a pocket square for her future husband that would include a fish because she said, “We have a saying with each other, ‘Out of all the fish in the sea, you’re the only one for me’.” After I picked up the puddle of my melted heart, I had our hand embroidery specialist, Aprylle, create a scaled-down, custom version of the design on a handkerchief for the groom. There are so many ways to bring personal touches into a wedding but this was one we hadn’t seen before and were so glad to work on!
A 1940’s Wedding Dress That Stood the Test of Time
Photos: @mountainheartsphotography
When Betsy brought us her grandmother’s incredible 1940’s wedding dress, we were so hesitant to change it. The material was a spectacular silk that held up beautifully over the years. The top had a gorgeous pleated and piped neckline, and the midsection had a chic basque waist. But then there were the hips… A beautifully seamed skirt with an almost cage-like structure underneath that accentuated the hips was perhaps the only larger change we discussed with the bride. After some fitting and editing, we decided to re-cut the skirt without the cage and lower the front neckline as well as narrowing the caps on the shoulder. It was the perfect and most subtle way to recreate this vintage wedding dress to align with the bride’s vision, yet still honor its past.
These stories remind us that every bride’s journey to finding the perfect dress or making it their own is unique and special. Whether it’s a vintage find, a custom creation, or an off-the-rack gem, the right dress is out there waiting to make your big day unforgettable!
Hi, I’m Melissa, the sassy sewing and wedding pro you didn’t know you needed in your life.
I’m the owner of deMelis Atelier, a top ranked alterations studio located in Connecticut, and the founder of Stitched Collective, a community for sewing professionals. I’m a master seamstress and wedding dress educator as well as an industry leader and trainer… and a lover of spicy mango margaritas.
I use my fashion and sewing knowledge to help brides and wedding pros alike.
Be sure to check out my latest endeavors and access some of my favorite products too!
