Here Comes the Gown

I must say, the dress was a big hit.  People were so impressed, it was embarrassing.  I think people were impressed because so few people sew these days.  Non-sewers probably don't understand how or why anyone would make a wedding dress.  Lindsey gave credit to me as the "Wedding Dress Seamtress"  in the program so I got lots of "You really made Lindsey's dress?!?!?"  The design was really simple – a sleeveless, empire waist, A-line dress with a lace bolero. (Neue Mode  22711) I used satin for the gown and it was very easy to sew.  The lining was silk and was so light you could probably squeeze it into a ball the size of your fist.  That lightness made it a little difficult to cut out.  I forgot the tip about cutting lightweight fabrics with paper.  I underlined the gown with silk organza to add substance.

The dress had a train.  The bustling on which Linds and I disagreed (she would have settled for safety pins!) came out nicely.  I don't have a good picture of the back of the gown when it was bustled, but here's the back of the jacket:

See?  As I've said in previous posts - very simple.  The beauty was in the embellished lace.

For those readers who've said they don't like non-sewing content in sewing blogs:
 Stop reading now!

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I ended up not wearing the dress I made for myself.  I sewed a Mother of the Bride dress, but it looked too dark and somber for a wedding in which I was the happy MOB, so I bought a dress instead.  A happy coincidence, which I didn't notice until my nephew's wife pointed it out, was that Linds and I both had scalloped lace on our jackets.

I didn't make the veil.  It was the veil her mother-in-law wore when she was married.  I thought that was a perfect sentimental touch. 

And seeing the dress in action made it even more beautiful in my humble MOB opinion.

And here is the reason for all the stress, deadlines, train trip to New York for shopping, time spent ripping out beads and sequins, 11 yards of expensive but unused lace, travel between Richmond and Philadelphia and happy tears:

I wish I had a picture of Lindsey and Martin as they were presented, but my camera died just as my sister began her solo!  I was too caught up at that moment and I would have forgotten to take a picture anyway.

It was a Wonderful Wedding Weekend.  It was fantastic seeing old friends, new friends, old family and new family.  Everything went smoothly, I cried only at the appropriate moments.  And most importantly, I have a brand new son-in-law.

Edited to add:

I found this picture on my phone.  I don't even remember taking it, but apparently I did!