WeddingMagazine

Laura and Carl

Two years ago, Carl popped the big question. It was one of the happiest days of my life, but the months that followed will forever be known as the “stress of the dress.” I started sewing as a middle school student and loved it so much that apparel and fashion became my career. Naturally, for our wedding, I had to incorporate my love of sewing by making my own dress—though I had no idea how strenuous it would be!

I began sketching designs as soon as Carl proposed. After five months, I’d created the perfect design. Then, I draped my idea onto a dress form with cotton muslin and created the nearly 30 pattern pieces. The fabric was purchased from a small shop just outside of Detroit—a creamy white Italian silk duchesse satin for the body, silk chiffon for the draping on the bodice, silk organza for the train and rosettes, and French Alencon lace for the bodice. I can’t describe how difficult it was to make the first cut into the fabrics!

There were many late nights and all-nighters until the dress was complete. The hardest part was trying to keep the dress a secret from Carl. As the wedding neared, my co-workers treaded lightly around the dress subject, when they saw how stocked my desk was with Red Bull, coffee, and Mountain Dew. But if I only had a dollar for how many people asked me, “So, how is the dress coming, Laura?” The truth is, I was up until three the morning of the wedding trying to perfect it. I continued to hand sew the rosettes to my train until five minutes before our ceremony! I am proud to say that I did it; but I must admit that nothing took my breath away like seeing Carl at the end of the aisle. At that moment, I could have been wearing a paper bag, because nothing was on my mind other than grabbing his hand and saying, “I do!”

BUSINESSES:  Elegant by Design (Décor), Fifty Flower.com, Sam’s Club (Floral), Paine Art Center and Gardens (Ceremony), Fox Banquets (Reception), Manderfield’s Home Bakery (Desserts) and Glitz Photography