The first step is of course figuring out what to make. What do I picture myself walking down the aisle in?

Well, here is a link to the wedding site: www.theclaremonthouse.net

It is absolutely gorgeous, and I can’t imagine not wearing an incredible bustle for it.

So I went in search of ideas and found a couple of patterns at www.agelesspatterns.com



The first is just a bodice pattern that I really like the basic design of, but I hate the sleeves and the ribbons on the front. (pattern #1442)










I like the sleeves from this dress (#1273)




















And I love the skirts on this dress (#1275). I would extend the top skirt to have a nice train that can be tied up into an even more incredible (not sure how grammatically correct that is) bustle for the reception:














All of that is fine and well, but of course, you have to start from the inside out. I am using pattern #1061 for the corset after speaking with the woman at ageless patterns and getting her advice on which would will work best under the bodice.

Designing a memory

A few months ago I got engaged and the first question I was asked was “Are you going to make your dress?” I thought one would have to be insane to take on that much stress while trying to do all the planning, searching, and arranging that goes with getting married, especially when it will be a destination wedding 10 hours away. At least until I started looking at dresses. Most of them are made from really gross polyester tent fabric (at least the affordable ones) and those that are made from really yummy silk are quite expensive. Then I had to take design into account and what I like, made from pretty material would run me thousands.

Ok, I took a step back, looked at dresses I already own and did an estimate. If I take the skirt from one, lace from my mothers wedding dress, order just enough silk for overskirt and bustle with accent on the bodice (made from material I have) I should be able to make my dress for under $300.

To me now, it has become a challenge. Can I produce a near authentic Victorian Bustle Wedding dress for less than three hundred dollars. Now, this will have to include all the boning, the beading, crinoline, grommets, busk for the corset, lacings and everything else that will go into and under it. Then I thought, what a fun topic to start a blog about. My mother and grandmother, both of whom sew as well, can follow the project from Maine, while the work is being done in Florida.

Well, this is my journey, let’s see how many potholes I hit on the way.

Erin