DIY reception dress
When Christchurch bride Emily Shannon wasn’t sure she could convince her groom Rhys that she needed a second dress for their wedding reception, she gathered her patternmaking book and an ethereal silk fabric, and put her fashion design degree to the test.
What inspired your dress?
I wanted a second dress because of the size of my first dress and the fear of rain making it look dirty. Once I started looking around, I couldn’t justify the cost. The styles I liked weren’t overly complicated and I thought I should just make it myself. I knew I wanted the second dress to be totally different and dance floor appropriate.
How and where did you find fabric?
Before I’d even decided to make my second dress, I went along to a bespoke dress appointment with my best friend, who was also planning her wedding. During the appointment, the dressmaker was showing us different fabrics and passing swatches around for us to see and feel. I immediately recognised the supplier from my studies, and fell in love with one of the silk fabrics. It had this beautiful, slightly vintage look and feel to it. The main fabric is Silk Shantung from Hawes & Freer, and the sheer underskirt and flowers were made using sheer curtain fabric from Spotlight.
Tell us about the challenges and joys of the journey!
One of the biggest challenges was not being able to properly see how the dress fit me from the back. I kept trying to take photos or put it on a mannequin, but it never quite showed the same fit as it would on a real body. I made the dress four or five times in Calico before I was happy with the fit. I loved this project. It had been a couple of years since I’d made a dress for myself, and this one felt so special. Originally, I thought of making my bridesmaids’ dresses, but making four dresses in different sizes would have been far more complicated than creating one for myself.
So, what are your tips for others considering a second dress?
Start early! I started drafting the pattern in April; the wedding wasn’t until December. Give yourself plenty of time so you can enjoy the process rather than rush it. Get yourself an adjustable dressmaking mannequin so you can set it at your measurements and see how the dress looks on the figure.
