I tried on lots of lovely vintage dresses and fell in love with one, only to find out it was WAY over my budget. Finally I found one that was very close to what I had in mind ... it was the Gatsby by Maggie Sottero (pictured below). It was just beautiful, but I wasn't too keen on the neckline and something didn't feel quite right. I had a niggling feeling that since everything else in my wedding was being lovingly made by hand, my dress should be too.

So I decided to have it made by hand, but I didn't know where to start. Could I afford it? Where would I find the fabric? Which dressmaker? and in what style? It was a bit overwhelming so I took it one step at a time. First I focused on fabric - it would be much cheaper if I could find the fabric myself as lovely bridal fabric can be very expensive to buy. I realised the answer was staring me right in the eye. Literally. It was hanging up on the curtain rail - a beautiful antique Normandy lace bedspread, given to me by my lovely cousin Rita, who passed away from Cancer only a few years ago. 

She was a beautiful, joyful soul and she was an amazing crafty seamstress. 

  I've never designed anything in my life but I knew what I wanted, so I trusted my instincts. In my sketches I made sure it had a V neck as I know that flatters me the most, I wanted floaty cap sleeves and a layered effect in the skirt. You have to use your imagination at this point. The bedspread had some beautiful embroidered elements and a wonderful lace panel that I knew would make a beautiful waistband. I researched and looked for dresses that had elements of what I wanted. Then armed with my sketches, magazine cut-outs and my fabric (well curtain) off I went to bridal path in Sawbridgeworth, to meet dressmaker Adrienne, of Adrienne brides. 

I'd seen Adrienne's work online and had a hunch she was the woman for the job.

I had no doubt a regular dress-maker could make a wedding dress. But I wanted to find someone who specialised in wedding dresses and Adrienne did. When I told her I wanted to make a dress out of a curtain she thought I was crazy, but as soon as she saw the fabric she got very excited. Adrienne knew exactly what would, and what wouldn't work when it came to design and I trusted her judgement completely. Seeing this dress come to life was a truly wonderful experience and I'm so pleased I did it. For the same cost as a shop-bought dress I had something truly unique to hopefully hand down to my own daughter one day ... a handmade wedding dress, with lace from 1900's that was given to me by my dear Rita.