After a few weeks talking about some of the most stressful parts of wedding planning, let’s talk about something that was a blast- designing my wedding gown! After going to school for design many people thought that I was going to make my dress… but I wouldn’t wish that amount of stress on my worst enemy. Designing it and having it made by the awesome Mika Inatome was definitely the best way to go, and an amazing way to really create a signature on your wedding day.
I had tried on many dresses in NYC, everywhere from Kleinfeld to Bergdorf, to get an idea of what type of look I wanted. The one thing I knew is that I wanted a streamlined silhouette, one that lengthened me and was fairly form-fitting. The other idea I loved was having a look that transitioned from ceremony to party. I fell in absolute LOVE with a few drop-dead gorgeous gowns by Naeem Khan and Lihi Hod, but sadly neither were even close to my budget (which was also another reason why I wanted to design my dress!). I realized that a dress with as much beadwork as these had was going to be near impossible for me to design, so I decided to go another route.
I ended up doing a rough sketch of my design below (ignore the sketch on the right) which showed a simple fitted silhouette in a silk crepe, but with a very high neck and low back. I felt that since I didn’t really have anything exciting to show up top, why not go a bit more dramatic and take the neck as high as it would go? Then I had an idea to layer on loads of chandelier beads, ones that were clear glass and oversized and would swing as I walked like fringe. I loved the idea that a dress that was so form fitting would have movement on the top. Then, I would have a reinforced horsehair sheer silk overlay that slipped over my head and blended seamlessly with the gown, to give a longer train and more volume on the bottom half, which could be taken off for the reception to make dancing easier.
I showed this sketch to Mika and she loved it, and even helped me build upon it by suggesting added beadwork to the outer layer of the skirt to tie in to the detail at the neckline. It was a perfect match and I knew Mika and I were going to work perfectly together!
The first images are of the dress without the skirt overlay- it perfectly hugged the body and my booty (crucial!), and I LOVED the low back. It was also nice to have a look to take ‘first look’ photos with Mr. R in before the ceremony- that way when I walked down the aisle he got to see me in a completely different look!
Here are some shots of the neck detail and what the beadwork looked like- it really just looks like I’m frosted with ice, but I get fringe-y movement when I walk!
The shape of the overlay skirt was beautiful too- it wrapped perfectly around me like I was swathed in a shimmering cloud.
The bead fringe detail on the outer skirt.
The veil: This was my ‘something borrowed’ Vera Wang cathedral veil from my Maid of Honor. She wore it at her wedding 6 weeks before and we actually both have funny stories about this veil that we will never forget! Some people I spoke to were worried that having too large of a veil was going to overpower my dress, but I felt that it was the perfect dramatic detail to counteract my modern shape, and it went perfectly with the glamorous venue.
One final selfie with ma’ main maids before we walked down the aisle!
All gorgeous photos by Amanda Crean.
Other posts from my wedding here:
