Wedding Party #2: Amber and Paul

This June, just a few weeks after sewing my own wedding, my mom asked me if I would sew another wedding dress for Amber, a young mother she mentors. Amber is the sweetest thing, with two small boys (3 years and 18 months) and not a lot of money. After her husband left her, Amber re-met her former neighbor Paul and fell in love (it's a really sweet story!). My mom wanted to pay me to make Amber's wedding dress as her present to Amber.
Of course I said I'd do it :)

First, my mom took Amber to David's Bridal to try on dresses and figure out what she wanted. Amber loved this dress, with a halter top, lace insert in a split skirt, and colored sash. As you can see, it's over $500--we made it for about $200 (including labor). Awesome!

Mid-July, I visited Amber with my mom, brought patterns to look at (we combined two), and took measurements. Then I made the dress out of muslin as a test dress. We fitted that late July, also taking measurements for the bridesmaid, flower girl, and her two little boys. Then I went on my honeymoon for a week. Then I got busy!

Basically, I sewed everything (1 man's shirt [best man, Paul's teenage son], 2 boys' shirts, two ties for the men, two bow ties for the boys, 1 bridesmaid dress [also combining two patterns], 1 flower girl dress, and 1 elaborate wedding gown) in about 3 weeks. Good thing I had experience sewing my own wedding a few months before!

We purchased the sash from DB to make sure it was the right color. It came with a gathered waistband and embroidery on the ends, and it was probably cheaper (and easier) than making one. I sewed a modesty panel and snapped it in, then appliqued pieces of lace on the bodice and sash. And I did the hem completely by hand. LOTS of hand sewing!

Aren't they adorable?

I worked like crazy! But I loved it :) I loved replicating Amber's perfect DB dress and making something she loved! I enjoyed making matching dresses and shirts and learning how to sew shirts and ties! The wedding was quaint and beautiful :) I'm so glad I could be apart of it!

Mother and daughter. Precious!

P.S. If you know of anyone who wants homemade wedding attire, send them to me! I love it!