A Wedding Dress

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Hey!  I got married last week!

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Many of you may not know, but my beautiful and incredible partner is a woman.  And until very recently same-sex marriages were not legal in California.  Had it been, we would have been married long ago, but we’ve been waiting patiently and thanks to the recent Supreme Court rulings, same-sex marriages have resumed in our state!

So we made an appointment right away and planned for a very simple ceremony at the city hall.  I debated sharing this personal news publicly for many reasons, but since it was such a big and exciting day for us, I thought – why not!?

Plus, there’s the dress.  What does a woman who is 7 months pregnant with a wedding date less than 2 weeks away decide to do?  Well, make her own dress of course!

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I definitely considered a store bought dress, but my sewing consultants (Kristin and Jessica) talked me into making my own.  Plus, I figured my store bought options would be very limited.  Kristin suggested using eyelet, which I love, so my original plan was to get a nice summery white or cream eyelet and make a modified Washi dress.  Something casual, simple and modern – something I could possibly dye afterwards and then wear again and again.

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Well, I went to Britex (they have so many beautiful eyelet fabrics!) and fell in love with this almost peachy, super sheer, vintagey, sweet eyelet fabric.  It was not what I had originally planned at all.  It was soft and romantic and more formal than what I had imagined, and suddenly the modern Washi didn’t seem like an appropriate fit anymore.

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But the Washi bodice is the only pattern I have that fits perfectly, and so the “Washi hack wedding dress” was born!  Right around the time I was planning this dress, Kristin was making her beautiful Ristretto Dress, which, coincidentally, was kinda similar to what I had in mind.  After seeing her neckline and gathered skirt, I knew it was what I wanted to do too.  (By the way, if you’re not pregnant and looking for a nice dress to sew for you, I HIGHLY recommend you go check out the Ristretto Dress tutorial by Kristin – another Washi dress pattern hack 🙂 – it’s so gorgeous!)

So, the only parts of the Washi pattern that I ended up using were the front bodice piece and the pockets.  I kept the bust darts and the bottom line of the bodice the same and then pretty much changed up everything else.  I made it a curved V-neck and narrowed the shoulder straps a little.  I drafted my own back bodice piece (separate from the skirt piece) that was fitted, so that I wouldn’t need shirring or elastic, and made a V cut as well – quite possibly my favorite part of the dress.  Because there is no elastic, I added a side zipper.

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My arms are one of the things that I like least about my body, especially when looking at pictures of myself.  Many a photo have been deemed unusable because of arm fat!  I went back and forth about it, but decided to add these flutter sleeves to cover up my problem.  Even the morning of the ceremony, I was kind of regretting adding them, but now, looking at pictures, I’m so glad I did.  They did the perfect job of hiding my arms and Hideko thinks it makes the dress look more formal too.

The skirt pieces are two rectangles that I gathered before attaching to the bodice.  And pockets!!  I had to have pockets, but because of the fullness of the skirt, you can’t see them at all.  Sneaky!

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Here’s a close up of the beautiful fabric!  I was so scared to cut into it.  Because it’s totally sheer, the dress is fully lined, besides the flutter sleeves.  The lining is a soft shirting, also from Britex, that worked perfectly under this dress to make it totally comfortable, but was substantial enough that I didn’t have to worry about my light dress being see through at all.

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The sash is a warm mocha color ribbon (also from, surprise surprise – Britex!) that finished off the dress nicely.

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Here’s a shot of the back of the dress and that V that I’m quite fond of 🙂

I certainly can’t say the dress is perfect, but I’m proud that I made it and like the way it came out.  I made a muslin first and thankfully, it worked out pretty much the way I wanted it to.  But that took the bulk of my time and I had less than 4 days to make the actual dress.  I was up pretty late the night before our 10 am ceremony hand sewing the bodice lining in!  Somehow the bodice for the actual dress came out snugger than the muslin so there was not even an extra millimeter of wiggle room!  After the muslin bodice came out a bit loose in the shoulders, I decided to take some fabric off the shoulder straps.  I didn’t realize at the time that this would raise everything by half an inch, the bust darts and the arm holes, so that might have had something to do with the bodice fit, and the bust dart position does irk me just a little.

But hey!  I made a fancy dress for me!  A year ago, I had barely started sewing for myself, so I’d say I’ve come a long ways.

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The one other thing I wanted to do for our simple wedding was a bouquet.  I’ve always loved beautiful flowers, and plus I thought Yuki might get excited about having her own bouquet too, since she was a flower girl recently (except she totally wasn’t into it and didn’t want anything to do with the mini bouquet I made her).

The day before, I went to a local gourmet/fancy grocery store, Bryan’s, with a gorgeous selection of flowers and picked out some pretty ones.  I watched a few YouTube videos on making bouquets and boutonnières and had a really fun time putting them together with Hideko’s help.

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I have to give a HUGE thank you to my dad for taking these beautiful pictures from our special day.  He’s an amazing photographer!

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Yuki wore her eyelet Geranium Dress which still fits her perrrfectly!

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It was such a sweet and simple ceremony, but a truly beautiful day for our family.  We were so happy that our day had finally come and that we were able to share it with our nearest and dearest.

And that, my friends, is why I failed KCW.  But it was totally worth it 🙂

186 thoughts on “A Wedding Dress”

  1. What a beautiful couple you are! Congratulations! Your dress turned out really well, you should be proud of yourself indeed! The sash and the flowers just tie everything together wonderfully. I wish you all the best.

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  4. I think we knew that your partner was a woman, while reading your blog it was evident.
    Your dress was very beautiful, and the emotion of both of you shines on the pictures. You must all be very very happy ! I’m glad for you all.

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  7. Beautiful dress, beautiful family, beautiful day! Many congratulations (or best wishes? I never remember which one I’m supposed to say), and thanks for sharing with us.

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  8. What a beautiful wedding and dress! As an obsessive reader of your blog, I am so happy that you and your partner were finally able to wed!

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  9. Oh! your brought tears to my eyes! your happiness leaks through the computer screen and makes me happy too 🙂
    may you be healthy, happy, prosperous and successfull in everything you do! lone and happy days to your happy family!!!

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  10. You look so radiant!! I am so happy for you and your beautiful family!! Congratulations. May you and your family continue to make beautiful creations (including kiddos) together. Many future blessings!!!

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  13. Beautiful dress, and a wonderful and extremely happy post! Very excited for you and your family and wishing you the best in the future! 🙂

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  15. You look amazing in your gorgeous dress!
    I’m a new follower and I’m glad you shared ~ congratulations to you and your wife. Wishing you many years of happiness together with your adorable family ❤

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  16. Congratulations! I often think of making my own wedding dress too! I’m about 2 years out and don’t sew for myself at all yet so you have given me hope 🙂 You two make a great looking couple and I wish you lots of love and luck for your growing family!

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  17. YAAAAY! so glad you posted this, and so glad you were crazy and made your own dress. it really is beautiful and so special. hideko looks amazing, too! the pictures are fantastic. CONGRATULATIONS!

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  18. You looked gorgeous! I would totally buy that dress if I saw it in a store. Congratulations to your beautiful family!

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  19. What a beautiful dress for such a beautiful event! The flowers, too – you’re amazing!! A huge congratulations to you and your family, and I’m so glad you shared it here – why not indeed!!!

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  21. You look beautiful, both of you! The dress is gorgeous, I know we can be picky about the clothes we make for ourselves but from the pictures it looks perfect 🙂 I am so happy you were able to get married, congrats!!!

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  28. congrats congrats! What a happy day. 🙂 I love love the dress, seriously looks amazing. I wouldn’t have guess that it wasn’t store bought, looks so polished.

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  34. Congratulations! You have a beautiful family. Love your wedding dress and bouquet styling. Wish you all a very happy life together. Also as a fellow mama with another one coming, good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and all!! 🙂

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  38. Thank you so much for sharing something so very personal and so very important in your life! Many blessings to both of you! Your dress was absolutely stunning. Well done!! Can’t wait to see the fun new baby things that you have/have yet to create!

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  41. Congratulations!!! What a gorgeous dress — perfect for a pregnant bride! What beautiful pictures too. This post made me smile so much my cheeks hurt!

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  45. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you, Hideko and Yuki — beautiful family. And your dress turned out wonderfully 🙂 Thank you for sharing.

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  57. I too got married after 19 yrs together! Today makes two weeks. I made both of our outfits, and Mexican wrap skirt and white blouse for me, and linen pants and a white tank for her. My best friend had succulent bouquets made for us. Best day ever! And our family was here from Denmark for another family wedding. It was tiny and sweet, just like we wanted it to be.
    Congratulations on your big day! Your dress is beautiful, as is your family.

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  58. Congratulations! for your dress, it’s wonderful, for the weeding and for your pregnancy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can see that it was a wonderful day and that love is in the air!
    All tha best!

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  61. Congratulations!!!
    And thank you so much for sharing your happiness with us!! (it might have been some tears from this side of the ocean :-), as well)
    Love the dress and yes, totally worth missing KCW 🙂

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  69. Congratulations and the very best wishes… You and your dress are devastatingly beautiful. Thanks for sharing this part of your life with us, I’m sorry that it even had to give you pause.

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  70. Oh happy day! Congratulations to you both! And thank you for sharing your special day with us. What a beautiful family you are! Wishing you all the best….

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  71. Congratulations! What a beautiful family you are. And what a wonderful, wonderful dress. Enjoy this time, and may love & happiness be sprinkled generously over your days to come.

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  72. Congratulations and all the happiness in the world for the future of your wonderful family!
    Hugs from Ireland

    Ps Beautiful couple, beautiful daughter, beautiful bump, beautiful flowers

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  75. I’m all smiles after reading this post. You are both so clearly in love, it is beautiful! And so is your family 🙂

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  76. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Omedetou!!!!! Thank you for bringing me to tears. You are so, so beautiful – and what a beautiful couple!! A beautiful family!! (Geeze that bouquet is absurdly gorgeous, aside from the freakout-mazing dress)

    So happy for you!!! Thank you for sharing (and making me cry).

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  77. I’m so happy you missed KCW! I live in Australia where I don’t see gay marriages being legalised for quite a while. So glad California has joined the band wagon and you have now been able to publicly and legally formalise your love for each other.
    Tears on joy shed for you and your family!!

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  80. I am filled with joy for you and your family! Thank you for sharing that whole thing with us! I have long enjoyed your sewing adventures, and now I have a little more of the story of “you”. Your ceremony was beautiful! Your dress is wonderful. You are both glowing with the intense love of a wedding. Good job DAD! The pictures are amazing. I hope you got to sneak in a honeymoon. Way to go Supreme court. Congratulations on your happy day!

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  81. You look beautiful in your dress–it’s truly stunning! I love that you and Yuki are matching in eyelet dresses! Best wishes for the rest of your pregnancy–your baby will be born surrounded by so much love. Congratulations to you and your family!

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  82. You are such a beautiful Family (I LOVE the picture of you all together, that one needs to be blown up and put on a canvas!) Your dress is perfect, and you all look sooo happy!

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  86. I am in awe of you – first and foremost, biggest congratulations to you and Hideko. Also, the dress is breathtaking and you are amazing for making it! I am so beyond happy for you! The wedding pictures are gorgeous!!

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  90. What? You made your wedding dress in four days?!? And it looks that amazing?!? I am in awe, Cherie! you both look absolutely gorgeous (and so happy!). Congrats to all three (almost four) of you!!

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  91. That dress is gorgeous! I love it! And Congratulations to you both! I don’t think i’ve ever seen a happier wedding photo then the one of the three of you 🙂

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  95. eeeeeeehh!!! You all look incredible. Wonderful enormous congratulations to your family, and fantastic news for California too. Now the other states will fall in line. 🙂

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  96. Wow. Congratulations: to the state of California for seeing the way on this, to your dad for the beautiful photos and to the three of you for having such a lovely family.
    Both of you look fantastic.
    The dress is stunning. And you DID sew to dress a kid, just one that hasn’t popped out yet.

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  99. Oh, happy happy! Congratulations, Cherie and Hideko! I’m echoing everyone else’s joyful wishes, a million times over! And the dress! And Yuki with you both!! Sweetness.

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  100. Congratulations to you and Hideko! What a happy day! And…wow! I am so impressed that you made your own wedding dress! It looks so beautiful on you, and is such a beautiful vintagey dress. No wonder you didn’t have time to get anything done in kcw last week. I love that last picture, too. My 2 year old loves getting simultaneous kisses from mama and daddy!

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  101. Hey Beautiful!
    You two look amazingly happy and shiny! All the best for the cute couple!
    I love your dress and the style and specially the fabric!!
    I will get martied too in september-bewi g pregnant with twins in the 6th monthby then! Yaay!!!

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  106. well worth missing out on KCW!

    You both were glowing beauty and radiating happiness! congratulations! and thank you for sharing your special day with us!

    Your dress was amazing… any snugness was absolutely not noticeable! all I saw was two women blissfully in love and happy to be able to finally share that publicly and legally! so happy for you all!

    (when my hubbs and I renew our vows, I fully intend to be at a skill set where I can make my own dress also, as I had a dress in mind for my first wedding and no time to have it hand made for me…. 🙂 )

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  107. congratulations all 3 of you ❤ . Thank you for sharing this special day . You are a beautifull family. I think marrige should be for people in love nothing else matters. 😉

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  108. You both look stunning! And it”s so lovely that you didn’t try to hide your bump under a frumpy dress – you’re unborn little one got to be part of the day too!

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  111. Your post made me tear up! Congratulations to you and your beautiful wife on your wedding! I too love the Washi Dress and your creation for your wedding dress is absolutely stunning! Beautifully crafted. Best wishes to you and your family.

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  114. congrads, Mazal tov…. the dress looks perfect, you both look perfect and looks like a special day for your loveky family.

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  117. huge congrats to you both! I bet you were the only girl that day marrying another girl, while mega pregnant, in a hand made wedding dress! Everything looks beautiful. I hear ya about the arms too. Many a picture makes me shudder when I see my arms…..bleh

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  118. Oh this is so wonderful. I’m happy for you. Congratulations!! Best wishes for your family!!
    Your dress is gorgeous and the pictures are amazing!!!!

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  120. Gah! Gorgeous! I can not believe you made that! It’s perfection and I love the flutter sleeves!!! Congratutions to your beautiful family!

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  121. Wowie! You two look so radiant! What beautiful, beautiful photos. I love, love, love your dress. You did an amazing job. And the sash and shoes are perfect with it. Congratulations!!!! Thank you for sharing.

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  128. How wonderful! Congratulations to you and your family, it looked like a special day and you can really see and feel the love through the beautiful pics your father took. Your dress looks amazing! You should be very proud of yourself! Hope you get some “feet-up” time now before bub arrives 🙂

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  129. You both look radiant, I’m so incredibly happy for your whole family!!! As I said before on instagram, the world is a better place when a strong, devoted, loving couple like you ties the knot. The dress (and flowers!!) turned out beautifully. I wish you long and happy lives together with your adorable munchkins!

    (and thanks for letting me play even a small part in helping with the dress – you know I’d have flown down there if it was practical!!!)

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  135. I’ve just landed here by accident and wanted to join in by giving my congratulations to you and your partner and compliments for perfect outfits all round. Your dad’s photography is great too!

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  137. Congratulations and best wishes! This is a wonderful post — gorgeous pictures, beautiful dress! So happy you were able to celebrate this special day!

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  139. Thank you so much for choosing to share your wonderful, special day!! I am so happy for both of you and your darling little girl! Beautiful dress, too – you are amazing!!

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  141. CONGRATULATIONS! Your dress came out just beautifully, and I love how your Dad captured all of you together. What a lovely family.
    Thanks for sharing your special day with all of us!
    Best of Luck!
    ~Michelle

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  142. Congratulations on such a beautiful ceremony! I’m so, so happy you were able to get married, and your family photo at the end of this post is gorgeous! So much love!

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  143. Congratulations! You look beautiful, all three of you. I’m so glad you were finally able to get married. Here in Denmark same sex couples have been able to register their partnership since 1989, and since 2012 they can be married in churches.
    I love the dress, well done you! And such lovely photos..

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  149. Wow, when I was pregnant it was a triumph to do my everyday activities and you made a wedding dress?? That is awesome. Your family photo is sweet–the tie looks like it matches your daughter’s dress and the bouquet is lovely. Cheers for marriage equality!

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  150. The dress is beautiful! I can see why finding fabric like that totally changed the plans; one dreams of getting to find the perfect fabric. 🙂 Congratulations to you both, and all the best in your marriage and to your family. 🙂

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  151. Congratulations! I feel so lucky to be in the first state that legalized same-sex marriage (Massachusetts) and I know you Californians have been through the ringer with it but thank God you finally got it. You have such a beautiful family and you look stunning, baby bump and all. Only a truly talented seamstress would think it was easier to make a wedding dress when she was pressed for time than it would be to buy one. And it came out amazingly! My wife and I just got suits, off the rack, for our wedding. But we thought they looked great, too.

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  153. Congratulations! Same sex marriage just legalised here in New Zealand too. I love your dress and hope you had a wonderful wedding 🙂

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  155. Lovely! I was 6 months pregnant at my wedding and I must say, your dress looks MUCH more comfortable and flowy and nice than my David’s Bridal gown. 😛 Congratulations!

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  159. Awww! These pictures are so gorgeous…what a great day for your family. And (!!) your dress! I’m glad you have sewing friends to urge you on, because it is beautiful. Love the creamy, soft fabrics and that ribbon. And, of course, eyelet. Well done!

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  162. I read about you on the Britex blog. You all are a beautiful family! Best wishes and Congratulations to all of you! PS: You did an amazing job on the wedding dress. Very impressive!

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  163. Congratulations on your wedding and on making your gorgeous dress!!! Many happy days, months, years… to you and your family!

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  169. that is so great – much love and happiness to you and your family – love your blog and was so happy to read your news and see your beautiful pictures

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  172. Such an amazing day for your family. I spend a lot of time reading blogs like yours and it is very rarely that the bloggers family looks so similar to my own. (Seems like if same sex moms blog it’s about same sex parenting and all the creative moms have traditional families.) My wife and I were finally able to get married this winter in Seattle (after 11 years!) and we have a 16 month old daughter whom I love to sew for… We are Both educators as well. I’m sure you won’t get this comment as it is so far down the page… But I just couldn’t help piping in. Thanks for sharing such a personal moment.

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  174. these photos are so moving they almost made me cry! the joy and radiance you both possess is evident through the screen. the photographs are beautiful! and your dress is lovely! i wish i could have made my wedding dress (but i didn’t sew back then, so that would’ve been problematic!) 🙂 i wish you a peaceful, wonderful birth and a lifetime of happiness – to all four of you! ❤

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  184. Congratulations! I’m so happy you could finally get married, I wish that was possible for everyone in the entire world. 🙂
    I know I’m several months late with the congratulations, but I just found your blog… Love the dress, I might copy it for myself!

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