Custom Anniversary Dress for Alexandra

Behind the seams

Loved creating this custom convertible dress for my beautiful client, Alexandra. She came up with most of the designs with the multiple sleeves, and corset style dress. I was happy to find this ethereal pale blue lace from an Etsy seller. The base of the dress is made with ivory silk charmeuse and adorned with refurbished crystals.

Vintage Gown Re-do Bride Danielle

Bride Danielle came to me with her mother’s vintage wedding gown and her own wedding dress for alterations.

She wasn’t sure what she wanted her mom’s dress turned into, but she knew she wanted it short and to wear for her rehearsal dinner dress. So I sketched a few examples and she chose one right away.

before

 

the sketch

Danielle wore to her Rehearsal Dinner in May 2023

Real Bride Phoebe wearing Custom Desireé Marie captured by Sweet Charms Photography

Vintage Gown Re-do for Bride Monica

Another Vintage gown re-do!

This time we used the majority of the original bodice but tossed the skirt for a more slim modern cut. Also over time, as you can imagine, the original tulle fabric was stiff, discolored, and covered in a vine lace pattern the bride did not love.

We actually had a more fitted nude-colored mermaid skirt under our first toile but we opted to go with the more traditional ivory in the end.

The bodice was covered in pearls that were removed. I used a second supplementary lace for the skirt and incorporated it into the bodice for a little sparkle and a modern touch. You might not be able to tell from the photos, but there is one layer of green glitter tulle on the skirt. ✨

I also created a custom cathedral veil for the bride Monica as well, and you can see her wearing it in the final photos.

Congratulations!

Nicole Rae Photography

Vintage Gown Redesign-Haley

Haley and her mom came to me with her mom’s vintage wedding dress still in the preservation box with hopes we could create her a fun reception dress from it. We took it out together and she tried it on. As you can see below, it had a pretty good overall fit! She is so similar to her mother’s size at that age.

Once she had it on, we were able to look at her inspiration pictures on her phone and determine if this dress could be made into one of her inspiration pics.

Most of Haley’s inspiration pics were of mid-century style tea length dresses so we started designing together a spaghetti strap tea length gown with a full skirt and fitted waist.

The vintage gown had a few stains and tears here and there that I avoided when cutting out the new dress.

I was also able to work with Haley on a custom-made bridal veil, her other wedding dress alterations, and her mother’s MOB dress alterations.

Haley was married on 7-23-22.

Real Custom Made Bride Tiffiny

So happy to share photos from the real bride Tiffiny’s wedding day.

Tiffiny is another Lakeland, FL local and we even met before she was engaged and worked at a print company.

She contacted me years in advance of her wedding day and we started designing her dream dress together via Skype and emails. I was still in Austin, Texas at the time she contacted me, and soon moved back to Lakeland, where I was able to finish her dress fittings in person. (Which is always preferred)

We used crepe for the main part of the dress with a chiffon overlay and a soft lining. The back is adorned with about 100 buttons and an embroidered lace back.

Don’t you love the elegance of the mock neck paired with the romantic lace back?

I’m feeling Royal vibes! 👑

Review from Tiffiny

“Desiree is currently making my dress. I've followed her work, for years and knew I'd want to be her client one day. She has always been professional, accommodating, friendly, and helpful. She has taken the vision of what I wanted and made it a beautiful reality. I truly feel lucky that she is making my personalized gown.”

A Custom Chinese-style dress for real bride Kathryn

So thrilled to finally show you these photos from real Bride’s Kathryn wedding to Jordan.

They were married on 10/24/2021 in front of their friends and family at their family-owned restaurant.

I love how they kept their traditions close and integrated a lot of their Chinese heritage into their wedding.

I worked with Kathryn on creating a Chinese-style cheongsam reception dress.

She had a clear vision of what she wanted, which was ideal, since we only had a few months to create from scratch.

Real Bride Vervain Marries Shawn in a Custom Made Lace Ball Gown

Behind the Seams

Erica/Vervain came to me with lots of beautiful laces she already handpicked herself and a bodice piece from her mothers gown she hand beaded/embroidered. We then started sketching her dream dress together (she already sketched it once) and I began putting together her ball gown.

She is wearing a hoop skirt underneath several layers of lace and satin for that full look. Hoop skirts opposed to layers of net and tulle are a great option because it gives you so much space for your legs/feet to walk and it keeps you cooler throughout the day.

I am grateful to have worked with her on this dress, I love it, and her photos from the wedding are GORGEOUS!

Wedding Day

Tags:

Stephanie Rogers Photography

Venue-Barr Mansion

Hair @magical_mitzi https://salonlofts.com/mitzi_naiser

Flowers @madame.ling

Cake Toppers @shroomware

Real Bride Crystal-Custom Made Wedding Dress

I love working with creative brides like Crystal. She had a vision of a purple and black tulle gown with crystal appliques and we created her dream gown. Her dress fits perfectly into her bridal party and looks like it was made to match her decor. I always have a Halloween bride, and this year, Crystal was that bride. I love how she incorporated Day of the Dead makeup and decorations, a very popular holiday in Austin Texas where her wedding was held.

Real Bride Quin-Preview Photos by a sea of love

So happy to have worked Real Bride Quin on creating her dream dress.

She came to me just a couple months before I moved to Florida with a dress inspiration pic from one of my favorite designers, Brandon Maxwell.

We changed the neckline and the waistline but kept the color and the same silk faille fabric as the designer.

I love working with brides on creating unique dresses just like this black midi length gown.

She was married on Friday the 13th so they had a “Jason” a few of their photos. :D

This is just a preview from photographer a sea of love, more to come in a month!

Real Bride-Giving Back-BLM Giveaway-Bridal Gown for Activist Meme Styles

Real Brides-Alexis and Megan Wedding at The garden of the gods, colorado springs

I found Alexis on Facebook and reached out to her because she was looking for someone to create a bridal blazer with a long train. I loved working with her on this blazer, we added pockets, and a ribbon on the train for her to hold on her wrist for ease. I also modified her jumpsuit by making her bell-bottoms a straight-leg fit.

It all turned out very modern and chic.

I had the opportunity to work with her fiancé, Megan, as well as with her bridal dress alterations. I added a lining, adjusted the sleeves, and lowered the slit on her gown.

They got married at the gorgeous Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, CO.

I love all the modern neutral tones they used in the floral, accessories, and decorations.

Cheers!

Photos by Makenzie Grall Imaging

Real Bride Ashley-Wedding Photos of Ashley and Beth

The Design

It was such a pleasure working with real bride Ashley on her custom-made bridal top, bridal pants, and bridal cape.

Since the lace was such a big part of this design, we spent some time searching for the perfect one. It’s a modern organic floral embroidery on tulle fabric from French Lace supplier, Imperial Lace.

We chose shiny ivory satin for the pants with a champagne tuxedo stripe and waistband. We also added pockets!

The matching cape was inspired by celebrity bride Solange’s wedding cape. My favorite part of the design is the last-minute lace applique we added to the inside of the cape!

The buttons down the back and the bustier-style bodice make this wedding top distinctive.

Wedding Day

Ashley and Beth got married on October 20, 2020, at the Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park.

Dallas Heritage Village is home to the largest and finest collection of 19th-century pioneer and Victorian homes and commercial buildings in Texas.

They were married in front of their masked friends and family during the 2020 pandemic.

Real Bride Anjie 10-4-2020

- - - behind the seams - - -

Bride Anjie came to me with a very specific design in mind, and I was very happy to help her. I love working with brides who bring me out of my comfort zone. Nothing changes if nothing changes.

I also personally love her choice of no-train. I opted to have the smallest train ever on my wedding day, because they get in the way of having fun!

The dress is two pieces; a corset top adorned with handmade roses, bows, crystals, and lace that layers over a gathered full hi-lo multi-layer and color skirt with lace appliques. (& multi colored matching veil)

Wedding Day!

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YAY! Congrats Anjie & Chris!

photos by Melissa Vinsik Photography

Real Bride Leslie 2-2-2020

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Leslie’s gown was created from her mother’s gown and supplementary fabric. The uniqueness of her gown is that she only had over a month to work with me and we worked up till 2 days before her wedding before completing—not sure if I will put myself through that again, but I love y’all and I want to help you! (3-6 months preferred for custom made gowns.)

before


Photos by Rob August

Real Bride Megans Wedding Photos!

From Sketch to Decision Making, to Taking home, to Wedding day!

Megan is wearing a custom made Gaia gown with the Fern cathedral veil both from the Into the Woods Collection

Megan is wearing a custom made Gaia gown with the Fern cathedral veil both from the Into the Woods Collection

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Megan requested to have the bottom layer of her Gaia gown to be dip-dyed a subtle sage color to match her wedding colors A+++

Megan requested to have the bottom layer of her Gaia gown to be dip-dyed a subtle sage color to match her wedding colors A+++

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Congrats Megan & Phil!

Real Bride Megan BTS with a custom Gaia Gown

Creating the dress of your dreams or a tweaking an already designed Desireé Marie gown is more simple than you think (simple for you that is ;)

Megan came to me in April 2018 and was already in love with Gaia gown! (blushes)

We talked about her engagement, her wedding plans, fiancé, and started making tweaks to the dress to make it special for her.

My favorite tweak we added was a sage dip-dye hem to match her wedding colors. I made sure to provide a sample for her first before dying all the entire hem.

We also made the top a silk stretch charmeuse instead of the original poly satin for a more glamorous look.

After all was decided on and fabric samples were chosen, I returned to the sewing cave and made a sample dress for her out of muslin before cutting into our glamorous fabric.

This process took a couple of fittings, but since Megan came to me with plenty of time, we had our appointments spread out a bit more than necessary too.

Then after our 3 or 4th meeting, I started making her custom dress in her fabrics. We needed about 2-3 fittings after this to make more adjustments/alterations because I don’t stop till we get it perfect!

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Images © by Sasha Reiko Photography | www.sashareiko.com

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