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Take a look behind the seams of Desireé’s creations, see more styled shoot photos, & get expert advice
<3 <3
(Look for the lights on my skirt during the dances!)
Credits:
Video by Brett Rohlfing
Wedding Dress, veil & flower girl dress by Desiree Marie Design
Venue Rocking H Ranch in Lakeland FL
Rings and tiara made by groom
The MISSES MUAH
Jennifer Lee Events
Welcome to our fairytale!
I married my love, Eric, on Nov. 2 and we became Mr. & Mrs. Singletary.
We went back to our home town of Lakeland, FL to tie the knot at the Rocking H Ranch.
I walked down the aisle with my dad to Sound of the Shire from Lord of The Rings. Our ring bearer, Xander, or our “Lord of The Rings” did such a great job walking down the aisle with our glass ring box filled with moss. Our flower girl, Abby, I also heard, did an amazing job. At just over 2 years old she walked by herself dropping petals along the way for me. We had a tornado warning that day that switched some plans around, but it only adds to our wonderful story, and I can only think back at this day and smile, or cry from happiness. It was the perfect day.
My dad and I danced first to “I loved her first” by Heartland. We did a pretty good with only practicing in the bridal suite earlier that day.
Then I danced with my husband to “Why don’t we just dance” by Josh Turner. We loved the song choreography that went along with the music video, and tried our best to mimic it. We had to purposely leave out a couple parts because of my dress, but the crowd loved it!
Video coming soon!
I loved our cake by Carlos Angelro with Deli Delicacies. My mouthed dropped when I saw it! It was so much more magnificent than I could have imagined. My mom picked out our cake topper only a couple months into our engagement, and she could not have chosen better. There are a few cat details throughout the wedding, can you spot them all?
Our wedding flower is gardenias. Eric chose that detail, it was very easy to agree since I love them too! Their scent is amazing and they were a little difficult to find this time of year, but we filled in with some white roses, babies breath, and holly garland.
We had ring toss and corn hole to for our guests to play, but I spent the night on the dance floor!
Then we had a grand exit with sparklers and a white limo waiting to take us to the Lakeland Terrace Hotel for the night. My parents got us a suite and it was very fancy with a great lake view and wine and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us. We felt like we were celebrities for the day, as every bride/groom should.
Photos by Vania Elise Photography
HMUA The Misses MUA-Sarai Rodriguez
Wedding Dress, veil, tiara, embroidered handkerchiefs, silk pocket squares-Handmade by the Bride, Desireé Marie Design
Save the Date designed by my cousin Andrea Berman
It all starts with a sketch. (Well first it started with the engagement ring my now husband made for me.)
The moment he proposed <3
Love my rings. I helped design my wedding band with the hump.
I was first inspired by love. We knew we wanted to get married as soon as possible and couldn’t wait till 2019, so we planned for November 2. With a fall wedding planned, and love as the inspiration, I quickly thought of a fairytale in the woods.
We both wanted to personalize our wedding as much as possible. I love hidden details, and thought of lots of fun ways to customize my gown. I machine embroidered a silver cat and hand sewed it on my skirt of my dress. My veil has two hummingbirds, the iconic fairytale phrase “and they lived happily ever after”, and matching lace appliques.
I found the most gorgeous lace I have ever seen, and showed my mom and fiancé. I also let Eric know right away, along with all of our rings, he was responsible for my fairytale tiara. He gladly accepted the new project. Complete with flowers and a bumblebee.
Being a designer, I wanted to incorporate a lot of details into my dress with it looking “extra” but not “too much” I’m loving the illusion necklines with lace designs that is uniquely its own. I also love bridal separates and surprises, so having removable pieces was always a given.
I cut out lace pieces from the beautiful lace and pinned them on my tulle top. They are all sewn down with invisible thread and the lace is symmetrical.
After completing my dress, removable tulle bell sleeves, and veil above, and removable ivory duchess silk skirt (not pictured) I wanted to make my flower girl a matching dress. See the process below starting with the lining. I used flat seams to make it more comfortable for a toddler.
My cousin’s daughter, Abby, loves cats just as much as I do, and she’s only 2! So I had to incorporate cats into her dress as well! I have been holding onto these special buttons for like 7 years and found the perfect use for them on my wedding day.
I also love my embroidery machine, and saw a similar scalloped handkerchief on Pinterest, and thought, I can do that! So I got to work, creating over 10 personalized wedding themed handkerchiefs for some of my close family and friends.
Here is one of the more simple ones.
I also embroidered silk pocket squares for all the men in the bridal party and our “lord of the rings”/”ring bearer”
Me and Eric were not the only ones busy creating before the wedding. Our moms were also busy making handmade gardenia (our wedding flower) candles and wax melts, fairy lollipops and jam (not pictured).
And my parents created this beautiful sign for outside their house to welcome our wedding party guests. You could feel the love.
Next post will be of professional photos from the wedding, stay tuned. #singlenomore
Custom Jumpsuit and handmade birdcage veil
So elegant! Probably the most "minalmalist" garment I have made. I love working with clients when they have a clear vision, then I make pieces I would have never made before.
Congrats Melania!
Aimee found me on Etsy and fell in love with my Navi dress from the Into the Woods collection. We added more coverage to the back so she could wear a bra.
♪ "I want to Dance the Night away with You" ♪
Real bride Sandra contacted me early in the year for a custom gown she was dreaming up. She had lots of ideas, and I added a couple of my own details as well, to create this one-of-a-kind beautiful gown.
Look at that lace collar! We created a higher neck on the overlay for a princess/royal look. I think it made her even more like Princess Kate Middleton! Don't you agree?
I really love this lace we used, it is a French Chantilly. It has a dot print throughout that really makes it young, also it was super soft! The sleeves are connected to one of her fingers on each hand for a fairytale detail. Love her flower in her hair, and her blue earrings to match her new hubby!
"It was also very comfortable and easy to move in, which was important to me for dancing purposes."
Finished the back with over 50 buttons, a small corset at her waist, ruched bum, and a waterfall of extra silk chiffon at center back for a 'faux train'
Sandra's Review:
On 9/18/2017 Sandra D
"Desiree did an amazing job crafting a custom gown for me that was very reasonably within my budget. She took the time to listen and really make sure that she understood all of the details that I was asking for, then pulled them all off without a hitch. I loved my gown, it fit perfectly, and I got lots of compliments from our guests on how beautiful and intricate it was. It was also very comfortable and easy to move in, which was important to me for dancing purposes. I would highly recommend Desiree Marie Designs for a wedding or any custom piece - you will not be disappointed!"
My sister, Jes, recently eloped in San Francisco at City Hall. She came to me for her elopement dress that can be 'worn for other occasions'. Inspired by the popular self-portrait dress, I inserted ladder trim in between the bodice seams, and at the bottom hem.
The combination of the trim and the thick guipure lace was difficult to sew but was it rewarding to see it finished. We upgraded the dress with a unique 3D guipure lace. The dress is lined with a nude kona cotton that she matched with her heels and clutch. The pleating on the skirt gave us a a subtle bell shape that emphasized her waist.
Look at that bell shape
Of course, Rayna was there on the big day!
Just Married!
I also created some fun bridal accessories for the happy couple as well.
Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Leffler!
Elopement Photography by Lilouette
Staci came to me looking for something fun and sexy and we came up with this deep 'V' faux wrap wedding dress.
Tea dyed alencon lace fabric
Pretty with pink details. Staci styled her dress magnificently with velvet pink Betsey Johnson heels, dainty gold jewelry, crstyal belt, and a gorgeous crystal headpiece.
I added lace appliques to all the edges of the bodice instead of hemming for a more romantic look. Keeping the back very open and lining free was another way we kept this dress on team sexy.
Wedding Bells!
Photos by Stefanie Arnette
Congrats Love birds Staci & Jose!
Promise first came to me looking for a romantic custom made wedding dress that she couldn't find in stores. I was excited when she mentioned it would be a blush gown.
We were going to add pink flowers throughout the gown, but decided early on to leave them out.
She had a clear vision of what she wanted and was great to work with. She came to visit for a fitting as well where she found out she wanted to add a matching veil as well. It really made the whole look come together perfectly.
In order to create the unique style of her dress, I cut out around 100 of these lace pieces and created my own pattern of lace on the bodice that trickled down throughout the dress and veil.
I also created sheer tulle side panels on the bodice for a flattering look.
Love her country vintage style she added to the gown.
You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl.
She loved it too, see her feedback below:
"Desiree did an awesome job putting all of my ideas together to make the perfect wedding dress. It was beautiful and totally 100% unique. I got compliments on it all night!!" -Promise Newman
So happy Chelsea contacted me before leaving Florida last year. We met and designed her dream dress. She is such a happy person, and very in love. I wanted that to reflect in her dress, and I think we did just that!
Since her wedding was to be on the beach, lace sandals were a must!
I also created her garter and her bridesmaids garters too.
Fittings with Chelsea below.
The Big Day.
Silk chiffon, 50+ buttons, and endless amount of hand appliques came together beautifully as Chelsea Steinbauer floated elegantly down the aisle. She wore a light chantilly lace gown with a 6 pence sewn into the dress hem. We created a new design in which a section of the dress was able to flow in the coastal breeze for the ceremony, but was pinned and draped beautifully for an almost 2nd look at their reception.
Congrats Chelsea and Joe Steinbauer!
Watch this amazing video below by The McKellars-Wedding Cinema of bride, Courtney wearing a custom made lace dress with butterfly sleeves.
With its sweetheart neckline, low back, mermaid skirt, and full lace design it has lots of classic details, but the long butterfly sleeves, and her excellent styling, make this dress unique, and bohemian.
They are so cute, and so in love, glad I was able to be apart of this magic.
johndavidweddings.com photographer
I have so many behind the scenes photos of custom orders, I decided to make a combined post. Can't wait to get back photographer's photos of the following on their special days!
Above: Butterfly sleeves Lace Wedding Dress & dyed emerald lace Bridesmaid Dress
Above: Custom Alencon Lace Wedding Dress, long sleeves and low back.
Below: Bridal Alteration. Removed all pre-existing beading and replaced with below silver beaded lace.
I have more of this beautiful silver beaded lace too.
I was very pleased to hear that Abby loved my Gatsby Wedding Dress, Pammy for her wedding dress, with just a few changes.
I sent a few sketches and emails, and I began creating her custom dress.
Mailed all the way to Alaska for her December Wedding!
Can't wait to see pictures, I know she will look amazing.
Chantilly Bridal Crop Top & Silk Georgette Maxi Skirt by Desiree Marie Design
Photography By Ashley Jane Photography
In the past couple months, I had the great pleasure working with my photographer and friend, Vania, in creating her wedding dress.
Final fitting.
We had a short time period, but we made it work!
With lots of sketches, and meetings, and emails later, we came up with a two piece ensemble for her backyard wedding.
Since she is a florida bride, and was also having her wedding on the beach, we wanted the fabrics to be light and delicate. So we chose chantilly lace and silk georgette both in ivory.
What was unique about making Vanias' dress was, she was loosing baby weight. I ended up taking in the dress at least an additional 1" every where on our last fitting.
She styled her dress beautifully with a flower crown made by a friend, and lace sandals.
Very happy I had the opportunity to work with her one more time before I move.
Congratulations!
Jahmi contacted me months ago with some inspiration pictures for her custom wedding gown. We exchanged almost 50 emails and came up with her perfect dress custom made in her measurements.
After reviewing pictures and discussing details, and fabric, I sketched her dress. She approved and I began the process.
Even though we did not meet in person, she was able to meet with her local tailor to get properly measured.
Sending pictures along the way, Jahmi was able to see her dress while it was getting made.
Shipped her dress all the way to New Jersey. Read her review after receiving her wedding dress below:
"Received my dress and tried on-SO AWESOME! I am just so impressed with your work and so happy about the turn out. Everything came out so great! Will send pictures for sure!!!"
I will post her pictures later this year on this post, and pictures of her custom veil will be up soon.
