70's Styled Shoot with the Love Warrior Jumpsuit-Nadine B Photography

Groovy styled shoot at the Darby Farms Wedding Venue with my Love Warrior Jumpsuit from the Southwest Bride Collection, and my new Sunflower Fingertip Veil.

Groovy Team

Photos by Nadine B Photography

Coordinator Rusty and Sage Photography

Model Amanda Gibson

Venue Darby Farms, Florida

Hair Indigenous Beauty LLC

Makeup by Raw Beauty by Rina

Floral Lilly Lesplantes

Tables Table for Ten Rentals

Cake Baked by Nelle

Balloon A Bounding Balloons

Signage CJ Engraving

Invitations by Wildflower Paper Co.

Tableware ADR Decor

Earrings Full Herizon

Bartending FV Bartending

Desiree Marie Design Receives 2023 Best of Lakeland Award

Reposted from Press Release

Lakeland Award Program Honors the Achievement

LAKELAND September 25, 2023 -- Desiree Marie Design has been selected for the 2023 Best of Lakeland Award in the Dressmaker category by the Lakeland Award Program.

Each year, the Lakeland Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Lakeland area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2023 Lakeland Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Lakeland Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Lakeland Award Program

The Lakeland Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Lakeland area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Lakeland Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

SOURCE: Lakeland Award Program

CONTACT:
Lakeland Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@businessesregional.com
URL: http://www.businessesregional.com

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

More Photos of the Geranium Gown at the Fairytale Styled Shoot with Alyssa Matt Photography

Photographer: Alyssa Matt Photography

Head planner: @meghanalyssaphotography

Co-planner: @perfectpricephotos

Venue: Iron & Ember Events

Decor: Luva Events

Hair & Makeup: @weddinghairwithash

Model: @chabrieturner

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

New Geranium Gown photographed by Meghan Alyssa Photography

I was working with this fabric for a custom bride and fell in love with it. So, I went back to Joann Fabrics and grabbed a few more yards to create this dreamy, romantic, feminine gown specifically designed for a Pastel Spring Styled Shoot hosted by Meghan Alyssa Photography.

Head planner: @meghanalyssaphotography

Co-planner: @perfectpricephotos

Venue: Iron & Ember Events

Decor: Luva Events

Hair & Makeup: @weddinghairwithash

Model: @chabrieturner

New Rosa Gown Photos from Brittany Borders Photography

So excited to show off these photos of my newest dress, Rosa. I added the matching gloves at the end, and it really makes the whole look come together.

Inspired by vintage 80’s gowns and love for my Love Collection.

Awesome Team:

Brittany Borders Photography @brittanybordersphoto

Makeup by Eunique Beauty @eunique.beautyy

Model @genesynco

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.”

More of the Savannah gown photographed by Lena Christine Photography

Loving these motion pictures from the talented Lena Christine.

@lenachristinephoto

Planning: @boldgatherings

Set-up: @gathered.rentals.events

Carley : @the.model.noel

Floral: @fortanelli_floral

Makeup and Hair for Carley: @looksbymay

Beach Styled Shoot with the Savannah gown

Now that I am back in Florida for the last almost 2 years, a beach styled wedding shoot seems fitting and overdue!

Take a trip with me to Jacksonville, Florida to see the Savannah pink silk gown amongst the rocks of the beach, and the beautiful florals of Fortanelli Floral captured by Laura Perez Photography of Jacksonville.

Credits:

Planning: @boldgatherings

Set-up: @gathered.rentals.events

Carley: @the.model.noel

Pink Dress: @desireemariedesign

Floral: @fortanelli_floral

Makeup and Hair for Carley:

Photographer: @lauraperezphotographyllc

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.

Paris Elopement Inspired Styled Shoot

Credits:

My Amour mini Wedding Dress & Je T’aime Cape

Photographer Tiffany North Photography (above photos)

Models Trevor and Larissa @larissa_pasciak

Suit @boohooman

Accessories @florencewiththorns

Matie Photography (below photos)

Grocery Store Elopement with the Mina dress

MarinaWanders Photography always comes up with some unique ideas for styled shoots. One of our last bridal-styled shoots was at a playground!

This styled elopement shoot was photographed at the Wimberly Texas HEB grocery store.

The New Mina Dress is all hearts and feathers!

The Mina dress is handmade in Lakeland by designer Desireé.

Photography by Brittany Borders Photography

Heels by Betsey Johnson

Terracotta Styled Shoot at Cypress Grove Park

Photographer @kaylarodriguezphotos

Organizer @carolinairaisphoto

Day of Coordinator @klatch.events

Arch @klatch.events

Tables/Linens/Decor @weliketopartyevents

Bar Cart @tipsytravelerbar

Gowns @desireemariedesign 

HMUA @emcbeautie 

Stationery @pimenteldesignstudio

Cake @icedbytaylor

Florals @thefancyflorals

Signage @weddingsignsnmore

Treats @sweet_sensationss1 

Models: @canvasofcaity

Brown Bra cups, nowhere to be found-update

UPDATE 5-30-23

You can now purchase mocha brown push-up cups from Wawak.com for $3.98-5.00 for each pair. https://www.wawak.com/garment-construction/bra-cups/serged-push-up-bra-cups-1-pairpack/#sku=brc6amo

I’m surprised I am just now realizing the lack of brown bra cups. I have been in the bridal design/bridal alterations business now for several years and with the sheer wedding dress trend, I’m just surprised I have not come across this before now.

Sheer wedding dress showing brown cups

Felicity gown-Sheer Wedding Dress, notice how the cups are seen slightly through the lace. Beige cups are used in this design.

But I had a bridal client come in recently and ask for me to swap out her bra cups in her wedding dress for ones that matched her skin tone. It seemed like an easy request.

Normally I go to wawak.com and order bra cups in beige or white, they are also available in the color black. The only “brown” cups they offer are round with no push-up (90% of women want the extra lift on the wedding day).

The pair I normally order for most of my brides, push-up. No “mocha” available.

The only option they carry in “mocha”

I took to Facebook and asked my group of Bridal Alterations seamstresses what they thought of the situation and if they had any sources for me to order dark brown cups from. Again, to my surprise, 90% of the comments told me to dye them or to cover them myself because they too, know there are limited to no sources for brown bra cups.

I did more research on google.com and found an etsy seller selling mocha cups, but they look more copper than my bride, and from the reviews, they are copper-colored in person as well. And the company is “GOING OUT OF BUSINESS”


I did have a couple of women suggest I order brown cups from a Maggie Sottero retailer. I contacted 3-4 retailers that were able to order the cups and they all gave me prices between $15-30 per pair. This is outrageous considering you see the price for the beige pair above from wawak.

I asked for a bulk discount rate and I was told there was none.

New Approach-

DIY-ing brown bra cups,

Dyeing vs. Covering

Fabric Dyeing

  • Takes too long

  • Messy

  • Room for error

  • Fabric dye, gloves, tub, etc. becomes pricey

Covering with Fabric

  • Use a 4-way stretch knit. I used a Powernet mesh

    • If you must use a woven, use 8” bias strips

Making the cups from scratch?

  • I researched making the cups from scratch as opposed to covering $2-3 cups with inexpensive mesh fabric and the costs/time are greater

  • If I made it from scratch, I would need foam 6mm or 1/4” thick, not available at JoAnn

  • The cups would have to have seams for me to create the concave, and I would have to add extra foam for push-up

  • I would still have to cover them because they do not have mocha/dark brown/milk chocolate color available

Conclusion

I’m covering the bra cups I purchase normally from wawak.com with brown mesh I received from fabric.com on amazon.com.

This link is helpful for tips on covering your bra cups. https://withmyhandsdream.com/2019/02/06/a-grey-teeshirt-bra-and-panties/

Covering the beige cups with brown 4-way stretch mesh

Finished covered brown bra cups ready to be sewn in my clients wedding dress

I decided I should sell some as well on my website since there is such a limited supply, and some ladies needing these cups may not be able/want to cover them.

Brown Push-Up Bra Cups Now available in the shop!

For every pair of cups sold, $1 will be donated to the NAACP

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