Replies

1. 
   simokon | Sep 12, 2007 03:02am | #1

   Heh. I just tackled this issue myself.

   Neue Mode and New Look have a few bridal gown patterns, if you haven't looked at those. Also be sure to check the out-of-print sections of the websites of the big four. There were a few more available there. Burda didn't have much.

   You can also look at older out of print patterns available from various online vendors. grandmashouse.ws has a lot of them available.

   The reality seems to be that there really are not a lot of bridal patterns around, and they don't really reflect the current popular gown styles. (Extremely contoured strapless bodices, pick-up skirts, etc).

   I had a hard time finding a good pattern because I had far too specific of an idea of what kind of gown I wanted. I ended up going back to the bridal shops only to find out that they style I was fixated on didn't really work with my figure. Tried on a whole bunch of styles I had not previously considered, got some new ideas then went back to the pattern books and was able to choose one that I had previously dismissed because it didn't match my original vision. (Vogue 2849, by the way).

   Good luck.

2. 
   jjgg | Sep 12, 2007 07:20am | #2

   Ah, the best way is to find a custom clothier and have it made to her specs.
   http://www.paccprofessionals.org/site/index.php

   go to find a sewing pro, or go to the website:
   http://findadressmaker.com/

   and you can find someone in your area to do this - even if all you want is to have them draft the pattern for you

3. 
   user-51823 | Sep 13, 2007 04:35am | #3

   the main benefit of having you make it is that the possibilities for variations are endless.
   there are a few basic styles, and beyond that, it's mostly a matter of details.
   be sure to look at the designs in Evening Wear / Special Occassion sections, and visualize in white.

   Does she have a silhouette in mind yet, Empire? Princess? Strapless/straps? sleeves; what kind? does she see anything in th bridal magazines that would at least be a good starting point?

4. 
   Teaf5 | Sep 14, 2007 03:21am | #4

   Have you been looking in just the bridal gown sections of the pattern books or in the Dresses or Evening/Formal sections, too?  How about the Costume, Vintage, Retro, Historical sections?  If you look at the line drawings at the companies' online sites rather than the photos with other fabrics, you can get a better sense of what all these different options might look like in a bridal fabric.

5. 
   Findadressmaker | Sep 16, 2007 04:26am | #5

   Hiring a dressmaker is great, assuming she already has some idea of what she wants.

   If she has no clear idea of what she wants, I would say go shopping FIRST.  Try things on, and find out if anything similar to what she wants exists.  If so, you might want to actually buy it, and then make changes (even drastic ones!) to suit her personal style and figure needs. There are so many affordable options these days, and the possibilities for changes are endless, and so much less stressful if you are already working with a basic shape/fit she likes.

6. 
   suesew | Sep 16, 2007 10:41pm | #6

   It is really important to know what you want before you start looking at patterns. I second the idea of going "shopping" and trying on as many as you need to to determine just what looks good. Then you may be able to identify those important parts in several patterns that can be combined. Do you want white or ivory, waistline or princess seaming, sleeves or strapless, high or low neckline, train or no train,full or slim skirt or hundreds of other choices. You won't know until you try them on. Once you identify the parts you should be able to find the necessary patterns to put it all together and you will have a one of a kind garment.

7. 
   gowngirl | Oct 04, 2007 01:58am | #7

   I've been one of those custom gown makers and am now in the process of turning my gowns and dresses into patterns for home sewers. I know that there isn't much available in the way of interesting evening and bridalwear, and I hope to help people find what they need. I have one pattern ready to go, but it's not eveningwear. Sure wish I could refer you to somewhere wonderful. Can the style of one of the patterns available be altered to match the style you want? Perhaps you can find someone to make you a custom pattern...

1. 
   mygaley | Oct 07, 2007 08:31am | #8

   Go, go, Gowngirl! I am a process person and love to see new designs and patterns. Sewing wedding and prom is what I do for fun. Hurry up with your patterns and be sure to let us know when they're ready. God bless you Galey

8. 
   maggiecoops | Oct 07, 2007 04:51pm | #9

   My son is getting married next May and his fiance has asked me to make her dress. She showed me which model (it was on a Czech Republic web site, she's Czech) She had searched all the catalogues like yourself and found nothing that she thought was close. She does sew but Czech tradition says she can't make her own bridal clothes. When I saw the dress, the generic shape was simply a Princess line dress. Strapless, with an embroidered organza overlay  over the bust and two full length inverted fold pleats with the same embroidered organza insets falling from below the waist, in the front. I took a screen shot, printed it, traced the dress minus the added bits and showed her the results, she hadn't "seen" the underlying form of the dress.

   There aren't that many basic styles of dresses, maybe you could try something similar and simply trace the dress taking note of the structure but ignoring any additional bits. It could disclose the fact that there are patterns you can adapt fairly easily to arrive at what she wants. Frills, flounces, panels, pleating, godets, necklines, are all easily added to a basic garment structure.  Someone else has suggested she visit a bridal store and try out some dresses. I had to make my DiL do that as she wanted a style that was totally unsuitable for her figure type. She had a small bust, slender frame, is 5'6" tall and wanted a strapless bustier and pencil slim skirt. She refused to be swayed. So I took her kicking and screaming to a bridal shop and made her try on the style she wanted. The result was appalling, the bodice collapsed over the bust, she looked malnourished and boney. She wasnt, it was simply she had no bust or real hips. two essentials if you want to wear a boned bodice and a long figure hugging skirt.

   In the end I made her a dress with an off the shoulder soft pleated collar, Princess seamed, fitted down to just below the waist, opening into a wide sweeping skirt with a mid length train and bought her a wonder bra with jelly inserts. She looked stunning.

   My future DiL fortunately suits the style she wants, she has a bust and waist and nicely shaped hips.