Sewing Your Own Wedding Dress: Tips to Consider, Pretty Patterns to Use

May 1, 2020

Dreaming of making your own wedding dress? We take our hats (or should it be veils?) off to you! That is truly a brave decision for a bride, considering you are the center of the pre-wedding whirlwind and your gown will be the center of attention on the Big Day itself!

But being able to create the ensemble you will walk down the aisle in will make that moment so much more memorable. So if this is your dream, then here are some practical pointers and sewing patterns to make it come true! (*this post contains affiliate links)

Tips to Think About in Deciding to Make Your Wedding Dress

Question #1: Is my level of sewing skill and experience up to the style of gown I’ve chosen?
Answer: Your wedding dress is too priceless to take a chance on! So be realistic in matching your sewing ability with the simplicity or elaborateness of your gown design.

Question #2: Do I have access to the right fabric, adornments and sewing supplies I will need?
Answer: Wedding prep is frenzied enough as it is, without adding the stress of scrambling for these materials as your wedding day nears. Plan and canvass for suppliers well in advance.

Question #3: Is there an available sewing pattern for the dress I have in mind?
Answer: Having a ready-to-use commercial sewing pattern of your dream gown that is pre-measured for your body size, height, etc. will be a huge help! (See our pattern finds below.)

Question #4: Are there certain components that I can repurpose from an existing bridal gown?
Answer: A lace bodice, a delicate veil, or an elegant train from your mother’s wedding ensemble (or one found in a vintage store) would be a lovely way to bring both sentiment and style to a basic dress you will sew yourself.

Question #5: Can I count on help from others to pitch in with the dressmaking steps?
Answer: Pattern making, cutting, draping, sewing, beading, embroidery, fitting—all these steps of the process will be so much more manageable with loving help from family and friends.

Still feeling confident and ready to go for it? Then, let’s survey some wedding dress patterns, shall we?

Wedding Gown Patterns to Choose From

The mainstays of sewing patterns for decades—McCall’s, Vogue Patterns, Butterick and Simplicity—are still around to guide you in creating the most special dress you will ever wear!