re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

A few months ago, my mother and I had been contemplating altering the neck line and sleeves of her wedding gown so that I could wear it, but we both decided the waistline and cut just weren't my style.

Last night she said, 'What if you bring it to a dressmaker and let her completely re-tool it into the cut and style you want? That way you're still technically wearing my wedding gown, but it will be the style you love.'

Has anyone done this, or have any recommendations of seamstresses or dressmakers who have done this?

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

i have not done this, nor am i a seamstress. but if you are planning on basically re-desiging the dress, it would almost run you as much as buying a new dress.

but it doesn't hurt to take it to a seamstress and see what they say

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

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Posted by smm2675

i have not done this, nor am i a seamstress. but if you are planning on basically re-desiging the dress, it would almost run you as much as buying a new dress.

but it doesn't hurt to take it to a seamstress and see what they say

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I think you're right. it can get pretty expensive but it would be really nice and sentimental if you could use Mom's dress

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

If it doesn't work out, you could use some of the material in another dress and it would still have sentimental value.

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

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Posted by littlebookworm4

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Posted by smm2675

i have not done this, nor am i a seamstress. but if you are planning on basically re-desiging the dress, it would almost run you as much as buying a new dress.

but it doesn't hurt to take it to a seamstress and see what they say

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I think you're right. it can get pretty expensive but it would be really nice and sentimental if you could use Mom's dress

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i agree and i would've worn my fmil's dress (my mom didn't have a wedding dress), but the style is completely different from what i'd pick for myself and to have the whole thing re-done, would've been expensive.

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

Would you consider taking her train or piece of fabric and adding it to a dress you buy?
Add a detachable train? Just a thought.

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

Yeah, we talked about that, but we're going to look into it and if it's not more than I would have spent on a new gown we'll give it a try, I think!

Oh and I did suggest maybe just using some of the fabric for the ring-bearers pillow if we couldn't get a gown out of it and my mom laughed and said the train of her gown probably has enough fabric for 10 pillows and the aisle runner!

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

It can't hurt to find a good dress maker and get advice.


There was a point where I was considering doing something with Tim's mom's dress but we were never able to locate it and the idea hadn't crossed my mind until after she passed away.

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

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Posted by MonkeyLuv

Yeah, we talked about that, but we're going to look into it and if it's not more than I would have spent on a new gown we'll give it a try, I think!

Oh and I did suggest maybe just using some of the fabric for the ring-bearers pillow if we couldn't get a gown out of it and my mom laughed and said the train of her gown probably has enough fabric for 10 pillows and the aisle runner!

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i'm sure with a family your size you can probably come up with 10 ring-bearers.

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Posted by OctRo05

Would you consider taking her train or piece of fabric and adding it to a dress you buy?
Add a detachable train? Just a thought.

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That's something I'll have to remember if the quotes I get are too high! Thank you!

Wendy, that's what I thought, it couldn't hurt to find out! Also she's giving me my grandmother's wedding band, so having my mother's gown too would be really excellent!

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

I'm not sure where you're located, but you can check out this seamstress in the city... it's what she specializes in...

Ann Hamilton

She could probably give you an idea of how much it might cost.

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

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Posted by smilealways

I'm not sure where you're located, but you can check out this seamstress in the city... it's what she specializes in...

Ann Hamilton

She could probably give you an idea of how much it might cost.

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thank you!! I'm in oceanside, so that's not terrible!

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

bumping for my seamstress recommendations!

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

bumping again for more ideas?

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

I think it depends on how radically you want it changed and how much fabric you have to play with - I'm guessing that no one could be any smaller than you so there's room to play...But if there were sleeves say, and you wanted to take them off, it would be a lot less expensive and lot more doable than making Princess Di sleeves out of a strapless

Unfortunately, I don't have any seamstress ideas...did you do a search for 'seamstress' on here...I seem to remember someone suggesting someone recently.

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

Actually, my mother always complained about how skinny I was, until I tried on her gown and it was tight!

There's quite a bit of fabric. It's a boatneck with sleeves and a cathedral train, and I'd like a strapless, a-line.

It's tafetta though, can that be re-worked?

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

we can look at it saturday before the bbq cant we monkey. i may have someone who can do it!!!!!

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

It's at my mother's house though.

Re: re-tooling my mother's wedding gown

right