Wedding Dress Patterns

Choosing a wedding dress is indeed a task. It becomes all the more difficult if you are a bride on budget. However, being on a budget doesn't stop you from setting your heart on that exquisite designer wedding dress. How you wish you would have the same for your wedding day? You sure can, if you are ready to tread the unconventional path when it comes to choosing a wedding dress. Designing your own dress is one such great idea to have a dress of your dreams. And no, you don't need to be a highly qualified designer or a skilled seamstress. All you need is a little patience and perseverance while sifting through wedding dress patterns until you find a perfect one.

Wedding Dress Patterns to Sew

Wedding dress patterns are a template for creating your dream wedding gown. If you cannot design a pattern of your own, you always have a choice of buying one. These patterns feature in fashion magazines or books. You can go through several patterns until you find the one that will suit your body the most. The problem with making your own wedding dress with the help of patterns is that you cannot try on the dress, like you can in a store. Until the dress is completely finished, you have no way of telling how it will actually look upon you. You can minimize the risk by choosing a pattern that you know will look best upon you. You can select the pattern of your best formal dress while making a wedding dress. If you do not have a friend or family member with an expertise in sewing, you can hire a seamstress to do the job for you.

Types of Wedding Dress Patterns

Wedding dresses for brides usually come in two patterns, layered and sheath with a long train. Layered pattern allows you to add layers of different fabrics from waist down. Lace, net, tulle are some favorite fabrics for layered wedding dresses. If you do not want the dress to spread out too much, you may use satin or silk which give rich volume to the fabric. Long train dresses are the traditional wedding dresses, where train is usually made of net or tulle. Regarding the sleeve pattern, you can choose from a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional sleeves. Layered dresses look particularly stunning with bell shaped sleeves. Cap or angel sleeve looks appropriate for long train dresses. Both these patterns look outstanding without sleeves as well. Layers, particularly look great with off shoulder satin corset. If you are looking for modest wedding dresses, then you can choose a tube pattern with a short jacket in net or lace.

Wedding dress patterns are available on the Internet through various online design stores. Shopping websites like Amazon and eBay have a huge collection of dress patterns for sale. You can also find catalogs and books on patterns on these websites. You can ask for a catalog at your favorite designer's store as well. Alternatively, what you can do is, try on the bridal gown that captured your heart and take a picture of it from various angles. Also take close ups to reveal the intricate work on the dress. Take the picture to the seamstress, who can then sew the dress on the same lines. Some stores like Vogue and McCalls are particularly known for their dress patterns. Some websites are also dedicated to bridalwear patterns wherein you can also find some plus size wedding dress patterns.

How Much Does it Cost

Making your own dress with the help of a wedding dress pattern is not cheap, however, it is far cheaper than a ready to wear expensive wedding dresses. The cost would depend upon the fabric and the length you are using. The cost of typical fabric for wedding dresses begins from $4 a yard. Silk and satin are available for $10 - $12 a yard. For tiered, long train, vintage wedding dress, expect to buy at least 10 yards of fabric. Sheath and other modest wedding dress patterns need only 5 yard of fabric. You will have to pay another couple of hundred dollars for embellishments. Oftentimes, wedding dresses are made by combining 2 or 3 fabrics such as silk/ satin, lace and tulle etc. which may further elevate the cost. Besides, you should also consider the service charges of a seamstress. That will cost you another couple of hundred dollars or even more. Compare the charges of several dressmakers before settling for one.

Wedding dress patterns allow you to design a unique wedding dress for your wedding, and that too at half the price of a designer outfit. So, go ahead and design a great wedding outfit for yourself.