Handcrafted with Love

Courthouse Couture

 

My new line is coming together...slowly, but surely.  The theme I'm working with this time around is the courthouse wedding, while employing my same techniques for patternmaking and construction as always: not cutting the fabric so no textile waste is created.

In doing a little research of courthouse weddings, I ran across this very interesting article, published last year:

The $100 Wedding

The article really does give you ideas on how to have a special and meaningful wedding for $100!  Suggestions such as utilizing a friend or family member's backyard, borrowing your ensemble, and baking your own cake really make you think: is all of that other stuff necessary?  

I'm sure by now my readers know I'm an industry skeptic: I love gowns and I love the idea of a big fabulous wedding, but the cheap/practical/broke side of me begs to question the necessity of it all.  I love the articles that the Knot has published while hosting a challenge to wedding coordinators to come up with a wedding with a $10K budget, this article just pares it down to the bare bones and uses history as it's inspiration.  

Until recently, it was not normal for people of all walks of life to host a huge event for hundreds of people that they would pay off their entire lives.  No no no, traditionally women wore the nicest thing they owned, got married at their parent's house, and had their mothers cook the meal.  I remember my mom telling me that when my folks got married, their budget was just a few hundred dollars: and the guest list was around the same number!  She made her dress, and her maid's dresses.  Simple decorations.  A friend catered.  Church photographer.  Bada-bing!  That's what I'm talking about.

I'm finding the stories really interesting and inspiring, too!  Here on the Knot (again) there is a small but lovely section about courthouse weddings along with the photos and story of the couple: in "Real Weddings" search for "City Hall Weddings".

So, brides of tomorrow, let this be a source of inspiration for you.  Make your wedding special, no matter how much you decide to spend.

Love,

Sara  

FAQ: Designer Knockoffs

Sorry, ladies.  This isn't the secret post to find those cheap ass designer knockoffs so you can have your cake and eat it too.  Just the opposite.  

As a custom designer, I frequently get requests for price quotes.  Of course, of course.  Price quotes, over the internet, to someone I've never met and a dress I have no clue about.  Today I got one that went something like this:

"Hi Sara.  I tried on a (name brand) gown and I totally love it.  How much would it cost for you to make it?  Can I choose my level of service, and can we just do this Package B (not full custom), and add fabric? Thanks.  Love, Bride You've Never Met."

Oooookaaaaaaay.  A few things:

- You don't really get to choose your level of commitment from the beginning.  I will tell you what our options are once I know what kind of dress we're making.  Which brings me to my next point:

- What dress?!?!  I have no idea what dress you're referring to.

- Just because I'm not a big designer, doesn't necessarily mean I'm cheap.  I have over 20 years sewing experience, use the best materials I can find, and make every single dress myself, by hand, just for your cute little body.  That's a hell of a lot more man hours than a mass produced gown, not to mention minimum wage in Oregon is over 8 bucks, not your standard $100/month wage overseas.  So, it probably won't be any cheaper.

- I am a custom designer, not a knocker-offer.  Not a factory worker in China.  Not a home sewer in my living room with my daycare in the backyard.  I have a degree.  A lot of experience.  I've got mad skills.  Let me use them.

- eBay.  

- Don't try on gowns outside your budget.  PERIOD.  This is the only reason why I ever get these requests.  If you can't afford it, don't touch it.  General rule.

I know a lot of custom designers wouldn't have been too diplomatic with this request.  I know a couple that would not have even responded to the email.  The truth is, we're taken for granted. In this WalMart world, every bride is the most special bride of all and we all need to forget about running businesses and give them what they want.

NOPE.

My humble advice to this bride and all others:

- SET A BUDGET.

- STICK TO IT.  Don't even, seriously, don't even touch a dress outside your budget unless you're prepared to adjust your budget for it.

- IMPROVISE.  That style is probably not exclusive to that designer.  Do some research and find something comparable.

- BID.  EBay is now your best friend.  I've seen a lot of beautiful once worn gowns pass through that were purchased on eBay.  Go girl.

- BE REALISTIC.  You don't need to spend $4K on your gown.  You don't even need to spend one singular K. Figure out what's most important.

Because, seriously, I'll know the difference, but nobody else will.  

Sorry for the straight talk, but someone's gotta do it.

Shop responsibly.

Love, 
Sara

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