Mrs. Pryde's Late Natural Form Era Wedding Dress

*Warning - photo heavy post*

On Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2015, Miss Courtney Marie Eliasen became Mrs. Daniel Pryde.  It was a beautiful wedding and I was thrilled to be in the congregation of well wishers praying for their new marriage, and many years of blessings and love.

Back Story...

Last fall, at my niece's softball game, I got a call from my wonderful friend Tammy Elaisen, the Mother of the Bride.  I was informed that Daniel had asked Courtney if she would marry him and she said yes!!  Then Tammy asked if I would help with the wedding dress.  Now, I don't sew for others often, but this is such a special family, and such a special young lady (Courney is part of We Wear History and I have known her for quite some time *cough cough* and I've known Tammy since Junior High *cough cough cough*) that I said, "Of course I'll help!!!"

The Bride-to-Be already had in mind what she desired for a wedding dress (Extant NFE dress) so Tammy and I got together and got to work planning.  4 Truly Victorian patterns and 12 yards of ivory dupioni silk later, I got to work.

This was truly a wonderful project to be a part of and I am truly honored and blessed to have been able to be a small part of this wedding.  Thank you Daniel for asking her to marry you, thank you Courtney for saying yes, and thank you Tammy for asking me to be a part of your lives in this way!

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pryde

Courtney has a Million Dollar Smile!!!

I LOVE this picture!!  They are so in love!!

All together now.....AAAAAAWWWWWEEEEEEE!!!!!

My most favorite picture of the night!!  He is kissing her hand and you can see their shadows on the stone pillar!!  Le Sigh!!!

This picture makes me pretty happy as well!!!  How fun!

Such a handsome couple!!

I LOVE how she is looking adoringly at her husband to be!!  So much adorableness!!!!!

Now for the boring blogging part of the post

The Dress

Patterns Used

Bodice: TV420 1879 Cuirass Bodice

Underskirt: TV225 1878 Fantail Skirt

Overskirt: TV365 1883 August Overskirt (Just the front panel)

Train: TV361 1880s Butterfly Detachable Train

Tammy made the Butterfly Train, she is my hero!!!  She did a magnificent job as the instructions are quite confusing and hard to read (I have made three in the past and everytime I make one, I HATE the experience, so I was thrilled when she said she'd make it!!!).  It takes quite a long time to figure out the pleating and the way the train folds up to fit the way it is supposed to...it turned out perfectly!!!  It quite literally glowed!!

Tammy's amazing Butterfly Train.  It puddled perfectly and had a perfect sweep!!

Courtney decided to have the same treatment for the back of the bodice as I had on my NFE fushia flower dress, so that's what was made.

I used the opportunity while taking pictures of the wedding dress to pull out some of my antique wedding items....

This is my Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma, George and Cornelia Walters at their wedding in 1914.

Victorian Wedding invitations and announcements from the 1880s-1890s

A beautiful waxed orange blossom veil crown.  Gifted to me by my beautiful friend, Melodye Kamplain.

Gorgeous wedding shoes....waaaaay too small for my Hobbit feet though.

Insane quantity of ruching and pleating...

Train bustled up, so the Bride and Groom can dance!!

So, now I know that I can sew a wedding dress and not expire of anxiety and stress.

I wish Daniel and Courtney many happy years of love and blessing!!!  

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