Bridal Bouquet

I would let the florist do it. But maybe there is a way to preserve the dress also. Can the train be shortened and the piece removed from that?

It really depends on the style of dress your mother had. I would definitely cut the dress yourself (a smart florist would not want the liability)

You could also ask your alterations person for your gown to do it.

Pick an element you love about the dress. If it's the lace from a sleeve, the cut a piece of it to wrap. Layering is also great where you could take a piece of different parts and use them. Use pinking shears to ensure it doesn't unravel.

Other ways to use the dress. Trimming your veil and adding elements to your dress.

Several of our clients have done this and I love the way it turns out every time.

I have used mom's gown as a bouquet wrap several times.

My suggestion to you is have a seamstress cut app. 1 yard

and 3 inch wide fabric ,Also have her sew a thin hem on both top and bottom...

Hope this helps!

Congrats,

glenine Ryan

I agree with Yoj ....have a seamstress take a portion of the gown. It should be a strip of about 8" wide. Try not to take anything with too much beading, although some beading is fine, and remember if you cut anything that is see through it will need to be lined. A good seamstress should be able to make a sleeve for your floral

stems....it will be a tube approximately 2-3" or more depending on the size of your floral arrangement. It might be good to get it a touch larger because you can always put some type of fastener on it to adjust. A florist should be able to make an adjustment if necessary. The tube at completion should be about 6-7" from top to bottom. Let me know if you wish to consider silk flowers instead of fresh.

Hope this was helpful.

Toni

www.thepamperedbrideboutique.com

******.********@*****.***

(912) 231-8781

Thank you all sooo much!!!! Her dress was lace on top with a satin skirt (circa 1962). We are also thinking of taking the lace from the bodice to decorate the ring bearer pillow. My sister wore Mom's dress at her wedding, but it wasn't stored properly back in the 60's so it wasn't in the best shape. This is one way we are trying to incorporate the dress into my wedding. I will talk to the seamstress when we do the alterations for my dress. I like the sleeve idea!

I love your idea! and I hope you get how to do it figured out! Sounds like you got a lot to work with the lace and satin..I would trim a strip of the lace, then sew it on to the satin, TADA Bouquet cuff!

As an award winning wedding florist I am asked to incorporate Moms and Grandmas dresses and fabrics every year, Some vintage gowns should never be touched by sciccors, and rather displayed at the wedding with a photo of the Mom in her gowns, but if the gown is not wearable,A section as small as 14x14 can cover a handle and adding ribbon or lace from the gown can be special as well. One design I loved was using the antique buttons from a Moms gown in the center of some of the flowers for the brides Bouquet. I then added a small section of satin on the handle and tied with the gowns Ivory ribbon sash, The Mom had tears of Joy on the wedding day and It was a heartfelt and loving bride who honored her Mom as she walked the aisle. The bouquet was not tossedd byt preserved and displayed in her home.

The matching tossing Bouquet was a mini version with a few of the buttons included.

If you are in Michigan? contact Tracy Parks at Affordable elegance or ParkPlace flowers she can do this too

I would definitey have a seamstress cut the pieces for the florist. I myself wouldn't want that liability. My first wedding that I designed I used the bride's grandmothers hanky. It was very pretty and added a sentimental touch. Let me know if I could assist you in your floral needs.

Best wishes,

Kim

I am using the lace from the veil that my grandmother wore and then my mom wore to wrap my bouquet. It was not stored well and has some holes in it so I'm planning on just cutting off a 3-4" long strip off the bottom. I am hoping that the florist will do the cutting! I always think it is special when a bride wears her mothers gown. Your mother will love that you are trying to incorporate her dress into your wedding.

Awesome idea... I think I need to talk to my mom

A couple of years ago a bride gave me her mother in laws dress to cut up. It was pure silk. I would say give it to the florist to cut. I was glad the bride gave it to me first. Reason being I could cut the lengths that I needed. I made silk ruffles under the flowers and wrapped the silk around the stem then attached the buttons all around the stem. It was really elegant. And don't forget to let the florist know if you would like the remainder of the dress back.

You may want to incorporate a small detail on the dress like a button, a ruffle at the bottom or maybe even a sleeve

This doesn't really have anything to do with wrapping the bouquet (although I love the idea), but I have another idea for a way to keep the gown in the family. My sister is using scraps from my dress alterations to make my garter. I plan on buying a toss garter, and keeping this one as a momento of our day. I never really wanted to keep my gown, I would personally rather sell/give it to another bride who couldn't otherwise afford a gown, rather than hang on to it on the off chance my potential daughter wanted to wear it one day. This way I get to help out a fellow bride now, not have to store my dress for 20 /- years and I still have a piece of my gowns/day to can pass on to future generations.

I met with a florist and she said strips about 3-4" wide would work the best. She also mentioned using the buttins as well.

My FH wants me to keep the my dress so we can "dress up" on our anniversays. He bought the tux.